“Mat, u ada rumah ka? (Mat, are you home?”
“Ya” (Yes).
“Saya mahu datang.” (I am coming over)
“OK mari” (Ok come).
That call was from Ah Chai, my friend for 37 years. Every year, on the eve of Chinese New Year, he would call me, without fail, one or two days before the celebration. Then he would come over to my house with his wife, Julie. They brought with them two boxes of mandarin oranges for me and family.
It is not the oranges that really matter, although I do like mandarin oranges very much. But what is more touching is the spirit of friendship that never fade after almost four decades. From the first day I knew him with the stylish black hairs that now have turned grey with a bald spot at the back of the head!
Their small kids that I knew have grown up and got married. When Ah Chai and Julie come, they would stay for sometimes and we have a good chit chat. Ah Chai and Julie are as friendly and nice as ever.
I first me Ah Chai in 1989. I just moved in into my newly bought terrace house at Taman Danau Kota, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. In fact I was the third person moving in. Overall the residential area was still quite. But I noticed various people going around, offering services like making renovations and so on.
For me I needed to install lights, fans and extra wirings. It was then that I noticed two young guys standing near the gate of my house. Apparently they were looking for jobs. I asked them whether they could do the wirings. They replied in the affirmative. The two guys were Ah Chai and Ah Wah. They worked together. So I let them do the job. I was satisfied with their work.
And thus our friendship began. As years passed, my friendship with Ah Chai especially became closer. Whenever I have any electrical problem, I would call Ah Chai. With Ah Wah, well, we are still friends. But only Ah Chai remembers me comes Chinese New Year. For Ah Wah, I still wish him Happy New Year. Now Ah Chai and Ah Wah have businesses of their own, not more together.
I never thought that just by doing wiring jobs at my house I would nurture a long lasting friendship with Ah Chai. Normally you come and do your job, and that is the end. But with Ah Chai it goes beyond just doing wiring jobs. We keep in touch. Years passed, but our friendship becomes even stronger.
And it is already 37 years of friendship. Indeed friendship is a golden chain that links our hearts together. May this friendship remains forever. Happy Chinese New Year Ah Chai and Julie. Have a wonderful New Year.
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