A Stranger......

The blazing sun was shining throughout the cloudless sky. The coldness after the rain was slowly overtaken by warmth of the sunlight. I was sitting alone in a bench at the balcony studying law at the corner quietly. Sometimes my eyes looked at a glimpse the couples sitting there chatting blissfully to each other. Out of a sudden, an African guy was walking hesitantly towards me with a warm smile on his face. Without much thinking I smiled back at him.” Assalamualaikum” he said...

“Waalaikumsalam” I replied despite I never expected that he was a muslim.

“Can I sit beside you?”... “Yes”. I responded instantaneously.

“Are you a muslim?” He asked. Once again I replied the same answer.

“Are you?” I started to ask question. “Ya ya.. I am. I just came from the surau praying. I know it is not the time yet to pray” he answered when I started to look at my watch.

“Are you fasting?” “Yes I am”... I replied without any suspicion.

“Oh, I thought that you are a Chinese because you look so fair and only Chinese who mostly be wearing those thing on their teeth”

I just laughed to his statement as I thought he was trying to make friend with me. I not even bother to think more than that. 

“Actually I have a problem. I need to go to international airport, KLIA to catch my flight at 2pm. My car got some engine problems and cannot be started. I need to go back to my hometown to meet my mother. But, I don’t have any money. I went to the surau just now to pray so that Allah will help me and I keep on telling myself that I should not cry as there will be someone who will help me”

“Where are you from?” I asked despite he had not yet finished his sentences.

“I’m from Liverpool, UK. I was born there”...

“I thought you are from Africa because....” I didn’t finish my words as I guess he knew what I meant. He laughed afterwards.

“I used all my money to buy the flight ticket, The Emirates. It cost me RM800 and now I have no money. I need to see my mother there and then she will give me money. But, I don’t know how much it costs to go to the airport. As I know my luggage cost me RM200 and they are already there. Can you help me to pay for my taxi and luggage? We are muslim thus we are brother. Can you help me? On Monday I’ll be coming back and I’ll pay you. This is Ramadhan, masyaallah. Inshaallah, Allah will repay you. Today is my day; next time maybe I’ll help you”

I really did know what the feeling that time was. I just felt delighted to help him. Perhaps because of the fact that I had sufficient money in my bank, plus it was Ramadhan, it encouraged me to lend him a hand. Swiftly, I said.... ‘Yes, why not”

“Assalamualaikum” he said. I interpreted it as; let peace be upon you, as he was absolutely grateful for my willingness to help him. I just smiled.

Moments later I followed him to find a taxi in order to ask about the price. Soon, I found out that his name was Hafiz. We also managed to exchange phone number. Along the way he told me that he did not want my money as my money was nothing to him. The fact that he was using pound in his home country and all he asked was for me to pray for his life.

The taxi driver told him that it cost RM60 to airport. However, he didn’t believe it. Perhaps he was expecting that it might cost more than that as he never took a cab before.

On the way to the ATM machine, we had some more chat. He was telling me that he was studying ACCA and it was really hard. He stayed at the Lagoon View and perhaps one day he wish to take me there and break the fast together. He was really grateful that I was willing to help him. Eventually, I ended up lending him money RM400!

I told my friends what had happened. Their jaws dropped. They scolded me for being so naive and blindly be so kind-hearted to a stranger. Even my lecturer who was overheard the conversation made an astound expression. Yet, I strongly believed that I could recover the money. I relied on Allah and I trusted him.

As time passed, I waited for him to call me on Monday, sadly he didn’t. The next day, I called him and surprisingly he picked up. It came to my knowledge that he was now in India and will be back to Malaysia in forth night. I wished he was telling the truth. The fact that I was able to contact him using my Malaysian number and it only cost me less than 30 cent, for more that 1 minute talk, made it sounded fishy.

Besides, the fact that he didn’t even say sorry for not be able to pay on time or even tried to contact me made me felt disappointed. I trust him 100%. I pray that he will keep to his promise.

I learnt my lesson..

                                                              hope?

despairnomore~