Being busy with work for quite some time, I finally managed to get a few days off from office after several attempts of appealing. It was the final day of my leave when I am resting at my home and reading magazines while checking emails. I came across and was so inspired by an email forwarded by a friend. It was just an ordinary story about a boy who sells curry puffs; but somehow it caught my attention and embedded in my mind. Thus, I would like to share the story for us to learn or just to unwind.
The incident took place at a stall somewhere in Perak. It was on Saturday morning when a man felt tired and hungry after driving for quite some time. So, he decided to pull over and have some nice lunch since it was already about lunch time. He was heading to a stall when a boy holding a basket came and approached him. The boy offered curry puff for him to buy. With just a glimpse, he declined because he wanted to eat something heavier and continue to walk to the stall. When he finished choosing his ‘lauk’, he went to take a seat and ate his meal. He was sipping his drink when he noticed that the same boy came to his table. With a polite voice and tone, again, the boy offered him the curry puff in the basket for him to buy. He was already full and again, he declined the offer. With a smile, the boy left the table and went to another table after table doing the same thing. Sadly, no one bought his curry puff. But there was no hint of frustration or despair at his face. The man saw the boy left the stall and disappeared behind rows of vehicles parked in front of the stall.
After a while, the man paid his meal and decided to continue his journey. He got into his car and started the engine. While he waited for the engine to warm up, he saw the same boy sat on the curb nearby his car. At the same time, the boy noticed that the man was looking at him. So he got up on his feet and walked towards the car. With a kind smile on his face, he said; “Sir, you may not want to eat my curry puff now but maybe you can buy it for your mother, sister or even yourself during your journey.” But the man still declined the offer. The boy left but somehow turned back when he heard the man called him. This time the man took his time to look closely at the boy before saying anything. The boy was around the age of nine or ten years old. He was wearing a red t-shirt with a matching track bottom and a cap. He carried a basket full of curry puffs. He looked calm and unpretentious. Feeling pity for the boy, the man took out RM10 note from his pocket and gave it to the boy. The boy took the money and thanked him. The man felt happy to be able to help the boy.
The man got inside his car and would like to continue his journey. While reversing his car, he saw that the boy handed the money to a blind beggar near the stall where he had his lunch. He was surprised with the action and immediately stopped his car and called the boy. The boy quickly ran to the car and asked him whether he wanted to buy the curry puff. The man asked the boy about his action with the money and the boy replied; “I am sorry I can’t take the money. My mother would scold me if she knew I beg for money. She told me that we must work to earn money because Allah gave us our hands and legs for us to use them. If she finds out that I bring home that amount while there are still a lot of curry puffs to be sold, she will scold me. She also said that begging is just for the weak. I am a strong boy, uncle.”
At once, the man was stilted and felt so touched and amazed by the values the boy was holding to. After a long paused, he immediately asked the price of all the curry puffs inside the basket. The boy looked surprised and asked if he wanted all of them. The man nodded and quickly the boy began counting the curry puffs left in his basket. It was RM25 for all of the curry puffs. The boy handed the curry puffs to the man with a smile and grateful expression. He then walked away with an empty basket that surely would not bring disappointment to him. With a plastic bag full of curry puffs in his car, the man drove away to continue his journey. While driving, he kept on thinking about the boy; ‘Is he an orphan?’ The little boy has such a big heart and never let lose his hope and faith. He also wondered who is the noble lady who gave birth to the boy. Surely, his mother has done a very good job in nurturing her son. Sincerely, the man bought all of the curry puffs not because he pitied the boy; but he admired the boy’s attitude honouring his belief and work as a curry puff seller. He was a dignified young man. The man reached his home after a long journey and brought those curry puffs to his family. And yes, he ate some of it during his journey!
The boy with his determination, his faith and his perseverance makes me think of my own self. Do I really appreciate what I have or simply taking things for granted? When a little boy took pride of his work as a curry puff seller, it really dawned upon on my attitude as a grown up person. The boy taught me about having faith and holding to it as an important quality that makes a person a good leader. In life, there are so many challenges and temptations that we will be facing; no matter who we are, because we are leaders, at least to our own selves. Faith is extremely important and it will keep us controlled and it will lead us to the right path.
It is the mother of the boy who I am really amazed and inspired of. She has instilled in her son to grow up to be a respectable young man. Yes, she might just be an ordinary lady, who makes curry puffs to support her living, but she did a tremendous job in raising her boy. She has managed to educate her son about so many things in life and its reality which are filled with hardships and uncertainties. She has successfully trained her boy about the differences of giving and receiving aside from raising him with good qualities where he can hold on to throughout his entire life. She has portrayed a good example of a leadership quality that lies inside of each and everyone of us. Though she is just another person who we see everyday across the street that most us might fail to realise about her existence, she has proven that a good leader is actually a leader that will inspire anybody at anytime with his or her attributes.
She has several admirable leadership qualities that make her inspiring and respectable person. One of them is she has a good principle in leading her life. But what is more is her faith to stick to that principle. Besides, she did what a mother does best; she passed it down to her son and makes sure that her son accepted and practiced the spirit.
Most of the times, we tend to underestimate our self and think that we do not have the quality of a leader, but we actually do. It is just a matter of time or occasion that we will realise the facts. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out who is the best person for you to follow or the things you should be doing in life. It is always a thought of the consequences for the action that we will take will make us realize that we should be doing right things at the right path. This is where our role model comes to the picture. Sometimes, it is just a simple action or word that other people say and do that brings changes to the situations. All we need to do is to listen and see things in different ways in order to improve our own self as well as portraying the good features that we developed from our experience and of course from our role models.
There are so many things that happen to everybody at every second. Some of the things might be a hard and stressful life changing experience or just a simple nod but still brings sunshine for the one it is meant for. Therefore most of us have our own opinions about things that we see happening and revolving all around us. The opinions that we make sometimes suit perfectly with the occurrence but somehow, most of the times, we tend to judge things based on our limited knowledge and realization. Perhaps, it is our nature as humans! But yet, we can always improve and keep on improving ourselves.
