...down memory lane...

...  terminal 3 - London ...

Quite some time ago… a few years back…  I had commuted  from my hall of residence to my varsity  (in the  Land of  the Roses...its the National flower) for lectures.  Its about an hour ride. I did that every day for four full years.  Now, I’m already back home…home-sweet-home…Malaysia.

Although those long, gruelling hours of travelling are far behind me, I still carry with me the priceless gifts of two complete strangers….and I met them all while riding a bus.

It was my first day and first time…abroad… to ride a bus in as long. As I waited at the bus stop, I wondered whether I’d luck out and get a seat. I wasn’t a lady who expected a man to offer his seat to me; after all, we all paid the same fare. But I didn’t relish the thought of having to stand the entire trip…though dressed in t-shirt and sneakers.

That morning, I stepped inside the crowded bus and wanted to just turn around, get off, go home, and call in sick. Maybe it was the panic on my face, or maybe I turned  a pale shade of green, but before I  could bolt, a man stood up and offered me his seat. I thanked him and gratefully sat down.  As the bus rumbled through the city streets, jolting its passengers with each stop and start and every corner, we talked and discovered that we both studied at the same varsity, though different faculty and different  building…only three blocks from each other. He stood the whole way…for one  hour.

Until then, I’d rarely seen, much less experienced, such chivalry. There are those who would have us believe that chivalry has gone out of fashion, but my experience on the bus that day convinced me otherwise. I was, and still am, grateful to have been on the receiving end of it. And I’ve made a point of practicing the ageless custom of chivalry, in my own way, with simple acts of kindness to others, whenever and wherever I can.

Smiling at people became second nature to me, a genuine expression that came spontaneously from my heart. But at first, I did it because I had learned that if I smiled at someone, I’d get a smile in return. An old woman taught me that lesson, and I didn’t even know her…

I was seated beside an old woman on the bus on my way to my classes.  She had kind eyes and kept looking out the window, ooohing and aaahing at the tall buildings and sights.  I was  trying to read a book, and she kept leaning over my seat, causing me to lose my concentration. I was about to ask her if she wanted to trade seats, but the look of wonder on her face stopped me. Her eyes were wide and shining, and her mouth stretched in a wide smile. 

She was oblivious to my stare, because her eyes were fixed on something outside: a section of skyway still under construction. She seemed delighted at the sight of cars and buses going up the ramp and onto the skyway.

I couldn’t help but feel somewhat envious of her joy. I’d seen those same buildings, same skyways, same scenes countless times before back home (especially in KL),  but never in the way and with the delight she did. I was humbled that she found something so simple, which I had considered to be mundane, to smile about.

I turned to her and saw that she was looking at me, the smile gone from her lips. I wanted to see her smile again, yet I was unsure of what to do. Finally, in the passing of a split second, I decided to take the risk: I smiled.

She smiled back. And I saw that the glow had returned to her wrinkled face.

I’ve been smiling at people ever since…on the bus, in the market, on the street, and everywhere in my life. Most of the time, they smile back…Well...A smile is one of the few contagious things that you should spread. So spread it to everyone! And on the road of life, the chivalry and smiles of strangers can lighten our loads and lift our spirits. How much sweeter the journey when we make it a little smoother and richer for others.... 

...Anyway, back home, a word of caution...we had to be cautious...and perhaps very...very...very...selective; as to whom we would throw a smile to....unless you want  (haha...nobody wants it for sure)...and  is willing... to be labeled as 'a cheap flirt'' around'???!!! Well, ...too bad.... a misunderstood sincere intention :P :(  

...macam la tak ade keje lain ke orang2 ni nak buat...asyik nak 'anyam ketupat' je. (lainlah kalau musim2 nak raya...) susah hatinya orang2 ni ...pak mud rongak senyum kat pah bedah kalut pun jadi isu; walhal dah sah-sahlah mereka ni satu opis--sorang tukang  buat kopi, sorang tukang masak mi....hehehe. Lebih dashyat isunya kalau sorang  mr dud and sorang miss jan.  Kecuhnya macam  mereka baru  dilanda todak ( seangkatan dan sewaktu lebihkurang ngan tsunami...tapi bala tsunami  lebih menggerunkan...) Isshhhh...isunya cuma satu je....SENYUM....Best tau senyum...tup..tup... smile...you're on candid camera...hahaha....