The 20-Cent Nasi Lemak
The sterile scent of antiseptic and the low hum of unseen machinery filled the air of the dentist's waiting room. Ahmad shifted in his plastic chair, his gaze unfocused as he watched a young woman swipe through her phone with practiced ease. The year was 2025, and the world outside was a dizzying blur of screens, contactless payments, and a relentless pursuit of the next big thing. But for Ahmad, the quiet anxiety of the dental clinic was a familiar portal to a simpler time.
His mind drifted back to the 1980s, a decade of short shorts, cassette tapes, and a childhood spent under the vast Malaysian sky. Back then, a visit to the dentist wasn't an appointment at a gleaming private practice with designer furniture. It was the government clinic, a utilitarian building with long benches and the distinct smell of oral hygiene. Once a month, a mobile dental team would even visit their school. He remembered the collective shudders and whispered prayers among his classmates as the dreaded drill whirred in the distance. When it was your turn, your legs would tremble, but it was all part of the deal. Everything was free. Dental checkups, vaccinations – they even got free Milo drinks, thick and chocolatey, a reward for enduring the terror. All you needed to buy were school books, uniforms, and the tiny school badge. Even food was absurdly cheap; a warm, fragrant bungkus nasi lemak from the school canteen cost a mere 20 cents.
His late parents, he recalled, never fussed much about their teeth. If a tooth broke, it was pulled. If they needed something more, a simple denture would suffice. No talk of crowns, bridges, or implants. "Why spend so much on teeth no one sees anyway?" his father would chuckle. But today, it was a different story. In the urban sprawl of Shah Alam, a single set of nasi lemak could easily set you back 20 ringgit, and a cup of coffee 8 ringgit. Ahmad understood the modern obsession with perfect teeth. "I need to see people," he’d heard colleagues say, "I can't show my toothless ugly tooth to my client and business meeting." And that, precisely, was why he was here.
He glanced around the waiting room. Some patients were engrossed in their phones, others flipped through glossy magazines, and a few simply stared into the middle distance, a palpable worry etched on their faces – likely about the cost. A snippet of conversation drifted over: "…COVID's back, apparently." Ahmad felt a chill. The memories of the pandemic, just a few years past, were still raw. The lockdowns, the enforced social distancing, the ubiquitous masks and hand sanitizers. Eating at home, living in isolation, the quiet despair of job losses, and the heartbreaking emptiness left by loved ones lost. It felt like another lifetime, yet the scars remained.
"Ahmad, please."
His name, finally. The dentist's assistant smiled politely. Ahmad rose, a heavy sigh escaping him. The waiting room, the memories, the world outside – it all coalesced into this moment, this expensive reality. He walked towards the door, ready to face the costly affair of life lately, one tooth at a time.
Maria’s life with Franky had started like a fairytale. Their wedding was a blur of joyful music and dancing, and their honeymoon, a serene escape by the sea, felt like a promise of endless happiness. A year later, Franky’s new album, a heartfelt dedication to Maria, catapulted his career. “Being married is lucky,” he’d often tell her, his eyes sparkling with creative energy. “Lots of ideas are flourishing.”
But as Franky’s star rose, his presence in their home dimmed. The recording sessions stretched late into the night, and the constant gigs meant he was always on the road. Maria found herself increasingly alone, the quiet house amplifying her solitude. She tried to fill the emptiness with shopping, accumulating an array of expensive, yet ultimately unsatisfying, items.
Desperate for connection, she ventured into the anonymous world of online dating, crafting a fake persona with a picture that wasn’t hers. The anonymity was liberating, allowing her to explore virtual romances without consequence. For a while, the thrill of these digital connections brought her a fleeting sense of happiness. But the illusion shattered when one of her online admirers suggested meeting in person. Panic seized her, and she immediately blocked him, retreating to the safety of relationships that remained strictly virtual. Still, the charade couldn’t last forever. The repetitive interactions, devoid of genuine intimacy, eventually left her feeling hollow and unfulfilled.
One morning, the weight of her loneliness became unbearable. She picked up the phone and called her sister, Rita, whose life seemed so vibrant and purposeful. Rita, always busy with her charity work, collecting and selling pre-owned treasures at her retail shop, and organizing lively garage sales with her boyfriend, Jeff, was a stark contrast to Maria’s stagnant existence. Maria, a lifelong cat lover, even mentioned a nascent idea that had been stirring in her mind: starting an animal shelter in her spare time.
The following morning, Maria, still buzzing from the phone call with Rita, felt a lightness she hadn't experienced in months. The expensive clothes and unused gadgets that littered her home seemed to mock her past attempts at happiness. She decided to tackle her overflowing wardrobe first, pulling out designer bags and silk scarves, items she'd bought on impulse but rarely worn. As she sorted through them, she imagined them finding new homes, serving a purpose for someone else.
She spent the entire day gathering items, not just from her closet, but from every corner of the house. Franky’s rarely used golf clubs, a stack of untouched cookery books, even some decorative pieces that no longer sparked joy. The sheer volume of things she’d accumulated was astounding, a testament to the void she’d been trying to fill.
When Rita arrived that afternoon, accompanied by a cheerfully robust Jeff, their eyes widened at the sight of Maria’s meticulously organised piles. "Maria, this is incredible!" Rita exclaimed, a genuine smile lighting her face. "You've practically set up a mini-store here."
Over cups of tea, Maria eagerly listened as Rita and Jeff explained the ins and outs of their charity work. Rita’s retail shop in Kuala Lumpur wasn't just about selling pre-owned goods; it was a hub for community, a place where people could find affordable necessities and connect with others. The garage sales they organized with Jeff were lively, bustling events, drawing in people from all walks of life. Maria found herself captivated by their stories of transforming forgotten items into funds that supported various local causes, from providing meals to the homeless to assisting underprivileged students.
"We always need an extra pair of hands, Maria," Rita offered, sensing her sister's genuine interest. "Especially with sorting donations, setting up for sales, even helping with the online listings for the shop. You have such an eye for presentation, you'd be a natural."
A warmth spread through Maria, different from the fleeting high of a shopping spree. This was the warmth of genuine engagement, of being seen and valued for something beyond her purchasing power. The thought of getting her hands dirty, of being part of something bigger than herself, was surprisingly appealing. She even imagined the playful banter with Jeff, whose easygoing nature was already a stark contrast to Franky's sometimes distant intensity.
"I'd love that, Rita," Maria said, a genuine smile gracing her lips. "I really would." As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the piles of donations, Maria felt a stirring of hope. The animal shelter dream, though still distant, now seemed less like an impossible fantasy and more like a long-term aspiration, something she could work towards, one pre-loved item at a time. For now, however, the simple act of contributing, of connecting, felt like the most luxurious purchase she had ever made.
As Maria fully immersed herself in the vibrant world of Rita’s charity in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, a remarkable transformation began to unfold. The quiet hum of the empty house was replaced by the lively chatter of volunteers, the rewarding clang of donated items, and the cheerful bustle of garage sales. Maria discovered a surprising aptitude for organization and an even greater joy in connecting with people – sharing stories, laughter, and a common purpose. The "glow" Franky first noticed on her face deepened into a radiant inner peace. Her mood was consistently brighter, her conversations animated, and the restlessness that had plagued her for so long simply melted away.
Franky, initially content that his wife had "something to do," soon found himself genuinely intrigued by Maria's newfound passion. He saw a vibrant, engaged woman, far removed from the lonely figure who had filled her days with aimless shopping. Her stories of heartwarming donations, of families finding essential items, and of the tangible good they were doing in the community resonated with him. He began to appreciate her in a new light, not just as the muse for his music, but as a woman with her own burgeoning purpose and strength.
This shift brought a subtle but profound harmony to their marriage. Franky, a musician whose livelihood depended on creativity and connection, found that Maria's altruism sparked new ideas within him. He started writing melodies that carried a hopeful, community-focused feel, inspired by her experiences. He even suggested dedicating a portion of his next album's proceeds to Rita's charity, a gesture that brought tears to Maria's eyes. They began to share not just a home, but a deeper understanding of each other's worlds, their individual successes now interwoven with shared values.
Maria still harbored her dream of an animal shelter, but now it felt less like a distant fantasy and more like a future endeavor she was steadily gaining the skills and connections to achieve. For now, the rhythm of her life was filled with purpose, camaraderie, and the quiet joy of making a difference, one pre-loved item at a time. Franky and Maria, once drifting apart despite their success, had found their way back to each other, their marriage richer and more resonant than ever, a testament to the beautiful magic that happens when love flourishes alongside individual purpose.
