Quote:
Originally Posted by SerflySGR
"Would you also like to join us?" Nadia cut in, "We could use this chance to catch up on old times and it would be a good chance for sis to get some fresh air, outside of Singapore."
I wanted to say something but she cut me off again, "All expenses paid." she said, "the 3 of us will share all expenses - air tickets, hotel lodging, food - you just bring yourselves there. Think of it as our way to show our appreciation to all the things sis has done for us."
I smiled at Nadia and then glanced at my wife who was now beaming; blood was thicker than water, after all.
"What do you think, sayang?" I asked my wife.
"Getting some fresh air sounds good to me; I don't know how long more I can live," she said before she broke down into sobs. Her sisters swooped down to her side, patting her on her hands and shoulders, consoling her.
"Please don't say this sister. If there is anybody who should die, it's us. We are sorry we have not been taking care of you all these years." Nadia lamented. Annie and Sophie also nodded in unison. "Yes, please forgive us."
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I begin to wonder why people start to regret only later in life? Why can't they realize this sooner? Why do they have to wait for one family member to be either dead or dying to realize that life is just too short? I clenched my fists; I suddenly realized all the pent up hatred that I have for these three women standing before me. All 3 of them - Nadia, Annie and Sophie - were in stark contrast to my wife; they were all dolled up to the nines, had branded bags and wore clothes from the finest fashion houses while my wife just wore anything that was comfortable, even if it meant
Pasar Malam clothes. She looked like an "aunty" standing next to them but she was "my aunty" and I loved her. Tears welled up in my eyes.
I felt a hand placed on mine. I jerked back into reality.
"Abang, I know you don't like us and we might have our differences. But surely you are more magnanimous than that, right?" Nadia continued to whisper softly in my ear,
"we all know that this illness is inherent in our family and my sister's days are numbered. Surely you won't let your pride or old scores to stand in the way of her happiness; don't you want her remaining days to be filled with happy memories? If not for us, can't you at least put on a good show for your wife?" she asked.
I forgot how 'persuasive' Nadia was; she could sell ice to an Eskimo! When she put it across to me like that, what kind of man would I be to deny my wife and her sisters of a 'reunion'?
Not waiting for a response from me, like a persistent sales girl, Nadia continued her 'sales pitch',
"If you don't trust your wife with us, Adek and you can come along. What can we do to her when the 2 of you are around us?" she asked.
"It's not that I don't trust you," I countered,
"but we have a maid now and it's not convenient to leave her alone at home and I am not sure how to go about to apply permit for her to travel with us or could we 'care her of to another family while we are away?'" Frankly, I had not expected this turn of events. On one hand, I was looking forward to an overseas holiday; Wanda tagging along was a bonus. But with the watchful eyes of these 3 women, it was difficult to have some 'alone time' with Wanda without them suspecting or worse, lowing the whistle. If I wanted to leave Wanda behind, where could I house her? I couldn't just leave her at home right? Leaving her with my mother was a bad option, knowing how much my mother disliked her. On the other hand, it would be a good idea to send the whole family off while I (as
Bro ml1138 put it)
have have a fine time with Wanda here in Singapore (see
post #539 above). Great minds think alike!
I was contemplating my next move when Nadia made the decision for me,
"Then you stay home with the maid," she said,
"she's here to work, not to holiday with us. And I know how troublesome it is to place her in another home. What if she breaks people's things? Leceh lah!" she exclaimed.
"Actually," I interrupted,
"she was hired, partially to take care of my wife and son......"
"Which, I am sure the 3 of us, as sisters and mothers, are more than capable to manage both of them. There are only 2 of them and 3 of us. I am sure we can manage." Nadia assured me,
"besides, Adek is a very well-behaved boy and very independent. I am sure he will be easy to manage? Anyway, it's only a few days?
I acted hesitant. I had to play the part of concerned husband and father and downplay my glee; I was able to spend a few days alone with Wanda. We could have our own holiday; I could book a stay-cation at RWS or MBS or we could go cycling at Pulau Ubin? We could draw the curtains and fuck in every single room in our flat; do a 'Michael Douglas and Glenn Close' in the kitchen! My mind went wild with ideas!
Click on above button to see extracts from 'Fatal Attraction' movie
- Michael Douglas and Glenn Close kitchen scene included!
"Actually, as much as we promised to take care of all expenses, we were hoping that you pay for your own fare and that of your maid, if you decide to bring her along." Nadia finally said.
"You also have to be fair to us, right? You cannot expect us to pay for everything, right? As you know, we are all not working and we depend on our husbands for allowance. How would they feel if they came to find out that we took their hard-earned money to pay for you plus your maid, to go on holiday with us, hmm?
Now there was the Nadia that I knew. Shrewd and calculative.
"I'll let my wife decided," I said. If there was something I learnt while working, it's to leave the decision-making to other people so that if there was a slip-up, the decision wasn't made by you and you would be exonerated from all blame. I smiled at her and gave her a heartfelt "thank you".