I was dreading another annoying conversation with the taxi driver. Yesterday after attending a colleague's wedding, I took a cab home. He sparked off the conversation. "This karaoke bar ah, not cheap leh. $40, 000 a night! My friend kena!" My eyes grew big. Wide enough to scare the moon away. But, at least it was something I wanted to know more of. I ain't the least interested to spend that amount of course. It was the urge to know more that I decided to fuel the conversation to the next stage. "Wah! So much!?!" He went on with the story. "He businessman one. Open 12 bottles. One bottle about $480. Then, the girls also charge high. One girl ah, only sing sing; $38 one hour. They were there whole night!" I took kindly to his story. "Me? I go K-Box can ah. Ask my wife sing!" Hahaha. I made a mental note to ask for his number. I patronise K-Box too. And I can sing. Maybe I can wind up with something from this conversation. Hahaha. NOT! Silence. I stared out the window. To spend $400 is extravagant. Not to mention a painful parting. Some people have it good in this life. "He businessman. Can spend ah. We normal people. Cannot ah." "Dream also hard ah!" I added, with what sounded like a miserable tone. "You come back from wedding ah miss? Chinese wedding? Wah, expensive ah!" You can put that on repeat mode. No offence to anyone, but Chinese wedding more often than not burns a big black hole in my pocket. The monetary gift aside, I have to fork out transport fare. Taxi naturally. To and from the venue. I have to get clothes too. I mean, it is a glitzy affair. I do have a reputation to live up too!! "My marriage ah. I think 4 years ago. But lucky. My dinner at Penang. Malaysian ringgit. Cheap ah. Mother-in-law also kind. Never take all the money given. Or else also can die. I spend about RM40, 000. Not bad already. I have a friend ah. Wedding album alone he pay $9000!" I choked on my saliva. "Then, after 1 year, divorce!" I felt nauseous at that point. Love does make one foolish. Only on hindsight would the actions bear its ugly fangs. The taxi driver, all of 40 years old droned on. "Now, I got 2 kids. One 3 years old. Boy, 1 year old. Drink milk only I have to work extra hard! At night also cannot sleep. Baby cry mah." This man takes on his responsibility well. I am honored to be riding in his cab. Lucky wifey to get him. What he lacks in looks he more than made up for it in other areas. |
