These are a few snippets of what the modern generation of Malaysia is like. Some might be able to identify themselves withing some of the conversations and some might be aghast at the portrayal of some individuals. Of course, these portrayals are sort of universal as well... Nonetheless, it's a work of fiction (as well as written in an hour's time).

Youthful Days

"Movie? Or just loitering?" I asked through the phone while busy shuffling through my mails.
"Movie. The latest one, of course. We'll invite --- and --- as well," the reply.
"Okay. So... we'll meet up at the usual?" Oh. Another blasted spam mail. Delete.
"No, not this time. We're going to the newer cinema. It's bigger and more comfortable there."
"Okay. We'll buy the tickets when we meet up then? I have a student card." Hm... today's astrology seems good. Delete.
"Sure. Then I'll ask the others if they're free. Tell you the time later after I've confirmed it with them."
"Sure thing. Later then." Update notice, huh? It's not a series I'm familiar with anyways. Delete.
"Bye."
"Yeah, bye." Why do people forward these kind of chain letters? Idiots... Delete.

"Mom, I have to go now. I'm already late for the meeting with my friends." I told my mother as I rushed about my room picking up the essentials and stuffing them into my handbag.
"But you said the movie's at 2pm! There's 2 more hours to go!" my incredulous mother said as she stopped chopping up carrots and turned her head to face me.
"But it's Friday! There will be a traffic jam. Not to mention that we'll have to fight the schoolkids for tickets. It's the latest movie after all." I paused at the table and try to remember if I had packed everything I need into my bag.
"Alright, fine. Go, then. Remember to come back earlier, okay?" my mother replied in a defeated tone and went back to her chores.
"Sure. I'll get you something after the movies," I yelled as I grabbed the keys and ran out the front door to start the car.


"Do you know --- went to Germany for her studies?"
"Oooh.... so far? She must be really talented."
"Pfft. Talented? She's rich. Her parents can fork out the cash to let her soak there until she passes."
"Haha... yeah. She's not that bright back at school. Always taking the lower-half placing among the top ten."
"Wah. That's good, isn't it? I only get in the 10s."
"Haha... if you're bad, I'm worse. I get around the 20s."
"That's because you never revise for the exams. You're a genius to be able to get that kind of marks without studying."
"What genius? I would've gotten into UM if I'm as good as you say."
"Oh, this cake is delicious! The chocolate is so rich..."
"Yeah. I love this Tiramisu cake. And this cup of tea."
"Jasmine, right? It smells good even from here."
"Talking about jasmines, you heard about that girl who work in that flower shop?"
"Oh... ---, right? She's always switching jobs, isn't she?"
"Yeah, that's the one. You know, I hear she worked in a pub before, serving drinks!"
"Eww..... That's dirty."
"God knows what she's done in that kind of place..."
"Don't talk bad about her, she's a good girl. Doesn't even have a boyfriend--"
"No boyfriend equals a bad person. No boys must have wanted her because she's not pure anymore!"
"You don't know that... She was very quiet and obedient back in school..."
"Well, they say that quiet people are even more prone to doing unimaginable things..."
"That's not true! I'm quiet, too!"
"Well, you're not now."
"Hahahahaha"

Adulthood

"Why are you still coming back so often? You're already married into your husband's house. Go help you mother-in-law instead."
"But --- says I don't have to. I don't know how to cook anyways..."
"That is no excuse. Go help your mother-in-law cut up vegetables or do something simple. You don't necessarily need to cook."
"Ugh... Next time, mom. I'm already here anyways."
"Girls these days... Don't even know how to do a decent house chore... Back in my days, we--"


"My mother is complaining about you, you know... She's saying that you're not helping around, even during the festive celebrations. Even though mother doesn't look like it, she cares about these kind of things, too. Try to help out some, alright? I'm not asking you to cook and do laundry and all the house chores but at least help a little. Please? For me?"
"Oh, fine. If you put it that way... I thought you said your mother was modern-minded. Who does all these house chores nowadays, anyway? We have maids for a reason, you know."
"Ah, but we don't. Not us."
"Not yet, you mean. You do remember that you promise me a maid when I give birth to our first child, right? I expect you to keep that promise. Or else, I'll really divorce you..."
"Come on, dear... Don't say such things... I promise I'll get a maid when you get pregnant, alright? Now don't sulk and smile for me, dear."


"You promised me a maid when I get pregnant! Now our child is five and yet, where's the maid? You said the economy was bad when I gave birth and I agreed to wait a couple of months, then it became a year and now, five years down the road and yet no maid!"
"You know we can't afford one right now... The government is introducing all these new plans on hired help and frankly, it's more hassle than help..."
"But you promised! You said I don't need to do all the house work and that we'll share the tasks. You said you'll cook for us. You said you'll bring me to Paris for our third honeymoon. You said--"
"I know, I know. But you also know I can't now, right dear? The economy's bad and now that you're not working--"
"Oh. Now it's my fault, is it? I told you I wanted to go back to my old company after my maternity rest but no, you told me to rest longer and take care of the child until he became more manageable. Then, you told me that this place we shifted to is too far from my old company and that you'll find me a job in your company. Then you told me that the boss's relative got the post and now you're blaming me for not working?!"
"Dear, calm down. I never blamed you for anything! I was just saying that our income now is not as much as it used to be and--"
"Enough of your excuses! You always said that you're tired after coming back from work and that you'll do the laundry the next morning before you leave for the company but you always forget! And I'll be the one to do the laundry. Then, you tell me you're too tired to cook after work and that you'll cook the next day. Now our kitchen is covered with a layer of dust! If it were not for me boiling herbal soup every now and then, the stove would've been non-operational by now!"
"Dear... You must understand that working in a multinational company is stressful. All the quotas and meetings and stuff... it's all so tiring. And the lady boss is always nagging me to do this and that and my subordinates are too clueless to be of much help..."
"I did all that and yet am still able to perform house chores back then! If I can manage taking care of the child, cleaning the house, doing the laundry after work, why can't you?"
"It's not as simple as you think. You're only an assistant back then, I'm a manager. My job's burden is much more compared to yours."
"Oh, now you're saying my job is easier, huh? Why don't you try doing accounts all day, morning to night non-stop? Try walking from the 11th floor to the ground floor carrying a stack of papers just because the lift is crowded and that you're supposed to hand it to the head five minutes ago? In high heels, no less!"
"That's enough! I don't want to talk about this anymore. I'm already stressed out after work, I don't need this when I get back home..."
"What? And now it's my fault? You're the one who's incapable of taking care of this family. You're the one who cannot stand the pressure. You're a lousy breadwinner, that's what. All the other husbands are all CEOs and Chairmans and all, and their wives can shop all they want all day while I have to slave about at home doing menial tasks and get looked down by my useless husband when he comes home from work. Is this how you repay me for all that I've done for the family? If this is the treatment I get, I want a divorce!"
"Don't wave that word around so carelessly. It's not a toy you can play with and then discard whenever you like."
"I'm not toying around with you. I want a divorce! You've not only wasted my efforts all these years, you've even wasted my youth! I could have chosen that sweet guy who gave me deer meat weekly or that guy who's a boss of a car-repairing company but I chose you instead! An average, good-for-nothing unambitious loser!"
"That's it! If it's a divorce you want, it's a divorce you'll get!"
"Fine!"

Note: "---" refers to a person's name. I'm leaving it blank since I'm uncreative in the naming department.