Never forget your IC

Ahmad Abdul Abdullah is a very forgetful and absent-minded man. He always forgets where he puts things and also never remembers to bring essential items like his IC with him.

Being quite an elderly man, his situation is quite understandable. He is out of date with today’s society and a little bit behind because of his dislike of reading.

One day, Ahmad woke up and decided to go to the bank. He used to be a government employee and he wanted to withdraw a little bit of his pension money.

As soon as he reached the bank, he quickly filled up the withdrawal form and proceeded to the counter. When his number was called, he went up and approached the teller.

“Assalamualaikum pakcik. Can I have your IC please? We need to verify your identity” asked the teller.

Ahmad reached for his back pocket. He was expecting to find his wallet. Instead, all he found was his empty back pocket. He must have left it at home.

“I’m sorry. I seem to have forgotten my IC. But it’s okay. I assure you I am who I say I am,” smiled Ahmad.

“I’m sorry pakcik. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. I have to insist on your IC to approve the withdrawal. Maybe you can come back tomorrow.”

Ahmad sighed and nodded. The teller looked at him with an apologetic look. There was nothing he could do and so he left the bank dejectedly.

A week later, after he had finally managed to withdraw some of his pension money, Ahmad decided to go on a short holiday to the north.

He thought it would be exciting if he took an overnight sleeper berth train. So he went to the train station with his bag and proceeded to the ticket counter.

“That will be RM90 for the ticket pakcik,” said the ticket sales person.

“There’s a discount for senior citizens, right?” smiled Ahmad.

“Yes, of course. It’s a 50% discount. May I have your IC please? We need to verify your age.”

Ahmad opened up his wallet and went through his myriad of cards but he couldn’t find his IC in any of the slots. He must have left it in the pocket of his other pair of pants.

“I’m sorry. I think my IC is in my other pair of pants at home. But I assure you that I am legally a senior citizen.”

“I’m sorry pakcik. With all the hormone-injected chicken and meat we eat these days, even school kids look much older than their actual age.”

Ahmad sighed and looked dejected. He had no choice but to pay the full fare. The ticket sales person just looked on apologetically and gave him his ticket.

On the train, Ahmad relaxed as it was a nice night and sitting in the train’s cafeteria cabin, he was happy and looking forward to his holiday trip.

The train was travelling fast and suddenly, the cabin began to jerk violently, its wheels screeching, followed by the loudest bang he had ever heard. Then Ahmad lost consciousness.

The next think he knew, he was in a place so serene like he had never seen before. A voice then told him that he was already dead and this is the afterlife.

“Assalamualaikum pakcik, your life has expired. But don’t worry. God is just and if you have been faithful to Him, you will be alright,” said the voice.

Ahmad just smiled. He had been a pious man when he was alive, always going to the mosque and doing good deeds. He knew he had nothing to worry about.

Then the voice continued.

“Before we proceed further, please present your IC so we can verify your religion.”

The end. – June 13, 2014.

*This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.