1    O$P$

        “Bzzt… Bzzt...”

        After dinner, I was browsing the news on my computer when my phone buzzed with a series of urgent notifications. I saw three messages; two were work permits of my helper Aizah, and the last one, “O$P$”, reeked of trouble.

        “What's going on?” I hurried into Aizah's room, demanding an explanation.

        “It's nothing, don't worry about it.” Aizah replied calmly.

        But I needed to know the whole story.

        My mother, suffering from dementia, was often confused, sometimes lucid. To avoid upsetting her, I told Aizah, “Let's discuss this after mom falls asleep.”

        After tucking my mother into bed, Aizah made a call, speaking in Malay for a while before handing me the phone.

        On the other end was Thomas, his voice polite and measured. “Don't worry about those harassing calls. They're all former employees I fired. They're just trying to cause trouble.”

        “I don't care about your company's internal affairs. I just want to know, is Aizah's debt cleared?”

        “Yes, they are cleared.” Thomas confirmed.

        “Thank you.” I breathed a sigh of relief and quickly hung up the phone. But I grumbled: “How did you get involved with loan sharks? Haven't I always told you to stay away from them?”

        “I saw an ad on my phone, got curious, and asked them some questions.”

        Aizah's answer reminded me of Adam taking a bite out of the forbidden fruit.

        “A week later, I received a message demanding repayment. That's when I realized they had deposited 120 dollars into my account a few days earlier.”

        “Why borrow 120 dollars? You could have just asked for an advance on your salary.”

        “I told them that, too. 120 dollars, I could have just asked my boss for an advance.”

        “What happened next?”

        “I offered to pay it all back, but they didn't respond. Then I contacted Thomas, and he said he could handle it.”

        “How do you even know Thomas?”

        “A friend introduced us.”

        “But you haven't been going out much lately. How did you repay the loan?”

        “I asked a friend to help. I had money deposited with her.”

        I had only seen Aizah within the confines of our home. Now I realized her life had other networks - networks I was unaware of. And these networks weren't virtual; they were real and tangible.

“Be careful who you trust from now on.”

    I hoped the matter would end there. 

    But…… it did not.

2    Who is Jack? Who is Thomas?

        The next day, after dinner, I sat with my mother watching a television series. At eight o'clock, the phone rang. The caller introduced himself, “I'm Jack. You received my message yesterday, right?”

        “Well……”

        I had expected this call to come.

        “According to my information, Aizah's debt is already paid.”

        “What information do you have?”

        “I spoke to your boss yesterday.”

        “Who's my boss?”

        “Thomas.”

        “Who's Thomas? I don't know any Thomas.” - Firm and decisive.

        “Thomas told me the debt was cleared.” - Equally resolute.

        “Brother, let me ask you a simple question. Aizah borrowed money from me and then repaid it to someone else. Do you consider that settled?”

        After a three-second pause, I replied,         

        “No.”

        “So, what do you intend to do?”

        I knew I had to stay calm and not lose my composure.

        “I don't mind you calling Aizah to collect the debt.”

        “You're Aizah's employer. Don't you find it embarrassing?”

        “She's the one who borrowed the money, not me!”

        “Why don't you just pay it for her and clear the debt?”

        “Maybe you should ask yourself why you didn't think properly before lending the money. If she can't repay, then you'll just have to accept it. It's your bad investment!”

        “How can you talk like that? I just want to collect my money!” Jack's voice raged with anger.

        “Ha! There's nothing to talk about between us unless you're willing to go to the police station with me.”

        “Brother, remember! I have your personal information.”

        “Sorry.” The other side was starting to threaten me. Before I could hear any more obscenities, I hung up the phone.

        As soon as I hung up, Aizah's phone rang. I couldn't hear the conversation clearly, but I could sense the tension.

        Before bed, we had another meeting.
       Aizah informed me that she would transfer 300 dollars the next day to

end the dispute.

        “But...... there's only 200 dollars in my account right now.” She then

hesitantly proposed an advance payment from me.

        “Didn't you tell me you wanted to keep your salary in Singapore?”

        She had felt that the Indonesian exchange rate fluctuated wildly and preferred to keep Singapore dollars. “Where is all the money you earned these past two years?”

        “Hari Raya is coming soon. I have to send money home.”

        “Alright, I'll pay you 200 dollars in advance.”

        “No, 150 will do.”

        “It's fine, let's just round it up.” I transferred the money in front of her using my computer.

        Before we adjourned, I threw a few questions at Aizah. I did not demand answers.

• Who is Jack?

• Who  is Thomas?

• Did  your friend really help you repay the loan?

• What  is the relationship between Jack and Thomas? Are they boss and  subordinate, friends, or complete strangers?

• Is  Thomas taking advantage of the situation?

        Working abroad, besides language, you have to face many complex issues. From the countryside to the city, from one country to another, you're not just dealing with geographical distance or language barriers, but a complete upheaval of your lifelong understanding. Foreign workers are in a state of emptiness, forced to build new knowledge, new values, and integrate into a new system of life.

        Aizah went back to her room. Her helpless, lost gaze lingered before me. I examined our employer-employee relationship.

        But, Where was the trust? What kind of dependence existed between us?

3    “Aizah, you're on a sinking ship!”

        At noon, Aizah informed me that Jack had provided the account number for the transfer. We walked together to the nearest ATM. On the way, Aizah said, “Sorry, the account is still short of 50 dollars. Jack told me, yesterday is yesterday, today is today. The debt has already risen to 400 dollars today. Can you help me pay it, please?”

        My brow furrowed. The loan shark was too brazen! Should I confront him? Or should I remain on the sidelines and let Aizah learn a painful lesson?

        “I can deposit the money into your account. I'm a neat freak, I don't want anything to do with loan sharks.” I said.

        Modern technology is a double-edged sword. It offers convenience while creating new problems.

        After the transfer, I asked Aizah to use her phone to take a picture of the receipt and send it to the other side.

        Then we parted ways. Aizah went home to stay with my mother, and I had to go to work.

        But two minutes later, Aizah called me again. Her voice trembled……

        “Jack called again. He said I still owed him 100 dollars. I yelled at him, I'm not paying anymore. Jack threatened to have my employer send me back to my country.”

        “Aizah, calm down. You're on a sinking ship! From now on, turn off your phone, don't answer any calls, and we'll talk tonight.”

        “I want to go home. Next Saturday, okay?” Aizah said that night.

        “Hari Raya is an important holiday. Indonesian maids all go home for the holidays. Even those who are in Indonesia only come out to find work after the holidays. Can you hold on until after Hari Raya? Mom needs your care.”

        “If the loan shark doesn't bother me, I'd love to stay.”

        “I understand.” I replied quietly.

        Our final agreement was to observe for a few days before making a decision.

        Before bed, I pulled out the contract. Termination only required six days. Aizah was a new generation of maids, with a certain level of education.

        She knew the contract well.

        Following the rules, I had no right to prevent her from resigning.

4    “Boss, hello! Can you lend me 3000 dollars?”

        The doorbell of my studio rang. Two Indian workers arrived.

        “Boss, hello! Can you lend me 3000 dollars?” they asked.

        “Who told you I offer loans?” I countered.

        “The ad on Facebook. I got this address through my phone.” The other side showed me the source of the information on their phone. I saw my own headshot on the ad, looking like a friendly financial broker for a lending company.

        “Show me your ID first. Let me think about it.”

        Then, I quickly took a picture of their work permits and also got their phone numbers. Then I sent the workers away.

        What other tricks would the loan sharks use next?

5    “Let the police gather evidence and arrest the loan shark.”

        “Thomas has vanished!” That was the first thing Aizah said when we met.

        “Let's go to the police station tomorrow morning. It's not about shaming you, it's about letting the police gather evidence and arrest the loan shark.”

        Aizah reluctantly agreed, saying, “I'm so confused right now. I'm afraid I won't be able to explain myself clearly.”

6    Was Aizah scared by the police's authoritative demeanour?

        The next day, early in the morning, we arrived at the police station.

        A Malay police officer was there to greet us.

        “Perfect, you can just tell the police your experience in Malay.” I told Aizah.

        Since I didn't understand Malay, I decided to leave for a while. I spent the time at a nearby maid agency to find out about the current monthly salary and supply of maids in the market, preparing for the coming changes. Reality makes us cunning. We're constantly aware of the winds of change around us. We constantly arm ourselves, preparing for the unexpected without revealing our intentions.

        Aizah finished her statement four hours later.

        Pale-faced, Aizah was paralyzed. Was she frightened by the police's authoritative questioning?

7    “I'm leaving tomorrow. Okay?”

        “I'm leaving tomorrow. Okay?” Aizah begged during our evening meeting.

        “Tomorrow?”

        I felt Aizah's suppressed emotions. She said, “I haven't been to the mosque in a long time. I'm possessed! People back home are jealous of my earnings, so they put a curse on me.”

        “Would you like go to mosque tomorrow ?”

        “For the past five years, I haven't gone to mosque.  I can’t stand the hypocrisy of my friends. When they go to mosque, they cover themselves up completely. But as soon as they step out, they're all dolled up again. I despise them, and I don't want to attend the service at the mosque.”

        “Perhaps, just a prayer in your own bedroom.”

        “No, when my mind is in a good state, I can think rationally. But when I'm confused, I'm not in control. My mind knows I shouldn't borrow money, but my hands don't listen.”Aizah sobbed, “What if my hands don't listen to me next time, and I take a knife and kill myself?”

        I knew I couldn't keep Aizah anymore. I had always envied friends who could keep the same maid for 10 years. If Aizah left, all the effort I had put in these past three years would be wasted, and I would have to start all over again. Perhaps, the path of life is destined to be restless, constantly seeking a new balance.

        But leaving tomorrow wasn't practical.

        Looking into Aizah's vacant eyes, I calmed myself and explained slowly, “I need to process the cancellation of your work permit with MOM, otherwise, I can't apply for a new helper. We also need to close your bank account before you leave. We need to settle the accounts before you go.”

        Aizah agreed.

        “Where are you going?”

        “I'm broke. I can only take a boat back to Batam, wait for my family to pick me up.”Aizah knew she hadn't completed her two-year contract, so she had no reason to ask me to pay for her plane ticket. But considering her three years of service, taking good care of my mother, the ticket was just a small gesture of my appreciation.

“Yogyakarta, right?” I remembered her hometown was near Yogyakarta.

        “No, Jakarta.”

        Jakarta is a long way from Yogyakarta. Was she trying to save me money?

        “If you really want to go to Yogyakarta, it's fine.”

        “But I want to go to the Grand Mosque in Jakarta, to cleanse my soul. My brother isn't going to university anymore. He's going to Jakarta to find a job, and Dad is going with him to find a place to live. We have our reunion dinner there. In our hometown, family ties are strong, unlike the impersonal relationships here.”

        Suddenly, changing the subject, she said, “Take your mom to the temple. Even though she doesn't say it out in words, she really wants to go to the temple with her children.” As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

        “Every night, when I hear the wind chimes at the window swaying, they say it's a visiting spirit. Maybe your ancestors want to see her, because your mom hasn't been to the temple in a long time.”

        After letting her release her emotions, I said slowly, “It's late. Let's book your ticket tomorrow morning.”

        After turning off the lights and lying in bed, I heard my mother mumbling in her sleep from the next room, like she was reminiscing with her ancestors, like she was back in her childhood home.

        “It's been fifty years since I left Ah Hood Road…... Where did everyone move to? ...... Is the Jasmine I planted back then still blooming?”

        The cold wind blew, and my mother's mumbling intertwined with the sound of the wind chimes.

        The night deepened.

8    “Mandi Bunga?”

        At dawn, shrouded in mist, I bent down in the home garden and picked five-coloured flowers, steeped them in clear water, added a few slices of pomelo leaves, and handed them to Aizah. “This is flower water. They say it can ward off evil spirits.”

        Aizah, who had been frowning and tense for days, showed a rare, relaxed smile. She said, “Mandi Bunga! You believe in this too?”

        She took the flower water willingly, her slender fingers dipped into the vessel, gently caressing the petals, pressing her palm flat until her entire hand was submerged. Then, she gently flicked the flower water onto her arm, then her forehead, brows, cheeks, neck, and long hair.

        In that moment of flicking the flower water, Aizah seemed to transcend the mundane world, immersed in the tranquillity, peace, and purity of the fragrance.

        I entrusted the cancellation of her work permit to the agency.

        I took half a day off and accompanied Aizah to the bank.

        The bank teller kindly reminded us, “This account was only opened less than two months ago. Closing it now will incur a penalty. Is there a specific reason?”

        “She got involved with a loan shark, and she has to go home.”

“As long as you show a police report, we can make an exception and apply for an exemption from the penalty with our supervisor.”

        “Aizah, where's your police report?” I turned to Aizah beside me.

        “It's at home.”

        “Then I'll come back tomorrow morning after I send her to the airport.” I told the bank-teller.

        “Okay. Just make sure Aizah completes the authorisation form.”

        Was it the blessing of the flower water? The complicated situation suddenly became simple.

9    “Do you believe Aizah's story about being possessed?”

        On the day Aizah left, I took my mother to my aunt's house. I also asked a friend to accompany us. We've heard stories of maids running away, throwing tantrums, or suddenly crying at the airport. We never know what might happen. Having an extra person to send her off provides an extra layer of security.

        The renovated airport was bright and minimalist.

        “They say passengers waiting for their flights can request to take the train and travel through the majestic waterfall curtain at Jewel Changi.” I told Aizah. “I haven't had that experience yet. You’ve beat me to that.”

        Aizah pursed her lips and remained silent.

        Before going through customs, I asked her to hold all the documents she needed to show.

        After passing through the immigration counter, Aizah walked forward resolutely, without looking back.

        As the dust settled, my friend who accompanied me looked puzzled and asked, “Do you believe Aizah's story about being possessed?”

        I shrugged without an answer.

        The bank wasn't crowded, but the wait was bearable. I got a number. I felt bored and I read Aizah's statement from the police station. It basically said: Aizah applied for a loan of 2000 dollars, but the next day she had second thoughts and wanted to back out. The loan shark refused and forcibly transferred 120 dollars into her account. A week later, they demanded interest. Aizah hurriedly tried to repay the principal, but they refused. Finally, the loan shark approached her employer about the loan......

        I must say the police did a good job. They have their own professional training and ways to unearth the real story.

        In retrospect, I wondered if Aizah missed home after five years of working abroad.

10    Hari Raya is a time for forgiveness

        The room still had Aizah's uncleaned belongings, including T-shirts, shorts, and a diary. The diary contained records of her work here in English, and another part of it in the language of Jawi.

        Even though I could not understand its contents, should I have delved

further into her writings in Jawi?

        I felt there was no need. Hari Raya is a time for forgiveness. After the confessions, she would be a new person again, and everything would start afresh.

        “Ring…… ring……” the phone rang.

        Who’s that?

        I picked up the phone. It was my brother.

        He suggested, “Let’s find a time to visit Grandma at the temple with mother.”

        I cleaned the room, and pulled the curtains, letting the sunlight through.