When people say nothing at all..
Just received an SMS from my aunt (let's call her Aunt #2). Apparently she just heard from another aunt, Aunt #3 that Aunt #1 is going for a brain tumor operation today. And that my cousin, Hot Mama (daughter of Aunt #3) is getting married this Monday. The thing is, Aunt #2 reminded me that both information are hush hush and even if I was asked, I didn't find out from her.
Funny how people regard some important news as secretive, while when it comes to putting people down - it is a free-for-all information. I mean, a wedding is a auspicious occasion, why keep it a silent affair? True, it is her second wedding but most of us already know about her plans! And on Aunt #1 - all of us accepted the fact that after her marriage to Pak Long ended, she doesn't quite feel at ease around the family. We keep in touch, see each other during celebrations but not quite as close. Still, an important operation like this? We won't visit if she doesn't want us to, but the least we could do is offer our prayers. We can't do that if we didn't know right?
But when it comes to gossip, oh my! People wouldn't even think twice to spread the news, sometimes with a dash or two of their own seasoning (Aboh calls it nasik tamboh). Why they get divorced, how much was their house, who is having marital trouble, who said what to whom..you get the drift. In the actual fact, these are the things you think people would want to keep mum about!
Aunt #2 and I got into a series of SMS-es after that. I realise that this doesn't just stop in families. It happens everywhere - at school, at work..etc. The juicier the gossip, the better. Sometimes, you get a surprise when some colleagues ask you about your deepest, darkest secret *Of course, the version with some salt and pepper!* when only a couple of people knew about it. And by then, you just pray that this colleague won't spread the info to the next two.. and the next two.. and the next two..
I guess this is how the wise elderly folks come up with:
Mulut tempayan boleh ditutup, tapi mulut orang..
*Errr, is this right?*
Funny how people regard some important news as secretive, while when it comes to putting people down - it is a free-for-all information. I mean, a wedding is a auspicious occasion, why keep it a silent affair? True, it is her second wedding but most of us already know about her plans! And on Aunt #1 - all of us accepted the fact that after her marriage to Pak Long ended, she doesn't quite feel at ease around the family. We keep in touch, see each other during celebrations but not quite as close. Still, an important operation like this? We won't visit if she doesn't want us to, but the least we could do is offer our prayers. We can't do that if we didn't know right?
But when it comes to gossip, oh my! People wouldn't even think twice to spread the news, sometimes with a dash or two of their own seasoning (Aboh calls it nasik tamboh). Why they get divorced, how much was their house, who is having marital trouble, who said what to whom..you get the drift. In the actual fact, these are the things you think people would want to keep mum about!
Aunt #2 and I got into a series of SMS-es after that. I realise that this doesn't just stop in families. It happens everywhere - at school, at work..etc. The juicier the gossip, the better. Sometimes, you get a surprise when some colleagues ask you about your deepest, darkest secret *Of course, the version with some salt and pepper!* when only a couple of people knew about it. And by then, you just pray that this colleague won't spread the info to the next two.. and the next two.. and the next two..
I guess this is how the wise elderly folks come up with:
Mulut tempayan boleh ditutup, tapi mulut orang..
*Errr, is this right?*
posted by lion3ss | 10:36 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home