The Expletive 'SHIT'

Flashes of lightning streaked across the sky. Thunder could be heard rumbling like a drum roll in the distance. Dark clouds were gathering. A heavy rain was imminent.

Against a headwind, I weaved hurriedly through a maze of parked cars towards Bank Simpanan Nasional, the place where I receive my monthly salary. Chinese New Year was around the corner and I needed to withdraw some money for my parents to use. When I reached the ATM booth outside the building, I self-consciously combed my tousled hair with my fingers to make it neat. Then,I fished out my card from my bag and inserted it into a teller machine. A lady was standing next to me, running her hand over the keyboard of the other machine for seemingly the same purpose of withdrawing cash.

As usual, the first thing I saw on the screen of the machine was the instruction ' Key In Your Pin Number'. I did as instructed and pressed the button ‘Enter’. Next, a table of figures ranging from RM100 to RM1000 appeared and I selected the amount of cash that I wished to withdraw. Presto and in no time I would be receiving my money. However, the least expected thing happened. The machine whirred strangely and the screen went pitch black . I gasped and wondered what was happening. Then, in three to five seconds, light returned to the screen together with a statement which read: “ Your Card Has Been Retained.”

Exasperated, my visceral reaction was to say the word ‘SHIT!” . I swore so loud that it startled the lady standing next to me. She cast me an apprehensive look and sidestepped away from me, as though avoiding a plague. Embarrassed, I smacked my forehead and apologized to her, “Sorry, my ATM card has just been swallowed.” She looked at me agape. I had to repeat the same apology once more. The tenseness on her face gradually loosened up . When she came into full understanding of the matter, her eyes glinted with amusement.

“Hehe..,” she giggled. “ You’d better claim your card at the counter in bank.”
I could feel my cheeks burning. Thanking her for the reminder, I strode out of the ATM booth into the bank.

It took me thirty minutes to retrieve my card. I went back to the ATM booth and was able to withdraw my money. However, I could not go out because it was pelting with rain outside. Desperate to get home, I ran to a sundry shop across the road amidst the rain. I was filled with relief at sight of some umbrellas there. I picked a rainbow colored umbrella and took it to the cashier counter. Just as I was about to pay the money, I heard a familiar voice behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw the lady whom I had met earlier in the ATM booth.

“Hi, nice to see you here.”
“Have you got your card back?”
“Yes, I have."

"Buying yourself a new umbrella ?" asked she, pointing at the umbrella in my hand.

"Yes, it's raining heavily,"

"I bought myself a new umbrella in the same shop too." The lady shook her umbrella showily.

" Fortunately the shop sells umbrellas. If not, I may have to wait till the rain stops."

“Oh, I’ve got to go now,” The lady glanced over her watch. “Be cool next time, okay?”

“I will,” I smiled sheepishly at her.

“Bye,” She waved at me.

“Bye,” I waved back at her.
Holding her umbrella in one hand, she got into a black Myvi, hit the gas and drove away in the pouring rain.

I wonder how she thought of me.