~ just the two of us ~

Today, being one of the most rare moments of my work life, leaving the office after 8pm. My kind boss, called me up on my direct extension just to check on me if I'm still around in the office. It was 9pm. When I picked up the phone, "Rachel, go back, go back. Don't stay in the office already". After a few "ok, ok, ok", I finally hung up. However, I wanted to finish the presentation slides for tomorrow's review with the customer. I was rather nervous about the review because I was going to present for my quality side, and it would be held at the customer's place. My boss was finally forced to go by the bigger boss. I was rather relieved when he said he'll be going too.
Before I left the office, I called my boss to review the slides soonest possible. And before ending my conversation he said the same thing he did about almost an hour ago.

The time on my watch showed 9.40pm. Packed my bag, went to relieve myself first then I left the office. Once after 8.30pm, we're allowed to take a cab back and we're allowed to claim for the cab fare. I was standing outside at the junction near the office building, waiting for a cab. None passed by and I waited there like a dungu for about 10 mins.

A cab came along, but it showed "Busy" on his meter. But I just flagged my hand at him, in fact, at any cab that passed by because I was kinda tired and not to mention hungry. The driver stopped, he wound down the screen and I popped my head and told him the place where I live.

He nodded his head, and asked me to go in. He's a bit elderly, but I couldn't make out how old he roughly was. A small conversation took place in the cab.

Driver: Aiyohh, why you wait on this side of the road. You should wait opposite lah. (he spoke to me in Mandarin)

Me: Oh, I didn't know. (I spoke back to him in my broken Mandarin).

Driver: How do you want to go back? I take the PIE (Expressway), then I turn in to this road, is this ok? (in Mandarin still).

Me: Can, can. (in Mandarin).

Driver: You just after work ah? (in Mandarin).

Me: Yeah, just finished work. (in English)

Driver: Oh.. what time is your working hours? (in Mandarin).

Me: From 8am to 5.30pm. (in English)

Driver: (looking at the time on the screen) Ah? Now what time already? So late. (in English)

Me: No choice. OT lor.

Driver: Your OT got money one or not?

Me: No. Hehehe.

Driver: Ah?? No money??? Then why you work until so late? Do tomorrow lah!

Me: Errr.. cannot. Need to show customer one.

Driver: Aiyah.. can do tomorrow, do tomorrow lah.

Me: Ok.
(Silence till he started to turn into the road I was staying in. Suddenly my phone rang, and Jason was asking me where I was. After talking to him...

Driver: Ah.. your boyfriend call you already.

Me: Not boyfriend. My husband.

Driver: (Turned around to look at me). Ah? husband ah? You so young married already ah? You marry young ah?

Me: Hahaha. Yeah, can say so.

Driver: Just got married is it?

Me: In 2006.

Driver: Wah.. almost 2 years already. So young ah. You got baby already?

Me: No. Don't have. Hahaha.

Driver: Oh.. so just now your husband call you he angry with you ah? Come back so late. He never see you whole day....

Me: No-la. He not angry with me. He knows I work late.

Driver: Oh.. ok..

(Reached in front of the food court, and I was to alight there, after paying him and getting the receipt...)

Driver: Thank you, good night.

Me: Thank you, good night to you too.

Hahahaha.. It was a funny conversation. It put a smile on my face after a whole day of stress at work. And about me being married, Jason & I played along this whole idea of boyfriend and girlfriend thing with the lady who sells the hot desserts at the Bedok Interchange. Until one fine day, I told he's actually my husband. It was nice looking at people's reaction. Hahaha. She asked me when we got married and it ended up me telling her that we're both Msian's, and bla bla.

Same thing went for my working place too. A few people asked me if this is my first job and am I a fresh grad. When I told them I have been working for 4 yrs plus and this is my 3rd company, they all got a shock. Hahaha. And my colleagues too had a shock that I was married. Now, my boss is encouraging me to have kids and not wait too long! Oh no! Hahaha..

Okies, will be leaving for Melaka Thursday evening. WooHoo! Can't wait. Hopefully I'm able to finish things off at customer's earlier so I don't have to rush to the bus station. Till then, here's wishing all S'poreans, a Happpppppyyyy National Day!

Posted in: chit chat on 7 August 2008 at at 12:01 am