THE OLD LADY CURE NEK// THE OLD LADYS DEATH

The incident began when Azreen persuaded Asraf to allow the Old Lady to treat
his sick grandmother, Nek, with her medical herbs. At first, Nek began recover,
making the reader think that the Old Ladys medicine had worked in curing her.
KIND Eventually, Asraf was told that his grandmother had suddenly passed
away. The villagers convinced him that the Old Lady poisoned Nek. Being angry
and feeling lost, Asraf together with seven other men went to the Old Ladys
house with torches.
Azreen tried to stop Asraf from doing something regretful but the torch he held
accidentally fell and the Old ladys house caught fire. Azreen ran into the house
to try to save the Old Lady but she could not do so as the Old Lady was trapped
under a fallen pillar. Lastly, Azreens father pulled her out of the house and the
Old Lady died. Azreens sense of responsibility had made her brave enough to
face Asraf and the men in order to save the Old Lady. This feeling had also made
her go to Asrafs house, beating and kicking him for the Old Ladys death.
BRAVE/RESPONSIBLE
The Old Lady still tried to teach Azreen the lesson of forgiveness. She was willing
to forgive the people who had caused her death and she implored Azreen to do
the same with the people who had wronged her. FORGIVING/KIND

THE OLD LADY LIFE

The Old Lady lived a lonely life in the jungle and became self-sufficient after she
was accused by the villagers of killing her husband. The police let her go upon
hearing her story that her husband had brutally abused and tormented her. Her
action had caused her to be shunned by the villagers although she did it in selfdefence. The kept gossiping and stared at her curiously until she could not
tolerate them anymore. She left the main village but she had no money to leave
the island. She found the deserted house in the jungle and made it her own.
FORGIVING
The Old Lady also shows responsibility. She was not only excited to hear about
Azreens experience in London and how she lived there but was also very
concerned about Azreens welfare and how she coped with her studies. When
Azreen wanted to spend night at her house because she could not bear with her
father, the Old Lady allowed her to do so without asking any questions. She
always cooked for Azreen and braided Azreens hair. She also advised Azreen and
always
stands
by
Azreen
through
thick
and
thin.

KIND//CARING//RESPONSIBLE//LOVE
If I were the Old Lady, I would also take the same action to protect
myself. It is because I do not want people to harm me. Maybe it was the
best thing I should do. The event has taught me how to become
forgiving and independent. Besides, the incident above clearly shows
that rumours can be damaging.

THE OLD LADY & AZREEN

Everyone in the village thought that the Old Lady was an evil witch who could
turn anyone into animals and cook for dinner. Azreen did not believe of word of
it. Therefore, she was challenged by her classmates to see the Old Lady herself.
Azreen made a gallant attempt and went up to the secluded house in the woods.
The Old Lady tried to chase Azreen away but Azreen told her that she meant no
harm and was only trying to prove that the Old Lady was harmless. The Old Lady
scolded Azreen for trampling over her plants and told her to get out. However,
Azreen came back the next day to repair the trampled bed of ladys finger which
she had done. From then on, Azreen and the Old Lady became good friends. It
was peculiar but lasting friendship. BRAVE/RESPONSIBLE
If I were Azreen, I would befriend with the Old Lady too. Rumours are
often untrue and we must be open-minded too. As name itself
suggested, was old. I would assume that she was probably not capable
of doing any harm. It is impossible for anyone to turn humans into
animals. Therefore, I would know the tale was absurd.

THE BULL ESCAPED// AZREEN ACT IN HASTE // AWANG CONFESSED TO

AZREEN
Azreen acted impulsively and took blame for Asraf for leaving the farm gate
open. Her priority was to defend her friendwithout thinking of the consequences.
Asraf got a job at Encik Mohans farm, taking care of his farm. On that moment,
Asraf went out for a while to buy some kuih for his grandmother. When he
returned, he found out that the gate open and the bull escaped. Encik Mohan and
his son accused him to not lock the gate. Azreen was there and she admitted she
was the one who open the gate and let bull out. The bull got into serious
accident involved with Azreens parents. Her mother lost the use of one of her
legs. Her father caned her. Azreen shouldered the responsibility and did not
reveal the truth although she was punished severely. Because if Asraf were to be
fired, he would not be able to save up to buy the motorbike he wanted. Madhuri
tried to shield Azreen from their father violent anger but it was to no avail.
Azreen went bed with slashes of the rotan all over her legs and backs.
If I were Azreen, I wold not take the blame. Even though I am loyal
friend, I would not jeopardize myself because it has a long term effect. I
would not take stupid decision and act in haste. Probably there is
another way to solve the problems wisely. The incident has taught me
to think before act.

AZREEN BROKE HER MOTHERS FAVOURITE BASKET

One afternoon, Azreen had found a cluster of durians that had fallen from the
near their house. She had grabbed the basket and filled it with as many as she
could carry. Halfway up the steps of the house, the handle snapped and all the
durians fell to the ground. Madhuri then came to help her and she put away the
basket, grabbed her fathers parang and went into the jungle to find rattan. Later
at home, they wove the new basket. Their fingers hurt to weave a new basket as
close as they could to the original. They just hoped that their mother would not
be upset when she found out the truth RESPONSIBLE//LOVE

FORMAL LETTER
Name, Senders Address
Name, Recipients Address
DEC 1998

Dear sir/madam,
Trip to City
On behalf of the.... // I am writing to
inform// I would like to complain
about
2.
3. We hope to see some action taken
soon// I look forward to hearing from
you soon. Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
TOOK HER MOTHER
BURIAL GROUND

TO

THE

Azreens sense of responsibility

towards her mother had made her
brave enough to take her mother,
who did not know what was going on
around her to the burial ground. To
her, her mother should be there to
be with Madhuri for the last time.
This had upset her father, Salleh
Abdullah. He ordered her to take her
mother home but she ignored him.

He took a couple of angry strides

towards her but Haji Ghani moved in
to block his way. He looked at her
warily and returned to his position
and ignored her. Azreen was very
brave to face her father even though
she knew about his bad temper
BRAVE//RESPONSIBLE//LOVE
AZREEN
CONFRONTED
HER
FATHER
ABOUT
MADHURIS
DEATH//RESOLUTION
Encik Saleh took the responsibility of
his action killing his adopted
daughter, Madhuri by confessing to
Azreen, indirectly. When Encik Saleh
viciously flung parang on the ground
near Azreens feet, Azreen saw a
stain of something white and sticky
like
a
tree
sap.
She
then
remembered when she first arrived
from London, Puan Normala was
gossiping how Madhuri had white
blood. She figured out that it was not
blood but white sap from the tree
that stained the clothes when
Madhuri had knocked the cup over.
One fateful day, Encik Saleh went to
the rubber estate to get some woods
to repair the fence and he saw
Madhuri embracing a man who was
not her husband.

In this novel, there are many deaths

over a short period of time in one
family is rather illogical.

Encik Salleh died because of a

heart attack after seeing a
mysterious woman near his
house. I had hoped that Encik
Saleh would be imprisoned for a

period of time, released and

repented, so that he could learn
to be a loving father to Azreen,
but it did not happen.
The Old Lady: If she had died of
natural cause, I would not mind.
Mohd Asraf should be questioned
by the police and be punished for
his bad action.