The $5,800 Lesson

I'm currently starting a new business with a friend. I've been operating in the upstream and service sectors, and late last year, I decided to try my hand at the culinary industry by opening a fried food outlet in Solo.

My fried food business's grand opening took place two days ago, where I made my entire menu free for the first day. Then, on the second day, I offered a 50% discount to all customers.

Yesterday afternoon, around Maghrib, a woman in her 40s, an older woman in her 60s, and an elementary school-aged son and daughter came to my outlet while it was pouring with rain. The 40-year-old woman immediately approached me and asked me to wrap up some fried food. There were about 20 in total. After I had packed all the fried food and added some sauce and chili sauce, the older woman asked, "Sir, how long are these free?" I answered matter-of-factly, "Sorry, Ma'am, the free fried food was only available yesterday. Today, we're paying for it, but it's only half price. Tomorrow, it'll be back to normal price, Ma'am."

The two mothers immediately showed shocked faces.

"Sir, I thought it was still free. I didn't bring any money, sir."

One of the parking attendants who knew me well immediately replied in a slightly raised tone, "I've already paid, Ma'am! If it's free every day, it's a loss. It's clearly written on the front, 50% DISCOUNT."

My fried food outlet last night. I can't show a picture of the woman I'm referring to with her family because I'm very concerned about privacy. Besides, I didn't take any pictures, hehehe.

An online motorcycle taxi driver who was queuing also chimed in with the same high tone, "If you don't have any money, just go home, ma'am. I'll buy it when I have more money tomorrow."

I was actually very surprised by the reactions of some of the people around me. This time, I started to hold back tears because I saw the two mothers so utterly wilted. Furthermore, when they saw the two children who had come with them, they were probably very embarrassed. They just lowered their heads.

"Wow, sir, I asked this lady to come back today because yesterday she was my first customer. I did promise free food, sir."

"Oh, is that so, sir," said the parking attendant in a flatter tone than before.

"Ma'am, here's your order, please take it home," I said to the two women who were still frozen beside my outlet.

The two mothers and 2 children hurriedly left my outlet, while expressing their deep gratitude to me.

"Oh, bro... bro... That person really doesn't have any money. His son sometimes takes leftover rice and vegetables from the market with his mother. If he keeps giving them to me, he'll just keep asking for them tomorrow."

"It's safe, sir, it's only yesterday and today, it won't cause me any loss."

At around 9 pm after closing the outlet, when my best friend and I were cleaning our outlet area, I saw a mother coming towards me. She is the mother who came last evening and got special free fries.

"Pripun, ma'am? Is there anything we can help you with?"

"Sir, I'm sorry, I only have this much money, 5,800 rupiah. Do you think it's enough to pay for the fried rice? If it's not enough, I'll pay again tomorrow, sir. I'll pay this in installments first," said the woman while handing over several thousand rupiah bills and coins.

"MasyaAllah, Ma'am, it's okay. No need, Ma'am. That was a special bonus for you because you've stopped by my shop twice. Here's the money to buy my fried food again tomorrow, okay, Ma'am..."

"Alhamdulillah... Thank you very much, Sir, thank you very much. Sorry, Sir, I didn't know it was no longer free, because my mother and I can't read or write, Sir. My mother and my children have been inviting us here since morning, because they liked the fried food you gave us yesterday."

My tears were hard to hold back. I'm sure the woman truly had no money, but she still tried to be honest and pay what she received. She may have lived in poverty, but her kindness and honesty seemed to know no bounds.

This afternoon, I actually didn't expect the woman to return to my outlet with her family, especially since she bought so many fried foods, far more than the day before. However, I'm certain that God has guided her to be a source of sustenance and blessings for my friend and me. I'm grateful to have been able to share with her, even if only a little.

Friends, we live with many people whose experiences we never fully understand. We don't truly know what each person is struggling with. So it would be wise if we weren't so quick to judge and assume the worst of others.

My mother once said, "If someone asks for help, the important thing is to help first as long as you can. Whether he really deserves help or not, let that be his business with Allah. Helping is your business with Allah, let it be a record of your good deeds with Allah, Nang, the important thing is to be sincere."