I met Rita in 2009. We joined Kelana Convoy trip to Europe. After that trip, she came to Durham in winter 2009 with her friend, Hayat. We went to Newcastle and ate at Gekko. The restaurant claims that they serve Halal food but they also serve non-halal food (they put the trays in different sections though).
On our back to Durham, I remember of thinking about the plates and such that we use. Opsie…. what if the plates that we used are the ones that were used by others who ate non-halal thingy like pork-based food? This makes me realise that I have to be extra careful when it comes to eating at such restaurant which caters the halal and non-halal food.
Rita lost her mom not long after our trip. Her trip to Durham was the trip before she went back to Malaysia for good. She is a clever and hardworking individual. Even though, she might appear playful, but she is very serious when it comes to serious things. When she shared her woes with me, I told her that she needs to discuss and confide in with her mom. She said that she didn’t want to make her mom to worry about her and her siblings so there were times when she would rather share about her problems with friends. What a tenacious and caring girl! She has already the characteristics of an iron lady at that time.
I am glad that everything turns out alright for her after the incident that shocked the whole country in 2010. Alhamdullillah justice has been well-served even though it took about seven years to find the closure. The thing happened during Ramadan. May Allah Bless her mom with Jannah.