The Settings)

8/7/2019 The Settings)

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Setting

PLACE

1. London where Azreen studies

2. A village inLangkawi Island

TIME

1. Modernday

2. Flashbacks ofthe past

SOCIETY

1. Traditional

y Wayoflife Tough life to make ends meet, dependon the weather for

goodcrops i.e. represented byPakCikHuzaimi

y Wayofthinking Backward

o Patriarchal The menofthe familymakes the ultimate decisioni.e.

represented bySaleh Abdullah

The womenare subordinates to the meni.e.

represented byHaji Ghaniand Puan Fatihah

o Behaviour Womenare expected to be polite and soft-spokeni.e.

represented byMadhuri

The village folks love togossip i.e. represented by

Puan Normala

oWomens role Womenare expected to marryafter schooland

become caregivers i.e. represented bySiti


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2. Modern

y Wayoflife Education, workingin the bigcityi.e. represented byAzreen,

Datin Sharifah and DatukZulkifli

y Wayofthinking Outspoken, daring, individualistici.e. represented by

Azreen

3. Polygamous Men taking more thanone wife i.e. represented byHaji

Ghani

4. Superstitious Believe incurses and witches i.e. represented bymost of

the villagers

CHARACTERSAzreen Saleh

Azreen Saleh is the daughter Saleh Abdullah. She is the totalopposite of

her sister, Madhuri whois pretty, sweet, polite andobedient. Hence, she

was always compared to her and she hates it. She was a tomboywhenin

school, and she oftengot into trouble. Her bestfriendin school was

Asraf. She woulddoanything to help him, evenifit meant taking the

blame for his faults. She did hadfeelings for him, but Asrafwas inlovewith someone else. She seems not toget along with her father. Shejoined

afoster programme and met her foster parents, Datin Sharifah and Datuk

Zulkifli, and theyremainclose even when the programme ended. She was

offereda scholarship to studyin UK, and she hadnt gone home for along

time not untilMadhuris death.


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y Jealous ofMadhuri

And oh, how Azreen had despised her! Madhuri was always the pretty

one.(pg. 8)

y Short, wears glasses, fierytemperedandoutspoken

Who would want anything to do with a short, bespectacled and fiery-

tempered girl who always spoke her mind, no matter how improper the

ideas were?(pg. 8)

y Obstinate

Who would love an obstinate child who was such a contrast to her

beautiful and soft-spoken sister?(pg. 8)

y Hates beingcompared with her sister

She could not stand it when her parents and friends compared her to her

sister.(pg. 8)

y Fondofher sister anyway

Perhaps she had not always despised her sister.(pg. 8)

y Independent

If she can find her way around London by herself, Im sure she can find

her way around the airport.(pg. 15)

y Prejudiced

Azreen, according to them, was a troublemaker.(pg. 26)

y Outcast

Socially accepted, I mean. Look at me. Everyone hates me.(pg. 38)

y Determined

She must gather her strength and face this.(pg. 39)


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y Stubborn

Why must you be so stubborn?(pg. 88)

y Confident

She was confident she could beat half of those scrawny boys.(pg. 88)

y Loyal

But her loyalty to her friend was greater than her self-preservation and

so she took the blame calmly and bravely.(pg. 95)

y Brave

She was fearless.(pg. 163)

y Aggressive

Like how youd beat up the bunch of kids who threw stones into her home

and burnt her crops? (pg. 173)

Madhuri Saleh

Madhuri Saleh is the adopteddaughter ofSaleh Abdullah who has kept it a

secret. He found her seeminglyabandonedat a paddyfield. He fellinlove

with her immediatelyand raised her as his own. She married Haji Ghani,

the village headmanand was his second wife. She hadanaffair with Asraf

though, and theyplanned toget marriedand runawaytogether. But she

was murdered bySaleh when he caught them together at the rubber estate.

y Pretty, charmingandfilial

Madhuri was always the pretty one. The charming one. The filial one.

(pg. 8)

y Beautiful, soft-spoken

Who would love an obstinate child who was such a contrast to her

beautiful and soft-spoken sister?(pg. 8)


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y Well-liked

Madhuri was so well-liked by everyone.(pg. 8)

y Protective

She stuck by you and even tried to shield you from your father.(pg. 50)

Saleh Abdullah

Saleh Abdullah is the father ofAzreenandMadhuri. He seemed tolove

Madhuri more than Azreen. But he knew that Azreens characteristicis

verymuch like him, and that is whytheydont reallyget along. He blames

Azreenfor his wifes accident that caused her feet to be paralyzed afault

that Azreenclaimed todo but actuallydidnt. He caught Madhuri with

another manandkilled her out ofrage.

y Authoritative

I said, take her home. Now.(pg. 31)

y Cold

Then he returned to his position and paid no further attention to his

daughter. (pg. 32)

y Proud

We dont need their sympathies, or their charities.(pg. 109)

Mak

AzreenandMadhuris mother. Her feet were paralysedinanaccident. Her

Alzheimer was getting worse, so Saleh didnt want to tell her about

Madhuris death. She diednot too soon.

Mohd Asraf

Mohd Asrafis Azreens bestfriend since school. He works as a teacher. He

hadfeelings for Madhuri since the first time he met her, and sodid


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Madhuri, eventhough she was married. Theyplanned toget marriedand

runaway, but she was murdered before theycould. He was even more

devastated with the death ofhis grandmother and he was convincedit was

the doingofthe OldLady. He went there with anangrymob and set her

house onfire.

y Smart, handsome, friendly

He was smart and handsome and would always give her a big friendly

smile each time they met in their editorial club meetings. (pg. 34)

y Well-liked

But youre well-liked. People swarm around you like flies to a garbage

can. (pg. 38)

y Handsome

He was a tall man with thick curly hair, very dashing and charming

(pg. 41)

y Superstitious

Superstition gripped him by the throat.(pg. 163)

y Easilyinfluenced

Somehow Cikgu Asraf is convinced that it is true.(pg. 197)

The Old Lady

The OldLadywas castedout from the village because she murdered her

husband when she was younger. She was abused, so she couldnot take it

anylonger. She nowlives in the middle ofthejungle andis verygoodin

mixing herbs to make medicine therefore, she is rumoured to be an evil

witch andknows how tocast spells. People are afraidofher, except for

Azreen. She helped heal Asrafs grandmother, but she diedafewdays

later. The villagers convinced Asrafthat the OldLadymurdered his


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grandmother, and so he torched her house and she died before Azreen

could save her.

y Tall with greyish hair

She was a tall woman with greyish hair.(pg. 62)

y Old but wise

Her wrinkles were deep but spoke more of strength and wisdom rather

than age and frailty.(pg. 62)

y Prejudiced

All the other villagers think otherwise.(pg. 71)

y Caring

I dont want you to fall sick from this bad weather.(pg. 156)

y Sarcastic

So have you brought me anything? Like human liver? Lizards blood?

(pg. 164)

Datin Sharifah & DatukZulkifli

Azreens foster parents during her foster programme. But their

relationship continuedafter the programme. Theytreat her like their own

daughter, and even sponsored her to studyin UK.

y Caring

In fact, they treated the girl very much like their own daughter.(pg. 27)

y Kindandgenerous

youll see that theyre the kindest and most generous people youve ever

met.(pg. 109)

Datin Sharifah


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y Tall, heavilybuilt but efficient

Datin Sharifah was a tall, heavily built woman but her actions were

always very quick, very efficient.(pg. 15)

y Restless

her husband Zul could not help thinking that his wife was like a lipas

kudung, or a maimed roach as the Malay saying went; forever on the

move, never still.(pg. 15)

y Talkative

He helped her with her suitcase, and hoped that when they got into the

rented Proton, his wife would stop talking.(pg. 16)

DatukZulkifli

y Workaholic

Pak Cik insists working through the night.(pg. 121)

Haji Ghani

Haji Ghaniis the village head. He tookMadhurias his second

wife. KnowingMadhuri hadanaffair and was murdered, he decided to

cover up the murder and make it looklike anaccident.

Puan Fatihah

Puan Fatihah is Haji Ghanis first wife. Her life changed since Madhuri

entered their li ves. Shefelt bitter then, and she evenfeels bitter now that

Haji Ghaniis mourning the death ofMadhuriandalways angryat her. She

plans toget acharm from the village witchdoctor toget her husband back

but didnt when she bumpedintoMadhuris mother wholooks like aghost.

y Bitter


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Puan Fatihah detested that girl, hated her husband for his

weakness. And she despised herself for giving in to him when he asked for

her permission to take Madhuri as his second wife.(pg. 43)

Awang

Awangis the well-known bomohofthe village. He is a rather strange man,

but people dolookfor him for cures andcharms. His actions seem

suspicious, but he does it allfor good, and he always mean to return the

things that he tookfrom the neighbours. He was the one who revealed to

Azreen that Madhuri was not her sister. He is indebted to Azreens brave

deed, that is taking the blame ofnot closing the buffalos gate which caused

the accident ofher mother, as he was the one whodidit. So, he would help

Azreeninanywayhe can since then.

y Stubby

He was a stubby little man whose left leg was shorter than his right and

so he walked with an unsteady gait.(pg. 54)

y Prejudiced

If you ask me, I think hes up to no good.(pg. 57)

y Helpful

Whenever I could, I would try to help you out.(pg. 212)

y Insensitive

I am so sorry to remind you of that terrible memory.(pg. 214)

Siti

Sitiis Puan Kamsiahs daughter. She is Asrafs student. Although people

keep telling her that Azreenis a badinfluence and that the OldLadyis evil,

she thought the opposite ofthem when she met them. She is probablythe

onlyin the village who holds no prejudice against people.


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y Good-hearted

Lets not call someone mean names. He never did anything to you.(pg.

58)

y Pure-hearted

Im sure the Old Lady wouldnt have done anything to hurt Nek.(pg. 197)

Nek

Asrafs ailinggrandmother. She raised Asrafafter the death ofhis

parents. She was cured bythe OldLady, but diedafewdays later.

y Caring

But come back fast because it looks like its going to rain very heavily,

and I dont want you falling sick too.(pg. 117)

Puan Kamsiah

Sitis mother. She is influenced byeveryrumour that she is told, and

wanted Siti to stayawayfrom Azreenand the OldLady.

y Judgemental / Superstitious

Her daughter had been in the same house as the cursed woman. Nothing

good could come out of that.(pg. 171)

Puan Normala

The villages biggest gossiper. She is verysuperstitious too. She claimed to

see Madhuri bled with blood, and she believed that the whole islandis

cursed. The bad weather, people quarrellingand the appearance ofthe Old

Ladyin the village were bad signs for her. When she saw the OldLadyin

Asrafs house, she leda packofpeople toget ridofher. However, theywere

stopped bySaleh.

y Gossip-monger

That Normala! Spreading nonsense again.(pg.11)


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y Superstitious

We have all been cursed!(pg. 14)

y Judgemental

Why must you pollute our peaceful village with a pariah who does not

belong here? (pg. 187)

Noor

Puan Normalas daughter. She is as gossipyand meanas her mother.

y Mean

Cant you respect the dead, Noor, by not speaking ill of them?(pg. 60)

y Gossiper

If youd spend more time studying rather than gossiping, youd probably

get better grades in your trials. (pg. 61)

EncikMohan

Asrafs boss where he worked part time. It was his buffalo that escaped that

caused the accident.

PakHuzaimi

A vegetable seller who suggested Asraftoget herbs from the OldLadyfor

her ailinggrandmother.

Mr Costa

A Filipino workingat Azreens university.

y Fatherly

Rather early today, love, he commented, flashing his fatherly smile, his

accent more of a Londoners than an Asians.(pg. 1)


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Julian Ng

Azreens coursemate in her university.

y Tall, amicableyoung man

in his place was a tall amicable-looking young man.(pg. 3)

y Likeable, agreeable

Julian Ng was very likeable even to the meanest student in the

residential hall, he was always exceedingly agreeable.(pg. 3)

Mr Goldman

Azreens boss where she worked part time in her university.

PROLOGUEA boyat the village stumbled uponadead bodyone morningat the rubber

plantation he workedat.

CHAPTER 1Azreen Salleh had toleave Londonandgo backtoMalaysiadue to the death

ofher sister. She was unwilling toleave as there was an exam. She was

hopingnot to bump intoJulian Ng, but she didanyway. She left ina hurry.

CHAPTER 2Azreen was on her flight backtoMalaysia. She wincedat the thought ofgoing backhome. She thought about her late sister. She hated her because

everyone thought she was the better sister prettier, polite and soft-spoken

as Azreen was the totalopposite ofher. She also hated when she was

always compared to her sister and the fact she couldnever be like

her. However, she was fondofher and there were happymemories with


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her sister like cycling together and pickingfruits from the neighbours

plantation.

CHAPTER 3There was a rumour spreading that Madhuri was dead bymurder. This

rumour was spread bythe gossipyPuan Normalaandit caused unrest

among the villagers. The rumour was that Madhuri bled white bloodand

she believed that the whole village was cursed. In the meantime, Azreen

was greetedandfetched byher aunt and uncle, Datin Sharifah and Datuk

Zulkifliat the airport in Pulau Langkawi.

CHAPTER 4Azreen returned home, onlyto be gossipedandjudged byher nosy

neighbours. In her house with Datin Sharifah, she begged her to tell what

actuallyhappened to her sister. Datin Sharifah couldonlytell her that hersister was foundat the rubber plantation. Azreens father kept her from the

fact on how she died. Azreen believed her father did that to spite her.

Azreen met her mother whose dementia worsened. She hadnoideaof

Madhuris passing. Azreen was about to bring her mother to the funeral,

but was ordered togo backhome byher father, Saleh Abdullah. He didnt

want his wife toknowabout the death ofMadhuri. Azreen was defiant of

her fathers orders andafight almost erupted. Luckily, Haji Ghani,

Madhuris husband managed tokeep the fight out.Azreen met with her ex-schoolmate, Mohd Asraffor a while. She played

hockeywith him when theywere in school.

Later that night when she was in her room, she caught sight ofsomeone

wholookedlike Madhuri. But it disappeared when she tried tolookfor it

again.


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Meanwhile, Puan Fatihah, Haji Ghanis first wife was feeling bitter about

Madhuris existence in her life with her husband. Now that shes dead, her

husband would hardlytalkto her.

CHAPTER 5Azreen went to the market to buybreakfast for her mother. She bumped

into Asraf, and begged him to tell her what happened to her sister. But he

didnt know exactlywhat too. Azreen returned home, talked to her lucid

mother, but suddenlyshe started mutteringnonsense.

Outside, Saleh was busychopping wood when he heard somethingor

someone cryingin the bushes. He went to pounce onit but there was

nothing.

Azreen went to visit the OldLady, a villager who was castedout from her

village. The villagers thought her evilanda witch, but Azreen thought

otherwise. Infact, she got alongjust fine with her. She also begged the Old

Ladyto tell her what exactlyhappened, andfinallyit was the OldLadywho

revealed to her that Madhuri was actuallymurdered.

CHAPTER 6Awang the bomoh believed something terrible was going tofall upon his

village. He had seena Pontianakwhich lookedlike Madhuri. He suspected

Madhuri had turnedintoone.

The OldLadyexplained to Azreen what she saw. That Madhuri was

attacked with aknife. There was noinvestigation though, as she thought it

would be better for the village.

Puan Fatihah reminiscedabout the time when Haji Ghani marriedMadhuri. He fellinlove with her beautiful voice, and Puan Fatihahs life

changed ever since. She hadlost everything. But now that Madhuri was no

longer present, she wanted her oldlife back.

AzreenfoundMadhuris photographs being torninto pieces. Before she

could thinkwho woulddoit, her father chased her out ofthe room.


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Azreen started to reminiscedonall the things that happened wayback.

Azreen reminiscedduring the time when she tookthe blame for Asrafs

carelessness while workingat EncikMohans. She claimed that she was the

one wholeft the gate open, thus the missing bull. However, her parents

were ridingona motorbike when theyhit the bull. Her mothers legs was

paralysed since then. Still, she kept loyal to Asrafand tookthe blame,

eventhough she was beaten todeath byher father.

Azreen went to seekcomfort at the OldLadys, and she revealed to her why

she was castedout. She murdered her husband because she was abused

and unhappyin her marriage.

Ayear later, Azreen receiveda scholarship to studyin UK.

CHAPTER 7Asrafwas worriedabout Nek, her grandmother. Her fever was getting

worse.

Haji Ghani was mourningfor Madhuriat the cemetery. Suddenly, he sawa

woman wholookedlike Madhuri but she ranaway.

Azreen was scolded byher father for beingcareless. There was adead

chicken with a brokenneckright outside ofthe coop. Her father blamedher for not shuttingit properly. Azreen was shockedand wondered how the

chickencould breakits neck. When she was about toclean up the mess, the

carcass was gone.

One day, when Azreen was checking her mail, she sawaletter from

Julian. Enclosedin the letter was aletter from Madhuri which was sent

before she died. According to her letter, there was secret that she wanted to

share with Madhuri.

Siti was stopped byPuan Normala with more gossips on how the badweather was one ofthe signs ofthe curse, the spottingofa Pontianakand

the huge argument between Haji Ghaniand Puan Fatihah.

Azreenand Asrafhadachat. He was all bruised. He claimed that he was in

afight. Theytalkedabout their old school times andfuture plans. Out of

the blue, Asrafjokinglyasked Azreen to marryher and runaway


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together. Azreen was hurt bythatjoke as she always hadfeelings for

him. She tookMadhuris letter andcrumpledand threwit away. When she

went backto pickit up, it was alreadygone.

CHAPTER 8Azreens mother passedawaypeacefully. She mourned her dead mother

and sister in her sisters room. Suddenly, she saw someone outside the

window. She went outside the house andcalledout to that person but it

was in vain. At the same moment, she smelt smoke comingfrom Madhuris

room. Fortunately, her father appearedin time to put out the fire.

Puan Fatihah was about togo see the village witchdoctor for acharm for

Haji Ghani when suddenlyshe saw someone lookinglike Madhuri reaching

out to her. She passedout as soonas the woman touched her.

Saleh Abdullah foundayellowcord where part ofthe house was

burned. He charged straightawayto Awangs house to have a word with

him. Azreen went to the OldLadys house for comfort.

Asrafs grandmothers condition was getting worse. When he ranout of

options, he sought out the OldLady. He begged the OldLadytogo see his

grandmother.

CHAPTER 9Sitilookedover Asrafs grandmother while he went out to see the Old

Lady. He finallycame backwith the OldLady. The OldLadyexamined

Asrafs grandmother and went out toget herbs for her. Meanwhile, the

nosyneighbours Puan Kamsiah and Puan Normala who saw her planned toget ridofher. The OldLadycame back, made a mixture ofherbs andgave

it to Asrafs grandmother. The conditionofAsrafs grandmother improved,

to the surprise ofthe OldLady, in which she felt peculiar of.

Azreen went home toget some eggs. Suddenly, she sawanintruder. But it

wasjust Awang. He came to tell her that there was a bigcrowdon the way


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to Asrafs house. Azreen hurriedlywent to his house and saw the angry

crowd headed byPuan Normala. Theywere angryat her for bringing back

the OldLadyinto the village. Afight between Azreenand Puan Normala

was about to ensue but it was stopped byAzreens father. Azreen then

made her wayto Asrafs house, onlyto be toldofthe goodnews that his

grandmother had recovered.

CHAPTER 10Siti ranover to Azreens house to tell her that Asrafs grandmother passed

awaysuddenly. When the neighbours came to visit him, theyconvinced

him that the OldLadyhad poisoned her. Fuelled with anger andloss, he

and the mob ofpeople went over to the OldLadys with torches. As Azreen

tried to stop him, his torch fellandit set the house onfire. Azreen ran

inside to tryto save the OldLadybut she was trapped under a pillar. Her

last words to Azreen werejust tolearn toforgive. Then Azreen was pulled

awaybyher father from her right before the house collapsed.

Asrafcame toapologise to Azreen. He was distraught about his

grandmother andMadhuris death. He revealed to Azreen that theywere in

love and theywere supposed to runawaytogether. Azreencouldntstomach the revelation so she ran toacliff. Then she decided togo to the

rubber estate where her sister died. She bumpedinto Awang. Awang

thought that she was Madhuris mother. Azreen was puzzled, hence he

revealed that Madhuri was not her sister.

He told her that Madhuris mother hadgone mad when her husbandleft

her. She was left in the paddyfieldfor hours when her mother was looking

for scraps. Thats when Saleh foundMadhuri, nursed her backto health

and raised her as his own. Her mother left the village, but came backafterMadhuris death. Awang warned her that Madhuris mother was

dangerous. She was the one broke the chickens neckand started the fire at

her house.

Meanwhile, Haji Ghani was thinkingabout Madhuri. He remembered the

dayhe was toldofMadhuris death. He knewabout her affair with Asraf


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and he wouldve killed him ifhe caught them at the rubber estate. But all

there was left was her slashed body. He decided to make the murder looked

like anaccident toavoid more truth to be revealed that would bring shame

to him andMadhuris innocence.

CHAPTER 11Azreen was on her waybackhome when she heardfootsteps following her

behind. She quicklyran towards her house. She peered through her

windowand saw the woman whom Awang said was Madhuris mother. She

pointedat somethingnear the woodpile. At the same moment, Saleh

appeared. Azreen told him everything she knew. Her father went to the

woodpile and picked up a parangand threwit near her feet. Madhuris

mother was actuallypointingat the parang. The parang was stained with

something white and sticky. Then Azreenfigured everythingout. The

white blood that the neighbours claimed to see was actuallylatex that spilt

on her when she was killed. She then realised that it was her father who

hadkilled her.

Saleh was going to thejungle toget woods. Then he sawMadhuri hugging

a man who wasnt her husbandat the rubber estate. He ran towards thembut the man hadalreadyleft. He was soconsumed with anger, he slashed

his daughter when she told him she loved him. Madhurifellandknocked

over acup ofrubber latex.

Azreenleft immediately, feelinga terrible loss. Saleh realised he hadlost

both his daughters. Suddenly, he sawMadhuris mother coming towards

him with the parang. She killed him inaninstance.

CHAPTER 12Azreen visited the grave ofher family, including the OldLady. From a

distance, she sawMadhuris mother smiledat her.


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EpilogueAzreenis now backinLondon. She receivedaletter from Asraf, telling her

that he had taken up the teachingcourse in KL. From her heart, she wished

him the best. She has forgiven him for the wrongs he did towards

her. Julian was there toaccompanyher. She soon saw him inadifferent

light. It was going to be anew beginning.

ThemesJEALOUSY

Thejealousythat occurs whenone is favoured than the other.

Azreenisjealous ofMadhuri. She is always beingcompared to her,

especiallyfor the things that she is not, or does not ha ve. Shedoesnt have

her sisters grace and beauty, andit seems like her parents favour her sister

more.

She could not stand it when her parents and friends compared her to her

sister. No matter what she did, no matter how hard she tried, she could

never match up to Madhuri.Pg. 8

It was that particular sentence that her mother had uttered in her

frustrationShe was not Madhuri. She was different. Why couldnt they

accept that? It was always Madhuri this, Madhuri that.Pg. 107

Puan Fatihah isjealous ofMadhuris existence in her marriage with Haji

Ghani. Evenafter her death, she stillcannot get her husbands attention,

what more his care.


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Shes very pretty, and very sweet-tempered and respectful to her

elders. And very young. She added the last sentence with a trace of

jealousy which escaped her husbands eas.Pg. 79

She had lost everything to Madhuri. Her silk, her husband and her life

her sanity!Pg. 80

Asrafisjealous ofHaji Ghanias he married his love, Madhuri. He couldnt

doanything though because he hadnothingat that time.

Ive loved her ever since I met her. Then that Haji Ghani came and took

her away.Pg. 204

PREJUDICE

People are prejudiced when theyare different from what others expect of

them, or when theymade past mistakes.

Azreen behaves like none ofwhat is expectedofher. She is outspoken,

aggressive anddaring. She does things that make people thinknegatively

ofher. For example, beingfriends with the OldLady.

Dont touch me. Youre cursed. Youve been affected ever since you made

friends with the witch. But you refuse to let that rest. Instead you have

brought her here and now the curse is spreading all over the village.Pg.

186

The OldLadyhadkilled her husbandyears ago. Because ofthat, the

villagers deemed her evil, and even thinkshe is witch.

Im sure your witch friend has never told you that she stabbed her

husband to death. Do you wished to be murdered along with the rest of us

in our beds?Pg. 187


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IRRATIONALITY

Irrationalitydue to rage cancause people to take extreme actions that can

endanger the lives ofothers.

Saleh Abdullah murderedMadhuriout ofrage, upon seeing her in a private

place with a man whois not her husband.

Insolent, ungrateful child. He saw red. The blade flashed in a flurry

before his eyes. A cry escaped Madhuri as she fell, knocking over the

latex-filled container. Saleh pulled away the parang. But it was too late.

Pg. 225

Asraf, enraged with the OldLadyfor thinking she had poisoned his

grandmother todeath, leda mob ofpeople with torches tokill her. Azreen

tried to stop him, but eventuallythe house was caught infire and the Old

Ladywas trappedin the burning house.

He, too, held a torch in his hand. In the other, he held a hoe. He was

much nearer to the house than the other men And most importantly, loss

and anguish fuelled his action. His eyes burned wildly like the fire of his

torch.Pg. 198

The OldLadymurdered her husbandas she couldnot tolerate anylonger

his abusive ways.

He was holding her by the shoulder, shaking her hard and yelling curses

at her. He called her all sorts of names. He kneed her in the stomach, and

kicked her when she went down... As he started to force herself on her, her

hands reached for the knife and she struck.Pg. 103

SUPERSTITIONS

Beliefin the supernaturalis still prevalent in small villages.


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Almost all the villagers believe in the supernatural. Puan Normala

especially, believed that Madhuri bled white bloodand thought that the

whole village is cursed.

I saw it. It was white. Her grip tightened. Did you hear me? She had

white blood. We have all been cursed!Pg. 13

Most ofthe villagers believed that the OldLadyis a witch. Theydonot dare

to enter her compoundinfear ofbeingcast a spell.

Azreen realised they had not dared to move closer to the

house. Superstition and fear of the supernatural prevented them from

physically hurting the Old Lady.Pg. 198

People ofthe village seekhelp from bomohsor witchdoctors tocure

sickness or for charms toget what theywant.

Was it a bad thing to want to win back her husbands affections? What

was a little charm from the bomoh to push things in the right direction?

Pg. 148

SOCIAL OUTCASTING

People tend to be cast out when theydont followcertainnorms ofa society.

Due to Azreens outspoken, unlady-like behaviour, the people in the village

tend todislike, as she is not the type ofgirl whois supposed toact like one.

Its not easy to be like that. Socially accepted, I mean. Look at

me. Everyone hates me.Pg. 38

The OldLadywas castedout from the village after theyfoundout that she

killed her husband.


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Its true. Thats why Im here. Because the villagers cast me out after

they found out what happened. Pg.101

Bomoh Awang would have beencast out from the village ifAzreendidnt

pretend to be responsible for the incident that caused her mothers accident.

But Cik Adik, if it hadnt been for you, the villagers would have cast me

out long ago.Pg.211

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

A persons background, or what people thinkofthem does not matter when

it comes to unconditionallove.

Datin Sharifah and DatukZul treats Azreenlike their owndaughter, not

caring what the other villagers thinkabout her.

In fact, they treated the girl very much like their own daughter.(pg. 27)

Saleh Abdullah and his wife lovedMadhurilike she was their ownchild the

moment theyfound her cryingalone in paddyfield.

All they cared was to keep the baby as their own. And they had loved her

like their own.Pg. 224

FORGIVENESS

Forgivingis anact that canfree a personfrom burdenandachieve peace.

The OldLadywas abusedand badlytreatedin her marriage, which drove

her tokill his husband. But in the end, she forgave him.

Once youve forgiven sincerely forgiven the weight is lifted from your

chest, and youre finally free.Pg. 161


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Azreen hadalways feelings for Asraf, but AsraflovedMadhuri

instead. Asrafhas alsocaused the death ofher dear friend, the Old

Lady. The OldLadys last words to Azreen were that she learns to

forgi ve. Eventually, she did.

From her heart, Azreen wished him all the best. She smiled. Had she

learnt to forgive? The Old Lady would be so proud if she knew.Pg. 231

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