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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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