Motivating Forces: A Short Story Collection

By Tan Kheng Yeang

Aristotle first wrote about it over twenty-three hundred years ago and his words still ring true today: desire is a motivating force in our lives that, when all-consuming, can even define our reason for existence.

In this volume of short stories, Tan Kheng Yeang explores the many faces of desire through the thoughts and actions of his characters. A young man struggles to find the meaning of life. A bored woman risks all to run away with a stranger for the possibility of a more exciting life. By fulfilling one simple wish, an impoverished beggar strives to gain dignity and equality in the eyes of his fellow man. A businessman resorts to skullduggery to regain his clientele from a competitor. A youth is determined to attain wealth by whatever means necessary. But as all of the characters are about to discover in one way or another, life often takes unexpected and ironic twists when fate intervenes.

Motivating Forces shares twenty short tales that reveal the journeys, struggles, and exploits of its characters as they attempt to find their way in a complicated, unforgiving world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Jun 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490755458

Tan Kheng Yeang

Tan Kheng Yeang was born in a country called British Malaya, now part of Malaysia. After studying civil engineering at the University of Hong Kong, he enjoyed a lengthy career as an engineer in the City Council of Georgetown, Penang. Since his retirement, he has worked as an engineering consultant and has published twelve books.

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Copyright 2015 Tan Kheng Yeang.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-5547-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-5546-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-5545-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015902366

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Contents

Acknowledgment

Chapter 1 Frustration

Chapter 2 To Each His Interpretation

Chapter 3 The Missing Brooch

Chapter 4 Revenge

Chapter 5 Opinion

Chapter 6 Excitement

Chapter 7 Remorse

Chapter 8 The Beggar

Chapter 9 Expectation

Chapter 10 The Impulsive Girl

Chapter 11 Ousted

Chapter 12 Rivalry

Chapter 13 Theft of Jade

Chapter 14 Retribution

Chapter 15 The Worst Construction

Chapter 16 Charity

Chapter 17 Wedding Feast without Principals

Chapter 18 Life Is All Trouble

Chapter 19 Cheat Cheated

Chapter 20 Despite Care

About the Author

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

T he author wishes to thank Ms. Valerie Cameron for her invaluable assistance in preparing the manuscript of this book for publication.

CHAPTER 1

Frustration

T he luxurious hotel, situated on a main road, reared its multistoried building with an air of inviting elegance. In its forecourt, a fountain shot its cool spray into the atmosphere, and potted plants in full bloom were judiciously placed in diverse positions. There were two entrances—one serving as ingress and the other as egress—and vehicles, including motorcars, buses, motorcycles, and trishaws, moved in and out, creating a busy scene.

Lee Heng Teik came rushing up in his small car. Coming to an abrupt halt, he parked it in one corner of the forecourt and entered the hotel. Proceeding past the lounge and along a passageway, he came to an office bearing the sign Happy Tours. He entered and sat down at a desk, then commenced to busy himself with various papers.

He felt frustrated. He had been in the business of running a travel agency for a number of years, and it had gotten him nowhere. He was not yet, but nearing, thirty years of age, and he found life distinctly unsatisfactory. He was not particularly ambitious, but he could find no meaning in the perennial routine. Every day he rose, shaved, came to the office, went through what appeared to be senseless work, returned home, dined, and finally retired to bed. What an inane existence!

Why did he join the tourist trade? He thought it was romantic. He could travel to foreign lands and behold wonders. He commenced as a tourist guide, and for years, all he ever saw were the eternally familiar sights of Penang, which were hard to explain day in and day out to a lot of silly tourists. Later he managed to accompany tours to other parts of Malaysia as well as Singapore and for a short time to various countries in the East, including Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.

Then he had branched out on his own and acquired his present tourism business. It was only a small enterprise, and he was acting as an agent for other companies. He had gradually lost interest in his work, but he could think of nothing else to do. The trouble was that not only did he have to continue in his trade, but he also had to work fairly hard at it, or he might have had to shut up shop and face starvation. There were many rivals in the business who were by no means reluctant to relieve him of his.

Hello, Heng Teik, you look none too happy. What are you brooding over?

Startled out of his thoughts, Heng Teik looked up to see a fat man gazing quizzically at him.

Oh, nothing. There isn’t much business at present to occupy my time, but I didn’t realize I was looking miserable.

Never mind, said the fat man in an encouraging tone. Business will pick up.

I wonder, said Heng Teik, failing to be consoled. It seems that in addition to all the many tourist agencies in town, another will soon be opened up in the hotel opposite.

Is that so? remarked the fat man. Too bad, but it will probably fail.

There aren’t any grounds for that assumption, said Heng Teik more unhappily than ever.

It’s odd that there should be so many tourist agencies in town, commented the fat man, as not so many years ago, tourism was practically unknown in this country, but it now appeared to be a thriving industry. Once a new kind of business is profitable, the concerns spring up like mushrooms. Every profession tends to be overcrowded if there’s a demand for it. He emitted a deep sigh, brought about probably not only by the sad state of affairs he was discovering but also by the substantial breakfast he had consumed.

Heng Teik sighed in unison, nodding in assent. Life is extremely difficult, he remarked.

Who is this new operator? asked the fat man.

I don’t really know, responded Heng Teik, with the air of one who would be only too glad had such a person never come into existence. But people tell me that he’s not actually a newcomer to the field.

You mean he’s been an employee and is now setting up his own concern, pursued the fat man.

Not so. They say he’s been operating on his own in Ipoh, but now he’s moving here, replied Heng Teik.

What’s the matter with Ipoh? He should stay there! stated the fat man as though the stranger’s action constituted a personal affront to him.

People move about nowadays wherever their fancy takes them, said Heng Teik judicially. Sometimes I think of going to Kuala Lumpur for good.

You’ll miss your friends, said the fat man. Moreover, business isn’t likely to be any better than here.

Heng Teik sighed again. His air of frustration grew more pronounced.

Well, I must be going now, said the fat man.

See you at the club this evening.

He rose and left. Heng Teik resumed working on his papers.

During the course of the day, some foreigners who had arrived at the hotel came to him to book tours. One or two stopped by to complain about the bad service encountered when, for example, the tour they had booked had cut a particular spot mentioned in the brochure. He had to soothe their ruffled feelings while his own became ruffled. One American insisted not only on paying his fare but also on receiving his change in US currency. One tour included lunch; a Japanese tourist felt aggrieved that no Japanese food was available for him.

As the day went on, Heng Teik felt more and more frustrated; the work got on his nerves. When the time came for him to leave the office, he rose with relief and drove straight home.

He was still unmarried and living with his parents in a terrace house in a new housing estate off Green Lane. The house was situated on the same road as a coffee shop in whose compound were a number of hawkers’ stalls doing a thriving business in the evenings. These were patronized not only by residents of the estates but also by customers who drove in from other parts of town. The result was that the road was not exactly a quiet spot.

When he arrived home, Heng Teik went and sat in an armchair in the hall, which was not particularly commodious and in which were gathered his parents, a younger brother, and a younger sister. The parents were arguing so vociferously that they appeared to be quarrelling, while the brother and sister were laughing loudly as they recounted to each other their day’s adventures. He felt irritated by both the contentious as well as the cachinnatory voices, and his frustrated attitude toward life grew apace.

I’m telling you, the father was saying, that woman is not to be trusted.

Why? What makes you think so? argued the mother.

I know it! vociferated the father.

You know a fat lot! retorted the mother in an even louder voice.

Just see whether she’ll return the money, firmly asserted the father.

She borrowed from me once before, and she cleared up the debt, strongly argued the mother.

That time it was only ten dollars, said the father argumentatively.

No, it was fifteen, retorted the mother.

But now it’s fifty! angrily remarked the father. She returned the fifteen in order that she might cheat you of fifty!

You may as well say that she’ll pay me back the fifty so that she’ll borrow and cheat me of two hundred! said the mother with the air of a logician.

That’s ridiculous! said the father.

What’s so ridiculous about it? demanded the mother.

She knows she can’t borrow such a big sum from you, said the father.

Why should you think such a thing? argued the mother.

You haven’t got the money to lend her! triumphantly stated the father.

How does she know I haven’t got the money? For that matter, how do you know? exploded the mother.

You seem rich all of a sudden, said the father with heavy sarcasm.

I’m certainly not such a skinflint as you! angrily said the mother.

When you become bankrupt, you won’t be able to be so generous, wearily said the father.

You don’t get any riches with your ways, said the mother sarcastically.

Heng Teik rose up with an air of exasperation and stepped out of the door.

What a miserable thing is life! he thought. No happiness anywhere. Nothing but futile strife, disorder, petty worries, and endless irritations.

The day had been very hot, and the sinking sun was still shooting caustic arrows. The sky was cloudless, and it looked as though water were a stranger to it.

Heng Teik was nettled by the heat. He even smelled its oppressiveness.

A group of children were playing on a small piece of vacant ground on the other side of the road. They were shouting rancorously. Suddenly two boys started hitting each other and then became locked in a wrestling match. A passerby stepped up and separated them.

No happiness anywhere, bitterly reflected Heng Teik. Even children don’t play harmoniously.

An ice-cream vendor passed by on a tricycle, ringing his presence. He appeared not to be looking where he was going, and his vehicle tripped over a pothole in the road and nearly overturned. The vendor came down and complained loudly about the road to nobody in particular.

A householder was burning a heap of tree cuttings, and the acrid smell of the smoke assailed Heng Teik unpleasantly.

Feeling more irritated than ever, he reentered the house and went to the kitchen to take a drink of water. The bottle holding cold water in the refrigerator had only been refilled shortly before, and the water wasn’t ice-cold, the way he liked it. He swallowed it with a grimace of distaste.

He took a bath then dressed himself. It so happened that that evening his club was holding its anniversary dinner, and he had invited a few guests. He had also arranged to pick up a girlfriend at her house. Ordinarily, he considered such functions enjoyable, but now he found the prospect unattractive. However, he had no alternative but to go through with it.

He took his car and left for Pulau Tikus. He stopped in front of a house painted green and entered the hall. A girl who was called Violet soon appeared, and they departed for the club premises.

The club was a sizable two-story building situated in an extensive compound. About forty tables were set up on the lawn, each accommodating ten persons, and a band near the building played for the delectation of the diners.

Heng Teik and Violet made their way to a table where four persons were already seated. They greeted them in a conventionally glad manner.

You’re early, said Heng Teik to a red-faced man who was pouring a drink for him.

We arrived only five minutes earlier, said the red-faced man.

Half the crowd is still to come, remarked Heng Teik, looking around the lawn where people were picking their way between the tables to their seats.

We’ve still got to learn to be punctual, said a thin man. It’s now eight o’clock, the scheduled time, but it won’t be till at least half an hour later before we get our first dish. At one dinner I attended, we waited for almost two hours for the function to commence because the political VIP who was to grace it forgot all about it and didn’t turn up till the organizers went after him!

Heng Teik’s remaining four guests now arrived. They consisted of two couples.

You look wonderful, Violet, greeted one of the new arrivals, a lady with a mole on her cheek.

Violet smiled at the compliment and said nothing.

Heng Teik had been unobservant of his companion hitherto, but he now viewed her with more attention. She was well-groomed and was wearing a red dress. But he said nothing and turned to his glass of brandy.

Let’s have a drink, he said, raising his glass.

They all drank either wine or aerated water.

Conversation flowed around the table, but although he was the host, Heng Teik took only a minor part. He forced himself to smile and talk, but his mind was preoccupied with his own problems. He only wished he didn’t have to attend this party.

The first course was not served until eight forty. Most of the guests set to with gusto and ate as though eating was their principal concern in life. But Heng Teik took little; the food tasted flat to him. Even the shark’s-fin soup, a favorite of his, had no appeal.

You seem not to be eating at all, said the red-faced man jovially. What’s the matter?

Oh, I’m eating all right, said Heng Teik hastily. Today I took a heavy lunch, and I think I shouldn’t eat so much. Recently I’ve felt somewhat tight around the waist, he continued glibly.

He picked up a piece of bêche-de-mer with his chopsticks.

I hope you don’t go in for this fad of reducing oneself to a skeleton, said a man who was a stockbroker by profession. I see no sense in it.

People who are underweight are healthier than those who are overweight, said the thin man.

You think so? said the stockbroker. I know of many thin people who look like consumptives, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they are. Anyway, a pleasure is a pleasure, and it’s absurd to avoid it for fear of dying. There are many ways of death.

One should not be talking about death at a dinner table, remarked the lady with the mole brightly. It gives me the creeps!

You’re right, said the red-faced man. Come, Heng Teik, let’s all have a drink.

He raised his glass, and they all drank.

When are you going to get married? asked the lady with the mole, suddenly addressing herself to Heng Teik.

Oh, I don’t know, said Heng Teik vaguely.

It’s high time you do, said the same lady.

Why? said Heng Teik. Everybody tells me that. I don’t see the reason for marriage to be so necessary.

Marriage is an institution in our society, said the red-faced man.

That doesn’t mean that everybody must follow it, said Heng Teik argumentatively. It takes all sorts to make a world, and it shouldn’t be considered strange for a man to remain single.

But don’t you think you’ll be happier if you are married? said the red-faced man.

I doubt it, said Heng Teik. Many married people seem to be leading miserable lives. They’re perpetually bickering with their wives.

The thin man admitted a sigh, and it went unnoticed. He was thinking of his own matrimonial tangle.

Violet smiled and said, Does that mean that if you marry, you’ll be perpetually bickering with your wife?

They all laughed, and Heng Teik looked uncomfortable.

I suppose marriage is a gamble, said the stockbroker. Some are happy and some aren’t.

The dinner dragged to a close. The last dishes appeared—steamed pomfret and fried rice. At the same time, speeches were delivered by the president of the club and the guest of honor to which few paid any attention. Their voices droned without any spark of originality or humor; they took themselves very seriously. When the speeches ended, the very last course came, a dessert consisting of a sweet dish of jelly and preserved longan. Then the waiters brought scented towels around for the diners to wipe themselves.

The guests settled down to an evening of dancing. Heng Teik was soon dancing with Violet.

I noticed that you seemed distracted the whole evening. What’s the matter? asked Violet.

Nothing. Heng Teik was evasive. I don’t seem to feel well.

You aren’t sick, are you? inquired Violet solicitously.

Not really. But I feel depressed.

What are you worrying about?

I really can’t say. I don’t seem to be getting anywhere in my career, and so many things appear to disagree with me.

As far as I can see, said Violet with apparent conviction, you have no cause for complaint. There are numerous people living in far worse circumstances than you. Personally, I think we should be quite contented with our lot and enjoy every moment of life.

Heng Teik looked at her; she certainly appeared completely carefree. She was a merry girl. He had known her for some time, and she always was in the best of spirits.

It’s not only material circumstances with which I am concerned, said Heng Teik, speaking half to himself. I have a vague feeling that the world is all wrong. I see a lot of misery around. Ah yes, people seem to be happy, judging from their smiling faces. But are they really so? A person may be afflicted with a painful disease. He may be hard-pressed to make both ends meet. He may be living in fear of some disaster overtaking him. He may be under persecution from his boss or mother-in-law, he ended with unconscious humor.

Of course, remarked Violet. No one expects to be happy all the time. Life has its tragedies. But on the whole, the good outweighs the bad.

I wish I could agree with that, said Heng Teik. My own feeling is that our world is a mistake. It is senseless.

You shouldn’t think too much of such things, said Violet in a judicious manner. It isn’t healthy. Look at these people. They’re all enjoying themselves. We should do likewise.

The dancing continued until past midnight. Heng Teik persisted through it although he yearned to escape. As soon as some people left, a member of his party gave some excuse about having to go off, and this was the signal for their breaking up. Heng Teik drove Violet home.

Upon arriving at his house, Heng Teik proceeded straight to his room upstairs, and in a short time, he was lying on his bed. But he could not sleep. All sorts of thoughts floated through his mind or insisted on obtruding themselves on his attention. They resembled mischievous elves out to disport themselves. At times they came one by one, walking slowly, and then disappeared lingeringly; at times they rushed in almost simultaneously in clamorous fashion and departed shrieking.

What am I doing with my life? This thought persistently gripped his consciousness. "Where am I going? I’m getting nowhere. Whatever I have thought of undertaking eventually has to be abandoned after further deliberation. It’s strange how many ways any proposed course of action contains. One would think that there’s a malignant devil intent on causing one’s problems and frustrating one’s hopes.

"I once thought of becoming a politician. I joined a political party, and what did I find? The majority of the members were apathetic. Those who were active maneuvered to get into positions of influence at all costs. They were strangely ignorant, had no real principles, and were given to vilifying one another as well as their opponents outside the party. It was odd, but when it came to elections for party posts, I was left out. What was wrong with me? One friend told me I had no drive. I didn’t know exactly what he meant, and I couldn’t be bothered to find out. I came to the conclusion, however, that I