Journey of the Shoes
July 1, 2023 at 6:39 p.m.
...by Davi Asnani
At nineteen he left for Malaysia and took a job in my father’s store. He was a hardworking, honest and reliable employee. My parents liked him and eventually arranged for us to marry.
He worked especially hard to support my dream of sending our two children overseas to further their education. To make that possible, we lived a simple, frugal lifestyle. We were blessed years later when our finances grew, allowing us to shop more often.
My husband was not the type of person to shop for himself. I vividly remember accompanying him to a new department store. We both caught sight of a pair of shoes on display. I acted fast, figuring out what price to quote him so that he would agree to try on those shoes, and yes, we even bought them that day! He loved them. He wore them everywhere, even when he was admitted to the hospital.
When he died, as per our customary practice, we had to give away all his belongings to the poor. I could not bear to part with those shoes and kept them aside. Since that day, without their master, they resided at the front entrance of my house.
Naraindas had always wanted to travel to Switzerland, London, France… but he never did. His priority was saving for our children’s university education. Travel could wait, he would say. Twelve years after he died, I finally got the courage to travel, joining a tour group to Europe. I put on those shoes and walked the streets of Switzerland, France and London; we made it together! Naraindas’s shoes continued to be a part of my travels, including a yearly visit to see my daughter and her family in Seattle.
In 2013, I decided to relocate to Seattle for good. What would become of his beloved pair of shoes? They had been a part of my life for thirty-four years. These shoes were a reminder of the beloved man of my house. They looked old and worn out, but the soles were still intact. I was not ready to let these precious shoes go. My daughter felt I should have a fresh start and perhaps it was time to part with them. Deep down, though, she knew this was not what I wanted, and it would have broken my heart to see them go. My son-in-law secretly packed them away. When my shipment arrived, I was thrilled and so happy to find those shoes again.
I have brought them to my new home. They are symbol of the man, my beloved husband, who once wore them. They will continue to honor my memories of Naraindas and his gentle spirit and be placed outside my front door to welcome my guests as they have done for so many years. ❖
Davi was born and raised in Borneo. She joined Seattle’s Wallingford Community Senior Center writing class and looks forward to writing more about her life.
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