In a world where staying connected is easier than ever, a poignant TikTok video reminds us of the importance of never missing a call from our loved ones.
The viral video, uploaded by @ebytaksalah, captures a deeply emotional moment for a young man who missed his mother’s final call while at work.
M’sian regrets missing his mum’s final call while at work
It all began on a seemingly ordinary day at Petron, Genting Highland. The young man, engrossed in his work, left his personal phone charging while he attended to his tasks. Unbeknownst to him, his mother was desperately trying to reach him.
“At that moment, I was working, and my phone was charging. Abang Man handed me the phone, saying my mum had been calling multiple times,” the man recalled.
When he finally returned his mother’s call, he was met with heartbreaking news. His mother, whom he affectionately called “umi,” had passed away.
“My foster mother said ‘she (biological mother) wasn’t strong enough to talk, but her son is strong, right? I wanted to tell you that umi (biological mother) is no longer here,” his foster mother conveyed.
Stunned and overwhelmed with grief, the young man returned to his workstation and broke down in tears.
“I cried until I couldn’t breathe,” he admitted.
Struggling to process the news, he asked his manager to request emergency leave on his behalf, unable to articulate the devastating situation himself.
“I asked the supervisor to tell them I needed emergency leave. I couldn’t get any words out myself,” he expressed.
Although he wasn’t raised by his biological mother, the bond and love he felt for her were undeniable. The pain of her loss was profound.
‘Don’t put your phone on silent’
Speaking to WeirdKaya, Eby shared the context of the viral video. The incident took place at their workplace at Petron, Genting Highland, on July 1st at 4:30 PM. Eby revealed that the deceased was indeed his biological mother, though he was raised by a foster mother.
Eby offered a heartfelt piece of advice:
“As someone who works far from home, I want to advise others not to put your phone on silent or DND (Do Not Disturb) mode, no matter how busy you are. You never know if there’s an emergency. In this case, I was too focused on work and ignored my phone. I left it at the counter. Other staff noticed my foster mother calling repeatedly, but there was no answer.”
Eby also shared some precious moments from their last outing together:
“On July 18, 2023, my sibling had an interview at UPSI (Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris). Umi asked if I could take them to Perak, and I said yes. After the interview, I took Umi to Genting Highland for a walk because I work there and wanted her to experience the cool weather. This was the last time I got to take her out.”
Eby regretted not being able to reply to his mother’s last text due to work, a sentiment that many can relate to in today’s fast-paced world.
‘This is what I fear the most’
The comments section of the video was filled with condolences and heartfelt messages from people who understood the pain of losing a parent.
One user wrote: “That’s why I always keep my phone in my hand, even when going to the toilet or taking a shower, I don’t care as long as it brings peace of mind.”
Another shared: “This is what I fear because I live far away from my parents.”
A third added: “This is how I cried at 1 AM when my sister called to say ‘Mum is gone.’ The whole house heard me crying while packing my clothes to go back to my parents’ house.”
Watch the clip here:
