If you are active on social media platforms, chances are you would have seen the picture of a lady shielding her Grandmother, or nainai, from the rain.

It is easy to compartmentalise the picture, as a 2 dimensional feel good story for us to project our idealism on.

Well Sakinah Tan, the lady in question, gave a sneak peek into the lives of these 2 dimensional feel good stories behind the virality.

Why she felt a bit exposed and violated

Tan blogged about how the attention had made her feel like an animal on exhibition.

Now, she makes it very clear that her post wasn't just complaining about the attention.

Hold on a sec, I'm not going to go feign humility and go boohoo why expose my kind act like that...but I'll just say I feel a bit exposed and violated (which is, again, ironic considering how I'm covered up head-to-toe in the picture).

Her main point of contention appears to be the constant judgement she was put through.

Interracial relationships

Whether it be people who couldn't believe that she was the granddaughter of the elderly Chinese lady or those who deemed her attention seeking.

She noticed that despite the widespread virality of the picture, many people were still either uncomfotable or unaccepting of interracial or inter-religious relationships.

Tan called for more acceptance from the community at large.

A virtue that is encapsulated by her nainai.

Nainai

Here's what she had to say about her nainai.

My nainai is a very bubbly and loving soul.

Though she isn't even officially Muslim (yet, fellow Muslims please make du'a for my Nainai who already believes in One God), she threw out her pots and pans, at a time when her family was still considerably poor, to welcome my father's at-the-time Muslim girlfriend (my now-mother), who had dietary restrictions because of her faith.

My nainai and yeye, bless their souls, accepted my mother and my father's love for the Islamic faith with open arms.

My nainai reminds me to perform my obligatory prayers every time I visit her.

My nainai voluntarily sheds light about basic tenets of the Islamic faith and practices to my brother's non-Muslim girlfriend (haha a 'phew' moment for my parents, who are probably glad they get to skip the hard-talk).

My nainai used to visit my Malay grandmother every first day of Hari Raya, up till last 2 years when she was hit with Meniere's Disease.

My nainai watches Korean dramas and gushes about comedic reality Korean shows. (I love korean drama and reality shows - I actually learn the Korean language academically)

My nainai is the epitome of what every interracial/inter-religious family needs - and I'm extremely grateful/proud that she is my role model.

Amazing.

Top photo from Sakinah's Facebook

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