My paternal grandfather is a well-respected person in my family and the Muslim community as he has been serving as a volunteer in Abdul Razak Mosque for years.

He is a wise and sensible man who has passed down useful knowledge to me which helps me in my studies. Although I still pay him a visit every Sunday, I yearn to spend more time with him, just like when I was a pre-schooler.

My grandfather was a Malay language teacher in Maju Secondary School, Bendemeer Secondary School and a few other schools before he retired. I was told by my father that he was well known as a stern and strict teacher who did not accept any nonsense from his students. Even after his retirement as a Mother Tongue teacher, he still teaches me the Malay and Arabic language.

He is a kind soul who would fetch me home from kindergarten all the time. He would then take me to his home, a magnificent terrace house, where I would amuse myself with toys, paper and colour pencils. My grandfather often bought me Vitagen and traditional food such as prata for tea. He would occasionally take me to the nearby playground to have a whale of a time there. I can vividly remember how much fun we had together! I sometimes think that he treats me similarly to how he treats my father.

From the stories my aunts told me, I know my father had a wonderful childhood with my grandfather when he was about my age. Being an impish boy, he would usually get into trouble with my grandfather. Once, he bought a rubber cat poo and placed it in the house for a joke. Not knowing that this was another silly prank pulled by my father, my grandfather scolded his cats instead of my father. Feeling guilty, my father only admitted to his comical act later on so that he would not get into any trouble.

I now know how much my grandfather cares for me through my recent trip to Jordan with my cousins, which costs a great deal of money and was fully sponsored by him. Since my parents did not come along, my grandfather took charge of my brother and me. During that trip, I learnt something new about my grandfather – how he shops for shoes. When we were out night shopping, we passed by a shoe shop which had a pair of fine leather shoes on display. My grandfather grinned widely, went inside, asked for the price and bought it immediately. He did not even bother to look at the other shoes first! Amused by his bizarre act, all of us burst into fits of laughter.

I admire my grandfather who has done a limitless number of good deeds for the whole family. He has sacrificed much for us and he is truly a terrific grandfather, father and husband. I hope he will live to see me graduate from university in the future.