We’ve all eaten out alone at some point. But this elderly Malaysian man has a unique routine.

Facebook user Zupi Bakhtiar posted a lengthy Facebook post which was later reposted by radio station ZAYAN about seeing an old man eating out by himself – but with food portions enough for eight people.

At first, when he and his family observed the old man ordering food and setting the table for eight people, they thought nothing of it, presuming that he was waiting for his friends or family to arrive.

But after he and his family finished his dinner, still no one had arrived at the food centre and the old man was already eating his food. 

The Backstory

Quizzical, Zupi asked a waiter about it. He told him that the old man was a regular customer, patronising the restaurant two to three times a week. He routinely came and paid for the food of eight people, eating only his share before packing up the food and leaving. 

The old man also said that he’s dining with his family, but the waiter wasn’t sure if they were still alive.

Zupi also observed that the old man would speak to himself as if his family was really there, and that even when people bumped into the empty chairs by accident, he would just calmly re-adjust the chairs. 

What the waiter told them made his wife cry, and his children sad. The circumstances around the old man’s actions remain unknown.

Do Not Disturb

Netizens emphasised the old man, sharing similar experiences of their own where they also prepared a meal for a family member that had passed, or just telling everyone to let him live his life and not speculate, especially since the old man did not disturb anyone with his actions.

Zupi also has similar sentiments for everyone to respect the old man’s space and leave him alone if they encounter him, as well as to keep the restaurant’s location private.

Featured Image: Facebook (Zupi Bakhtiar)