Nothing but umbrellas to shield against the world

Zainab (not her real name) and her husband have been living on the streets of Kuala Lumpur for six months, ever since they were thrown out of their son's house in Kulim, Kedah.

They spend their days with other homeless people, with no savings in their bank or EPF accounts.

Living from day to day, Zainab and her husband still struggle to accept what has happened to them.

Zainab's husband struggles with anxiety and depression, and spends most of his days hiding in their simple structure of umbrellas and cardboard boxes.

The umbrellas are all that they have with which to shield themselves from the rain each evening.

Zainab keeps their few belongings in bags which she hides among the shrubs.

She and her husband have an alternative spot near a private university if the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Each day, Zainab makes her way on foot to buy a simple meal so that she and her husband can break their fast.

She buys noodles from a stall at a Ramadan bazaar, using the money that kind-hearted people give her during the day.

Then, she makes her way back to her husband.

She and her husband are often soaked in the downpours that accompany the arrival of evening.

But her husband does not seem to mind, and likes taking short walks which calm his anxieties.

The elderly couple break their fast sitting on the floor of the five-foot way of a nearby building.

They are grateful for the food that they have, but cannot help remembering the delicious home-cooked meals that they used to make at home.

At night, they lie on their cardboard pallets and recall life as it used to be.

Sometimes, kind-hearted people from NGOs or charity organisations drop by to give them food for their pre-dawn meal.

Finally, they fall asleep, sheltered behind their umbrellas – their only shield against the world.