Cinta Nikotin

Ahmad, a boy who suffers from smoking cigarettes, is having a hell of a time trying to cope with the new anti-smoking laws. By 1 June he will not be able to smoke in the work building any more and will have to walk one km until he is outside the office gates before he can take a puff.

Linda is the new anti-smoking regulator whose job is to ensure that everybody understand the new regulations, but she is shocked when Ahmad literally blows smoke in her face as an initial response. The problem is that Linda needs one hundred percent compliance otherwise she is regarded as a failure and will lose her job.

Linda literally tries to get Ahmad enrolled in an anti-smoking program designed to help people stop smoking. Ahmad of course resists, but seeing the new stature he gets from his workmates from having a pretty girl like Linda pay attention to him is enough reason from to at least keep seeing her for further sessions.

Over the time, we discover Ahmad's reason for smoking: his father smoked too when he was younger, and the smell of cigarette smoke is the only thing he holds on after his death. The father picked up smoking while being held prisoner by the communist during the Emergency, the only thing he had to turn to when there was nothing else to hope for.

Linda too has a reason for hating cigarettes: her ex-fiance succumbed to cancer induced by smoking. He knew it was dangerous for him, but could do nothing to stop the habit because his whole family smoked, and they pressured him to keep at it.

These two stories help the two understand that smoking has a far-reaching impact beyond the individual and a mutual respect grows into love.

However, the fundamental difference remains. Who would give in? Things finally come to a head when the deadline is reached, and Ahmad has to face losing his job. As a protest, on his final day, as the clock ticks down to the final minute, Ahmad is furiously puffing away on the work floor. The few he had encouraged to join him are slowly peeling away as they see their contracts and bonuses go up in smoke, threatened by the powers that be.

Finally Linda walks up to Ahmad. Although he has blown smoke in the face of everybody else, he can't do it with her. Linda gives him a choice. She is willing to live with a man who smokes, but won't do it if he dies early, leaving her alone for a lot of her life. So, she will begin smoking too, just so she can live - and die - with him.

When faced with this, Ahmad gives in.

Later we see the epilogue: the two are living together, things seem as normal, they don't smoke. But when Ahmad has a moment alone, he steals away. From his pocket, he takes out a cigarette, and looks at it longingly. He holds it to his nose and takes a deep breath in, savouring the smell. How you doing, dad? he asks.