AS the Christmas rush eases and roads begin to quieten, Rizban Shah is reflecting on the long hours spent travelling during the festive period while urging motorists to continue practising safe driving.
Mr Shah made the journey to Suva in the early hours of Christmas Eve, leaving his Ba home at 3am to deliver pineapples grown through his family’s farming business, which has been operating for more than 20 years.
“Christmas time is busy on the roads and people must be careful,” he said.
For Mr Shah, the festive season was not only a time of celebration, but also one of responsibility.
He said the early-morning trip had become a familiar routine during the festive season, when demand for fresh produce increases.
While many spent Christmas Eve preparing to celebrate with loved ones, Mr Shah spent hours behind the wheel — a routine he had grown accustomed to over the years.
He said leaving his wife and daughters during the holidays was never easy, but it was a sacrifice he had come to accept as part of sustaining the family livelihood.
“I will return to Ba today to spend Christmas with my wife and kids,” Mr Shah said.
Over the past two decades, the family business has supported generations and strengthened family ties through shared effort and commitment.
“I am happy to provide for my family and serve our customers,” he said.
