On Hari Raya morning (Friday) I woke up at 4:45 a.m, put on Takbir Raya on low mode and had a video call on skype with my sister, KakNgah in Pokok Asam, Taiping. It was 4:45 p.m in Malaysia. Our alone quiet chat lasted for about an hour when my brother Abang, three years my senior who lives next door walked into KakNgah living room and saw KakNgah and I were on the skype. He hollerred his wife. They live next door.
A few minutes later, my second younger brother, Man and his wife Yah with their five kids returned from their Hari Raya open house trip. Man flipped his cell phone and called Tan, my first younger brother who lives a few houses away from KakNgah with his wife Non and their six kids.
Within an hour KakNgah's living room was packed with my two brothers, two sister-in-laws and 11 nieces and nephews waiting for their turn to talk with with me. The children and their parents were standing, squatting and leaning to KakNgah, elbowing each other waiting for their turns. I sat on my couch, my emotion ran high and low, loved and missed, watching the younger ones stuffing their face with kueh raya and ketupat while the older kids teased and poked their younger cousins, brothers and sisters.
At that moment I made up my mind I want to visit them next year. No if no but. InsyaAllah.
By eight fifteen I talked with all of them even Nani who was three years old when the last time I saw her. I felt so good. I felt wonderful. I felt blessed.
Lan,
Sedih baca comment Lan.do you remember when the first time we went to Saerah's Hari Raya open house? Seemed like a long time ago, eh?
Hope you are doing well there.
Cikgu Temuk,
You are right about keeping in touch with the family members with the latest technology tool make it easier.Both of us are anak yatim piatu.
Emma,
Salam Hari Raya and thank you for stopping by to read my blog and left a comment.I hope to see you again here. Is your aunt's house opposite the SRK Methodist Pokok Asam? Where are you located now?
Posted by: sitiaishah salim | September 18, 2010 at 11:25 AM
i came across your page by chance, am also from Taiping but Asam Kumbang. Had an aunt who used to be residents of Pokok Asam at the rumah murah (deret 1 ngadap jalanraya, 1st house - the corner). will read your other entries to find out more details about you :)
Selamat Hari Raya EidlFitri di perantauan (i gather by this entry) May your du'a of coming home to celebrate Raya with your family be a reality. InsyaAllah. All the best to you.
Posted by: Emma | September 18, 2010 at 08:15 AM
Assalamu'alaikum Siti
How nice! InsyaAllah, technology has allowed you to be in touch with your loved ones on that auspicious day. Pasti terubatlah kerinduan dapat berhubung dengan berbelas-belas kerabat di pagi Syawal mulia. Sekalipun isteri & anak-anak ada bersama saya semasa belajar di Cornell dulu (78-82), kerinduan pada ibubapa & saudaramara di Malaysia tetap memuncak semasa raya. Kini, kerinduannya berbeza, kerana yang dirindu khususnya ibubapa, sudah pun tiada.
Sempena Syawal mulia, Maaf zahir batin.
Posted by: TEMUK | September 16, 2010 at 06:29 AM
Ku susun sepuluh jari memohon maaf dan halalkan makan dan minum, jika ada tersalah kata dan laku Lan minta Siti maafkan. Lan tau bagaimana perasaan Siti bila Aidilfitri menjelma. Kenangan di masa silam sudah tentu bermain difikiran.
Itu adalah perjalanan hidup manusia. Harap Siti tabah dan tenang menyambut hari raya yang mulia ini.
(ingat masa Lan kat Boston dulu, kita berhari raya bersama) semua itu akan selalu Lan kenangkan.
Posted by: frazlanb | September 15, 2010 at 10:05 AM