Ikhwan's kenduri.

 Mon 16.5.2022.

Ikhwan is properly spelt different, is also called different : "Bod". Ikhwan in Arabic is "friend". "Eikhwan" as registered by Baharin, his father, doesn't mean anything, but of course means everything to his family. "Bod" comes from a mispronounced "boy", the simple handle lovingly given by Baharin and wife Zuraidah, both now gone, may their souls rest in peace. Zuraidah's mother was the eldest of Cikgu Ujang's children, of which Idah, my wife of 50+ years is one. That's the connection. This, on Saturday, was Faris', Ikhwan's eldest son's, wedding.

As Malay weddings go, it was a close family affair, with a very selected few close associates included. The pandemic and actual planning got this date close to the recent Eid, which was ok. Ikhwan had planned to have it in Bangi, because of the central location. He changed his mind and chose this wedding place in Kota Damansara. Closer to the house, but further from the rest. But the attendance of the Singapore cousins made the others shut up from comparing journeys undertaken. But they were "journeys" indeed. The Plus traffic was worse than expected. I mean, it was real bad. Fortunately, we left at 9 a.m., were the first to arrive, and did not experience the terrible jam later.

Villa Rimba Flora at Kota Damansara became recognizable to me by the time we arrived ahead of everybody, including the Ikhwan group, the host. Bangjat used to live around here, and Iman attended the school we passed by. The interior of the building was nice enough for the occassion. Any larger attendance would have been overcrowded. Even as it was, the air-conditioning was insufficient, probably because parts of the area were open.

All 4 kids made it, minus many of the grandchildren, which was a good decision I think. A more open and larger space would have made the little kids enjoy themselves more. Adik came late because he had to go to SEDAR first. Then he got caught in the traffic. Usually Bangjat would miss these, because of his and Adib's work schedules, so we were happy this was different. Ikhwan is in their generation.

Anim was the MC, probably self-appointed. But he's part of Ikhwan 4-member siblings, anyway.  He did a good job, as compere and singer simulteneously. And not a bad voice. Actually he had professional ambitions. He didn't have a karaoke set, though, or I would have offered a few of Broery's numbers.

Small though the place was, I'm told it wasn't cheap. The family-knit attendance could limit the collection, I thought, but there was one 4k envelope, and the relatives are not too badly off. Anyway, as a new CEO of a new undertaking (one board member also came - one of Tun M's son, no less) Ikhwan should take care of accounts. I introduced myself to Mirzan, and recounted the 90's when we attended the same monthly meeting of the haulage operators in Port Kelang. I doubt he remembered me.

All in all, everything went well, except for the "menyembah" ceremony. Ikhwan said he went to Cik Piei's house thrice. They went over it together. Cik Piei had also done this before. But somehow he abondoned the plan and went to call forth about 60 relatives, after reciting some bad "pantuns" (bad because many didn't even rhyme!). You only call about a dozen people, the "induks" from both sides, who would hand the couple some money in return for a "boko" usually of "penganan", as they are introduced to each other. Here, after a few of the 60 names were called, everybody started to eat from the domed sets on their tables. Obviously the whole bungled affair would take forever. Poor Cik Piei !

We reached home about 10 p.m. after a last minute Asr prayer at Bukit Aman mosque. It was also raining quite heavily. Traffic was very heavy, but not terrible.

I had to cancel the plan to go to USJ for that Raya visit, Sunday.  We all slept till noon.

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