Yet another family Raya 2022.

 Sun 29.5.2022

This time it was a 2-hour drive from Seremban to Antara Gapi. Most of the time it was being stuck in bad traffic - on the way to KL, and on the way to Serendah. But we managed to make the deadline set. We were only beaten by Faiz and No 2 Son. No 2 Son is in Subang Jaya, but he rode his Kawasaki 900, so time not a factor there. Faiz, Conen's No 1 Son, is in Kelana Jaya, but must have driven out early. Except for Riduan Jusoh, I only saw family. "The association" was Conen's answer when I asked for the connection of his visit, referring to the former Felda employees' association. 

We came at about 12, and reached back in Seremban just as the Magrib prayer call was heard from somewhere. The last to leave Conen's house must have been Din Pendek, because he was, as usual, the last to come. "Slow and steady" I said to Conen when he sighed loudly "finally !" on seeing Din arriving. The "Pengantin" from Sarawak also came with him, together with most of the siblings.

Antara Gapi is the latest of the real estates bought by Conen a few years after marrying Umi. They were in Selayang for a while before that. It seems a nice enough place to retire in, with Serendah and Batang Kali the 2 nearest towns. The house looks a bit strange, though. It's a double-storey bungalow with plenty of space at the back that's now wooded with  planted plants that have grown and give plenty of cool shade, and even hides the large cat-house. The "kilang" neighbour at the back sends "kilang" sounds that are not too audible, unless you walk up to right at the back. Strange because the second floor doesn't match the size of the ground floor, with one large room and two small ones with one separate small bathroom. But for 2 occupants, there's plenty of room, of course.

Riduan and I talked old times for the duration of his visit. I last met him 32 years ago ! His appearance hasn't changed except for the grey hair. He was the MD's, Hj. Nasir's right-hand man, dealing with the board papers and similiar stuff. Hj. Nasir tried to pull me in for this paper work, trying to get one board paper done. I wrote it my style, brief and to the point. It filled half-a-page. It was the first and last piece that I got from him.

Faiz didn't come over to me until I called him. When my other brothers, Mash and Calit, and my sisters Dekma and Yamtik came he was warm enough with them, so that's ok then.  I was the witness to both his marriages, first in Kedah and the second one in Kelana Jaya.

Fikri came later, apparently without his mother's knowledge. He was different. We were at the back and we spoke at length, together with Jaws. We even spoke about his plan to marry his girlfriend from Surabaya. She's Roman Catholic. So there's an issue here. I called Dekna, and she said Fikri can't marry her in Malaysia without conversion.

This was another family Raya, interrupted by Covid 19 for 2 years. There was  much catching-up, and plenty to eat and drink, so much in fact that Umi passed a heavy paper bag of some food to take home. She also slipped some money (much bigger than most tips, by the way) to both me and Idah, so that was nice. They said they'll come to Seremban later. I wonder if they expect reciprocity. Monetarily, that is.

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