The feel of raya seems new to me all together again. The excitement of going back kampong was definitely something I have yet to feel till this raya. Fair enough, I was in the states for four years and celebrating raya in class is definitely not something you want to do. Now that I think about it, the excitement was there, but a different one.
I didn’t feel the excitement until a day before my family and I went off to Terengganu. My sisters are at home and we had our last family break fasting *in the radio, it’s breaking fast.. so choose your pick :p* I had to force myself to go back from work early or I would not go back by 5pm. I didn’t pack that night right away.. I slept :p
The next day, didn’t sleep after sahur like always, packed my stuff, went to Ampang Point and my other sister’s house to wish her and by 12pm, we’re off to Terengganu. And that’s when the excitement grew and grew. The last time I went back to Terengganu, it took me 7 hours and this time, it took us 5 hours, and we weren’t even speeding. Have to say, the new highway saved us hours.. Since both my grandmas are still alive and Alhamdulillah, pink in health, my mom and dad went off to their own mom’s.. it’s 10 minutes apart, so it wasn’t a hassle for them, but it was for us.. my sister and I had to think of a fair plan for both grandmas. Alhamdulillah, it was ;)
Let's get to the point right away..
Woke up by takbir raya on the first day was definitely something wayyyy different.. I am quite sentimental and so, this experience really touched me.. As said, i have forgotten the excitement of listening to takbir raya.. i have forgotten some other feelings and experiences that are raya related..
I didn't get to sembahyang raya that morning because i overslept :p but still, i got to listen to the khutbah and the takbir from my grandma's.. The mosque is just across the street anyways.. after everyone's back, we all gathered at my grandma's and it was definitely noisy with laughter and chit chats.. Its everyones first time meeting me after 4 years and there were loads of comments and bonus questions asked.. as expected i suppose..
Regardless, I was quite sad thinking some of my grandma's siblings who had gone to meet the One and i didn't get to meet them before.. May God bless them..
A funny routine i could say for me during this raya, whenever i meet my cousins, i have to ask my aunts or my cousins to introduce to me the kids.. gosh they look all grown up and different!! some i know, some i could guess and some i was shocked.. That's what you get when you haven't been home for quite sometime :)
Hope you guys had a great Raya with your families and relatives.. and friends (o",o)v
"Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin"