We were at a wedding reception of a friend’s daughter at Muadzam Shah, Pahang on Saturday, November 26, 2011. We, means the husband, youngest daughter (Wan Nur Aiman) and yours truly. Faiz was supposed to join us but a last minute miscommunication over his leave, left us with no choice but to leave without him. He will be home alone over the weekend and a few days after as we planned on driving to Terengganu and Kelantan after the Muadzam function. Hope the flood will not be in our way.
Muadzam is over 3 hours away and to be at such a faraway function drew some questions from my daughter. The place is just too far away for a kenduri and she didn’t want to be disconnected from her friends, especially her web friends. At 13 she is too young to be home alone and we insisted in her coming along in spite her resistance. While explaining Aiman the need for us to be at this reception, I think it is best that I share this bonding that I have with Sham and Hassan, the parents of the bride.
It happened years ago (1984?) when I was at CIMB UPM (it was then Bank Bumiputra Malaysia Bhd [BBMB]) doing some financial transaction with Zaharah, a very close friend. We bumped into Hassan and Izham. Hassan was to leave for his PhD on a scholarship somewhere in the States. While congratulating him for the scholarship award, we jokingly commented on what a waste it was for him to be going alone. Hassan was still a bachelor then and shyly deflected our comments. Should he go with a family, all expenses will be paid for with a family allowance to top.
Driving back to the office I commented to Zaharah that Sham would be a nice candidate for Hassan. Sham was then a teacher assistant to our preschool children. I know Zaharah’s child (Hasniza) and my children (Shaida & Nazim) adored her and were never happier at the pre-school. Sham came from a respectable family with a strong religious foundation. Zaharah was in agreement. Zaharah is a person of action (she still is!). She knew Hassan well as she was staying with a mutual friend close to Hassan while studying in the UK. She suggested that Sham be introduced to Hassan. We hatched out a plan to drive to the pre-school during an afternoon lunch break, called Sham out to the gate to talk about some school matters. Hassan was to make his observation from inside the car and no way was he to show himself. But I made the mistake of switching off the car engine (it was more of a sub-conscious action to take the ignition key upon leaving the car) thus the air-conditioning. No way was it possible for Hassan to remain in the oven hot car. He sheepishly extracted himself from the car showing himself. Sham was obviously curious asking us who he was. We told her half truth, a friend joining us for lunch. It remained at that and we soon excused ourselves to go for the said lunch. Barely 500 m away Hassan surprised us both, “OK, she is the one!” announcement. I turned to Zaharah and both of us were just too shocked for any comments. This is too good to be true. Then the three of us burst out laughing. You can’t remain a 35 year old bachelor and make that consent at an instant. Now we (Zaharah and I) began to have our doubts. Nevertheless we told Hassan to do it proper and have the families involved. We’ll be there for referral.
From there on things went lightening speed. Hassan went home to Johore telling about his new find to his family. They were equally dumbfounded but were relieved that Hassan finally found his to-be soul mate. Izham was ecstatic thanking us for doing what he had been trying to make Hassan commit to for years since. We made a mention of the happenings to Sham’s sister, a close office friend.
To cut the story short, Hassan and Sham were soon engaged and married in time for them to depart for the US together. I believed they went to Urbana-Champagne. Later we had news of a child being born, Faizah, the bride at the reception that we went to. We got to meet Sham again when they were back home from the States. By then apart from Faizah we were also introduced to Syukri and Hanif. Last count they had eight children. There’ll be seven more trips for us to Muadzam but I am not complaining. I am happy for the family and I cannot but feel to be part of them.
To cut the story short, Hassan and Sham were soon engaged and married in time for them to depart for the US together. I believed they went to Urbana-Champagne. Later we had news of a child being born, Faizah, the bride at the reception that we went to. We got to meet Sham again when they were back home from the States. By then apart from Faizah we were also introduced to Syukri and Hanif. Last count they had eight children. There’ll be seven more trips for us to Muadzam but I am not complaining. I am happy for the family and I cannot but feel to be part of them.
Our congratulations to Faizah & Zaki.
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