My First Eid with a New Family (Additional Assignment Plus 1)

 It was the first time in history that Eid Fitri is different than before. We cannot visit our friends and families, our parents, or cousins. We can only celebrate it at home, with anyone else who was under the same roof. As for me, it was my first Eid to be far from my family and my first Eid with my new family under special circumstances.

This year’s Eid was also my first Eid celebration as a wife, with someone whom I love and dedicated my life to. I wouldn’t mind spending my time with him, though it was a little bit sad that I have to be apart from my siblings. They missed me a lot.

I haven’t been back home since a week before the MCO. It had been months since then. The situation unable us to go out and just stay at home. I am doing my part as a responsible citizen to stay at home no matter how emotional I could be.

During my time here, I am glad that I am accepted by my new family, whom I considered as my own. My mother in law treated me as one of her own. I learned how to make lemang from her during Ramadhan. Also cook some other dishes. She was very kind and understanding. The kind of mother love I never get to experience.

My husband was very understanding and loving. Even if he is working during the celebration, he still makes time for us to have a family picture and bersalam-salaman with the whole family. And it was also my first time handing our duit raya as well. I felt a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. It felt great.

 

Mother in law, whom I called mama, made the best nasi briyani I had ever tasted. Not once in my life had I ever tasted nasi briyani that good up the point where I served until three times. I am willing to go for more but my body cannot handle it anymore. Not only does her nasi briyani tasted awesome, even her lemang and rendang were the best. She is the best chef I had ever known.

Not to forget our little mischief Titi from the pond who always cause trouble in the pond like pushing off mama’s vase and eating the koi fish, as well as some unknown frog where only the upper half of the body was left.

 

Abid, my younger brother in law is posing with Titi the Mischief

There isn’t much we can do during the Eid festival, since we are not allowed to go out and visit anyone, but that doesn’t stop us from video calling with them. I video called my friends and families, and was really grateful of the technology that was created which enabled us to still get connected, no matter how far apart we are.

My siblings in laws are a bundle of joy. They kept me entertained with their somewhat humor which cracks me up all the time.

 I also had a 4-year-old niece (in laws? I don’t know. Its my husband’s younger sister’s son) named Niyaz whom we called ‘Pak Niyaz’. You must’ve wondered why the ‘pak’ despite his young age. Well, it is one of the funny stories that we encountered.

He called my husband ‘pak long’ and his younger brother ‘pak teh’. So we asked him, “Niyaz, this is pak long, and this is pak teh” then my husband gestured to Niyaz “Niyaz?”

“Pak Niyaz” he answered innocently.

We all bursted into laughter. How simple-minded the children’s mind is that it is entertaining to watch.

'Pak' Niyaz and his mother (my young sister in law)

All in all, I truly enjoyed our ‘Stay at Home’ Eid celebration, even if it was a little bit different than the norms. It was one of the memories that I hold dear.

This new family is my treasure and I love them so much. I am glad to be one of them.