What I think about life.

Raya and all

With a red running shoes, Laila run another extra mile. She is huffing and puffing while cars passes her by. It is Thursday afternoon and she make up her non-fasting days with running. The crazy work load and the caloric food that she consumed for the past weeks motivate her to run again. The release of endorphin in her body makes her run longer than she usually did.

The sunny weather of Brunei makes her sweat even more. She can feel her tracksuit sticking on her body. As the cars passes by, so does the birds above the sky. The clear blue sky of Brunei. There is barely any clouds today. She abruptly stop her run when she see a stray dog lurking not far from her. She catches her breath for awhile and nonchalantly pass by the dog. When she feels like she is far enough, she started running again.

This time she run faster than before.

***

Upon returning home, she pick up a bunch of wildflowers from the green bushes alongside of the road. The flowers have a nice color of purples, yellows and reds with different shades of green of the leaves. She sniff the flowers and it have a faint smell of sweetness with a tinge smell of herbs.

Once she reach home, she go to the fridge and take a glass of cold water. She gulp it in a matter of seconds. Bringing an apple, she go straight to her room and lay on the floor of her room. She munch her apple with one hand and text Azhar on the other. Hope is sitting comfortably on her side. She put down her phone next to her while waiting for her boyfriend to reply. She continues eating her apple until she fall asleep with the apple still in her hand.

***

She woke up from the sound of the Maghreb prayer with her mother calling her name from downstairs. She found Hope is nibbling on her apple and promptly feed her with her own cat food. She run downstairs in her, now, air-dry tracksuit to the dining room. She found her parents and her sister are already enjoying their food. Although, Laila is on her period, she still doesn't want to miss spending their iftar together.

She help with cleaning the dishes since she has free time. She wash the dishes while listening to a Ramadan special program on the background. She can't help but daydream about her future with her boyfriend. Their relationship has gotten more serious and she won't be surprise if he will bring his family for a hand in marriage. Laila smile to herself.

She is on cloud nine when her mother interrupted her, "Why are you smiling?"

***

It is the first day of raya where everyone gather together to celebrate the end of Ramadan. The blessed month of Ramadan flew by very quickly. Ramadan had been very peaceful and joyful month - something she really need amidst the crazy work load. She celebrate raya by typically waking up early to get ready and helping with preparation of the raya feast. The men go to the morning eid prayer bright and early. Some women prefer to join the prayer at the mosque rather than staying at home.

A tradition of asking for forgiveness with tears and smiles occupying the raya celebration. A tradition of the older members of the family giving money in a packet(duit raya - a tradition adopted from the Chinese's ang pau) to the younger family members and children. Typically one dollar is given but higher if the giver is wealthy, the receiver is a close family member and/or both. She don't mind giving the little ones duit raya at all. She knows even a dollar will give them joy.

Everyone typically are in their brand new raya clothes; some wear a matching outfit and some prefer wearing their own clothing style. This is the day where anyone can wear a flashy or a glamorous clothing without looking out of place. Fashionistas take the opportunity to be as fashionable as possible; admiring each other and secretly competing who is the most fashionable. Some prefer a more simple yet elegant baju kurung. The men with their baju melayu, usually in solid color and rarely in patterns, and their beautiful sinjang/samping which might indicate their class.

The capturing of the family photos are most anticipated session for people who loves photography where they can show off their talent to everyone. The one family member who has the best quality camera loan their camera for the very important first Eid day has to charge their battery in full, although, almost everyone have their own camera phone. Everyone taking selfies including herself.

There are a vast array of delicious food, dessert and drinks. Dessert filling up the table in the living room for the guests to eat. Amongst the all-time favorites are kuih tapak kuda, kuih mor, kuih mata kucing, kek lumut, kek batik and biskut marble. After a month of refraining oneself from eating during the day, this is the time that people can eat the raya food without guilt during the day. Different types of drinks usually soda , sometimes coffee or tea, quenching the thirst of the celebrants.

Laila celebrate the first day of raya the same way with her family but not with Azhar.

Not yet.

Maybe soon.