The morning after I signed up for the gym, reality hit, My All birthday had just passed on the 28th. No grand celebration, no big party. In Langkawi, it was just my mom, my brother, and my sister. Simple, quiet, and just how I like it.
But back in Kuala Lumpur, My All had other plans. She arranged a lunch with her side of the family, my in-laws. Twenty of them. Dua puluh orang, okay? It wasn’t just a casual lunch, fheww.. it was a full-blown gathering. And what better way to mark the occasion than with food? Not just any food, but Arabic cuisine, I would say it’s my last heavy meal before getting serious with the gym life.
She had one request tho, everyone have to wear red, in the spirit of Chinese New Year katanya. Red is lucky, red is festive, red brings prosperity. And they complied. Well, almost everyone. But the group photo? Pure aesthetic joy, seas of red, happy faces, family vibes.
We feasted on lamb and chicken Madghout, a Yemeni dish, at Al Rawsha, Kampung Pandan. Since it was still a public holiday and we started early, the restaurant was practically ours. No rush, no crowd, just us, laughter, and plates of flavorful food.
And of course, father-in-law with his words of wisdom. He never misses a chance to give advice. Small things, big things, common sense things.
“Jaga diri, jaga makan, kerja baik-baik, jaga kebersihan.”
Nasihat orang tua. Standard, but always relevant. And we listened.
My All was beaming. Plans for the next gathering were already in motion. That’s the thing, family My All semua di Klang Valley, making reunions easy, a simple text away. For me? My mom is in Kedah, my brother there too, and another brother in Penang. Planning a gathering takes more effort, more logistics.
So here I am, menumpang kasih keluarga Mentua. Finding warmth in their traditions, their gatherings, their easy way of being together.
And now, with that last feast behind me, it’s time to focus. Time to make this gym membership count. Hahaha, tak lupa ye.