Tuesday, October 7, 2008

When Love Comes A-Calling (Final)

THE solemnisation of marriage was a low-key affair held in June 2001, barely a month after he proposed. It was quiet and fuss-free, with only a few people in attendance, just the way they had wanted it.

But if they thought they could get away with it, they were grossly mistaken. Her brother informed he wanted to hold a grand wedding feast back in their ancestral home in Ipoh in her honour, to announce her marriage to the entire clan.

No way could she refuse the request, even if she wanted to. Of her father’s eight children from two separate marriages, she was his only daughter and her seven brothers wanted to do things ‘the proper way’ for their only sister.

In the end the newlyweds meekly acquiesced and held their collective breath, hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

One of their biggest fears was the threat of ‘bersanding’. They flatly refused to do it for fear of looking like a couple of ageing fools. Well, they were arm-twisted into doing it anyway!

Whilst Ashburn was none too pleased at the turn of events, he was gracious enough to realise he had not just married a woman but into an established, tightly-knit clan. She, on the other hand, fully understood the clan ethos, thus asked no questions.

When queried about his sudden marriage proposal, he sheepishly admitted that he was afraid someone else might come along and swept her off her feet. “I just knew she was the one and I didn’t want to lose her,” was his simple reply.

Whilst her children were elated at this new chapter in their mother’s life, his were a little more guarded. Whatever the case, the newlyweds had to tread carefully to ensure feelings weren’t bruised.

It has been seven years since. They are doing fine thus far. Alhamdulillah.




Note: She was thinking of putting her 'bersanding' picture to accompany this article, for its mirth value if nothing else, but thought the better of it. She didn't want to be held liable should anyone fell off his/her chair. Perhaps, if she could muster enough courage, she might.... :)


17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I tell you what - you have to compile all this into a book. It will be a gem. Whenever you are ready, I will be ready to underwrite it. And I know now where to get in touch with you.
Thank you so much.

Keroncong Lover.

Kak Teh said...

just as well i didnt go to bed yet. Wow seven years oredi??
Nothing beats love in the autumn years! I have abt three episodes in my blog. Soon it'll be love in the wintry showers!
Thanks fr sharing puteri.

Unknown said...

Go ahead and post that bersanding picture Kak Puteri.

U know there's nothing better than to immortalise it digitally on the net, where u and Pak Abu met.

Anonymous said...

Can we see Love in the internet age bersanding photo on the internet please. We promise we will giggle ever so softly.
aMiR

MrsNordin said...

That's nice... thanks for sharing! Post je lah gambar tu... :)

Pi Bani said...

Aiseh... letak ajelah gambar tu. Since you dah letak disclaimer, I'll make sure I'll have my seatbelts on during my next visit to your blog! ;)

Anonymous said...

manis berlecah..penyudahnya..

taklah anti climax

apasalahnya letak gambar..terilur lah pulak nak tengok..

jangan risau sangat..kami yang tua ni kalau bersanding pun gitu gak..

tapi berani saya bertaruh..cahaya yang terpancar di dalam lubuk hati tu terus keluar kat yang orang lain tak leh nak curi hari yang penuh indah lagi shahdu tu..

letak ye..untuk 2 hari pun cukup lah buat hilang suspense kami semua..yang anon anon ni..

Pak Malim pun susah tentu teringin sangat..

Anonymous said...

Kak Puteri,

Was yr wedding reception and bersanding held at yr brother's house in Meru Heights,Ipoh?

talqin said...

So what now?? Hunting menantu time?? (Lariiiiiiii)

Kama At-Tarawis said...

keroncong lover - tq for the confidence in me. i takder confidence in myself..:P

kak teh - i sengaja post before you pi tidoq, so that you can have yr say awai2..:)

aida, amir, mrs N, pi, anon 11.29 -- hahahaha..tak terkata dah ...:P

anon 11.36 - betul tu.. you must be among the chatters kot, ada one group of chatters from Ipoh led by OnGhost representing the rest..

talqin - of course la..now is menantu-searching time..:)

Unknown said...

*awww what bliss!*

best of the best for both of you .... !

Kama At-Tarawis said...

pp.. awwww.. tq for the good wishes.

Anonymous said...

Wah! 2nd time and lasting > 7 years.
Apa ilmu yg dipakai?
Meself, things were all over while still in honeymoon mode (took close to 2 years being in honeymoon mode; maklum laa trying to find love after marriage.)
So, apa ilmu yg dipakai? Habaq mai sikit.
Talqin, awat cheq lari taim Kama nak cari menantu? Dah lupa ka tagline JLKM?

talqin said...

Encik Laptop.. Petua dia 'Sangkaq kena bekilau merelit baru rimau selesa'.. dak gitu Puan Cage?.. hehe

Anonymous said...

(dok perati gambaq kawin itamputeh)
wah!.. so fair...
Muka jereneh, ... so cerah.
Betuahnya Pak Abu.:-)

Iron Butterfly said...

picture! picture! picture!! *chants

hehehe.. come on auntie please...

mekyam said...

i know this is pretty late... but i have to let you know that this is one of the most wonderfully romantic true, not to mention REAL!, love stories i have ever had the pleasure of reading.

i'm tearing up like an mushy idiot... but i cannot help it. [sniff!]

this makes up for all that scaring "the socks off" me with your tales of the macabre, those tales i started with in my journey backwards through your blog.

i think reading wonderful blogs like yours is one of the reasons i don't have time to keep a weblog myself. that and my belief that if everyone is on the virtual stage, who is left in the gallery, ye ke dok? :D

thank you for sharing your heart-warming story with such wit and candour. the graceful writing is of course twice the bonus.