A/N: This chapter is full of the Malay culture so I apologise for too much information. I got a little carried away.. :p The picture on the side shows the men coming back from the surau and the video is of men singing while beating the Malay drum (Kompang). Check 'em out when you read the last scene (At mid of page four) :D Thanks so much for reading and for the support, everyone! :)

Chapter Two : Meeting

The next day proved to be a busy one for the villagers of Kampung Rambutan as they prepared for the coming of a wedding. Whenever there was a wedding to be held, all of the villagers would bergotong-royong (pitch in) to help facilitate the Akad Nikah ceremony (solemnization) and the wedding reception so that it would go smoothly. Women would be in the kitchen, preoccupied with the cooking whereas the men would be busy setting up the dining tables, the pelamin (dais) and the decorations.

Nadiah paused and took a long look at the reflection in the mirror. A girl with pale, fair skin stared back at her. Faint, dark shadows circled her under eyes and no matter how much powder she pressed to it, it would still be visible. She wasn't much of a vain pot, needing to powder on layers of make-up just to feel beautiful. Heck, the cosmetics that were kept in her vanity dresser were barely used. She thought she looked fine without all these products on top of her natural looks but her mother thought otherwise.

As if on cue, Aminah's shouts resonated the otherwise still household. "Nadiah! Have you put on make-up?"

Nadiah sighed, wearily shaking her head. She didn't want to have to put them on. It suffocated her and she felt that it was useless considering how the make-up would not last long. Her tomboyish and rough ways still stuck despite having abandoned them for a while.

She answered, "Yes Mak." (Mother)

"Don't forget the lipstick!"

She did not answer but started to line her eyelids with kohl. She reached for the lip stain from a box and pressed the sheet to her lips, the colour tinting them red. She ran a comb through her hairline, making sure that all the strays were neatly tucked in before she fastened a silver barette on top of her bun.

Just as Nadiah was putting a scarf around her head, Aminah called to her. "Nadiah! Are you ready?"

"Yes, just a minute!" She answered as she adjusted the soft cream coloured scarf, throwing the ends over her shoulder. Glancing at her reflection once again, she could hardly recognise the girl in the mirror. She felt older and if any stranger were too look at her now, they would have thought she was someone feminine and gentle when she was far from that. Even Maa'rof knew her rough ways. Her thoughts immediately fleeted back to Maa'rof. She had forgotten all about him with her mother rushing her to complete all the household chores from the minute she was up, sparing no time for her to daydream.

"Nadiah!!! What's taking you so long?" Aminah hollered from the living room as she arranged a stack of newspapers and magazines on the coffee table. She was a woman who could not stand the sight of mess and would always be on her feet cleaning. She had been doing so the past one hour; dusting and arranging the ornaments on display while waiting for her youngest daughter to get ready. She blabbered on, "Are you the one getting married or Ainum? Haiyo, what am I going to do with this child...I think the rooster must have laid eggs already!"

At long last, Nadiah stepped out of her bedroom just as Aminah was lifting a big vase to place it at another corner.

"Roosters don't lay eggs, Mak," Nadiah stated, a flat look on her face. When she saw Aminah hauling the vase, she groaned."Mak, are you cleaning the house again..." She knew of her mother's obsessive compulsiveness. She was made to change the bed sheets thrice in a week - which was why she was always doing the laundry on a daily basis. There was always something to wash.

"Of course! " Aminah answered. "Who else is going to clean this house if not for me? Oh, what am I going to do with you! How am I going to marry you off if you only clean the house occasionally!"

"But Mak!" Nadiah protested. Her mother's obsession for neat and tidiness was a little overboard. "Arranging the furniture every week? People only do that for Hari Raya...(Eid)"

"Someday you will see the blessing of this!" Aminah said as she set the vase down. She turned around and stopped short when she saw Nadiah. Noticing her mother was taking in her appearance and the shocked look on her face, warmth rushed to her cheeks.

"Mak, why are you looking at me like that? I'm embarrassed...Did I put too much?"

Recovering her voice, Aminah cried excitedly, "My! Oh my! Masha'Allah! My daughter has grown to be a fine-looking woman!"

Hearing that, Nadiah blushed even harder. "Mak...you're making me embarrassed!"

Aminah let out a chuckle then her gaze fell upon the clock on the wall, her eyes grew wider with realisation when she saw it was noon. "Oh no! We're late! We have to leave now, your father is waiting!"

***

Malay weddings have always been a grand affair. Though the Akad Nikah (The Nikah {Solemnization} ) ceremony was not due till later that evening, preparations have already begun since the previous day. It was tradition for the newly-wedded couple to be treated like a King and a Queen for a day. When Nadiah and her mother arrived at the bride's house, there were already a lot of villagers present. A group of women sat in the open veranda; a few were cutting sireh (betel) leaves for the flower arrangements and some were decorating the hantaran (wedding gifts) with ribbons, lace and other decorative knick-knacks to be presented to the groom. The once open space that stood before the house now has a khemah. (tent {sheltered compound})

There were about twenty men and teenage boys who were busy setting up the pelamin (dais) and arranging tables and chairs for dining. Together Nadiah and her mother climbed the steps leading up to the house.

Fatimah loosened her footwear, poked her head in the doorway and said, "Assalamualaikum!"

The bride's mother, Siti, turned around and answered, "Walaikumsalam! Please do come in!"

Nadiah went around to salam (sort of like a handshake) all of the women present before slipping into Ainum's bedroom.

Inside, she found Ainum sitting on the floor with a pillow on her lap while a Mak Andam (Beautician) was bent over applying inai (Henna) on Ainum's hands. Zainab sat next to Ainum, watching with great fascination as the Mak Andam expertly drew intricate flower designs. She looked up and broke into a grin when she saw Nadiah.

"Nadiah!" Zainab leapt from her seat. "You're here!" She exclaimed, tackling Nadiah with a bear hug.

"How are you feeling, Ainum? Nadiah asked once Zainab released her. "You nervous?"

"Quite," Ainum admitted truthfully. "I'm going to get married, Nadiah! I'll be someone's wife!"

"You'll do great!" Nadiah gave her hand a tight squeeze. She felt excited and nervous for Ainum too. Even though she was Zainab's cousin, Nadiah was close to her too.

As Ainum got ready, Nadiah together with Zainab changed the bed sheet, pillow cases and the bedding into ones with gold trimming and took down the old curtains and put up new ones specially tailored for the wedding and helped Ainum to tidy up the room.

Later that afternoon, Nadiah's stomach let out an involuntary low growl and immediately blushed as it was loud enough for the others to hear. It was then she realised that she hadn't eaten anything the whole day.

"Oh ya!" Ainum commented as the Mak Andam helped her tie on the corset. Though the Akad Nikah was three hours away, it would usually take the bride at least a few hours to get ready. "I neglected to offer you food. How rude of me."

"You best have something to eat," the Mak Andam joined in. "It isn't good for girls to go with empty stomachs."

Zainab nodded in agreement whereas Ainum added, "Yes, you must!"

As she was feeling rather famished, Nadiah relented and excused herself, exiting the bed room. It was still chaotic outside, with so many people talking at the same time but she paid no attention to it as her hunger pangs seemed to increase as though knowing that she was going to get food.

She slipped on her slippers and travelled down the steps, making a beeline for the makeshift kitchen situated just behind the Khemah. (Tent/sheltered compound) The pelamin (Dais) was already up : Two wooden chairs rested on the low-rise platform and a curtain the colour of gold hung as the backdrop. Loose flowers were scattered on the platform and two vases filled with flowers stood at either side of the chair. 'Lampu Minyak Tanah' (Oil lamps) bordered the entire compound, each a metre apart from the other.

Nadiah was so focused with keeping the Khemah in her line of sight that she didn't notice the man who stood in front of her and collided into his back, the force throwing her body backwards. Her eyes instantly snapped back in front as she staggered to regain her footing, a gasp escaping her throat.

The man turned around and when he saw her, a look of surprise crossed his face for a brief second before it was replaced with a frown.

"Sorry, I didn't-"

"Watch where you're going next time," he snapped irritably and breezed past her without sparing her a second glance. Nadiah gulped and stared at his back in shock. Who is he? She had never seen him around before and he definitely wasn't a local as she knew everyone who resided in the village. She had managed to see before he had walked away that he had thick eyebrows and a chiselled jaw which tensed when he scowled.

Remembering her initial purpose, she whirled around and headed to the Khemah. A delicious, strong aroma of spices enveloped her tiny nose as she came closer.

"Hah! Nadiah," Her mother, Aminah cooed at her as she was chopping cucumbers. "I thought you were on a diet and didn't want to eat."

"Eh, eh, really?" A woman she recognised as being one of Zainab's blood Aunt chimed in. "You're so thin already! What for would you tie your stomach?"

Before Nadiah had a chance to speak for herself, her mother answered, " Beats me. This girl eats so little. I wonder where she got her nutrition from. "

"Mak!" Nadiah whined. "I'm not on a diet! I just forgot to eat..."

Aminah ignored her protests and remarked, "With a skinny body like that, how are you going to give birth next time?"

The women gathered broke into peals of laughter while Nadiah felt her face turn crimson red. Ignoring them, she piled some food on a plate and sat down on the table, washing her hands from a small bowl as she did so. The women no longer took interest in her and Nadiah began to eat at ease with her right hand. The rice, anchovy, pucuk ulam and sambal tasted heavenly on her tongue as she ate heartily.

***

Casting her sights out of the window, Nadiah sighed as she stared at the vast, increasing darkness blanketing the sky and the surroundings. Outside, light filtered from the fluorescent lamps of the house and the khemah and the flames in the lighted oil lamps seemed to flicker. Where were they? How much longer did she have to wait for? It had been over forty minutes since she had heard the Azan (Islamic call to prayer) for Isyak prayer. Surely the men who had left two hour ago had already completed their Jama'ah (prayer in congregation), right? Only the women, girls and small children were left in the house where they had performed their Jama'ah prayers in the living room whereas the men went to pray Maghrib and Isyak Jama'ah at the surau.

Ainum was sitting daintily on a wooden stool as the Mak Andam (Beautician) dusted powder over her face. She was already dressed in her white bridal wear, a long white glittering scarf adorning her head. Zainab was sitting perched on the edge of the bed, admiring the Hantaran (wedding gifts) sitting on it, a copy of the Al-Quran being amongst it.

When a knock came on the bedroom door, Nadiah glanced at the door as it opened, the noise from the living room seeped in as Aminah poked her head in.

"Wah!" Aminah remarked. "Cantiknya (pretty) Ainum!"

Ainum gave Aminah a small smile while trying to keep her face straight as the Mak Andam painted her lips red.

Nadiah asked, "Mak (Mother), who's outside?"

"Same old people. None of the men had arrived. "Aminah grumbled. "What's taking them so long? The Akad Nikah was supposed to be at eight forty, now it's nearly nine."

Just as Aminah spoke this, they all heard a young child's voice, seemingly coming from downstairs, announcing the arrival of the male villagers.

"They're here! They're here!"

Nadiah and Zainab immediately made a run for the window and peered outside. True enough, they saw a big group walking at the long bridge in the distance, each person holding a torchwood in their hands. Nadiah felt her heart race in excitement.

"Assalamualaikum!"

"Walaikumsalam..." The women sitting outside in the living room answered in response.

The door to the bedroom swung open and about ten more young women came in. One girl hurriedly close the door, leaving it slightly ajar and they all huddled behind it, listening closely. Nadiah and Zainab joined in too. Nadiah peered at the slight opening and saw a few men, one of them being her father, Hassan taking a seat on the floor. She saw the groom, Abu Bakr, taking a seat on the cushion in front of a middle-aged man whom she assumed to be the Tok Kadi. (A marriage official)

"Assalamualaikum," began the Tok Kadi. "In a short while, we will be commencing the Akad Nikah of Abu Bakar bin Badi dan his partner, Ainum binte Muhammad Awang, Insya Allah. Before that, let us put our hands together to recite a Dua (prayer) for these people so that their marriage will be filled with Barakah. (prosperity, blessing, happiness from God) Bismillah hirahman nirahim(In the name of Allah, The Beneficent and Most Merciful)....."

***

"Come, come, please, help yourself to the food!" Ainum's Mother, Siti called upon all the villagers present who were still seated in the living room, waving her hands as she did so. Her husband, Awang, joined in too and began to invite the male villagers to head over to the khemah. The Akad Nikah had just finished ten minutes ago and the newlyweds were standing side by side, their hands interlaced as people came to congratulate them. Nadiah thought the two of them were sweet together and smiled at seeing that Ainum was already comfortable with Abu Bakar, who was now her husband.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and found Zainab looking at her. "Let's go eat!" Nadiah nodded and followed her. There was already a long queue formed so they got in line and waited for their turns. A group consisting of young men and teenage boys stood nearby, each with a kompang (Malay drum) in their hands.

All of them were wearing the Baju Melayu with the Kain samping and had a songkok on their heads. (traditional Malay clothing) The line in front moved and the duo followed. Just then they heard a few whistles and jerked their heads to see that the newlyweds were coming down the steps. That's when the Kompang group started to pound on the kompang, singing as they did so, accompanying the couple as they slowly made their way towards the Khemah, looking no different than a King and his Queen.

All the Kompang members sang in unison as their hands swiftly beat the kompang.

"Pukullah tabuh, pukullah tabuh pukul rebana... Pukullah tabuh, pukullah tabuh pukul rebana..."

A smile began to spread on Nadiah's face as she watched this. All eyes were now on the couple as they strode. They were dressed in matching white bridal wear; Ainum was holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and held on to her husband's hand with the other whereas Abu Bakar was holding a Keris (Malay dagger/sword) in one hand.

The group sang, "Kalaulah jodoh, Kalaulah jodoh tidak ke mana.... Ya naam sidi Kalaulah jodoh tidak ke mana..."

"Ainum is so pretty!" Zainab whispered, sighing in content as she did so. Nadiah was about to respond when her eyes caught hold of a moving body amongst the crowd. She narrowed her eyes at the now still figure. It was the man whom she had crashed into earlier.

"...Bagaikan pinang Bagaikan pinang dibelah dua...," the men crooned. Nadiah examined the man who was oblivious to her staring. As he no longer had a scowl on his face and was silently watching the Kompang group and the couple like the other villagers, she found that he was rather good-looking - his face clean-shaved and he was young.

He was dressed like the other village men, in a Baju Melayu and a songkok rested on his head. For some reason at that moment, she felt a deep sense of intuition pertaining to this man - that there was something about him she couldn't quite comprehend what, though she had not see him before. Her heart soared when she saw him smile, revealing a perfect set of teeth which seemed to dazzle her.

What a sad thing, a handsome face but a mean person! She thought as she continued to admire his looks.

"Tanah yang licin, Tanah yang licin tidak berduri

Tanah yang licin, Tanah yaang licin tidak berduri...

Ibarat cincin, Ibarat cincin lekat di jari

Ya naam sidiii, Ibarat cincin lekat di jari"

At long last, the couple finally reached the Dais where they sat down as the men continued to play the kompang for another minute.

****