PJ - Kerteh - PJ - JB

Sita and little Najla stayed with us for two nights (Thursday and Friday) on transit from Kangar, Perlis to Kerteh. Fahrul had to go back to Kerteh on Thursday itself as he has to work the next day. The house was not too quiet with Najla around, a lot better than when only the two of us were at home. “The sounds of little kids are always soothing to the soul?” Kids may get on your nerves sometimes, but it is something you enjoy in the end, really.

Najla was not well. Sita took her to see a pediatrician on Friday afternoon and with some medicine she was a lot better, crying less and playing more. Originally Sita was to hitch a ride from one of her friends returning to Kerteh, but with Najla in that condition, we decided to send them. After all we were quite free and had nothing to attend to in the next few days. Not until Wednesday as we have to be in JB then for a planned meeting with mum and my siblings.

We left for Kerteh at just before 7 in the evening, stopped once for dinner and evening prayers at one of the rest plaza’s on the highway, arriving in Kerteh at just about midnight. There was not much traffic on the roads and highway but Najla was restless, sleeping little and ‘crappy’ most of the time. I think she was really tired by the time we arrived in Kerteh as according to Sita, she slept till morning. However when she woke up the next morning she continued to be crappy. Her condition improved over the next few days though as she was more playful and lively then. As most little children are, she was difficult only when her mother was around and more so when she was not well. Otherwise, she was playful and gave us not much problem.

We returned to PJ on Tuesday, did some chores, paid some bills and next morning we were off to JB. We planned to be in JB for two nights and return to PJ on Friday. The rush is because we have a ‘Tazkirah’ or religious colloquium session amongst our retirees fraternity of which I am the secretary. Mum commented that I am busier now than when I was working and indeed it is true. However, I am now busy doing something I really enjoy.

While in JB I chaired a meeting of the ‘family grouping’ and discussed usual issues related to management of the grouping etc. etc. Ram and I also took the opportunity to ‘drive’ around JB and ‘view’ the houses and the neighbourhood where we grew up and the changes viz-a-viz developments in JB over the years. We also viewed an old house where Ram’s elder brother used to live in and which had recently been destroyed by fire, due perhaps to old electrical wiring in the house. There was no one in the house at the time it caught fire, but the house is almost a total loss except for a small portion in the kitchen. More on this nostalgic tour in coming issues of my ramblings.

MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Petaling Jaya