Missing them

Assalamualaikum.

2 weeks of togetherness. Not during the flight  from KL to Abu Dhabi though. There was a commotion when the families tried to exchange seats in the plane. Even though we were placed a few seats apart from one another, I could still keep an eye on Dijah and my mum. Luckily, the seat arrangement from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah was better and everyone was happy.

We were quiet all along the bus trip from Jeddah to Madinah. There wasn't much traffic on the highway and only a bush or two in sight all along the journey. When the Mutawif showed us the minarets of Nabawi mosque, I couldn't help it, but shed tears of gratefulness for at last I was there. We rushed to check in Mubarak Madinah hotel and got ready for  prayer. Our hotel was only 100m away from Uthman Affan gate, so we often got back to the hotel for meals and short naps.

Kerol joined us the next day. He shouted 'Mak!' in front of the hotel amidst the crowd who had just returned from Zuhur prayer. He made fast friends with the other families. We offered him to sleep with us  since his hotel was further away. With his arrival, mum was able to haggle with the shopkeepers. He spoke fluent arabic, much to our delight!

Madinah and Mecca are the holy lands  for the muslims. Allah counts our  deeds. Fortunately, Dijah and I are open enough to discuss things and on our second day in Madinah, Dijah told me; ' Mak, if I did anything wrong please don't be mad with me.'  I hugged her and told her that I really appreciate the sacrifices that Dijah and her brothers  did for me. Kerol's 24 hour trip to Madinah from Jordan, Dijah being with us every single minute and her little brother taking care of my father. Not to mention the du'as from Halim and Aman that make our trip so much easier. My prayer is that, Allah will grant us good health, time and apportunity to visit these holy lands as a family, Ameen.