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It was customary those days for most families to head to their relatives' houses come every school holidays and festive season and this trend would heighten when weddings are held in every nook and corner of the country to coincide with holidays so as to give opportunity for everyone to make way conveniently to their much anticipated destinations.
And it was a highly festive mood in every household to commemorate the joyful union of couples tying the knots and its a common sight for close relatives to congregate in the hosts' houses a day or two earlier to celebrate and share the duties of relatives to ensure a successful marriage. Nevertheless, a big congregation of relatives means space will be an issue to accommodate an increased occupants of uncles, aunties, cousins and grandchildren in the hosts' houses.
Back in the 70s, 80s and early 90s homestays were basically unheard of and the mere mention of hotel would be frowned upon by the family heads as it would cost a bomb to book one. By hook or crook, we had no choice but to cramp up in our host's house. Interestingly, the house's living room would be the epicentre of their entire stay there. Lots of activities took place in the living room. While the womanhood would be busy in the kitchen dishing out food for the entire household to make sure everyone is fed satisfactorily, the elder men would their mark their territory in the living room, languishing lazily while puffing ‘rokok’ daun, chatting about politics and a range of other topics. The children meanwhile would be scattered outside the house at the verandah or lawn without much monitoring. They would be playing games the whole day and pause only momentaringly for meal breaks.
Later in the evening when the men folks empty the living room to run chores or preparation for the wedding, its time for the women folks to take over the living room, Normally the battered ladies take a breather from the hustle and bustle of their earlier chores. The living room would normally stand witness to lots of gossiping and chatters in preparation for the grand feast. Interestingly the pinnacle of the day would be at nightfall when all the children started invading the living room, spreading out all the beds, mattress and whatever clothes they could put their hands on from the rooms to create a lush and spacious makeshift bedroom from the living room.
The children's happy chatters and banters would fill the air whilst the television watching them, and by midnight the atmosphere would turn a bit eerie when some cheeky cousins would come up with some ghoulish stories. Suddenly there would be shrieks and hightened cries by the younger children and the adults would rush in panic to the already messed up living room. Notwithstanding the euphoria in the living room, it is still the epicentre of happiness, joy and camaraderie in every household come every occasion and I'm sure each and everyone of us would have threaded these memorable moments of the yesteryears during their childhood.
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