Brothers Long For Mum's Chicken Rice This Aidilftri, Miss Perished Family Members

MUAR, April 6 (Bernama) -- The excitement of welcoming Aidilfitri now remains but a memory for Abdur Rahman Amir Ruddin, 20, and his younger brother, Abdullah, 16, after losing their parents and four siblings, who perished in a road accident at KM5, Jalan Segamat-Kuantan, on Sept 1 last year.

For Abdur Rahman, this year's Ramadan and Aidilfitri feel markedly different as, for the first time, it is celebrated without their loved ones by their side. Certainly, he will fondly remember the dishes they used to enjoy together on Aidilfitri morning, particularly his mum’s speciality, the home-cooked chicken rice.

He vividly remembers his late mother, Noorahimah Noor Muhamad, serving up that special dish, while he could picture his father, Amir Ruddin Ismail and their four siblings relishing the special chicken rice with utmost joy.

“Now all that remains are memories. Everything feels so different without them. One of the most beautiful things that I will never forget during Ramadan is the breaking of fast and performing Tarawih prayers together.

“I can't afford to be too sad, that's the reality we have to accept. It has been seven months without them,” he told reporters, when met at his aunt’s residence in Kampung Parit Lapis Darat, Parit Jawa, today.

According to Abdur Rahman, he and Abdullah will visit the graves of their parents and four siblings whenever they miss them, while Abdullah will recall anecdotes about their beloved mother.

“After losing our parents, we are now living under the care of our maternal aunt, who is also our mother's younger sister, Norahila, 39, along with her husband, Mohd Hairul Nor Muhammad, 54, and our grandmother, Norliah Md Noh, 77.

“They all shower us with love and become our pillars of support and solace when we miss our parents,” he said.

Abdur Rahman is currently pursuing his studies at Open University (OUM) Batu Paha, and teaching part-time at Sekolah Rendah Islam At-Tanwiriah, Parit Jawa Muar, while Abdullah is a student at Sekolah Menengah Agama At-Tanwiriah.

The Sept 1 accident claimed the lives of the married couple, Amir Ruddin, 46, and Noorahimah, 43, as well as their four children - Fatimatulzahrah, 17, Seri Khadijah Aqilah, 13, Rufaidatul Asyariyah, 10, and Muhammad Assyakrawi, 5.

Fortunately, Abdullah survived the 6.30 pm accident, and was reported to be in critical condition but he began showing positive progress throughout his treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Segamat Hospital, and is now as healthy as can be.

-- BERNAMA