Been one heck of a rainy season ain't it? Well, I sure do hope that on my Big Day it wont be raining cos we are having it outdoors...please not...please not...
Anyhoo, Harlow again BTB[s]!! Updates updates!! Last Friday, Me, Beau and my Parents took a trip down to ROMM at Fort Canning area for our interview session and also the statutory declaration. In short, to declare that your documents are all correct and you have attended your Marriage preparatory course and they want to see the certificates.
Basically, after you have made registration on the ROMM website, you and your partner plus Wali for the Bride have to make a trip to the ROMM to be interviewed. The questions, I shall tell you later hokay?! *smilez This interview must be done minimum 5 weeks prior to your Solemnization Date. And since, ours will be in the early week of January, the parents plus Beau and me decided to go on last friday.
Also, please look out for their timings especially if you are going on Friday like us, please take the Friday prayers timing into consideration. The opening hours are from 8am to 11am followed by 2.30pm-3.30pm. Jangan korang nak sesuka hati main line up jer eh because the Queue ticket machine follow timing one hokay? It will stubbornly shut off at 11am and be on again at 2.3opm sharp, believed me..I tried!
The plan was to be out of the house by 9am so that we could reach ROMM by 9.30am but sleeping beauty me terdoze off and Beau was calling and texting me way early from morning. Must be he was super anxious or I dont know make him so "sibe-on" cos we are just that so-called "Batam-time" gang to say the least. Hahahaha...
So, there was I waking up late because for one, I cant sleep and two I had anxiety attacks on what the Tok Kadi will ask me the next morning. Cant blame me. I was trying to remember all the Doa or surah that I have learnt hokay?!! Because thanks to my cousin, who said that many of her friends were asked to recite the Surah Verses from Quran. And there I was, Ta-Daaa!! Hyperventilating the whole night through.
After all the prepping, finding the "Right" outfit, debating with my mom that I am NOT WEARING ANY BAJU KURUNG!!, I was finally ready..I wore a long dress with long sleeve outfit which I find that is equally morally upright and not inappropriate in any sense. And please eh korang, when you all visit the ROMM, do wear something that is deemed "SOPAN" and appropriate. Believe me, it was embarassing to see malay woman in their forties or fifties wearing spag straps with black tight leggings walking around ROMM area after they finished the interview. Have some respect for yourself and for the Kadi who is going to be interviewing you. *Tsk tsk
Anyways, back to the topic, we finally reach ROMM gob-smacked at 11am, and I know we were late like mad!! So, we tried to still go in and who knows we can still get an early queue number and come back to be interviewed first at the next 2.30pm slot. BUT HELL NO, there is no such thing laaa...like what I mentioned when you first came in, you need to go to this pink machines right smack at the information counter and press "Statutory declaration" to get your queue number. So, since the machine decided to also go on break time, we went for our lunch and came back after Beau and Dad finished their Friday Prayers.
So, at about 2.15pm we reached ROMM and only at 2.30pm SHARP, the machine was switched on again and we get our queue number. So, the first part was when your number is being called, you and your fiance will be interviewed together first. The clerk will then ask whether your particulars is correct and they will want to see a copy of of your marriage course prep cert. Please take note that THIS IS NOT THE INTERVIEW YET PEOPLE. It is just to check that the particulars you give are all correct for example your date of solemnization, the venue, the mahr and wedding expenses(hantaran) are correctly stated.
Second, part,your Wali, in this case it's my Dad will be interviewed by the Kadi first. This is not the Kadi that you have picked. This is just the Kadi in-charge who are suppose to check the particulars and ask you the gruelling questions plus be tasked to make sure you take the "pledge". Basically, he only asked my Dad on his name is to be pronounced cos he doesnt have a typical Malay sounding and spelling name and it has always been a problem for me cos everyone thought Im just some Eurasian or an alien trying to invade singapore.
Third, it is the BRIDE'S TURN. So, I was sweating my palms off, my make up, god knows my mascara was not waterproof. I just knock on the door and say "Assalammualaikum, and my heart says please dont ask me to recite any Quran Verse because the only thing I remembered at that point of time was "Doa Makan"!! Believe me, I was hyperventilating. The Kadi was Kadi Karim Ahmad, and the questions he asked was whether:
1) Have I been married before? So, I said no!!
2)Have I been engaged to anyone else before? So, again I said No!
3) He asked me on how to pronounce my Dad's name AGAIN. And I gave him a few variations, which he then gave me a confuse look and I can swear he regret asking me the questions because I "Blabbered" alot when Im nervous.
3) He asked me to check my particulars again such as the Hantaran amount.
4) The "Angkat" sumpah part to declare that all my particulars that have been stated is Correct.
AND THAT IS IT FOR ME PEOPLE!!! Wooooohoooo!!! AKU DA BOLEH KAHWIN!!!!!!!
Mom, was like one nervous parent waiting for the child's PSLE results outside. And when I exit from the room, she was like, "So what did he ask???" and I said the Kadi ask me to recite "Quran Verse" and she asked again, so what did you say??
And I just replied, "I just recite the Doa Makan laaa..that's the only one I can remember"...And she gave me a murderous glare followed by a huge sigh. Mom[s] are just so gullible and when I told her the truth, she nearly whacked me with her 1000 tonne weight handbag. And she say, "Heng ahhhh!!"
Lastly, it was Beau's turn and he came out of the Interview room with a smug smile like a confident Berg as he always was. When I asked what the kadi asked him, he said "biasalah, just the particulars". Hmpppf!! I hate confident people sometimes. They make me look like a shmuck!!
So, that is the story people!! Nothing to be AFRAID OF HOKAY?!! All these recitation of Quran verses are just urban legends like what my Bestie said to me. Unless, korang yang sendiri nak cari pasal pakai tube, hotpants segala gi ROMM tu aku tak tahu la aye? That one, i dont think you kena recite anything but basically korang nyer telinga terus kena laung ngan Azan pakai loud speaker jalan terus!! Hahhahahahah...
Till then,
Loved.
