HER face a picture of radiance, award-winning author, writer and storyteller Zalina Abdul Aziz, or better known as Ninot, executed a nifty turn on the dance floor as her husband, Mohd Rudi Daud, or Rudi, looked on in amusement.
The echoes of her joyous laughter harmonised with the gaiety around her, as guests to the launch of Hikayat Fandom Folklore Centre and Storyteller Guild held at GMBB Mall, Kuala Lumpur, began to populate the floor in a robust display of the Malay Joget Lambak.
The event, a cultural appreciation for Hikayat Fandom Folklore World, which commenced with a captivating performance of Mek Mulong, a traditional Malay theatre unique to the northwest state of Kedah, along with musical medleys and a Tarian Dewa Muda (Dewa Muda dance), before culminating in the lively Joget Lambak, successfully enlightened all present on the mission driving both Ninot and Rudi.
Hikayat Fandom was set up in 2021, dedicated to the promotion of Malaysiana legends and folklore through book publications, articles and cultural activities since 2020.
With the objective of empowering, preserving and promoting our local folklore and legends, the couple set up Hikayat Fandom Folklore World, a resource and activity centre, a long-term project by Hikayat Fandom that aims to showcase the rich literature and legends of Malaysia to Malaysians and the rest of the world.
The centre actively seeks out storytellers to share their stories to be recorded, to be shared with the younger generation, and to inspire creative content, such as videos, films, graphic arts and publications.
This ambitious project, supported by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, Think City, MyCreative Ventures and GMBB KL, stands as a testament to the duo's commitment to preserving our country's rich cultural heritage.
This year marks the couple's 23 years together, and as they celebrate their enduring love, their story unfolds as a symphony, blending the chords of romance with the resonating passion for Hikayat and Malay folklore.
LOVE BLOSSOMS
For the Tasmania-born Ninot, theirs is a tale that began in the most unexpected way. Seated across the couple in the cosy living room of their lovely, eclectic home somewhere in Rawang, every nook filled with books and framed family photographs, I find myself engrossed in the warmth of their story. Outside, beyond the large windows, I can see that darkness has descended.
"We fell in love AFTER we got married!" quips Rudi, when asked how it all started, his laughter resonating with the sheer joy of reminiscence.
"Wait, whattt…? I never heard THAT before!" interjects Ninot playfully, lobbing a look of bemusement and incredulity in her husband's direction.
"I'm still standing firm on my answer," retorts Rudi good-naturedly, before adding happily: "She knows it. I was still young. But of course, I loved her. I think I just turned 24 when we got married!"
Their union, it seems, was destined from the early days when Rudi's cousins and stepfather played the role of matchmakers. Reflects Ninot, who's also a media specialist: "His cousins and his stepfather actually proposed to me on his behalf…"
Unbeknownst to them, the couple was already connected, their relationship a secret shared among the walls of the Royal Lake Club in Kuala Lumpur where they both worked at the time.
Elaborating with a smile, Ninot shares: "Actually, we were already a couple by that time. And then his cousins invited me to a wedding in Kelantan. I went with two girls." The plan was for her to stay at a small hotel after the event, but fate had a different design.
"But then his mother and stepfather invited us to come to the house. So, we did. And then, I can't remember exactly what happened, but at some point that night, his mother referred to me as Rudi's tunang (fiancee). By then, we'd been dating for a year."
TRANSCENDING DIFFERENCES
The beauty of their connection transcends the differences in background, language and age. The couple have an age gap of 11 years between them. Rudi, a self-proclaimed village boy from Kelantan, near the border with Thailand, found love in Ninot, a girl who grew up in Chenor, Pahang, and who'd go on to spend her teenage years in the bustling capital of Kuala Lumpur.
The initial struggles, as his more gregarious wife puts it, came from the differences in their characters. "I'm the sort that would think nothing of doing cartwheels in the fields. Or dance at concerts," reminisces Ninot, an alumnus of one of Malaysia's premier all-girls boarding school, Sekolah Seri Puteri, with a hearty chuckle.
Indulgently gazing at his wife, Rudi, a lot more reserved then, retorts playfully: "Yeah, and I would run away!"
Continuing, Ninot pipes in: "For instance, I'd happily put up a Christmas tree during the festive period. But back then, Rudi would go berserk! But you know what? I've become more kampung now compared to Rudi. He's become 'urban'!" Gay laughter ensues, slicing the silence of the night as the couple chuckles about their metamorphosis over the years
As their love evolved, so did their life's narrative. When they first laid eyes on each other, Ninot was an event manager at the Lake Club, while Rudi worked as a bartender. It was at the volleyball court that Ninot recalls falling hook, line and sinker for the athletic young man who was then 23.
"I didn't only fall in love with him because of his athletic prowess; more importantly, I was charmed by his natural affinity with children. When I saw how good he was with children, I thought to myself, hmm, maybe this can work," reflects the 58-year-old with a smile, who was divorced by then.
Their clandestine romance, however, wasn't as covert as they believed. It seemed everyone at their workplace had already caught whiffs of the duo's interest in each other. Confesses the soft-spoken Rudi: "Ninot wasn't my first girlfriend, but she was my first serious girlfriend. When I started work at the Lake Club, I was only around 19 or 20."
SENSE OF FAITH
The narrative of their love has unfolded like a well-crafted novel, with each page turned revealing new layers. The challenges, which cast their dark shadows throughout their marriage, never once, however, threatened the strength of the couple's union.
"I think later it dawned on us that our differences actually made us very strong — in both personal and professional realms," confides Ninot, expression thoughtful. Take the birth of Hikayat Fandom in 2021, for example.
With Rudi's background in F&B and Ninot's prowess as a writer, their collaboration breathed life into a shared dream.
"I couldn't do the marketing or promotion or the business... etc. very well until Rudi agreed to leave his profession behind to fully come onboard. He's just so good with all the technical stuff and sorting out logistics. After that, it was full steam ahead."
The challenges of starting a business were not taken lightly, but their journey has always been guided by a strong sense of faith.
"Eventually we realised there was no point in stressing over things we couldn't control. We just had to do our part and leave the rest to the Almighty. And it has always worked out. The rezeki (blessings) will always be there," muses Ninot softly.
FINDING A BALANCE
Amidst their professional pursuits, their routine reflects a delicate balance. As a devoted writer, Ninot would often be immersed in her work, locking herself in solitary "confinement" in her study for hours.
Nights would be spent poring over her writing as the rest of the world slept. And as always, Rudi, ever the supportive partner, would ensure that his wife would not be disturbed.
"I don't mind," he says, matter-of-factly, adding: "Despite our busy lives, we still make time to do things together." Her head bobbing in affirmation, his wife confides that she's aware of just how lucky she is to have such a 'rock' in her life; one who supports her dreams and helps her to realise them.
Her voice low, Ninot shares: "Sometimes I'm doing so many things, but I know that Rudi will take care of everything, from logistics related to the business, right down to the running of our home and our family. I feel very blessed, very lucky."
Their love, which has spanned more than two decades, has weathered storms and blossomed amidst shared goals. Blessed with five children (two from Ninot's previous marriage, and three with each other), the couple finds joy in the little things, especially spending time with their family. Travelling together and engaging in activities with each other are their ways of ensuring that the bond of family remains strong.
"We're a unique couple (and family)," exclaims Rudi, pride lacing his tone. Beaming broadly, he shares: "In the early days, our 'unusual' situation — our age differences and the make-up of our family (with Ninot being married before and relations still maintained between the exes) — used to bother me. I used to care. Nowadays, I'm proud of what we are and how far we've come. Look at us now. I'm proud of our uniqueness."
A GRACEFUL DANCE OF LIFE
Moving ahead, they're excited about their shared vision. "My goal is to ensure that Hikayat Fandom is a success," says Rudi, simply.
Meanwhile, Ninot, who's passionate about storytelling and Malay folklore, dreams of taking her creations into the global arena.
"For next year, I want to do an illustrated encyclopedia for Malaysiana — Malay Archipelago," she reveals. Their goals, intricately woven, align to create a harmonious symphony in both business and life.
As the couple reflects on their journey, they acknowledge the evolution of their partnership. "It took us 10 years of figuring each other out. Of course, sometimes we fight, but we know we can't live without each other," confides Rudi softly.
The synergy between them, born out of complementary strengths, has been a driving force.
"We're definitely soulmates," exclaims Ninot, before affirming with a contented smile: "From Day 1, from the day we met, I knew this. It was very clear that we'd found a soulmate in each other."
In the tapestry of life, Ninot and Rudi have crafted a love story that transcends time — one that tells of an enduring commitment, shared dreams, and a dance that continues to unfold with grace and resilience.