If it hadn't been for Kuntum...

I once wrote this speech for one of my projects in the Storytelling manual - "Bringing History to Life". The story is inspired by how my parents met but they only told me bits and pieces of how they met (after I questioned them persistently...) and so I fleshed it out to turn it into a speech. I think it's a lovely story and I hope that my parents will find it amusing since I may not have the facts completely straight and make them think back even more those days when they first got to know each other and how the love had blossomed between them.


"IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR KUNTUM" by Rozana Yunos, ATM-B, CL

Faridah tucked her thick, black curly hair behind her ears as she sat on her bed clutching a letter. She smoothed the creases in her baggy baju kurung and studied the brown envelope. It was addressed to her, "Faridah Abdullah, 13 Jalan Tenggiri, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia." It bore a stamp from Brunei and she knew exactly who it was from.

She ripped open the envelope and unfolded the paper. She tried to calm herself down by taking deep breaths and her hands quivered. She had always felt that way each time she received a letter with that familiar handwriting.

15 December 1961

My dearest,
How have you been? I have good news! I am being sent to Singapore as part of my Brunei Administrative Officer's training and I will be there for 6 months. There will be a group of us. It's not Malaysia but at least I will be closer to you than I am now. It will take me 4 hours to get to Paya Lebar Airport in Singapore from Brunei after making a stop in Kuching. I don't know if it's too much to ask but would it be possible to see you some how? I will be arriving at 2pm on 15 January. Do take care.

With Love, Yunos

Faridah's heart leapt into her throat. This was her chance to meet her love! A man she had gotten to know only through his words on paper. Faridah and Yunos had begun their correspondence with each other in 1958 as pen pals. She chuckled to herself as she reflected on how he had actually started off as Kuntum's pen pal but in the end Kuntum, her best friend had decided that Faridah should be the one who should continue writing to Yunos. Ever since then, a letter from Brunei would be delivered every 3 days.

Faridah smiled at the thought of Yunos's black and white photograph that was hidden in her dresser drawer. Hidden away because her mother did not know anything about their relationship. She took out the photo where Yunos stood tall and slim, looking smart in his long sleeved shirt and tie and his black rimmed glasses. She asked herself, "Will he look this good in person too?"

Excited at the prospect of finally meeting him in person, Faridah rushed out of the house and cycled as fast as she could to Kuntum's house. "Kuntum! Kuntum!" she called out gasping. Kuntum came out of the house, hastily positioning a shawl over her head. "What is it Edot?" she asked, calling Faridah by her nickname.

"Look...!" exclaimed Faridah, pointing at the letter. Kuntum stood next to Faridah and they read the letter together. Kuntum could hardly believe what she was reading and pushed Faridah playfully and asked "What are you going to do?" Faridah smiled affectionately at Kuntum whom she had known for as long as she could remember. “I was thinking of going but... I need you to come with me! Will you come with me?"

Kuntum fell silent and stared at the ground. Suddenly she blurted out, "I never thought you'd ask!" They held hands and jumped up and down with excitement and joy as they made plans.

Faridah replied eagerly to Yunos after Kuntum had bought the bus tickets.

20 December 1961

My dearest,
Yes! I will be able to meet you at Paya Lebar Airport when you arrive. Kuntum will be there too. We have already bought our bus tickets. I can't wait to see you! And I hope we will be able to recognise each other!

All my love, Faridah

On the appointed day, Faridah and Kuntum boarded the bus enthusiastically. Faridah was nervous as she kept peeking at the photograph of Yunos. "How will he feel when he sees me? How will I feel when I see him?" The same thoughts kept running through her mind. Upon arrival at the airport, Faridah took one last look in the mirror. She wore a fitting kebaya with sarong that showed off her figure. "How do I look?" she asked Kuntum. Kuntum laughed and replied "Beautiful! Just beautiful!"

A group of smartly dressed men in white shirts and black ties stepped into the arrival hall and one man immediately stood out from the rest. Faridah made eye contact with him straight away. Soon he was standing in front of Faridah and as if in a dream, time seemed to stand still and things began to move in slow motion. They shook hands and exchanged a few words. All the time not taking their eyes of each other. "Hey Yunos!" called out one of his friends. Faridah suddenly realising others were watching them became embarrassed. Faridah felt her face go red. "I have to go" Yunos told her. "I'll write to you." Faridah could only nod and watch him walk off with the others.

Kuntum gently tapped Faridah on the shoulder. "Time to go. He's really handsome eh? Imagine if it hadn't been for me, you wouldn't have known each other!" Faridah turned another shade of red, just nodded and left hand in hand with her best friend, excited at what the future would hold for her and Yunos.

Faridah and Yunos were married on 15 July 1962 in Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia. Soon after they were married, Yunos took his new wife back to Brunei to meet his family for the first time. They now have 5 children, lots of grandchildren and have been happily married for 45 years (and counting) now.

If it hadn't been for Kuntum, my parents would not have found each other and I would not have been able to type out this story for you.