Nizam encountered a lot of difficulties while dating his Chinese partner, Margaret. From her parents disapproving their relationship to Margaret being sent overseas, the couple have gone through multiple ups and downs together but are now married and have a 5-year-old daughter.
This is his entry for the contest:
“My name is Nizam and I’m 26 years old this year and I’m married to a Chinese girl, her name is Margaret Soh, she is 23 this year.
“We have a daughter name Nurshiyumie and it sounds like Japanese name.
“So our love story started in 2008. When I knew this girl (my wife) I was only 18 years old. She was chubby, innocent and full of fun. She always smiles.
“We dated for couple of months. We were so happy. I never felt so much happiness before I knew this girl.
“Her laughter brings hope in my life. But the good times did not last and we got a serious dose of parental disapproval and judgmental side-eyes from our relatives.
“When her parents got to know that she was dating me, a Malay guy that had nothing, they sent her overseas to avoid me seeing her.
“My heart broke into pieces. I called her every night when she was overseas to hear her voice.
“I couldn’t eat and I couldn’t sleep. It was like the world was ending.
“She tried to escape from there and wanted to come back here, but she failed.
“Her relative kept away her passport and she actually tried to commit suicide.
“My mind went blank, my heart was aching, it felt like millions of needle poking through my heart, I felt like dying.
“After a month of being separated, she finally came back to Singapore.
“She ran away from her family. She called me immediately and I told her to come to my office.
“I was so happy. No words could describe how happy I was.
“When I saw she came out from a car, we ran to each other and I gave her a tight hug.
“Later as we predicted she was reported missing.
“Eight months of wanted life. Nothing can describe how grateful I am to have a girlfriend like her staying by my side when I really had nothing.
“She cried awake every night, having nightmares and was traumatized.
“I didn’t know what to do. What I thought of is to have a family with her, to take care her for life.
“Since her parents couldn’t do anything, I held her tight, held her and I made a vow to make her my wife and take care of her until the day I was gone.
“We planned to have a kid. I ask her ‘Will you marry me and have a kid with me?’
“She cried and held me tight. She was willing to marry me, give me her future and trust me.
“Time flies and she finally got pregnant. We were so happy and excited.
“We went back to look for our families. She converted to Islam.
“Her willingness made the decision to convert to Islam easier, it’s not about race. It’s about initiative and finally we were married, she put her trust all on me.
“She moved to my parents place. We had to sleep on the floor in the living room where there is no more room for us.
“All was occupied by my sibling. But she did not even complain with her pregnant stomach.
“Because she knew she chose this path with me.
“Until she given birth to our previous baby girl, she was natural birth.
“Looking at her enduring the pain alone, the pain, the look on her face and she sleeps on the floor when she need to stand up to go toilet.
“Sometimes I even saw she cry in the middle of the night. I try my best take care my little sweetheart when she was about few months old.
“I try my best to balance out NS and home. No family support.
“Sometimes, we even have to share one packet of rice together.
“At this point of time, I cannot afford luxury for her. But finally she achieved her dream as a makeup artist.
“Things went smoothly, finally my baby girl is 5-years-old this year.
“I have taken a course and work at a better benefit company.
“I tell myself I am so happy and lucky to have this girl as my wife.
“I want to give her everything, no matter what it takes, I will give her all that I can.
“She deserves all the love from me, my daughter and my wife. No one can replace them.
“We have gone through ups and downs. We love, we cry, we fight.
“Now we celebrate Chinese New Year and Hari Raya together.
“Our daughter look so cute wearing baju kurung and Chinese qi pao.
“Just to share with you, love does not only mean the race or religion.
“Don’t be judgmental toward inter racial love, its about compromising. We need to understand that true love takes time and effort to dismiss all obstacles among us. Race is just a race. Religion is religion.
“All that matters is that those involved are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to be together.
“Compromise each other. Time flies and we both know that we want to spend the rest of our lives together.
“I love you my wife and I will take care of you and your family forever.
“I don’t encourage people to follow us, but I hope in this world there will be more true love relationships, inter racial love because only love can hurt like this.”
Source: http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg
