Woman of those times

Dear Diary,

I was browsing at some magazines when this headlines caught my attention...

It says "Woman of Those Times"....

Pieces of thoughts and images float into my mind....

A story of a respectable lady... Born under the starry night on one very night in the 70s...Teng cames into the world. She was born in a poor family in a small town in Malaysia. Borned in a poor family with the many siblings, her parents have no choice but to bear the heart ache to 'sell' their children away to make ends meet. Daughter in those days are less worthy in those times as compared to the males who bear the responsibility to carry the family line.

Teng like most daughters in the poor family was sold to a rich family as daughter in laws. At the age of 8, she was married to the Lim family taking care of all chores, all well being of her young husband. Life was far more tough and unbearable than anyone can imagine. She was despised, she was bullied. Despite it all, Teng didn't give in. She didn't believe in giving in to fate. She endured the pain from being separated from her parents, she bear the tortured she have by her in laws... she bear it all without a single complain... She didn't' hate her parents, she didn't hate her in laws, she believe one day with her faith, hope and hard work she would reap the fruits....

Days passed...

Years passed...

At 18, she gave birth to her first child... at 19 yet another one... she was treated like a birth machine... while she worked hard from day till night... her husband has the only chore of drinking, enjoying his life. Teng don't love her husband, though he's a nice man who loves his children but he's just another spoilt that has no aspiration...

It was during the war period... times get even tougher... though the rich doesn't get that badly affected.. but everywhere else is chaos... it was during this time that Teng meet her Mr Right, Weng, a promising young man as well as an undercover from the force 136... He was one of the leaders... Handsome, charming and most importantly one with great aspirations and determination. Teng was simply mesmeriosed. However she's married... During those times, seeing a married woman hanging out alone with a man is already unforgivable, not to mention falling in love with another man. Weng offered to bring Teng to a far away place, aways from the war, away from all the torture... Teng was touched... Her good days had finally seemed to come... She didn't hesitated to leave...

She packed and left with weng... they hid in the forest for 3 days.... however Teng's mother in law sent a gang of people to search for her in the entire village... Teng and Weng were found. Teng refused to return... She was putting up a tough fight with the groups... then in the mist of the gang someone caught her side... A man, holding to 3 children... it's Lim... her husband... He pleaded for Teng's return... claiming how both the children and him needed her.... Teng was moved deeply... it just seemed that her effort these years have paid off... tears rolled down her cheeks at the thought of her children... how can she be so careless...? She of all had gone through the unbearable pain of being separated with her parents, how how could she leave her own fresh and blood children...leave them for another man...

She stayed...

Times didn't get better... because of her scandal, she was forced to leave the family, Lim left with her... Tmes became tough... Lim who grew up in from a silver spoon couldn't take the hardship... plus the constant drinking in the past.. his health deteriorate... he died years later at a petty young age... He left Teng 6 children out of the others that died in the tough time... Teng worked hard to raised the 6 children... Providing them the best as much as she could giving them education... till she sees them grew up, got their own career... and getting married one by one...

Just as her times are starting to get better... just as her children is capable to give her good life...just as her beloved grand-daughter is able to fulfilled dreams and show her filial piety to her... she left the world... left with the caused of some unfilial villains... some that neglected her... Some that didn't saved her in her last breath....

A pity it was...

A woman of those times... She's one... one of those born in a tough times... having gone through all bitterness yet the sweetness never came... She, a much respectable woman, a much remembered person till today... She of all woman is my grandmother... One whom I deeply loved, one whom deserved all my respect and the admiration, one whom caused the unhealable scar with her departure, one whose departure would only make my hatred deepen towards the villains.... One whom makes me what I am today...

She's the only reason I lived on despite the hardship... she's the reason I swear not to break any more promises.... In her name and honor, I swear to do her proud and accomplish her hope for me... For her and her only... I would hang on...

With Love always....

In memory of Granny Teng