Ende Ammu (My Ammu)

Singapore! She was on a plane the first time, she was alone, scared and anxious at the same time. "I'm married and i am going to my new family and home". She expected a happy, close-nit family. She expected her new man to look after till their dying days. She expected everything she was not able to experience in her village home, in a corner of interior Kerela. But the word is expected. Her new family welcomed her as part of the family. The parents excepted her as a daughter and she felt part of the family sooner than she thought. She met her husband's friends. All irresponsible, all drunkards, sadly just like her husband. He was irresponsible; all play and no work! He was just a child; barely able to look after himself, let alone his new wife. She was worried, she wondered how her new life would be. A man who would rather have fun, a man who knew what to do, but did not do them. A man who was never happy with what he had.

Feeling cheated by reality, she assimilated into her new life, family, country and new self. She was forced to speak English and forgo her mother-tongue because her new 'friends' were ashamed of her being 'ooru' and 'pattikad' (country pumpkin). She changed her fashion to being more Singaporean like and less of a maid. A barrage of emotions flooded from her. She was confused, overwhelmed with new connections, family and friends. She was scared, ashamed and missing home badly. She missed the simplicity of the life she left behind. She missed her life.

Two years of her married life whizzed by her. Her brother-in-law came back from Canada and got his first job. Her sister-in-law was a fresh graduate from NUS who then became a JC teacher. Her husband changed his job twice and was currently a Perfect10 DJ. Other than all of these, her families were pushing the newly wed couple to conceive. Then finally, in October 86' her first and only child was born; a girl whose name was suggested by the new uncle and agreed upon by the family to be "P......."

*Prelude*

This was all worth it, she thought gazing at her precious. YES! Ende(My) Ammu....mine...all mine.....muahahahahahaaaaaaaa.....

She plants an everlasting kiss on her baby's forehead....all mine.......

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This is a mini story of my mom. She came to Singapore after getting married to my dad, who was from Singapore. She left her home, family and comfort zone with a man she does not know. She left what she knew and jumped head-in, into an environment she knew nuts about. This is the first part of her life. Married in 84'.

Part One....Overview of her first 2 yrs in Singapore