Ungga

I was always the odd one out. When I was young, I was fairer; apparently since I had a Chinese mother. Had straight hair, as against wavy hair for most other friends and I was pampered by my Atuk Usop since I was small (so I was told). However, I lived with Abah Rahman's and Kak Ngah's Zainab family as long as I can remember. In between those times, I remembered staying with Atuk Usop and Nenek in the house next door (within the compound). Since I was 9 years old, I already started and know how to cook, wash and earn a living to earn my own money for school. Well ... that was then. So, as such I have been ... alone ... in Malay it is called "tunggal"!

Cik Lewe, the lady who live up the road, (have a daughter - Sabariah) always mention the word 'tunggal' over and over again whenever she comes by to the house. She suggested that I should be called 'ungga' meaning 'one' or 'alone' or 'its own', etc ... After suggesting it various times to us, it came to mind of the truths in her ideology. Since then, I started to be called 'ungga' by the younger brothers and sisters in the house. They are but the only people who called me by that name.

Until now, whenever we meet these brothers and sisters of Senaling (now men and ladies) still calls me 'ungga'!