THE news caught Sharifah Asma’a Syed Alwi Al Junied off guard when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down on July 17.
Her fairytale-like life ended in a nightmare when she heard that her husband, Ahmad Hakimi Hanapi, 29, was among those who died on board. He was the flight’s first officer.
Childhood friends since the age of eight, Sharifah told the New Sunday Times that he would sometimes sing to her the song, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, by the Beach Boys.
“You know that song... Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older? Then we wouldn’t have to wait so long, and wouldn’t it be nice to live together, in the kind of world where we belong...’ Well, with what has happened, it is not so nice anymore.
“We met in primary school but Kimi left Penang later in secondary school. It’s funny how Allah planned our lives with something called ‘jodoh’ as we were apart for so many years and got back together after so many obstacles. We did finally get married but it was so short-lived.”
Sharifah, 29, said she never knew she had the strength to endure such hardship.
“I said to myself if Kimi was gone, I could not bring myself together again. I guess Allah must have given me the strength to get through it,” she said, adding that she now lived day to day trying to secure a future for her and her 1-year-old son, Abderrahman.
Sharifah, who had just opened a Boost Juice store at D’Pulze, Cyberjaya, said she was grateful for the help she had received from family members, Malaysia Airlines and the public.
However, she does not want to rely on them forever, which was why she opened her business.
She said although everyone had been a big help, she wanted to make both Hakimi and Abderrahman proud by proving that she could work and take care of her son.
She said they had planned to start a business but due to financial constraints, they could only start something small.
“He was with me throughout the application period. When we received news that our loan was approved, he was in Amsterdam. I told the loan officer that we would meet her once my husband gets back.
“Both Boost and PNS (Franchisee Financing Scheme) were very understanding as they, too, had met Kimi. They were shocked as well. After my trials and tribulations, I have finally followed through with our dream.
“Life has been very difficult being a single mum, but I have my son. I want him to have a happy childhood. Although I’m broken inside, I don’t want him to see that side of me. I want him to see that his mama works for him.”
In catching the perpetrators, she wanted justice to take its course.
“Many things are happening to me and I have no time to think about who shot the plane down. My husband is no longer with me, I have a son to care for and a life to lead. So, I will just let justice take its course.”