SEREMBAN: A 27-year-old woman's tearful reunion with her biological mother moved netizen's hearts after the video was posted on TikTok on Saturday.
Nurhidayah Abdullah was finally reunited with her mother and the video of their reunion garnered positive comments.
Nurhidayah was given to her adoptive parents, Jamilah Mohammad, 57, and Omar Ismail, 62, by her biological mother, P. Murugamah, 51, an Indian woman, when she was just two days old due to family issues.
Sharing her story, the private sector employee said she was raised by her adoptive parents after being handed over by her biological mother through a mediator and was lovingly cared for as their own child.
"Umi and Ayah took good care of me, provided attention, and gave me a good education. When I was in kindergarten, they told me about my status as an adopted child but never taught me to hate my biological mother.
"Umi always said that if I wanted to find my biological mother when I grew up, she wouldn't stop me. They also showed me a picture of my mother from when she handed me over 27 years ago," she said.
Nurhidayah said she decided to search for her biological mother after she had started work and began her efforts earlier this month, eventually finding her address.
"I was indeed sad and angry that my mother was willing to give her child to someone else, but on the other hand, I am grateful to have met Umi and Ayah who were willing to take care of me as their own child.
"As I grew up and started working, I wanted to know the reason my mother gave me to an adoptive family. That's why I tried to find her, and I was surprised that God made it easy for me to meet her," she said, noting that her adoptive parents separated when she was 15.
Nurhidayah said she asked a friend to accompany her to her biological mother's house and admitted she was overwhelmed when she saw her face for the first time in person.
"I asked my friend to confirm if it was my mother's house, and then I approached them and handed over a letter I had written because I wasn't strong enough to tell her who I was in person.
"After my mother's niece finished reading the letter, my mother repeatedly asked if I was really Aisha, the name she gave me at birth.
"When I confirmed that I was Aisha and shook her hand, she immediately hugged me and we cried together," she said.
She said her feelings were a mixture of joy, sadness, and shock, but she felt relieved after learning why her biological mother had given her up for adoption, even though it saddened her.
"We talked for about three to four hours, and I understood why my mother gave me away. I learned to console myself and accept it because what happened was God's destiny, but I felt relieved to have an answer to what was weighing on my heart.
"My mother said that every year on my birthday, she would wish me a happy birthday and always wondered where I was and how my life was. That also made me sad because a mother always misses her child," she said.
She added that her adoptive parents were aware she had met her biological mother and were accepting of it, even wanting to meet with Murugamah soon.
"I went through a tough life, receiving many negative comments because of my status and the differences between me and Umi and Ayah, but I deeply love them for raising me with so much love.
"I am also grateful to have met the mother who gave birth to me because no matter what happened, she is still my biological mother," she said.