24/03/2026

LYFE TUESDAY | MAR 24, 2026

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Love stories across generations o Malaysian couples share small moments that turned first meetings into lasting relationships

Ű BY SHIVANI SUPRAMANI L OVE stories rarely follow a predictable path. Sometimes they begin with a chance meeting, sometimes with a swipe on a dating app and other times with a reunion dinner that unexpectedly changes everything. Across generations, the places where couples met differ but the feelings remained strikingly similar. The flutter of excitement before a first meeting, the quiet comfort of a long conversation or the moment two people realised they wanted to see each other again. Four couples from different generations shared with theSun how they first met and how those early encounters slowly blossomed into something much deeper. When love happens quickly For Maj Abu Bakar Mat Derus (Rtd), 80, and Rohani Mahmud, 78, their love story began with a chance meeting in 1966. It had not been planned. It simply happened. Yet from that first encounter, both remembered feeling happy and shy at the same time. Their relationship progressed quickly. Abu Bakar said neither of them waited long for the other to take the lead. “It happened accidentally when I met my wife in 1966. Both of us made the move and it happened so fast,” he recalled. Staying connected in those days required far more patience than it does today. Instead of instant messages or social media, the couple relied on public telephones to hear each other’s voices. “During that time, both of us used public phones to keep in touch,” Abu Bakar said. Their first date reflected the customs of the time. Abu Bakar visited Rohani’s parents’ home where the families discussed the possibility of marriage and the future ahead. Family support played an important role in their journey. Abu Bakar’s elder brother helped arrange the engagement and guided the process from beginning to end. One of the most cherished memories from that year was their wedding at the end of 1966. What began as a simple meeting quickly became the start of a lifelong partnership. Looking at today’s dating landscape, Abu Bakar believed meeting someone had become far easier thanks to technology and social media. “You must make sure to be responsible when you like someone,” he advised. When swipe leads to something real For Reenassri Sekaran, 33, and Naveen Victor, 39, their story began in a very different way.

Abu Bakar (left) and Rohani.

Naveen (left) and Reena.

chose water. Later, he drank most of my tea and left me speechless,” she said with a laugh. Despite meeting through a dating app, Naveen believed modern dating could sometimes be more difficult because of scammers and fake profiles online. Reena felt that while apps made introductions easier, they could also feel overwhelming. Naveen advised younger couples to focus less on “butterflies” and more on whether a partner could stand beside them during good and difficult times. Reena added that effort and honesty were essential from the beginning of any relationship. When reunion sparks something unexpected For Emmanuel Yew and Low Ke Tian, both 25, their relationship began at a reunion dinner with friends from high school. The gathering had been planned, but what followed was not. Although they had known each other casually during school, they had never really spoken deeply before that night. After the reunion, they began having longer and more meaningful conversations. Yew said those discussions helped them understand each other in ways they never had before. “After a few deep talks, it felt like a piece of our puzzle was fitted,” he said. Eventually, Yew made the first move by asking Low out for dinner. Those dinners soon turned into regular dates and a relationship that grew stronger over time. Their first date took them around Kuala Lumpur near Lot 10 and KLCC. The weather was hot but the day was filled with laughter. “My favourite part was at night when we were tired but laughing at corny jokes like calling a Jaguar car a ‘jagung’ car,” Yew said. In the early days of their relationship, they spent hours on late-night calls and sometimes studied together until 4am. Yew also added that he enjoyed spending time with Low’s family, moments that helped strengthen their bond. Looking at the modern dating landscape, the both of them believed technology had made meeting people easier, though it still depended on the individual. Different eras, same feeling Across four generations, the ways people met changed dramatically. Public telephones were replaced by smartphones, emails gave way to instant messaging and chance encounters sometimes began with a swipe on a screen. Yet the heart of every love story remained the same. A shy smile during a first meeting, a conversation that lasted longer than expected and a shared laugh that felt strangely familiar. And somewhere in those small moments, two people realised they wanted to keep walking through life together.

The pair first connected through a dating app where a lively debate about the best ice cream parlour in Petaling Jaya sparked their first conversation. “I asked her out after a heated debate on the best ice cream shop,” Naveen said. Their first meeting took place at an ice cream parlour. Reena remembered thinking Naveen was a sweet gentleman who opened the door and insisted on paying for her ice cream. “We got along like we had known each other all our lives,” she said. Between two cones of ice cream they spoke about everything, from travel to television comedies. And as many good love stories go, time slipped by until they realised it was already 9.30pm and neither of them had eaten dinner. So the evening continued over supper. In the early days of their relationship, they stayed in touch mostly through text messages and late-night phone calls. One memorable moment from that time still made them laugh. “With a caring smile, she offered me her masala tea, but got upset that I finished half of it,” Naveen said jokingly. Reena remembered the moment just as clearly. “I asked him if he wanted tea or water, and he

Low (left) and Yew.