Aishah sat alone on the Klebang beach, the sun sinking below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the waves. Tears streamed down her face, her heart heavy with sorrow. Just hours ago, she had received the devastating news that her fiance, Nasrul’s family had called off their engagement. The suddenness of it all left her bewildered and hurt.

“Why?” Aishah whispered to the sea, her voice carried away by the gentle breeze. “Why would they do this without any explanation?”

As she aimlessly sifted through the sand, her fingers brushed against something solid. Intrigued, she dug deeper, revealing a small, intricately carved jade bangle. The sunlight reflected off its smooth surface, casting an ethereal green glow. Without thinking, Aishah slipped the bangle onto her wrist.

In that instant, the world around her transformed. Aishah found herself standing in a bustling street, surrounded by buildings that at once seemed familiar, yet unfamiliar. She looked down at herself and realised that she was no longer Aishah but a young Chinese woman. Floundering, Aishah tried to walk down the street when someone called for Su-Yen behind her. She didn’t stop until someone poked her with an umbrella. “Su-Yen, can’t you see I am calling you? Where are you?” Aishah realised that she was a Chinese woman named Su-Yen and this was Malacca, but from what she knew of her history, she had been transported to 17th-century Malacca. Fear and confusion gripped Su-Yen as she tried to make sense of her new reality and glanced at the jade bangle on her wrist, now pulsating with otherworldly energy.

As Su-Yen navigated the crowded streets, fragments of memories flooded her mind. She recalled being the daughter of a wealthy Chinese merchant and a beautiful Eurasian woman. Her parents’ marriage had been a union of two worlds, a testament to the cosmopolitan nature of Malacca. But her blissful existence had come to an abrupt end when her father’s business faltered, and their fortune vanished.

Stripped of their opulence, Su-Yen’s family struggled to make ends meet. In a desperate attempt to secure a better future, her father arranged a marriage between Su-Yen and a powerful but cruel man named Li Wei. Desperate to escape her fate, Su-Yen sought solace in the arms of her secret love, a kind-hearted Malay sailor named Rizal. The same soulmate who had presented her soon with the bangle which adorned her hand right now.

Through the haze of memory, Su-Yen recalled the fateful night that would forever change her life. Li Wei had discovered her illicit romance and confronted them with rage in his eyes. In a fit of jealousy, he had drawn his sword, and before Su-Yen could react, Rizal leapt in front of her, sacrificing his life to protect her.

Tears welled up in Su-Yen’s eyes as she relived the grief and guilt that had consumed her at that moment. She had blamed herself for Rizal’s death and had made a desperate plea to the heavens for a chance to right her wrongs. Su-Yen made up her mind. She started running and did not stop until she reached the beach. She was panting, and collapsed in the fine sand, tears running down her face. She reached for the jade bangle, the symbol of Rizal’s love and flung it before getting up and walking determinedly towards the sea, to be with her love, her soulmate, Rizal.

Back on the Klebang beach, Aishah’s surroundings began to shift. She found herself back in the present day, the jade bangle still snugly adorning her wrist. She knew now that Su-Yen’s story was not just a figment of her imagination but a connection to her struggles.

A newfound determination surged within Aishah. She would not let the pain of heartbreak consume her. Like Su-Yen, she would fight for her happiness. Aishah sought answers, determined to uncover the reason behind Nasrul’s family’s decision.

Days turned into weeks, and Aishah soon learned why Nasrul’s family broke their engagement. One of his relatives had launched a whisper campaign against her, assassinating her character and poisoning their ears against her and her family. The relative wanted Nasrul to marry her daughter and so started this negativity. The revelation filled Aishah with a mix of anger and sadness. She had hoped that love would conquer all, but it seemed that prejudice still held sway.

Armed with newfound resolve, Aishah confronted Nasrul’s family and challenged their decision. She reminded them that her and Nasrul’s love was the forever kind and that their happiness was worth fighting for. Her heartfelt plea touched Nasrul and he stood up against his family and the relative who poisoned their hearts against Aishah and her family. Seeing Nasrul’s steely determination, his family realised the depth of their son’s love for Aishah and relented, understanding that their happiness lay in accepting her as their daughter-in-law.

Aishah and Nasrul’s love triumphed over the prejudices that had once threatened to tear them apart. As they exchanged vows on their wedding day, the jade bangle served as a reminder of the strength and resilience they had found within themselves. And as Aishah glanced at her reflection, she couldn’t help but wonder if Su-Yen was looking back at her, sharing in her joy and celebrating the victory over the trials of the past. The jade bangle, once a catalyst for their connection, now stood as a symbol of the intertwined destinies of two women separated by time but united by love and the indomitable spirit of Malaysia’s rich history.