Noi

The boat was threading across the sea, bringing thirty eight year old Jimmy to a village in Hanoi to find a bride. He had seen some photos when he was back in Singapore, but meeting the girl he picked from thousand of photos made him nervous. Jimmy never had a blind date.

This girl he was going to meet was Noi. She looked tall and slender from the full body photos and she was only eighteen. Jimmy had been warned by his friends that some agencies actually lie about the girl's virginity and health status, so it was essential for him to make sure she undergo a full body check up before he touches her.

He and his agent finally arrived at the jetty. As he got out of the boat, he took a deep breath. Jimmy have never been more sure than this in his life. He needed a partner, and his mom demanded him to find a partner. So here he was, at Hanoi, meeting one of the most beautiful and innocent girl he will ever meet as compared to the materialistic and superficial ladies back in Singapore.

The sun was scorching as they were welcomed by a local agent by the name of Chai. Chai looked fifty. His hair was greying and his eyes squinted at the hot sun.

"He is Chai. He will take us to meet Noi." Jimmy's agent, Darun, told him in English, thickened with Vietnamese accent.

Jimmy nodded and followed the two men. They took a car Chai was driving down to a small village thirty minutes away from the jetty. The village was filled with chickens and ducks, roaming around freely. Children stopped at their pace and looked as Jimmy stepped down from the car. All the ladies that were outside washing rice, rinsing clothes, chopping woods, went into their houses as soon as the car made its entrance. Jimmy realised that Noi actually came from a very conservative village, and that was a good sign.

Chai went into a house while Darun and Jimmy stood outside. Jimmy could hear Chai's voice coming from within the house, then an old lady seemed to be responding. After a short while, Chai came out and smiled at Jimmy.

He spoke to Darun in Vietnamese and Darun nodded all knowingly.

"Noi will come out. We must wait in that house." Darun told Jimmy as he pointed to a shack opposite the grounds.

He followed the two men into the shack and sat on a chair. The air was humid and Jimmy found himself perspiring. Chai had offered him a tin of water, but Jimmy did not touch it, for fear of the bad hygiene the village practiced.

They waited for about twenty minutes before Noi stepped into the house in a red dress. Jimmy was immediately smittened. She was tall and slim, just like in the photos. Her curves were just right. Her long hair was tied up neatly into a ponytail and she looked even more beautiful than any other women he knew in Singapore. She had eyes that sparkle when she looked at him shyly. Jimmy felt that this was not a wasted trip.

"This is Noi," Darun introduced.

Noi smiled shyly and looked down.

Jimmy smiled back and offered the girl to sit down. Noi sat beside her prospective husband and continued to look down shyly. Her grandmother sat on the other side of Noi, holding a handmade fan, fanning herself profusely.

"Noi is eighteen. She will go Singapore with you if you want her. She is ready to leave anytime from now, but you have to pay the money and leave your gifts behind before you can take her," Darun said professionally.

Jimmy smiled. "Yes, okay. I will bring her back tomorrow."

Noi looked up at him with a surprised look.

"This is the money we agreed on." Jimmy handed the envelope filled with cash to Darun, who in hand, took out the money and counted out aloud in the presence of the old lady.

The old lady smiled and took the money. With her palms meeting together, she bowed slightly at Jimmy and said something in Vietnamese.

"She say, thank you, please take care of Noi." Darun translated and wiped off the glistening sweat on his forehead.

Jimmy nodded and looked at Noi. Noi's features were delicate and soft. He almost could not believe how lady luck was on his side.

That night, Jimmy was not supposed to meet Noi. He could only really get to know her when they go back to Singapore. That was their rule. You pay, and the girl is yours. Jimmy could not sleep that night. All he thought of was Noi.

*****************************************

The next day, Jimmy woke up bright and early. He spent the entire morning buying rice, flour, live chickens, 8 fresh salted fish, assorted vegetables, eggs, tins of milk powder and sugar. He felt that these were sufficient gifts to give to his future in-laws for now. Besides, these foodstuff did not cost him much.

"Thank you!" Noi's grandmother took the packages with gratitude and spoke to her grand-daughter in Vietnamese.

Noi stepped forward to help with all the packages. The children in the village stood at the door and looked at the foodstuff Jimmy bought with envy.

Noi shifted a stool towards the window so that Jimmy could feel the breeze. "Sit, please." She spoke in a soft, pleasant voice. Her English, thick with the local accent.

Jimmy sat down and told Noi to sit beside him. She took a stool and sat shyly beside the man twenty years older than she is.

Jimmy might be turning forty in two years time, but he certainly did not look like it. He exercises frequently and did facials back at home. The problem with him being single was, he simply was not interested in the ladies around him. To him, Singapore ladies were too materialistic and vain. When it comes to marrying a lady, he was all back to basics.

Darun came shortly and nagged at Jimmy for leaving him at the hotel alone. They had their last dinner at Noi's house and left to catch the last boat to the city. Noi hugged her grandmother and cried for a long time. Jimmy's heart wrenched at the sight of it. He promised Noi that she could come back anytime to visit grandmother as long as she treats him like a husband.

That night, Noi and Jimmy shared the same room. On many occasions, Jimmy was tempted to give his bride to be a kiss, but he held back and reminded himself that they have all the time in Singapore for these business.

***************************************

Rosy stood at the arrival hall in Terminal One with her sister, Lily.

"Why so long? The schedule said it landed already but I still don't see my Jimmy!" Rosy complained and looked at her watch for the umpteenth time.

Lily sat on a chair and arranged her hair. "Aiya, don't worry. He will come out one! Just wait awhile can or not?!"

Rosy sat beside her sister and looked at her red painted nails. "I don't even know if that girl is good or not. Singapore so many girls, he only want that Vietnam wife. I want to see, how they communicate! Sure got problems one, I tell you! Those Vietnam, China brides... tsktsk." Rosy shook her head and massaged her aching feet. "You don't know right? They all become permanent resident and run away! All like that one!"

Lily sighed. "What to do? We already tell Jimmy one thousand times, but he still want his Vietnam wife. We already warn him, he don't listen, we also can't do anything right? You also sixty already, you still want to bother about his life so much for what?"

Lily could never understand her older sister. Rosy, for one, does not dress like her age. She loves flashy clothings and expensive shoes that often caused her to have aching feet due to her plump body size. She does her hair only at David Gan's hair salon.

"She see! If she come Singapore and tries to be funny, I will make sure she gets nothing and go back to Vietnam!" Rosy retorted and stood up.

Just then, she saw her son emerging from the check-out counter.

"Jimmy!" She called out excitedly and waved frantically.

Jimmy waved back with a smile and muttered to Noi, "that is my mother. She can be difficult, but all you have to do is bear with her, and make her happy. She likes people to tell her she is young and beautiful. Whatever you do, just don't make her feel old."

Noi nodded and waited for their bags to arrive. Noi was already starting to feel a little insecure about being in a foreign land. She felt sick during the flight and vomited twice. Thank god for Jimmy, he made her feel alot better by giving her sips of water in short intervals.

"That girl looks quite pretty what! Maybe abit too skinny only..." Lily commented as she saw the couple standing by the belt, waiting for their bags.

Rosy was still smiling at her precious son. She missed her son so much for the past three days. Jimmy was her only son and they have been depending on each other since his father passed away when he was only ten.

"Ma!" Jimmy called out happily as he pushed the luggages out with Noi walking beside him.

"Jimmy!" Rosy cried and hugged her grown up son when he stood beside her. "Ma miss you so much! Did you eat well there? My, my, you've grown thinner!"

Jimmy laughed and hugged his mother back. "This is Noi. She will be your daughter-in-law." He introduced as he let go of his mother's embrace.

Noi placed her palms together and gave a little bow. "Hello, mother." She greeted in a small voice.

Rosy merely let out a "hm" and held onto her son's arm. "How was it there? Hot?"

*******************************

Noi was in love with Singapore. Singapore is so much cleaner than her home back at Vietnam and there are trees everywhere. The people here drove beautiful cars, and live in tall houses. There are no chickens and ducks running around and the car she was sitting in was air-conditioned!

Jimmy interrupted her sight-seeing by putting his hand on top of hers. "How is it? You like Singapore?" He asked.

Noi nodded with a faint smile. "Yes. Beautiful." She replied, and she meant it.

She was told that Jimmy was rich. Noi had not meant to concentrate so much on that aspect, but she needed money for her grandmother's heart surgery. She was determined to get help from her husband in the future.

Jimmy's house was huge. His family dabbled in the food industry and fared very well for the past twenty years. It was all thanks to his mother's capability to start this business. Now, Jimmy is taking over it and it is still running very well.

"This is our house," Jimmy told Noi when the white Mercedes Benz pulled to a stop outside a white bungalow.

Noi got off the car and looked around. There was a garden and a mini pond with a plastic running fountain. She could see beautiful kois swimming happily in the pond and for once, she realised that she is now, really a princess.

Noi went into the house and stepped on the marbled floor with care. She was practically tip-toeing into the house. Jimmy saw that and laughed, "Noi! Relax and walk! You won't fall!"

Noi bit her bottom lip and placed her two feet flat on the ground. Inhaling deeply, she replied, "My feet. Dirty. No good."

Aunt Lily smiled and invited Noi to sit on a big sofa in the living room. "Sit. I'll get the maid to get you something to drink. You want sweet drink?" She offered.

Noi shook her head politely, "no. Water. Thank you."

"Siti! Give young ma'am some iced water!" Lily shouted from the living room as she slumped herself clumsily into a single sofa couch.

Rosy was in the kitchen to supervise the dinner preparation by the maids. She had instructed them to cook curry chicken and fried hokkien mee for her son. She wondered if the maids cooked correctly. Nothing else mattered more than her son's meals.

A short, dark skinned girl in shorts and t-shirt came out with a tray of drinks, the sound of ice chinkling against the glasses echoed in the living room.

"This is Siti." Lily introduced when the girl finally placed the tray on the glass table.

Noi smiled and nodded at the maid, who returned the favour by smiling back.

"This is your new mistress. Next time, she want to makan (eat for Malay) or anything, you do for her. Understand?" Lily instructed the maid who nodded knowingly.

Siti walked off after she was dismissed. Rosy came out of the kitchen and turned on the air-conditioner.

"So hot these days! I wonder why!" Rosy's voice rang loudly in the huge three storey house. She took the remote control and turned on the air-conditioner. "Those maids. So stupid. Uptil now, they still haven't finish cooking the curry. How many hours already!" She continued to nag as she walked to the sofa and settled herself ont0 her massage chair.

Jimmy chuckled and sat beside his mother. He placed his arm across his mother's shoulders and gave her a kiss on her head. "Ma. You're getting prettier and prettier. Three days never see you, you become younger huh!" He joked.

Rosy casually waved her hand at her son and giggled. "Of course! You know, your ma was a beauty queen in 1970 okay! Then, suddenly, you came into my stomach. Spoil everything!" She repeated this story for the millionth time.

"It was your fault what! Who ask you get pregnant before you marry Ah Wei? You ask for it. Not Jimmy's fault!" Lily retorted back at her sister, defending her precious nephew.

The argument went on for awhile until dinner time.

All the while, Noi sat there, absolutely quiet.

***********************************

The wedding dinner was a bash. Everyone complimented how beautiful Noi was in her evening gowns.

"So pretty! So lucky!" John, Jimmy's childhood friend of thirty three years gushed when he saw the bride.

Noi smiled shyly as Jimmy agreed with John with pride. "Of course! She is beautiful! My wife what!"

That night, Jimmy was drunk. Noi settled him down in bed and went to sleep.

*****************************************

It was the fifth month into their marriage when Jimmy could no longer take it.

It was nine in the night when Noi was watchin television in the room. Jimmy finished work early and sat on the bed with his wife.

"Watchin tv? What's on?" He asked, trying to sound as casually as possible.

Noi, her eyes still fixed onto the screen, replied, "drama. Very nice."

Jimmy nodded and sat up. He placed his hand on his wife's shoulder and waited for a reaction.

No. Noi did not push his hand away, or tell him she was tired.

Happy that he made the first step, he proceeded on to kissing her back.

That was when Noi turned around and recoiled herself quickly.

"Jim. I say. Time. Now, no." She said with a shiver in her voice. "You good man. I know you good man." She continued, pulling her shirt closer to her body.

Jimmy threw himself back and scratched his head helplessly.

"I married you for five months and I haven't even touched you! What kind of married couple are we?!" He cried and kicked the blanket in anger. "You don't love me is it? Is that why you don't want to make love?" He demanded to know.

Noi's tears rolled down her cheeks. "I thought, Jim wait. Noi wrong. Noi wrong. Jim bad." She spoke shakily.

Jimmy's soft spot would be a woman's tears. No matter how angry he may be, if a lady cries infront of him, he could apologise.

"Argh. Forget it." Jimmy gave up and took his pillow, "I'm going out to sleep."

With that, he went out of the room and slammed the door behind him.

Noi sat back onto her bed and realised that her plan can no longer wait. She must execute it tonight.

********************************

Noi woke up at three in the morning when everyone was asleep. For the past five months, she had been studying the house and the way the household worked. She had to be sure of what she could take, and what she could not. Her mother-in-law had been tough on her since she married into the family. She must not let this plan fail.

Quietly, she bent down and pulled out a light weight bag from underneath the bed. Quickly, she tucked in some clothes and undergarments. She opened up her drawer and found some jewelleries Jimmy had given to her during the night of their wedding.

Swiftly, she took it and put it into her bag.

As quietly as she could, she called the train station and requested to know the schedule of the earliest train that goes down to Malaysia.

After making a booking for one ticket, she changed into a simple shorts and t-shirt. She had to move fast.

The maids would be up by six. She had to act fast.

She tip toed her way downstairs and took all the ornaments she could find in the living room. She had been eyeing on those precious ornament for the past five months. All these antiques could be sold and the money could give her grandmother a better life.

Carefully, she also took about hundred thousand worth of hard cash from the family's safe. She had asked Jimmy for the passcode, but he had refused to let her know. However, one day, he relented when she agreed to let him touch her bosom.

"We are married,"was what Noi said to coax her husband. "No secret."

Taking all she needed, she headed out of the house and exited from the back door, leaving the large house behind her.

*******************************

"Do you want to wait for her here? She is coming out soon," Rin, a Vietnamese agent asked a thirty year old man who came all the way from Singapore to look for a bride.

The man nodded and sat on a stool.

After ten minutes, a girl walked in in a blue dress, her long hair tied up into a ponytail. She is slim and her body showed youth and vibrant.

The man was totally smittened.

"Hello. My name is Noi."

She said with a shy smile.