When I Visited Malaysia: A Journey of Friendship, Dreams, and Life’s Surprises
Written by: Eshwarprasad, Founder of EP Ka Meter Films
In 2012, my life took an unexpected turn when I connected with someone truly special—Yeyen Afraini. We met on Facebook, and what began as casual conversations quickly blossomed into a meaningful friendship. Yeyen, a gifted painter from Malaysia, had a unique ability to bring life to her artwork, and I couldn’t help but admire her talent. She had a deep love for Shah Rukh Khan (SRK), and we often bonded over our shared appreciation for Bollywood, especially the charm and charisma of SRK. Little did I know, this connection would shape years of my life in ways I couldn’t predict.
I’m Eshwarprasad, a filmmaker with a passion for storytelling. I’m the founder of EP Ka Meter Films, a production house driven by creativity, independence, and a deep love for cinema. My filmmaking journey is all about low-budget and no-budget projects, where we strive to bring stories to life, even with limited resources.
Though Yeyen and I were miles apart—around 2,500 miles between India and Malaysia—we never felt the distance. Our conversations flowed effortlessly, and we often spent hours on video calls. It wasn’t long before our families met through these digital exchanges, and I felt a deep, unexplainable connection with her. There was always something unique about our bond, something words could never fully capture. We shared more than just a friendship—it felt like a connection that transcended the physical distance between us.
In 2015, after completing my graduation, I moved to Pune to pursue further studies. While exploring international career opportunities, I thought it would be a beautiful gesture to send Yeyen something special. I wanted her to know how much her friendship meant to me. I crafted multiple letters, sent her a flower, and included a friendship ring as a token of our connection. I remember how happy she was when she received the gift—her excitement was contagious. It was one of those moments where I realized how much our bond had grown, despite the miles between us.
But life has a way of surprising us, and our relationship, as strong as it felt, was shrouded in uncertainty. I wasn’t sure what the future held for us, but that made our connection even more unique. In 2016, I finally had the opportunity to visit Malaysia and meet her in person for the first time. It was a trip I had been looking forward to for years. I visited her home in Kuala Lumpur, and her family welcomed me with open arms. We traveled together, explored the vibrant city, and shared moments that I’ll never forget. Her parents were incredibly kind to me, and it felt like I had known them for years.
However, after returning to India, something unexpected happened. I started missing her deeply, in a way I couldn’t quite understand. I planned for a second visit to Malaysia, but suddenly, everything changed. Out of nowhere, Yeyen stopped responding to my messages. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was due to family problems or some other issue. I had no answers, only silence. The second visit I had planned for 2020 was postponed as I noticed she wasn’t active anywhere online. I tried reaching out in every way possible, but there was no response.
For a while, I thought maybe our story had ended. Then, in 2022, I saw her active again on Facebook. Although she didn’t engage much, I felt a glimmer of hope. I sent her a few messages, but they went unanswered. She read them but didn’t respond. Eventually, I stopped trying to reach out, telling myself that maybe it was time to move on. But the memories of our connection stayed with me.
One day, to my surprise, she called me on WhatsApp. It felt surreal. We hadn’t spoken in years, but we instantly fell back into our old rhythm. We talked about everything that had happened between 2018 and 2022. That’s when she shared the difficult truth. Her father had passed away, and her family had gone through immense turmoil. One of her sisters had run away with a local boy, which had caused her father’s heart attack. After his passing, her mother’s health began to decline, and her brother, who had moved to Kuala Lumpur, wasn’t able to provide much support. Yeyen had taken on the responsibility of holding her family together during this incredibly difficult time.
As much as she tried to remain strong, I could tell how much the burden weighed on her. After a few more conversations, she stopped responding again. I understood, but it still hurt. Then, in 2023, I saw on social media that she had gotten married to a decent person. I was happy for her, but a part of me felt a quiet sense of loss. I had always liked her, but life had taken us in different directions. It’s funny how life works—sometimes, we form deep connections with people, but circumstances beyond our control shift the course of those relationships.
This is the story of Yeyen and me. A friendship that began online, evolved into something special, and ultimately showed me how unpredictable life can be. I will always cherish the bond we shared, even though it didn’t turn out the way I had imagined. Life has a way of teaching us that relationships don’t always unfold according to our expectations, but they leave an indelible mark on our hearts.
To all my friends out there, this is my story, and it’s also a reflection on how life plays with our relationships. Some bonds change, but they never really fade
Though Yeyen and I were miles apart—around 2,500 miles between India and Malaysia—we never felt the distance. Our conversations flowed effortlessly, and we often spent hours on video calls. It wasn’t long before our families met through these digital exchanges, and I felt a deep, unexplainable connection with her. There was always something unique about our bond, something words could never fully capture. We shared more than just a friendship—it felt like a connection that transcended the physical distance between us.
In 2015, after completing my graduation, I moved to Pune to pursue further studies. While exploring international career opportunities, I thought it would be a beautiful gesture to send Yeyen something special. I wanted her to know how much her friendship meant to me. I crafted multiple letters, sent her a flower, and included a friendship ring as a token of our connection. I remember how happy she was when she received the gift—her excitement was contagious. It was one of those moments where I realized how much our bond had grown, despite the miles between us.
But life has a way of surprising us, and our relationship, as strong as it felt, was shrouded in uncertainty. I wasn’t sure what the future held for us, but that made our connection even more unique. In 2016, I finally had the opportunity to visit Malaysia and meet her in person for the first time. It was a trip I had been looking forward to for years. I visited her home in Kuala Lumpur, and her family welcomed me with open arms. We traveled together, explored the vibrant city, and shared moments that I’ll never forget. Her parents were incredibly kind to me, and it felt like I had known them for years.
However, after returning to India, something unexpected happened. I started missing her deeply, in a way I couldn’t quite understand. I planned for a second visit to Malaysia, but suddenly, everything changed. Out of nowhere, Yeyen stopped responding to my messages. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was due to family problems or some other issue. I had no answers, only silence. The second visit I had planned for 2020 was postponed as I noticed she wasn’t active anywhere online. I tried reaching out in every way possible, but there was no response.
For a while, I thought maybe our story had ended. Then, in 2022, I saw her active again on Facebook. Although she didn’t engage much, I felt a glimmer of hope. I sent her a few messages, but they went unanswered. She read them but didn’t respond. Eventually, I stopped trying to reach out, telling myself that maybe it was time to move on. But the memories of our connection stayed with me.
One day, to my surprise, she called me on WhatsApp. It felt surreal. We hadn’t spoken in years, but we instantly fell back into our old rhythm. We talked about everything that had happened between 2018 and 2022. That’s when she shared the difficult truth. Her father had passed away, and her family had gone through immense turmoil. One of her sisters had run away with a local boy, which had caused her father’s heart attack. After his passing, her mother’s health began to decline, and her brother, who had moved to Kuala Lumpur, wasn’t able to provide much support. Yeyen had taken on the responsibility of holding her family together during this incredibly difficult time.
As much as she tried to remain strong, I could tell how much the burden weighed on her. After a few more conversations, she stopped responding again. I understood, but it still hurt. Then, in 2023, I saw on social media that she had gotten married to a decent person. I was happy for her, but a part of me felt a quiet sense of loss. I had always liked her, but life had taken us in different directions. It’s funny how life works—sometimes, we form deep connections with people, but circumstances beyond our control shift the course of those relationships.
This is the story of Yeyen and me. A friendship that began online, evolved into something special, and ultimately showed me how unpredictable life can be. I will always cherish the bond we shared, even though it didn’t turn out the way I had imagined. Life has a way of teaching us that relationships don’t always unfold according to our expectations, but they leave an indelible mark on our hearts.
To all my friends out there, this is my story, and it’s also a reflection on how life plays with our relationships. Some bonds change, but they never really fade
