Old photo, Facebook search reunite friends after four decades [WATCH]

PETALING JAYA: Two friends separated for four decades have been reunited, thanks to an old photograph and a search on Facebook.

When Devaki Rani Munusamy and Rohani Ambri, both 73, met recently, they held onto each other tightly, promising never to lose touch again.

Their friendship began in 1969 in Segamat, Johor, over shared meals at the school canteen during recess.

"Every week, we would eat and spend time together. Once school ended, we went our separate ways, but we still spoke to each other whenever we could," said Devaki Rani.

Life soon took them down different paths.

Rohani married young in 1970 and started raising a family, moving frequently as her husband, Mohammad Ropee Adman Yahyauddin, was posted to different military bases.

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Devaki Rani, meanwhile, went abroad in 1974 to study hairdressing and beauty before returning home and marrying in 1979.

"After (Rohani's) marriage, she came to see me a few times and we went shopping. She was already driving by then," said Devaki Rani.

"Then I went abroad to study for about two years, and we lost touch. I don't know how, but I managed to send my wedding card to her. She came to my wedding.

"After the wedding, we were all busy. I went my way, she went hers."

Devaki Rani later moved between Johor Baru, Terengganu and Kedah as her husband completed his medical housemanship.

There were no mobile phones to bridge the distance then, no landline numbers or forwarding addresses to follow. Gradually, the two friends drifted out of each other's lives. But Rohani was never forgotten.

"I used to look at crowds in shopping centres and wonder, 'Is Rohani here?' But I knew I wouldn't recognise her after all these years.

"It was only recently, while looking through my old photo album, that I told my son: 'This is my friend Rohani. I've been thinking about her. I want to find her, but I don't know how'."

That old album would eventually provide the thread that led them back to each other.

Devaki Rani's second son, Dr Madhusudhan Shanmugam, had been chatting with his mother when she pulled out an old photograph to show him how much she resembled her grandchildren.

As they flipped through the album, they came across a photo from Rohani's wedding.

"I told my mum that I could help her find Rohani, but since her name is quite common, it wasn't easy," said Dr Madhusudhan.

"Then my mother told me that Rohani's husband's name was Ropee. I asked ChatGPT for help, and it said the uniform he was wearing looked like that of a paratrooper.

"When I searched 'paratrooper Ropee', there was an article about one 'Captain Ropee', with a small name tag beside his photo. I compared the photos, and it was the same person."

Further searches led him to social media profiles he believed belonged to Ropee's children.

Ropee had died recently.

He sent a message on Facebook to one of the sons with the question: "This may sound strange, but are you by any chance Captain Ropee Adman's son?"

The reply quickly opened a door that had been closed for decades.

"When I mentioned that my mum had been looking for her friend, within 10 minutes, her son sent me her phone number.

"I called Rohani and said: 'Hold on, Auntie, I'm handing the phone to my mum.' At first, my mother was puzzled because they look so different now.

"Then Rohani spoke up: 'Hello, my old friend, Devaki.' I told her: 'Mum, it's your friend, Rohani!' She immediately stood up, went to her room and started chatting."

Four decades of silence had ended with a phone call.

When the two women finally met again recently, the years apart gave way to a tight embrace.

Devaki Rani, who stays in Klang, has four children while Rohani has six.

For Devaki Rani and Rohani, their coming together again was a dream come true.

"We are very happy to meet each other again after so many years," said Rohani.

"Once in a while, I used to wonder, where was Devaki? I didn't expect this reunion after 40 years."