Synergy in Sync

How an instant spark turned into a lifelong journey of trust, loyalty, and commitment for Shalma Ainaa and Wan Imar

- Sim Wie Boon

“It was love at first sight,” Shalma Ainaa recalls with laughter, filling the cafe where we met for our interview, as she reminisces about the moment she first saw Wan Imar across the bustling scene of Trafalgar Square during Malaysia Night, an annual celebration organised in London by the Malaysian High Commission. Both were in the final year of their university studies in London, and despite the immediate attraction, it took a year and a chance reunion on a London tube for their paths to align once more. 

“My friends were speaking to him earlier, so I asked them to invite him to join us for a futsal game, and I think the rest was history,” says Shalma. Her bold invitation to Imar marked the beginning of a journey neither could have anticipated. “It was the first time ever in my life where I made the first move, and I think I made the right decision,” Shalma shares with a laugh, reflecting on the courage it took to make that first move.

Imar fondly recalls the early days of their courtship, where their connection deepened over shared interests and intimate conversations. “What attracted me to her was our personalities,” he reflects. “I think everyone should know that the Shalma when I first met her is nothing like the Shalma that you see today. She was chubby, and she had the Justin Bieber signature haircut. One of the first lines she said to me when I first showed interest in her was, ‘Why do you like me ah?’ It was so funny! But ultimately, it’s our aligned interests like sports as well as our fascination and admiration for creative works that brought us closer, especially since she’s into fashion and I’m into architecture design.”