'We're family, remember?': S'pore woman, 25, invites bus driver she's known for 8 years to her wedding

For eight years, Rini Rindiani has been taking bus service 179 on her way home.

Throughout these years, her rides were brightened by the SMRT bus driver she affectionately calls "Uncle Rama."

In a TikTok video, Rini shared how Uncle Rama has had a huge impact on her.

@rynsieeees i never knew how much someone i met outside could leave this huge impact in my life. i first took his bus when i was 17, when i had my first part time job & he’ll always give me karipaps and murukku from Jurong Point to eat after my school, before my shifts. When i was in Poly, he’d knew i will reach just nicely at 12.30am after dance pracs so he’d wait a little if he sees me running down the staircase catching my last bus. Now, i’m a working adult, i get to catch his 9pm bus back each time i took public transport home & it’s my turn to give him whatever i have in my bag because ill always have something in my bag to munch on. Today, it hits me like a truck because our conversation was about me getting married in a few months & i’ll be shifting elsewhere and that means i wont get to take his bus back anymore. All he replied was “ it’s okay, we have each other’s numbers and in any case anything happens to me, my wife has your number & will contact you. We’re family remember? I first see you when you were in a school uniform to now a beautiful young lady who’s getting married soon.” Uncle Rama, you have left such a deep impact in ny life! Thank you for being so genuine & being such a wonderful person who saw me grew. Thank you for making my bus ride back manageable and making my day better. #fy #foryoupage ♬ original sound - ryn

Speaking to Mothership, she talked about how their friendship blossomed.

Eight years of friendship

Rini first met Uncle Rama when she was 16, traveling to Nanyang Technological University (NTU) for a part-time job.

"My first impression was that this uncle is super cute because he greeted me with a smile, a wave, and a warm good morning," Rini recalled.

He would often give her snacks like "karipaps and murukku" before she headed to work.

When she was in polytechnic, he would wait a little longer to make sure she caught his bus, knowing that it was the last one and she had late dance practice.

As an adult, she continued to take his 9pm bus, and it was her turn to share whatever snacks she had in her bag for him to munch on.

Considers him family

Although their journeys together usually only lasted three bus stops, they would talk about everything, from his family in Malaysia to what Rini had eaten that day.

She looked forward to these daily conversations, she shared.

Calling him "family," she said she would make sure to bring him snacks from her overseas trips.

"He's a little older now, and his white hair is popping out and it saddens me to see him work sometimes away from family so I decided that I'd be his family here while he works hard for his family," she said.

Moving out

However, the unlikely pair will be seeing less of each other, as Rini is getting married and moving out of the neighbourhood.

When Uncle Rama first heard the news of her marriage, Rini said he gave her "the biggest smile and a tearful reaction."

"He was so happy to hear that I'm getting married, and he was most excited to see the kompang at Malay weddings," she shared.

To show her gratitude, Rini prepared a wedding card for him, along with some money for a private-hire ride to the wedding venue.

Although her wedding is in November, she made sure to "book him" for the day so he could be there to celebrate with her.

"Today, it hit me like a truck because our conversation was about me getting married in a few months and I’ll be shifting elsewhere and that means I won't get to take his bus back anymore," she wrote in her TikTok video.

But despite the change, it doesn’t mean they’ll be out of each other’s lives.

Uncle Rama’s response proved that: “It’s okay, we have each other’s numbers. If anything happens to me, my wife has your number and will contact you. We’re family, remember?"

Top photos from rynsieeees/TikTok