SINGAPORE — Life is now like a nightmare she wishes she can wake up from, says a Singaporean woman whose husband was killed in Phuket on Wednesday (Aug 21).

Ms Bandhna Kaur Bajaj, 34, told CNA on the phone on Friday (Aug 23) that she keeps telling herself not to break down, as she needs to be brave for her son.

Ms Bandhna was in Phuket for a holiday with her husband of nine years and their son, who turns two in December, when tragedy struck.

Amitpal Singh Bajaj, also 34, was killed in a choke hold in a fight with a hotel guest at Centara Grand Hotel in Karon, Phuket.

The altercation broke out after the next-door hotel neighbour Norwegian Roger Bullman was singing on his balcony in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday (Aug 21).

Ms Bandha told CNA that she met her husband when they were both 18 at a mutual friend's wedding in Singapore.

Amitpal, known as Amit to his friends, was born in Malaysia and later became a British citizen after living most of his life in London.

"We became really good friends and we really clicked because we had the same spiritual (Sikh) beliefs and both enjoyed singing hymns," said the mother of one. 

"Still, being spiritual, he was modern, and before we knew it we knew that we really liked each other."

They got engaged and married in Singapore six years later when they were both 24.

IN PHUKET ON FAMILY HOLIDAY

They were in Phuket on a family holiday after celebrating their ninth wedding anniversary in June when the incident happened.

She said her husband told her to flee with her son when the struggle broke out, which she did.

"It's actually been very, very hard, because it was almost like I (am) living a nightmare that I just wish I could wake up from," said Ms Bandhna. 

"When I close my eyes I can still see the whole incident ... but I keep telling myself, I can't break down," she said in a calm voice. "I'm not doing justice to how courageous he was. I need to be brave for my son."

She said they had a very big extended family, who have been giving her overwhelming support.

Ms Bandhna, who was a housewife and previously worked as an app developer with Amitpal, intends to stay with her family in Singapore for now, but might start working part-time in the future.

Before this, the family shuttled between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur as Amitpal worked in those countries.

SON IS SHAKEN, LOOKING FOR FATHER

Her son, who was there at the time of the incident, is very shaken, and keeps looking for his father, said Ms Bandhna.

"Now, when he hears the door open or hears a loud sound, he gets very startled and grips my arm," she said. "He's constantly looking for my husband because my husband was a very hands-on man in parenting."

"In future I would like to tell him that your dad was really, really a great man," said Ms Bandhna.

Amitpal made an impression with people wherever he went, she said, as he always had something witty to say, and was kind, honest and sincere."I really loved him, my whole life," she said. "He would always look at other people and say - if you can help them, help them."

She said she feels OK now but is open to seeking help if she needs it.

"I hope God would give me strength and courage," said Ms Bandhna. "Maybe one day, my son would be half the man his dad was." CNA

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