Asmara Anastasia

The Strengthening Determination

Ali cursed himself, how could he speak without first paying attention to the situation. Anastasya must have heard all of his talk with Ayu. But what was spoken from the lips of his nephew was what made him gasp.

"Ana, are you awake?" Ayu quickly got up from sitting, moved closer to Anastasya then rubbed the top of the girl's head full of affection. "You must be tired, let's take aunt to the room." Again Ayu tried to persuade Anastasya who was still unmoved in his place. Honestly Ayu was afraid, if Anastasya really heard the conversation with her husband.

"No," Anastasya refused. "I want to be here with my uncle and aunt."

Ali and Ayu's faces changed. Moreover, the little girl now chose to sit down to join Ali.

"Ana," Ali confused the word stringing.

"Uncle, like I said. Sell this house."

Ali and Ayu looked at each other. How could a child as small as Anastasya think of such a thing.

"What do you mean Ana? This house is yours, the relics of both your parents," said Ali with great emphasis. Reminds the girl not to just talk.

Instantly Anastasya bowed down, his face returned sad with a clear circle dripping from the corner of the net.

"If Ana stays in this house, Dad and Mom will always be there." Anastasya began to sob.

Ayu moved quickly carrying Anastasya's small body in an embrace. Giving a sharp look towards the husband, so as not to open the voice first.

*******

Once hesitant and fighting in doubt, Ali also agreed to Anastasya's request by selling the house owned by the late brother. To be honest Ali felt shy and amazingly embarrassed, but it was the whining of the nephew that made him helpless and finally resigned.

Houses and land relics of Anastasya's parents sold quite expensive. As per the wishes of the nephew, Ali bought a simple house and too large land in the village next door. At least, by being far enough from his previous home, will make Anastasya slowly forget the sadness and resume life with his uncle and aunt.

Ayu returns to deliver Anastasya's funeral. A few hours before they headed to the next village to move.

"Mom, dad. I'm sorry, Ana sold our house." - Ana was surrounded by her parents.

"You know, Mom and Dad must be disappointed. But you and I don't worry, Ana will always come here to pray for you and me endlessly." The smile on her tiny lips was imprinted, though her heart was sliced with pain. Not wanting to drag on in sadness, Ana got up and pulled the aunt out of the cemetery.

****

Year after year passed. Anastasya, who was still in elementary school when her parents left, is now an adult and almost finished her education at a high school in her village.

Ali, who has responsibility for Anastasya, apparently deliberately kept most of the money from the sale of land and houses left by both Anastasya's parents for the cost of education his nephew until high school.

Although Ali himself was only a farmer who did not have a salary, but with all his hard work was able to support Anastasya, Ayu, and also his four young children. The eldest was only seven years old, while the other three sons of Ali's daughter only had one or two years of age.

Far from the word adequacy, Ali's life and family is fairly just mediocre to eat. In addition to planting rice, Ali also uses the garden beside the house to plant palawija and also vegetables.

Anastasya himself was not only sitting on his hands to see the uncle who slammed his bones to make a living. With all the abilities he had, the teenage girl who looked very beautiful began to help the uncle as much as she could. Starting from planting rice, harvesting, and even selling garden products to the market.

Ali was persuaded several times by his colleagues or successful neighbors when choosing to migrate, and looking for work outside other than farming. But Ali refused. Besides not wanting, Ali felt heartless if he had to leave his family long enough. Besides, of course Ayu will be very troubled to take care of his four children if he stays.

However, behind Ali's unwillingness to migrate, but the mind actually now stopped in Anastasya's mind.

What if I go wandering? But will uncle and aunt allow it?

Anastasya paddled his bike down the path. After returning from the market after selling vegetables in the garden beside the house, the girl continued to think of a desire that was definitely rejected outright by the uncle.

Anastasya sighed deeply. He arrived in front of the house. The two nieces who were already quite big ran towards him.

"Sir Ana. What did you bring?" ask the eldest son of the uncle with sparkling netra. Moreover, the boy saw if Anastasya carrying some plastic bags in his hands.

Anastasya smiled sweetly. The two boys came to the house to follow him.

"Sir Ana brought food for you" Anastasya replied bitterly, but tried to cover it up.

Anastasya held back as hard as a clear bulir that was contained in the corner of the netra. Just by mentioning the name of the food, it was like getting a piece of diamond to make the two boys happy beyond measure.

"Now sit down."

The two boys complied and sat side by side in the old rattan chair.

"Smart," praised Anastasya.

With trembling hands Anastasya opened the black plastic bag and opened the contents.

"Here, eat. And remember, share it with the sisters."

"Horry." Again the cheer of joy from the two boys, making Anastasya's heart hurt. Not something expensive or delicious that Anastasya brought. Only a few simple snacks made from cassava main formed in various forms. No cheese, no chocolate melts. The cassava only has a salty taste, and also only mixed with grated coconut.

Anastasya turned his face away, and bit his lips. If he could work and earn his own income, of course the life of the uncle would be better than this. And his nephew, will not be short of food and also have decent clothes.

"What a son," said one of the nephews.

Tastier?

Anastasya simply nodded in response.

Oh jesus.

*****

For a few days Ali's face looked grim. He's headed for the rice storage. His face bowed languidly finding the remaining rice only a little. This year, it is threatened with crop failure.

God, what should I do.

With a giant step he looked for the whereabouts of the wife in the kitchen. His view is now fixed on Ayu who is cooking rice by mixing some sweet potatoes on the rice.

His tongue was stiff, unable to speak.

Ayu turned her body. He gasped as he found Ali standing behind him.

"Mas, what's wrong with you?"

Ali was silent, he just shook his head.

"Say. It can't be okay if I see you."

Ali breathed deeply. He was confused about word.

"Sir, are our rice supplies still plentiful?" tanya Ali lirih's.

Ayu also moved to open the rice container barrel. And it's empty.

"This is the last rice mas, which I cooked. To suffice, I purposely put some yam as a mixture."

Ali knew enough with the strategy of the wife to keep the stomach of the family full. The children and Anastasya will eat rice. While he and his wife eat enough sweet potatoes or cassava as a stomach booster. And it's been going on for years.

Ali gently pulled the wife's hand and carried her in an embrace. The tough guy is now sobbing. Unable to resist crying. For years of living together, he felt like he was failing as a husband because he never made his wife happy. He can only give grief and hunger.

Anastasya. He took a few steps back from the kitchen door, and chose to lean against the wall. Again he was treated to a poignant scenery that strengthened his determination to live wandering and looking for rupiah coffers from the results of his sweat.

Seriate...