CARA
Controllers
Early in the morning, Reksa was sitting on the back porch of his house enjoying a cup of warm tea made by Anjani and the newspaper in his hand. In principle, there is no quiet day without a newspaper in hand. His habits that he does almost every day, whether starting from when. Mutual and Anjani's relationship hasn't developed since their last conversation in the workspace a few days ago.
Muta felt a little confused with Anjani who kept trying to avoid him. The girl still fulfilled her duties as his wife by serving her needs, such as cooking, sewing and always making her tea in the morning, but there was no warm interaction between the two. Reksa instead thinks that Anjani is more like his courtier if the girl continues to behave like this.
Muta admitted that his marriage was only a formality, so that the government could formalize the position as regent of Sleman. Since his father died, inevitably, Mutual had to take on greater responsibility than a wedana, which was to become the regent. And to become regent at that time, Mutual had to marry a noble woman. However, his father's sudden death, made him sit in the regent's position, even though he was not married.
At that time, the Dutch controller came to him and explained the consequences if Reksa still occupied the position of regent and never married.
The brother will be deposed and the position of the Brother will be replaced by a person chosen by Mr. Resident, said the controller.
Reksa also wrote an official letter to the resident master in Djogjakarta and asked for the longest time for one year to find his noble wife. The letter was approved, but Reksa was closely watched by the Dutch controller who served in his area of power. The need to get a wife seems to be heard by God, because a few months later, while in Klaten to fulfill the call of Surya kinship, Reksa met with Anjani.
When Anjani jumps off the wall behind her house, Reksa immediately finds out if the girl is Surya's sister, but Reksa remains silent. At that time, there was interest in Anjani, let alone seeing the girl's out-of-the-box behavior. The little Anjani has grown into a brave girl and a little wild - to the size of a respectable woman. His second meeting with Anjani, makes Reksa more interested in the girl and decides to marry Anjani. Mutual time is limited and Anjani's movement space is narrow as the woman is pinned, making Muta can not approach before marriage. Therefore, he went straight through that phase and proposed to Anjani.
When the tea ran out, Reksa immediately got out of his chair with an empty glass in his hand. Reksa set foot, passing through the small garden in the courtyard of his home, before reaching the kitchen. Muta knew it was not her courtier's place to wash cookware and eat, only at that time, Reksa wanted to see what Anjani was doing.
When Reksa entered, the female courtiers who were preparing the materials immediately stopped their work. The servant retreated, then knelt down, before greeting his master. It is a very rare event, a main man can enter the kitchen, because the main man can just call.
Anjani who was busy with his moringa leaves, confused when he saw the courtier suddenly became very polite and condolent. She looked over and found her husband standing at the door of the kitchen with a cup of tea in his hand.
"Kangmas," said Anjani in shock, then rushed to her husband. The tea glass was removed from Muta's hand in a slight rush and panic.
"Kangmas don't have to bother coming here. Just put the cup on me"
"Kangmas just want to see you for a while," cut off Reksa, making Anjani's cheeks instantly blush. Anjani is confused what to react to now. He suddenly gagu. His body was in place where he stood. On the other hand, Anjani saw Yu Isma looking a little smiling, as well as some other courtiers.
"You're fine" said Muta with a faint smile, gently touching her fingers on Anjani's chin. The touch was short, yet it felt so intense on Anjani's skin. Anjani's cheeks returned crimson, even redder than before.
"Then Kangmas left first," said Reksa to Anjani also the courtier who was there, before coming out of the kitchen and leaving Anjani who was still sculpting.
***
Reksa pedaled his ontel bike towards the bumiputera administrative office located not far from the company's administrative office. The office location is not far from where he lives, so it does not require a bendi. As soon as he arrived at the administrative office's yard, Muta immediately parked his ontel bike, along with the bikes of his other co-workers. Reksa set foot quietly entering the administrative office that has existed since Sulaiman district was inaugurated into a new territory. The inauguration itself is stated in Rijksblaad no. 11 of 1890, August 15, 1885, with Reksa's father appointed as the first regent.
When he first entered the white building, Reksa immediately found Ter Heide, the controller who served in his district since his father was still there. This man also conveyed a message about the consequences of his imprisonment during his time as regent. Muta frowned looking clueless with the presence of the Dutch man here. As Mutual, this is still mid-month, so there is nothing to check further.
Ter Heide himself is also not a typical controller who diligently visits the bumiputera administrative office. The man rarely wanted to come to the building, unless there was a matter that was very urgent or indeed had a schedule to fulfill the man's duties as a controller. Ter Heide's own schedule between the end of the month and the beginning of the month.
"Congratulations on sibling marriage" Ter Heide said with a fluent Malay language, although the man's accent was still not able to leave. Ter Heide took off his hat, then bowed in an exaggerated style. Ter Heide has always been an invisible enemy of Muta. The man is cunning and manipulative.
"Thank you" said Reksa politely with a calm look on his face.
"As a wedding gift from me, you'll get a new, better wedana" Ter Heide continued, smiling. "Wedana whenewon Gamping of course is too old to carry out his assignment. Therefore, I submit a request to the resident master directly to replace him."
Muta frowned looking very angry at Ter Heide's statement. Yes, indeed as a regent, Mutual did not have the authority to choose his subordinates, but the man in front of him did not.
It could be that the man in front of her stepped over her and made such a request to the resident master. Muta knows that Ter Heide is doing this so that his corruption and collusion activities can continue. The man is like a leech that continues to absorb from small people's taxes.
"The change of wedana can not be that easy, Meinheer," said Reksa again with a firm tone and showed his strong disposition. The bumiputera employees who were there could only bow their heads deeply and continue their work in silence.
"You just stepped over me, Meinheer," said Reksa again with a thick tone of confrontation. Disappointment gnawed at his heart when he learned the controller's request was passed by the resident assistant and the resident master.
(Meinheer means master in Dutch)
Mutual strongly opposed Soeroso Djajadiningrat to be wedana in the territory. The man was indeed a learned man, but his reputation was very bad. The man loved to play women and even fucked other people's wives. The man's work ethic is very doubtful Mutual, let alone his honesty. Time and again, the man tried to bribe Mutsa into recommending him to the central government to be allowed to occupy important positions in the administrative office. Many times also Reksa refused for the same reason; his honesty was questionable.
"Brothers realize, don't you have the authority to appoint and dismiss employees?" ter Heide asked with his blatantly condescending gaze.
"You yourself don't either, Meinheer," Mutual reply is just as harsh. "You've obviously stepped over me, as a regent here. Your recommendation is questionable, Meinheer."
(Regent means regent)
"It's not me that's questionable" Ter Heide replied looking slightly offended. "The brother in question. Try you think, if my recommendation is accepted even by the central government, doesn't that mean my choice is good?"
Mutual seemed to strongly disagree with the man's words. "Or there is another intention behind it," continued Reksa bravely.
"Are you worried that Soeroso could take up the post of Brother now?" ter Heide asked sharply as he approached Mutual.
"What's a threat, Meinheer?" asked Reksa while narrowing her eyes undaunted.
Ter Heide smiled cynically, then said, "Why don't you enjoy your wealth and position, then let us work our own way."
After saying so, Ter Heide handed over the letter with the seal that had been opened to Muta. The man patted Reksa's shoulder gently, before waltzing leisurely, leaving the building. Mutual opened the letter and read it briefly. The letter was a recommendation of Soeroso Djajadiningrat to become a Gamping captain wedana. The letter has been signed directly by the assistant resident Sleman and the resident lord in Djogjakarta. In closing, Reksa also saw the signature of Gurbenur General of the Dutch East Indies, not to forget the official stamp. Mutual squeezed the letter with tremendous anger. He was even more angry when he found out there were fellow bumiputera who would later blackmail his own people.
...----------------...
Important note:
Regents and bumiputera employees have no authority at all to appoint and dismiss employees, as well as residents, assistant residents or even controllers. All of that is the authority of the central government, on the recommendation of the resident. The regent could easily be replaced if it did not please the colonial government at that time. But the regent also has the right to recommend employees to the resident. The president will pass it on to the central government. Hence KKN between indigenous officials and company employees was prevalent at that time, as discussed in Max Havelaar's book.
The regent here is equal and works with the assistant resident, while the resident master is the leader of the resident assistant who has his own residency. Sleman Regency is part of the characteristics of Jogjakarta, so the resident master is in Jogjakarta. Wedana is arguably a camat and she cooperates and is on par with the controller. Wedana is under the regent and patih.
There will be a lot of sudden changes here. So if you re-read continue to find a different ya understand ya heheheheheheh. Sometimes when doing new research there continue to be many new facts that turn out to be contrary to what I described in the previous chapter.
Also, if any of them feel less suitable, please be corrected, thank you. Maybe the correction from you sometimes I do not reply, but usually I will revise. Thank you for reading this still imperfect story of mine ⁇ ️️️️
