CARA

In-law

After finishing all his work that afternoon, Anjani chose to sit in the backyard while drawing Asih who sat on her knees not far from him. Asih kept her head down and did not dare to look at it at all, making Anjani sigh softly. In the past, despite being a courtier, Yu Marsinah had never once bothered with him. Yu Marsinah could even still joke around with Anjani and even Kangmas Arya. Here, all the courtiers treated her as if she was a queen that should not even be looked upon once.

Anjani also sat on the floor with Asih, making Asih immediately sung instead of playing and bowing his body deeply. "The floor is too dirty for Ndoro Ayu" Asih said.

"This is you, Sih," said Anjani again while thrusting a paper drawing his hand at Asih who was still bowing deeply.

"I don't deserve it, Ndoro Ayu," Asih said again with his feelings of condolence.

Anjani again sighed softly, then grabbed Asih's hand and handed the paper to her. "I insist, Sih," said Anjani softly with a smile that made Asih stunned.

Asih looked at the picture of his face with his eyes. Giving his employer is something that is very valuable, even though only images. Asih bowed her body deeply and thanked Anjani a lot. Anjani put her warm smile on Asih, then inching closer to the girl as she was.

Anjani pointed at the straight letters on the paper and spelled them out slowly, "A-sih. It's you."

Asih seemed interested in seeing Anjani's writing, then followed the spelling of her employer. "Well," he muttered again, making Anjani smile at him.

"You can read hanacaraka, can't you?" asked Anjani again who was greeted with a passionate nod from Asih.

"Well, it's called a Latin letter" Anjani said, pointing to the girl's name on the paper. "Your name is beautiful, just like the man."

Asih again smiled shyly and looked more relaxed around his new employer. Anjani excitedly, immediately picked up a new paper, as well as the questioner. Put the paper between the two, then Anjani wrote the Latin alphabet sequence from a to z.

"It read 'a'" said Anjani, pointing to the letter 'a' on the paper. Anjani's speech was well imitated by Asih.

Anjani taught Asih to read Latin letters only with the help of shabby paper and pens. He even taught the girl how to spell and write the correct Roman letters. Anjani never once dreamed of becoming a teacher. The goal is to become a journalist, but when seeing Asih seemed very enthusiastic with a short and simple lesson that afternoon, Anjani's heart immediately warmed.

Anjani looked at Asih who seemed to be trying to imitate his Latin lettering on the paper. Anjani smiled a little. Ah yes, why didn't he do this from the start? Instead of running away, then being alone and not producing anything, Anjani should teach the courtier in his old house basic knowledge. Anjani realized he was too selfish and too wasted his time.

"Asih.." said Anjani slowly.

Asih immediately stopped her writing motion and looked at Anjani with a look of concern. "Well, Ndoro Ayu?"

"How long have you been working here?" asked Anjani again while hugging his knees and looking at the courtier who was the same age as him.

"I've been working here since I was in the old house, Ndoro Ayu," muttered Asih politely.

"Why do you work here?"

"Rama works here as a courtier, so Asih is also invited to serve here, Ndoro Ayu," replied Asih again with a soft tone.

"You're an only child, huh?"

Shaking his head with a calm smile. "Asih nine brothers. Asih is the last child."

"Where is your brother?"

"Sir sister Asih all married. Some are married to teachers, hajj, priyayi and become mistresses," Asih replied again with a patient smile. Too patient for kids his age. "The Asih male siblings have all become respectable people in the city. Some become scribes and teachers."

Anjani seemed to frown clueless when she heard Asih's explanation. "Are your brothers not helping you at all, huh? Moreover, they have become respectable people in the city."

Asih shook his head with her watery eyes. "The townspeople are too respectable for a village person like me, Ndoro Ayu. I do not deserve to be with them," explained Asih again make Anjani's heart grimace.

"Are they not teaching you to read at all?" ask Anjani in shock.

Asih shook his head while clapping in place. "Said Rama, it is useless to teach women to read, because in the end they will end up in the kitchen alone."

Too long Anjani was in a golden cage. For too long Anjani was frowned upon, until he was unaware of the reality outside the walls of his comfortable home. There is still a very real segregation, even within his own people. Between the people of the city and the village; between the men and women; between the men and the lowly; between the illiterate and the non-literate. This segregation seems to be a habit that is so ingrained, that it is seen as prevalent even by the nation itself.

Asih smiled sadly, then squeezed out his array. "I, Ndoro Ayu," Anjani replied looking very shy, as well as embarrassed.

Not yet Anjani answered, suddenly Narto ran frantically from the area next to his house towards the staircase that connects between the main house and the path in the back garden. Narto immediately knelt on the lowest steps of the stairs then saluted his employer with haste.

"Ndoro Ayu Djenar visited this house, Ndoro Ayu," said Narto in haste, making Anjani shocked, as well as panicking to death.

"Ndoro Ayu Djenar?" repeat Anjani who began to go broke in his place, as well as Asih. "Where is he now?"

"Ndoro Ayu Djenar is waiting on the guest porch, Ndoro Ayu," Narto said again while bowing his head.

Anjani panicked and died, because her own mother-in-law visited her. Anjani wasn't even informed at all about her mother-in-law's visit. Kangmas Reksa had not said anything before, not even he received any letters regarding this sudden arrival. Anjani immediately tidied herself up then rushed to the guest veranda. As the distance to the guest veranda grew closer and closer, Anjani immediately crouched down and walked, following the manners taught to him from childhood. His steps were made as calm as possible and as good as possible, even though his legs were starting to tingle.

When he arrived in front of his mother-in-law, Anjani sat half-kneeled on the floor, then gave her greetings while bowing her body deeply.

"Greetings, ma'am" said Anjani politely and gently.

"Here, son," Djenar's pinta is no less soft. Anjani approached her mother-in-law, still walking squat. He performed a condolence on his mother-in-law, which was answered with a gentle swab on her head, as a sign of blessing and blessing. After that, Djenar allowed Anjani to sit next to him.

"Healthy, Son?" ask Djenar again.

"Thanks to Mother's pangestu" Anjani replied with her attitude that reflected a perfect noble woman.

Djenar smiled then grabbed Anjani's hand gently. The girl wiped her hands, before saying, "It's been almost a month, son, I'm waiting for the good news from this house."

Anjani. He started to panic. Anjani knew the sudden arrival of her mother-in-law must have addressed a problem not far from her pregnancy. "Excuse me, ma'am," Anjani replied politely.

Hearing Anjani's reply, Djenar still felt very dissatisfied. "Maybe you want to eat something?" asked Djenar again, trying to extract information from his son-in-law.

"N-ndak, ma'am," Anjani replied confusedly hearing the question. Their conversation came to a halt as Yu Isma walked squatting with a tray filled with warm tea in her hand. After Yu Isma's perfect service was completed, Djenar refocused on scraping Anjani.

"Maybe you're sleepy a lot?" jenar asked, starting to be impatient.

Anjani bowed her head deeply then said, "Anjani is healthy, Mom."

Djenar frowned looking very dissatisfied. Various negative thoughts began to mill around in Djenar's brain. He was increasingly agitated in his place when faced with the possibility that his son-in-law was barren and could not give Mutual the successor to the regent's throne.

"Anjani" said Djenar softly, though his heart was very agitated. Raised Anjani chin so that the eyes of his daughter-in-law look directly into his eyes. "Listen, every woman should be able to give birth to a child for her husband."

Anjani begins to understand the meaning of the strange question her mother-in-law asked her. Djenar nodded as if he knew what Anjani had in mind. "Rexa is a regent. He also has a strong family relationship with Ngarsa Dalem. If Reksa does not go to have children, the face of our family will be smeared," explained Djenar again while stroking Anjani's cheek with a motherly attitude.

Anjani nods her mother's words with her innocent face.

"Therefore, you must produce a child, Anjani. Most importantly, the child must be a boy. Women are good, but not the main one," murmured Djenar again while squeezing Anjani's hand, as if giving the girl understanding. "Once you give birth to a son, son, you will hold great power. It's often said that a boy is his mother's strength and that's true."

Anjani felt like she was being nudged by the words of her mother-in-law. He was still silent with his tongue that was amazing.

Djenar sighed softly while staring at the hand of Anjani who was in his grasp. "As a woman, of course, you understand everything I say," continued Djenar again, raising his gaze to look at Anjani with a serious look. "Women who can't carry out their basic duties are 'damaged' women, son."

Anjani shivered in his place. Although Djenar's tone of voice was soft and full of motherhood, Anjani knew the woman was threatening him impliedly.

"Women are fine can be easily replaced, let alone the 'damaged', son?" continued Djenar again, making Anjani hit hard. His body shivered violently hearing the words of his own mother-in-law.

Anjani had prepared herself for something like this, but why did her heart still feel heavy?