CARA

Shoes

Raden Ajeng Anjani drowned with the mind of the author of the book. He enjoyed the book he read. Every word for word, sentence after sentence created a new shadow in his mind as if he himself were the main character in the book. The book gave him new, extensive knowledge and gave him an idea of what life was like out there.

As a girl who has had her period, Anjani is surrounded by her own family. He must not leave the area where he lives unaccompanied or even without his father's permission. Be Anjani die of boredom in the area where he lives. Indeed, he still undergoes some routine with his sister who is both unmarried like it, only he sometimes wants to go back to the time before he was bitten and still allowed to go to school.

His sister named Rara was much more polite, virtuous and obedient than him. Anjani himself is more free-spirited, abstract and reliable. How many times did he smuggle books into the duchy or even steal books from his brother's room. Not only that, he also sneaked out several times without the escort and supervision of others. If he is found out, he can be hung in front of the duchy gate.

So drowning, he did not realize if there were footsteps approaching his dining room. Anjani only realized when he heard the knock of the door from the outside. Panicked, Anjani hides the book behind her pillow and pretends to lie on her bed. The door of the room opened and showed her brother Rara approaching her slowly. Rara sat on the edge of the bed while placing her hands on the body of Anjani who was lying sideways.

"Women can't be lazy, Ni," said her brother slowly. "Be clean first, huh? After that, we batik in the middle room. Ma'am asked Rama's permission so we can go to the middle of the city this week."

Anjani nodded then followed

her brother walked in front of her.

Anjani looked back to make sure

his smuggling book is safe

concealed. He breathed a sigh of relief. Good luck

just his hand moved quickly, if not, then,

the book can be confiscated.

When the two reached the bathroom, Yu

Marsinah has prepared frankincense, water

flowers and change of clothes are good for Rara and

Anjani's. Yu Marsinah helped both of them

to take off clothes until you stay

kemben batik and just pull. Rara and Anjani

sitting back to each other, waiting

the water washed their skin.

"Mbak.." call Anjani slowly.

"Hm?" muttered Rara while closing

his eyes, enjoying the fragrance of the flowers

it now flows in his skin.

"Why don't we read books?"

anjani said slowly.

"Yes for what anyway," answered Rara casually.

"Yes, nothing, Ma'am. Reading books can

add insight. Who knows, it could

learned like Raden Ayu Kartini, his son Jepara regent," Anjani murmured again, turning to his older sister who kept her eyes closed casually. Raden Ayu Kartini's name skyrocketed when his article was published in one of the famous women's magazine De Hoandsche Lelie, a magazine that used to be his subscription, when he was still in school. Kartini's article written in Dutch was very uploading to know many things, including social issues that were rife at the time. He seemed to be thirsty for that never-ending insight.

"You're too young, Ni" Rara said. "We women, if we're smart, what can we do? Just look at Kartini. He was smart, brave, but still ended up marrying Rembang Regent. Still ended up being a wife, her husband's servant and the servant of her family. Also combined in the end. To be insightful as we are, we are still women, Ni."

Anjani fell silent in her place. The coldness of the flower water seemed unable to dispel how foggy his mind was. "We're not destined to be insightful, Ni. The more insightful, our nature as women will be even more lost," continued Rara again with a patient voice.

"Why is this so, Ma'am?" whispered Anjani again while lowering her head. Yu Marsinah continued to pour water into the bodies of Anjani and Rara in silence, permeating the conversation of her two masters.

"Yes nothing anyway. Do not be influenced by the same thought of London, Ni, not suitable for noble people like us who still uphold nature and self-esteem," muttered Rara again while turning his head and then smiling at his sister. Rara grabs Anjani's hand then clasps it tightly. Anjani returns Rara's smile with her thin smile.

True said his brother, willing to look as well as, Anjani is still only a woman. A creature without a voice.

...----------------...

Since the words of her brother, Anjani can not sleep for a second. His little heart seemed to shout that all this was unfair, but what could he do? He was seventeen years old. It was ripe to get married, but still his insight into the world was minimal, let alone the fact that he was pinned like a bird in a cage.

When dawn came and her family was still asleep, Anjani immediately put on her peril and shouldered her hair as quickly as possible. He came out of his room with his face of caution, just in case Rama, Mother or Mbak Rara would catch him blind morning like this sneaking out.

When Anjani felt safe, he ran to his backyard, where a high white wall that became the barrier between his house with a narrow street and a small plantation. Usually the narrow road is quite crowded if entering the daytime, but at hours like this, the road is still quiet. Anjani took off the shoes he was wearing, then threw them over the high wall. When he was intending to climb a mango tree high beside the wall, all of a sudden, Yu Marsinah walked up to him with her panicked face.

"Cruel... Ndoro Ajeng." said Yu Marsinah panicked.

Anjani widens her eyes in shock when

seeing Yu Marsina. He put a finger

point it at his lips, telling Yu

Marsinah silent. "Don't be too hard, Yu,

later caught," murmured Anjani panicked.

"Ndoro Ajeng promised me yesterday

it was last," muttered Yu Marsinah while

weld. If her little miss gets caught leaving

without supervision, he will also be punished.

"This is the last one, Yu. Promise," murmured Anjani

laughing softly, then letting go

yu Marsinah's hands slowly.

"Ndoro.." replied Yu Marsinah again with.

his worried face was incredible.

"Promise, Yu. Promise," said Anjani, then climbed up

the mango tree is easy,

he wears a barricade and a kebaya.

When he got to the wall, Anjani

waving his hands at Yu Marsinah,

as a farewell, before

crawl down with the help of trees

behind the high walls. When he

put his feet up safely sentosa

on the ground, Anjani cleans the kebaya and

pull it from various possible impurities

cling. He turned his head to the left and to the right looking for his one shoe

he threw it. Anjani scratched her head

confusion when he does not

that thing.

"Searching this?"

That calm voice, made Anjani turn her head

bemused. His eyes immediately collided with

the eyes of a high-statured young man

with neat ageman and blangkonnya

it indicates that the man is a noble

and educated. The man has a look

the quiet and calm. Stature

it is also beautiful and looks much older

from her. In the man's hand was one

shoes that were missing. Anjani

he immediately clenched his hands in

the front of the nose salutes, though he

I don't know the man in front of her.

"That's my shoe, Raden," he said

Anjani again.

"You... escaped?" ask the man again

skeptical face.

"Ndak.. ndak," Anjani quickly attacked.

surprised face.

"Why climb the wall, then?" said the man while hooking

both hands behind his body.

"You are his son, Raden Mas Adipati

Harya Tjakradiningrat?" The man came back

attack him with questions again.

"You're the girl who was bitten?"

"Ndak.." sergeant Anjani felt increasingly.

cornered. "That's. I'm a courtier at his house.

Raden Mas Duke of Harya Tjakradiningrat,

nag."

Anjani looked at the man in front of her with

his face really meant it. Men

he kept looking at her with no look

believe me, make Anjani cheer

his smile made him look

the man of course increased sharply in sight

anjani's smile seemed unusual.

The man sighed softly, then

put one of his shoes in front

her face.

"You're looking for this, right?" muttered the man

again.

Anjani wants to grab her shoes,

but the man was quick to direct

keep him out of his reach. Out of his expectations, Anjani gets a blow

soft - so soft, that it feels like

swabs-on his forehead. The foreign man who

give the soft blow at

his forehead.

"Follow me. I'll take you back

to your residence," the man murmured while

turning his body in his own style

classy and full of class. Anjani panicked

sure is. First, if he is delivered back, then,

of course he will be caught running away. Second, ich,

he will be hanged alive with Yu

Marsina. Third, the mango tree in his house

will be cut down so he can't leave

going everywhere again. It was a dream

worst as long as he stays in his room

that stuffy one.

"Raden!" yell Anjani panicked, then

ran and blocked the man's path

not getting any further. Apparently, the man did not

alone in there. Not far from them

there is a horse carriage, complete with the

coachman and personal assistant gentleman in

ahead of him.

The stranger reflexively stopped

step so that he does not hit the body

the little girl in front of him and breaking the order

yang krama

it happened in the Dutch East Indies at the time. The man just lowered his head

raising his eyebrows asked.

"I'm not your business!" anjani

insolent and full of anger, making

the stranger looked surprised by the

krama the young girl in front of him.

"How can it not?" the answer is calm, calm,

not angled high tone girl in

ahead of him. "You are a girl who

still pingit. My obligation as

a learned man to deliver

you return to your home with

congratuations. What do I need to be too

teach you manners?"

Anjani frowned looking no

accept. "You're nobody to me," reply

Anjani again.

"I need to be your husband first

to teach manners?" insinuations

the man with his tone that never

ride a piece of stuff, make Anjani

restless in his place. After saying

that man did not wait for an answer

Anjani again, but rather walk past

the girl, as if looking very hard-hearted

want to drive him home.

Anjani with full of anger, instantly

leave the man and walk

in the opposite direction to the step

that fast. The coachman looked confused

seeing Anjani instead walked opposite

directions with their raden.

"Nyuwun pangapunten, Raden" said the

the coachman clenched his hands together

in front of the nose of his master. "People

instead go in the opposite direction," continued

the coachman pointed at Anjani

disappeared behind a small plantation with

his thumb.

The man turned his body and was new

realize that. He looked down and

noticed next to the girl's shoes still

in his grasp. So, the girl left

just by the shoe? Tak

he had once thought, people

the first thing he met in Klaten was

brave and attractive girl.

An amused smile fell on the man's face

when he looked at the little shoes in his hand.

The first time he met a girl

noble like this. A good experience

to tell grandchildren, maybe

it can also be a folk story

by itself.

"It's okay, Mom. I can make the shoes a display," joked the raden who made the coachman laugh politely at their master.

...****************...

Note:

Raden Ajeng is a title for unmarried girls, while Raden Ayu is a title for married ones. In this story is the time where Raden Ajeng Kartini is married, hence the name Raden Ayu.

I don't mean to demean Kartini. Here, I simply positioned myself as a conservative noble girl and her views on Kartini were controversial at the time.

Enjoy🥳