LOVE THE EXPATRIATE

18. The Girl Behind the Hijab

Sarah is from a village 65 km west of Medan. Because of that considerable distance, when she was accepted as Zafora's workwoman, she had to find a place to live in the city. Because it is impossible for him to commute to work every day from his home to Medan.

So he also stayed with Rais, his cousin who was first in Medan. The man was one of his father's nieces who was seven years older than him. He is the son of Uwak Hamid, his father's biological brother. Rais has been working and living in this city for almost ten years. After marrying Maryam, the girl in his village, he took the woman to Medan and lived in a tenement rented for a year. Now they have a 2-year-old boy named Rahyan Al-Bayruni.

The tenement house they occupied was actually a 36-meter-long building that was blocked into several doors, in order to be rented to many families. Because of its shape, air circulation can only go through the front and back of the house. Each compartment measures 6x7 meters, and consists of only a few small spaces. The front there is a living room that becomes their gathering place while watching tv and motorcycle garage at night. Behind there is a kitchen as well as a place to eat. On the right are two rooms. And at the back there is a bathroom and a little open space to dry clothes.

Because the tenement house is located in a densely populated settlement, coupled with poor air circulation, it feels stuffy and hot even at night. Not to mention the number of mosquitoes so you have to apply anti-mosquito lotion before going to bed.

As a worker with a large salary, Sarah could have if you want to find a comfortable place to live with complete facilities in the middle of the city. But since she was a girl, her father would not allow her to live alone in a boarding house. So his father left Sarah to his cousin. The old man wants his daughter to live with his guardian so that there will be someone to guard and watch him while in Medan.

Rais works as a worker at a cooking oil processing plant in the Medan Industrial Area. After previously he moved around the workplace, ranging from convection plants to soft drink factories. In order to earn extra income, on the sidelines of time taking care of the house and child, Maryam worked with her neighbors who had a cottage industry making fish shreds. To help the family's shopping money, not to forget Sarah also set aside some of her salary every month and given to Maryam.

The clock on the wall had shown two o'clock in the afternoon passing by, as Sarah heated her motorbike on the porch. It's been two days that the girl got the shif ration in the afternoon. He was ready to go to work so that it would not be too late. The traffic on the streets is very heavy. Whereas the karyawati are required to have arrived at the outlet no later than fifteen minutes before the change of shif for a briefing with the previous shif.

Suddenly she was shocked by a tiny arm that was clad in her skirt. Sarah smiled to see a little boy, out of nowhere was there beside her. He took the boy into his car.

“Aunt Sarah wants to work first, huh? Rayhan at home aja the same mother.” said Sarah smiled then her gaze was directed into the house.

“Sister Maryam, Rayhan continues to nih. I'm leaving. It's late.” call Sarah.

Maryam who was washing in the bathroom stumbled forward and took her child from the girl's sling.

“I go to work first, Kak.” said Sarah while reaching for the woman's hand.

“Iya, be careful.” said Maryam stretched out her hand.

“Da.da..honey, Aunt Sarah left first.” Sarah said as she waved her hand.

Little Rayhan jumped happily in Maryam's arms when he saw Sarah's motorbike leaving the terrace until it finally turned into the road.

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“Assallamaallaikum!”

Sarah had just stepped into the outlet, when suddenly Hesti blocked her and hurriedly pulled the girl's hand to follow her into the pantry.

“What's the child panicking like this? Even people's greetings are not answered.”

“ Wallaikumsallam's. Someone's looking for you, Sarah.” whispered.

“Pak Purnomo?” ask the girl to guess.

“The Boss Mr. Purnomo.”

“The boss is Mr Purnomo? Who?” tanyanya's confused.

“Wooh, this is a boy, pretending to be confused again. Sir Edward is!” hesti said.

“Do not joke dong Mbak.”

At first Sarah did not believe what Hesti said. He thought his partner just wanted to tease him. But when he asked a woman who had gotten into the pantry, he found out that her friend was not joking.

The one asked did not answer, only raising his shoulders a sign of not knowing. But suddenly he whispered with a smile to Sarah.

“Maybe he misses you, Sarah.”

Sarah glared at Hesti's words. But he had not had time to pinch his partner's waist, Purnomo out of his room and approached them.

“Sarah, after a briefing later, meet Mr. Edward in my room immediately. There's something he wants to talk to you about.”

“What's up, Sir?”

“I don't know either. Since 10 am Mr. Edward is waiting for you.”

“He Sir.” said Sarah nodded as she got up from her seat.

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

“Excuse me Mr Edward, sorry you called me?” ask Sarah after entering Purnomo's room.

Edward was sitting behind Purnomo's desk.

“Iya true. Please sit Miss Sarah.” said Edward let the girl sit in the chair in front of him.

“Thank you Mr.” says Sarah sits down.

“I want to ask you a few things about you. Let's just say I'm interviewing you.” he said holding his sitting position.

“Iya Tuan.” said Sarah nodded.

“How long have you been working here?” Edwar opened the question.

“It's been over a year, Mr.”

“I had seen you serve customers on a visit last week. I think you're a professional. Do you love this job?”

“Yes. I love this job, Mr.”

“I have met with all employees at nine outlets, it turns out there are some who wear veils like you.” said Edward saw Sarah.

“Ouh, yes.” says Sarah while nodding. So this is a veil problem apparently? the inner girl.

"Sorry, in advance, may I ask you something, Mister?” ask the girl politely.

“Please.” replied Edward flat.

“Do you personally mind the veil I wear, Mr Edward?" said Sarah.

“If it turns out that your guess is correct, I object to your veil, what is your attitude, Miss?” edward asked defiantly.

“I will resign from here, Mr.” said the girl steady.