My Mr's. Virgin

Chapter LXIV

"Om you want ivory" said the mother breaking the silence between them.

"But it's hard to get ivory now."

"They're definitely capable." Mariana is back.

Last night when he chatted with Om Alo over the phone, the middle-aged man asked about the marriage customs of the Lamaholot tribe. Mariana explained a little.

...***...

The East Flores people are better known as the Lamaholot people. This Lamaholot community in his life has unique habits, especially related to marriage customs, where the life of a woman in customs has a very high value.

The value of a woman can be known from the amount of dowry or belis concretized in the number and size of elephant tusks that are currently difficult to find or obtain. In general, the number and size of elephant tusks depends on the social status of the girl in society.

The Lamaholot tribe is known as a very thick tribe of customs and culture. The tribe inhabits the mainland and surrounding East Flores Island, Adonara Island, Solor Island, Lembata Island, Alor Island; the province of NTT. This tribe highly upholds local wisdom. So, do not be surprised there are still many professions or traditional rituals that are still done today, including marriage.

Mahar or Lamaholot people commonly call belis, became a symbol of social status. The family of the bride-to-be, has the right to demand quality ivory to the groom. The higher the degree of the female family, the more expensive the purchase is requested.

The length, condition, and number of belis are determined through meetings or deliberation between the two families. The belis carried should also not be less than the demands of the bride's family.

Belis debts are also allowed in this tribe. That is, if at the time of the wedding belis is not available, the marriage can still be carried out, but, with the record of the belis it becomes a debt between the male to the female. Men are still obliged to pay the purchase.

If unable to pay, ivory debts are hereditary. If the father has not paid off the purchase, the debt will be charged to the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on.

Mating in the Lamaholot tradition sounds strange, complicated, but unique. Married only, the dowry must use ivory, while in the Flores area is a hot and dry-continent, so no elephant can live there.

The ivory, supposedly found from people who went to Java and Malaysia. That's why ivory is so expensive in Flores, ranging from thirteen million rupiahs to one hundred million rupiahs per stem.

So hard a struggle to get a piece of ivory. This symbolizes, how high the degree of women in the view of the Lamaholot tribe. So, it's not that easy to marry a Lamaholot girl. The agreement reached in the business of belis became a sign of appreciation and respect for women and their families.

This is now a problem for Lamaholot youth. Various voices and opinions are expressed to simplify the business of belis. Because the elephant population is increasingly rare, so that now the ivory can be replaced with cash.

However, whatever the form of tradition, we still have to appreciate all the local wisdom of the Lamaholot tribe. Cultural heritage that we should keep and maintain as one of the nation's wealth.

...***...

"Mama, Tata!" The sound of Dance shocked the two of them.

"Let's eat! Grandma's waiting" said Tari before disappearing behind the kitchen door.

Without feeling the conversation of the mother and child was protracted until night. Mariana glanced at the clock on her phone screen. Turns out the time has shown at 20:00 WITA.

"Mom take a shower first." Mariana nodded. He just accompanies the steps of mama through the tail of her eyes.

He then laid his body on top of the men. Staring at the night sky that looks beautiful, decorated with the moon that is floating full. A few moments of memories with Daniel.

"I like the smell of the earth after the rain." Daniel's voice echoed in the silence of the night. They lay on the asphalt floor, after Daniel picked him up at the Red Rose Club.

The moon, hiding behind a black cloud, timidly lurks the romance of the two lovebirds. Mariana smiled. His heart was happy to spend time with Daniel. Even the cold air can not cool the warmth of the hearts of two people who are kasmaran.

"The smell of the ground is fresh" Mariana said.

In fact he was astonished by the man's fondness which was always at odds with his liking. If Daniel likes rain, he likes the sun. Reason, because he can't stand cold weather. Daniel loves the sea, he loves the sky. Daniel likes white, he likes black. Daniel said, White is holy. His love for Mariana. He loves the night sky because the stars only show their charm when darkness dominates the earth.

He once asked Daniel about their always opposing preferences. Daniel said, "Difference will complete us. If we have a lot in common, it will make us quickly feel bored because there are no new things that we can explore. There's no challenge.

The earth is round. Even though, we are moving in the opposite direction, we are still back at the original point. If I like white, you like black, our son will love gray."

Mariana laughed when she heard that sentence. Daniel always planned their future. However, the fact is that humans are only able to design, because God is the determinant of everything.

"Dad!"

"Hm!"

Daniel got up from his bed. "What do we say we get out of here?"

"Where to go?" tanyakanya.

Daniel turned his face to look at Mariana. Mariana's round eyes glowed as the streetlight's light highlighted her eyes. Daniel stared for a moment at the beauty before him.

"Anywhere, as long as it's far from Larantuka. I can't wait for their blessing anymore."

Mariana got up, fixed her seat. His head was resting on Daniel's shoulder.

"How about we go to West Kalimantan? I have a friend there. I still have my phone number. Although we weren't so close to school just yet, he was nice. We can ask for his help. Maybe two days we'll stay at his house first." Mariana's tone of voice sounded so excited.

Daniel kept waking up pulling his hand. "Come, let's go now!"

That same night, the two lovebirds were desperate to leave their families and hometowns. Daniel takes Mariana to his house, then promises to meet again at the intersection of the road to Mariana's house.

After packing up, the girl left behind a note for the sleeping Dari who was still lulled in a dream. Though guilt pervaded his soul, his heart remained confident in his decision. Let him be selfish for just this once. And so did Daniel. The man, for the first time, rebelled against his family.

Daniel said, "Don't you worry about what we eat tomorrow because I still have savings to meet our needs! Even though I am a man, never give up on exploring our lives. Money can be sought, as long as life is still contained by the body. However, happiness I will no longer find, if I lose you."

"Let's! Ana!"

"Hm!"

"Wake up and sleep inside!" call the mama surprise him, "outside cold," he continued.

Slowly Mariana got up from her bed. The right hand is stretched out with a clear liquid that soaks his cheek. For a long time, Mariana cried again.