Pickup Transportation
Section 356: Kemala 5
She was a very beautiful woman, in her day she was a wise smart woman. In his mind of only one, making his village prosperous, his father was a very famous demang, had no brothers, because he was an only child, in the culture of the era, in the culture of that time, girls are not expectations that can be used as a substitute for the leader of a village, girls are not expectations for the successor to the family name and successor to family wealth.
Her name is Rajima Cahya, the girl is always angry whenever her father asks her to marry she refuses, because for her, living as a wife will hurt the knowledge she has today. She is a woman of great insight with great wisdom, in her life she does not want to be a wife, she has established herself as someone who will devote life to her fellow human beings, not just for one human.
This idea must have been a fireball for his father, because his father was a very respected man, so he might allow his son to become a spinster. That year, the 1600s was a year for the enslavement of women in many countries, not only in this country led by the Cirebon sultanate, today even the sultanate obliges the nobles to send their daughters to be concubines, in order to maintain good relations between the king and also the nobles of the village.
Rajima is no exception, she is the woman required to ‘disetor’ to the kingdom, offered to the king as her concubine.
His father Rajima got a letter from the king, in the letter it was clear that the king wanted Rajima to follow a series of processions for the coronation of concubines, his father was very happy, he even made a salute to celebrate Rajima's election as concubine.
Unlike his father, Rajima was very surprised to hear that, he strongly disagreed with being a wife, let alone a concubine, his life would be very boring, waiting for the king to visit, he said, giving birth to a child for the king who would only be a child was not counted because the much loved child was certainly only the crown prince.
Rajima was about to refuse, but hearing his father was so happy, Rajima could not bear to refuse him, so he followed his father's wishes.
“Rajima, you know, that this is very important for our family, by becoming a concubine, you will bring good fortune to all of us, the leadership of the father will be strong, he said, our wealth will increase because we will be free from tribute and instead get a share of the tribute area because we are the family of the king, his family the messenger of God.
Rajima had to obey the king to become a beloved concubine, you are beautiful and smart, I believe you are able to impress the king.”
Rajima looked at his father, there was not a single word in his father's words that asked him if he wanted to be a concubine, his father thought only of himself.
Rajima returned to the room after talking to his father.
Nightfall, dinner with his parents is ready, they eat on the floor like everyone else in general here, Rajima does not have appetite, because he was really very upset about this matchmaking.
“Why doesn't Rajima eat? don't you taste your mom's cooking, son?” ask mother.
“Lezat bu, as usual, of course I enjoy it.”
“Is this because of the Sultan's cover letter?” His mother guessed, his father immediately patted his mother on the shoulder, he did not want his mother to be weak.
“If you may know, did Rajima really want to receive the proposal?”
“The bettor is if a man comes with his family, then proposes to me, that's what we can call a betrothed, ma'am. But if the messenger comes with a piece of paper, it's called slavery, not a proposal, bu.”
“Rajima! What are you talking about, how may I want my son to be a slave! I want my son to be happy and the whole country is rich in the results of this nature, wants to be edited by the king, while you are acting like this, what the hell!”
“Pak, but ... I don't want to get married forcibly, let alone I don't know her man.”
“Who does not know the king? You're a pretty wise kid, aren't you? then why now say nonsense words!” His father Rajima was angry, he even stood up and left their place to eat.
“Mother ... Rajima only ...”
“Our family is in debt Nak, your father has already passed three times the payment of tribute area, because of the winding of the debt, he has no other way out but to marry you to the king, he said, you must be patient and according to yes, remember this, we have raised you with difficulty pbapak, then now change, you are trying to help us.”
“Did I grow up just to be a tool to pay for the forest mom? Am I being unfairly exchanged like this?”
“You will be happy Rajima, you will be happy living in that royal environment, the king will spoil you very much with money, food and nice clothes.
“But I don't want it all mom, I just want my freedom.”
“Mama there are free girls in this country, want to be until anytime, we are just women whose class is lower than men, our husbands, we are, we must obey and follow all the orders of the husband, then our lives will be calm and serene.” Mother advised.
“If the wedding is so great, then why have I never seen my mom laughing, smiling or just joking with the neighbors. Often I see mothers crying secretly, what is the calmness and tranquility that you expect me to get?”
“The king will not treat you as your father, he is rude, but the king is not. so you will be happy.”
“Where do you measure my happiness? I have even seen that there will only be hell in that place.
“Rajima, I can't do anything, plus your father wants to, you know, he'll never give up until he gets what he wants, your father will only punish you, he'll never give up, that's why you have to accept this proposal.”
“I think you can be trusted and able to calm me down, but you're just like my father, is it because you're not my real mother, so you have this kind of heart?”
“Rajima, you know very well how my heart has taken care of you all this time, I took you from the lap of your mother's house to be guarded with all my heart, I am your mother's sister, I take care of you just like my own son, although I am not blessed with children, but I love you without the slightest gap.”
Rajima knows he has gone too far on the mother who is keeping him from the baby.
“I'm sorry mom, I just .. disappointed there was a father.”
“I know you're disappointed, but your dreams are too high, even if times change, everything will remain the same Rajima, the woman is naturally married and finally gives birth to a child, she said, maybe it's just me who's not perfect because I can't give a sister for you and a son for your father.”
“You are a perfect mother, sorry I was just angry Mom, I did not mean at all to insult you.”
“Rajima, I beg you, follow what your father says, he knows best for all of us, you must make efforts to help father yes, pity him, he said, it is getting older and already increasingly unable to pay, if your father why-why, then you will bear the debt. I beg of you beautiful mother's son.”
Rajima was silent, and he went to the room after helping his mother clean up the place to eat.
She was crying in her room, this was not what she wanted, her dreams were so many and high, why have to stop as a concubine!
“Rajima, you are very lucky yes, can be a concubine of the king, hopefully you remember this village yes, later if you are a concubine, do not be arrogant yes.” a vegetable trader where his mother subscribes, he said, said to Rajima and his mother.
“Iya, take it easy, we will always remember this village, it's vegetables wrapped, we want to buy another.”
The merchant wrapped his vegetables, but unlike usual, they looked more than usual.
They then continued to travel in the market to buy some basic necessities.
After reaching home, Rajima and his mother went straight to the kitchen to make food for lunch.
“See Rajima, not yet a concubine, you brought so much kindness to the family, see how the merchants in that market gave us his wares at such a cheap and numerous price, see how much, this must be because of the news that you will become a concubine, so we are treated differently.
I can't wait to see you happy in that kingdom.”
Rajima was pensively pensive with a very chaotic feeling. After helping her mother cook, she then went to the back court, she would teach the mothers some skills, such as sewing and also planting flowers, those skills can be an income later if their children are adults, they can start helping husbands make extra money.
“So the stitches are neat if this is the case, the patient mothers, do not let the stitches are not straight yes, later the stitches will be ugly if reversed.” Rajima explained to the mothers.
“Rajima you are perfect yes, it is fitting that the king wants to make you a concubine, you are very lucky Rajima, your face is beautiful, you are also smart, I envy.” One of the mothers said with a sigh, Rajima was getting upset and fed up with people saying how lucky he was, while he wanted to be free to express himself as a devotee of society.
“Already yes mothers, I rest first, just continue sewing.” Rajima said back home.
Rajima's house is shocked because there are so many luxury items in the house.
“What is this mom?” Rajima asked.
“This is a gift from your future husband, there are fancy clothes, there are expensive shoes and that's see, there is a stretcher to take you to the kingdom the day after tomorrow, they've even sent some bodyguards to take you without walking, you're really lucky, son.” Her mother further adds to Rajima's mind burden.
“Lusa? I'm going to the kingdom the day after tomorrow? Why didn't anyone tell me?”
“This will I tell you, Nak.”
“But the day after tomorrow it was too soon, for Rajima there were still many things to do. But why should I marry the king soon?” Rajima's crying.
“Do not shout Rajima!” His mother shut her son's mouth.
“Rajima doesn't want to marry Mom, Rajima please.”
“Shut up don't be noisy! Later the guards heard, you can be talked about that is not good in front of the king, son, you must understand!” His mother said in a whisper so Rajima would understand and muffle his anger.
“I don't want to get married, Mom.”
“Just sleep, rest, you're just tired, if you're fitter, you'll start to understand all this, look at all that fancy stuff, the king even sent jewelry for you, that precious golden konde skewer, you should wear it while going to the kingdom, rest yes, son.” His mother then laid Rajima still in a state of turmoil, she wanted her son to calm down and not cause chaos with rejection.
At nightfall, they all had dinner, Rajima went straight into the room as soon as he had finished eating. Leaving his father and mother.
“She whines since noon doesn't want to get married.” His mother spoke, and his father was still sipping coffee.
“It was just a whimper of a spoiled child, it was the fault of both of us, for overindulging her, letting her choose what she wanted, it should have been from the beginning we educated her to be more accepting of her nature as a woman.
Not even want to be smart like a man, for what, anyway women will only take care of children and home is not?”
“The thoughts of women in general here, with different thoughts, I have felt it since he was a child, he is a very smart child, he said, he can memorize many animal names at an age that is not even two years old, many plant names that he memorized also after and the functions of plants. I was amazed at it, my daughter was so great, but .. Now I feel her cleverness is a disaster, so she asked me to accept that she did not want to get married!”
“She talks if she doesn't want to marry the king? Again?”
“Not only married a king she didn't want, she really didn't want a wedding at all.”
“You! he talks like that! why don't you just shut up and not talk to me! that's important!” Rajima's father was angry.
“How do I know if it's wrong, which I know, our son is smart and very beautiful, that's all, I myself am not smart, so I don't know how to educate our child well.”
“Bu, already do not get carried away with emotions, at a time like this we have to be equally strong to deal with it, lest Rajima reject this marriage, if it is to run away, remember, the rice field that we promised to buy after Rajima became a concubine, it must be ours, remember it was Bu.” His father looks greedy.
“I told your son that you were in debt, I wanted him to agree, so I made up a story, we have to make sure that he will go to the kingdom and become a concubine, so that we can be rich like the neighboring village next door, whose son became the concubine, is not now his house there are many and large with a very complete burden. I want a house like that, sir.” Rajima's mother let out a grinning grin, which she had been covering up from her son all along.
While Rajima was still crying, as the time was getting closer, the day after tomorrow was quite a fast time for him, he could not think anything at the moment, what he had in mind was, what he was thinking was, how the mothers learn to sew, plant plants and memorize medicinal plants, Rajima was sad.
While she was still crying, a faint sound could be heard from the window of her room, Rajima opened the window and looked for the direction of the sound. Empty, then who was it? Rajima looks very scared.
“Who-who!” Rajima asked. There was no answer, he was watching around, still nothing visible.
Finally Rajima pours out the window and tries to fall asleep, before long, Rajima begins to fall asleep.
While outside the window, there were so many pocongs watching Rajima closely from behind the window, the sound of dogs barking at the ocean, adding to the gloom of the miserable night.
