Sharing Love: Puspita East & West
She meets Two Flowers
Anastasia served Hanif and Sharif's challenge as much as the two boys could afford. This was the fifth time they had fought swords and he had always won all his matches. Every time he finished a round, he would correct the mistakes of his two stepchildren.
“Hmph, Aunty is big,” Syarif does not want to accept his defeat. The slamming of the wooden sword Asya gave. The boy went into the house to find water to drink and quenched his thirst.
“You still want to try again,” asked Anastasia when she saw Hanif standing up and making horses. Without answering the question, the elder immediately attacked. Asya was not surprised at all. He easily dodged the slow attack, then knocked Hanif's head once with a weak force.
“Aduh!” Hanif dropped his sword and directly covered the head with both arms. That response made Asya chuckle. The sharp gaze of the boy no longer looked sinister in his eyes. They look adorable because of it.
“Why does Aunt always dodge and hit the head?” yukah Hanif did not accept. Asya also replied casually, “Because your attack was too slow and full of gaps.”
Asya also practiced a form of horses, then asked Hanif to imitate it. He fixed some Hanif positions that were still lacking. Especially in the legs and hands that draw the sword.
“The front leg is slightly bent, the back is straight, keep swinging the sword to half the path of the opponent's weapon to deflect it. Stifling the attack with the least pressure possible,” Anastasia gave Hanif an example of blocking by practicing it, but still Hanif did not understand because Asya used mixed and messy language.
“Just imitate my moves! Repeat repeatedly! For a long time you will get used to it,” Asya scrambles Hanif's hair. The young lady smiled at her stepson meaningfully. He was sure that soon, their relationship would be better and he would be more peaceful living in this foreign land.
“Hanif, Syarif,” call Maimunah who came shortly after Hanif rested, “Can go home! Get ready to teach there.”
“Ready, Opah!” Hanif immediately got up. He ran into a joglo to call his twin sister. A few jokes later, both of them took a quick step and descended into the main residence. Time to take a shower and get ready to teach.
When Maimunah and Asya walked into the joglo, they both found the floor of the house filled with children's footprints. Some things moved from their place. A glass was not far from the table. Anastasia took a breath, Maimunah patted her on the shoulder, “Let me help clean it up. This is what if there are children. Especially if they are both hyperactive like Hanif and Syarif.”
“Thank you, Madam,” Anastasia smiled and saluted. They also cleaned the house together. In the field of cleaning, Maimunah remembers something, “Seeing you can already play with children, means your condition has improved. Ami invites you to come if you are pleased.”
“I will definitely come,” reply Asya.
“Don't be so stiff. Do not also call me ‘Nyonya’, just call aunty or opah if in front of the children,” just like Amir, Maimunah wants to communicate more casually with Asya.
“Good, Nyo .. Bibi,” said Asya gelagapan, not used to such communication style.
...***...
“Welcome,” a word that escaped the shadow of Anastasia was heard in her ear from the mouth of a hijab-wearing woman who was pregnant. The woman had a smile as beautiful as an angel, eyes as beautiful as pearls, and a dazzling complexion. Amir loved her very much.
“Sit down, I've prepared tea because aunt said you're coming,” Aminah pointed to one of the benches with her five fingers open, showing her proper manners. Another one that was beyond Asya's expectations. He also reflected on his thoughts that were too often bad to be prejudiced.
“Sa, greetings, Mistress,” said Anastasia nervously. His face bowed, even after he sat in his chair. Aminah who saw it just smiled thinly, “Don't call me ‘Nyonya’. I'm not used to such calls. Our relationship looks like it's up and down. That's not a good thing for the future. Just call me ‘Kakak’. After all, you are indeed younger than me.”
Anastasia. Every word that came out of Aminah's lips never once appeared in her head. During the trip, he suspected that he would be yelled at and cursed. However, the female voice in front of him did not do it in the least.
“Ka—Kakak?” Asya tries to get used to it. Aminah turned her head and smiled, “Iya?”
“Is there anything I should do?” asked Anastasia curiously. Since then, he has not been able to guess because his moses were invited by Aminah. Will it be scolded? Being berated? Or just drink tea like this?
“What do you mean?” Aminah asked in wonder.
“Why Ka, Brother call me here?” Anastasia made her question clear. Aminah did not answer. He looked at the honey for a long time, then said, “I just want to chat with you, as well as curious about the figure that is able to attract the heart of my priest.”
“Ma—maaf. Sa—saya ...,” Anastasia wants to explain her unexpected marriage so see the bitter smile on Amianh's face. However, he could not reveal it at all. Aminah looked at him kindly, then said, “Tak nothing, I understand.”
“A—what is Brother okay?” Anastasia was not sure of the answer. He was very sure that there must be a sense of dislike in the heart of the woman. Aminah shook her head after a long silence. He also answered Asya's question, “No, obviously I hurt.”
Anastasia's heart rippled. His face was back down. He saw his hands shivering under the table. He might get angry soon after this. Even though he had sword arts, he could not use them carelessly.
“Sabar, the patient person whose reward is countless,” Aminah's next words are incomprehensible Anastasia. Patience? How can a wife be patient after being cheated on by her husband? How could he just be willing? Is he too naive? Or is his heart a bit of dew?
“ Jealousy in the heart of women is God's decree. It was a test for them,” explained Aminah later, “Allah tested each of His servants according to his level of ability. For those who are patient, for them is an unparalleled reward.”
Asya fell silent, no longer daring to ask. The atmosphere became awkward as no one spoke up anymore. Everyone was busy with their own tea. The two discussed in silence, trying to read each other's personalities. The awkwardness thickened for a while until finally Anastasia again asked, “Kakak, is Big Brother happy?”
“Hm, happy? Yes, of course,” replied Aminah, “Happy is easy. Learn to be grateful and accept what you are, to feel enough with everything you have. People who always feel less, they are the essence of the poor, poor heart that leads to worldly greed.”
“Ah! I've understood. Thank you for the advice of Brother,” said Anastasia sincerely. He could still see a bitter smile on Aminah's face. However, he did not dare to discuss the issue of marriage anymore. He also asked what he had been thinking since early this morning, “Kakak, do women really have the right in accordance with the rate?”
“Well, isn't it clear? What's up with that?” ask Aminah astonished.
“Ta—but ..., where I come from, women are considered the source of all sins,” Anastasia told Amir the same thing. Aminah looked at him with a look of no understanding. He then asked, “How can that be? Isn't that harsh discrimination?”
“That doctrine,” Anastasia turned her face away so considering her dark past, “It has been there for a long time. I also do not understand how religious leaders can make it.”
“Religious leader? They will surely bear great sins. You have experienced a severe test,” Aminah can not imagine it, “In Islam, all aspects of life have been arranged. Including human rights and duties, both men and women. Each set according to its rate.”
“Do women have inheritance rights?” ask Anastasia.
“Yes, according to his position,” Aminah also explained the inheritance law in Surah An-Nisa which means women, surah which discusses the rights and duties of women thoroughly.
“But, why can men be polygamous? Were they not taught to be faithful?” ask Anastasia again. Aminah did not answer. He asked Asya to wait. He went into his house, and came out with a book with a thick lid.
