Sharing Love: Puspita East & West

Alienated

"Go! Get out of here!" snapped Hanif hard. His eyes were sharply staring at Anastasia full of anger. His fingers got tighter and tighter gripping Aminah's long tunic. He refused the arrival of the foreign girl in his house. The only one she would consider a mother was Aminah.

Everyone on the page was shocked instantly. Maimunah even jerked so shocked. Aminah shut her mouth in disbelief. Amir was stunned unexpectedly. Anastasia was goosebumps even though she expected that she would get this kind of discrimination.

"Go!" Sharif followed by expelling. He did not want his mother to be cheated. His crisp voice was shrieking in the ears of the people. His hand that gripped the long tunic of Aminah trembled with anger. He again snapped loudly, “You can't be here! Just go! Don't be here!”

Aminah knelt down and hugged her two sons. He pointed their heads at him to calm down. His heart was pounding until the two boys could hear him. He's very shaken. Her tears dripped, leaving Hanif and Sharif speechless.

The anger of the children had vented the contents of the heart stored in the heart of Aminah. The jealousy and pain that once plagued, now replaced by sadness and remorse matchless. Aminah did not expect that her children would react this hard. Sobs of tears flowed from his lips. The pain that sliced his heart overflowing. Not yet exhausted his jealousy for love, now he feels failed as a mother in charge of educating his two sons.

"Russia ... Syarif ...," call Aminah with sobs that are becoming more and more. His heart seemed to be torn apart. The fact that he failed in educating the baby was more poignant than hearing the many official letters he received yesterday. The daughter of Malacca descendants never taught her two children to be naughty, so where did they learn that?

"Ami ...!" Amir immediately knelt before his wife. His intention was only to introduce Anastasia so as not to cause misunderstandings. The regent of Lake never thought that the greatest rejection would come from his children. He could not let his young pregnant wife continue to be shaken and grieved like this. Quickly, he decided, "Opah, please take him to the joglo in the West. That place should have been cleared by now."

"I understand," Maimunah nodded. His eyes stared coldly at Amirdiningrat. Although he felt dislike, he thought the man's decision was right. His gaze was lifted onto Anastasia who was still trembling, "Miss, come with me."

Anastasia gasp. He nodded quickly and followed the old woman. Finally, he can walk away from this tangled situation. The girl had already prepared herself as a resigned doll placed anywhere. His life would probably suffer and be estranged after this. Maybe he won't be cared about anymore. He's just a self-knowing hostage. Obviously the man who is now her husband loves his first wife very much. There is no hope of love from his forced marriage.

"Miss, I've heard stories about you. I don't want any unnecessary trouble. So take care of yourself and your attitude" said Maimunah in a cold tone, "This is just personal advice from me. Malacca has been miserable since Lojie intervened and invaded our government. I do not hate your countrymen, but I hate the arbitrary nature of this earth. Neither from my people nor your people."

"I .. understand," Anastasia replied. They arrived at a joglo shortly afterwards. The joglo stood firmly with wooden pillars supporting it. The size is not too big, but it will feel spacious if lived alone. If thought of with positive prejudice, this place is not bad either.

"This is your place. We have prepared all your needs there. Just ask if there's anything you want to ask" Maimunah invited Anastasia to come in. The old woman showed me every space, and Anastasia's duties there, "This joglo is your responsibility. I'm on the tenth if you want to tell me."

"Thank you, Madam," Anastasia looked down respectfully. He firmly believed that the strict old woman was not an indiscriminate person. Especially when the names Lojie and Malacca are mentioned. He could guess right away just by hearing it. From the fact that he did not suspect, he immediately thought that every Malay person would look at his hatred.

Anastasia walked into the house as soon as Maimunah disappeared from her sight. He removed the veil wrapped around his head. The feeling of stinginess seemed to disappear instantly. Her blond hair was instantly severed free. Again he went around the house. After checking, he went to his room and knelt there. Both hands are joined together. He asked God in his mother tongue. The grievance of all the pain that he had been through.

“Tok, tok!”

The sound of knocking on the door followed by a call from Maimunah made Anastasia immediately turn her head. He got out of his bed and opened the door immediately. When the door to her room perfectly opened, the girl quickly looked down because she could not see the face of Maimunah who might be angry with her now because of bad luck.

“You just woke up?” maimunah asked while looking at Anastasia's room which was still a mess. As Amirdiningrat said yesterday, the girl had not gotten used to life here. Maimunah also clucked and sighed in wonder. He had to teach the girl to quickly get used to living independently here.

“I'm sorry,” said Anastasia lirih. As he expected, the old woman would definitely be angry. It was only natural that he was nothing more than a despicable slave. He can't do anything. Although he has the ability to sword sharpened since childhood, he can not carelessly use it. Especially with his low status now. That's how he thought.

“Tap your room. Help me cook in the kitchen later,” said Maimunah who was surprised because Anastasia instead apologized. But he didn't blame her one bit. His expression was also ordinary. Did this old face look fierce in the girl's eyes? He had heard that the girl had suffered a mental attack due to the war at sea. Maybe that's what scared him. That's all Maimunah can guess.

Anastasia was more confused after Maimunah left her without saying much more. He immediately carried out the old woman's order to tidy up her room. Maybe it's being tested. Shortly afterwards, he rushed into the kitchen and found Maimunah lighting the fireplace.

As soon as he saw it, Maimunah immediately gave an order to Anastasia. In essence, he taught the girl how to cook typical Javanese people. Unfortunately, Anastasia's ability to cook almost touched zero in addition to her cutting technique. Maimunah was really bothered by the newlywed girl.

“Eat! I had breakfast before coming here,” said Maimunah while arranging the results of their cooking together. His work here is done. It's time he returned to his place on the tenth. Although he was old, he was still actively studying the existing literature. The wrinkled-faced woman made good use of her remaining lifespan.

“Mistress, may I ask you one thing?” anastasia asked with a face that was still staring directly at Maimunah. Something was stirring in his heart. Everything the old lady did this morning was just kindness. Far from what Anastasia expected.

“Son, we were taught to do good to our neighbors, while you are not just a neighbor anymore. You are a family that is now the responsibility of Raden Malaka, Maimunah's long-time responsibility” which is then closed with a review of advice, “As long as you are kind, we will be kind.”

Anastasia didn't really understand, let alone believe. In its place of origin, there is a doctrine that states that women are the source of all sin. Therefore, women were looked down upon there. The situation did not improve even though scholars criticized him. In the end, a new sect emerged that opposed the doctrine. However, the sect was considered heretical by the center. The adherents also had to fight secretly until they grew stronger and launched resistance.

A gentle breeze brings cool air. Anastasia pensive herself in her seclusion. As he had expected, he was completely forgotten from now on. Maimunah's attitude may be only a temporary sympathy. There was nothing he could do but reminisce about his past more beautiful than now. He is lonely, sits in silence, and enjoys solitude.