The Ark of Love Nurmala

First Meeting of Nurmala POV

I am Nurmala bint Samsudin, a girl from a small village in West Java. I'm the eldest of four not-so-rich brothers. My parents said, "It's a good thing you're going to finish high school!" he said as I told my friends in college. So, after school, my goal was to find work.

Nihaya, a distant cousin who has been in the city for two years, asked me to apply at her place of work, a garment company in Bandung. Armed with a sewing course certificate and a high school diploma, I was accepted.

I live in a rented mes with Nihaya. "Nur, at your place of work, the supervisor will be firm, high discipline. Still young, but merciful as fierce as a widower many times because cheated on his wife!, be careful!" nihaya said when she found out I was in the production section.

I was scared, but also curious about the supervisor Nihaya meant.

The company has a rule, if all employees must have followed the apple at 07:30 WIB, no one should be late.

At seven, less than a quarter of us left the room. Niha already has an angkot subscription that will honk when it reaches the front of the contract.

In the morning I was ready, trying not to be late on the first day of work. People say "Pamali!" just got in late.

"Let's Go Nur!" niha exclaimed while I was still inside the room, I quickly went out and locked the door, running after Niha.

It took us about twenty minutes to get to the factory. Before the apple starts we should have already reached the destination.

Women-dominated employees are already crowded in the factory yard, they are waiting for the boss to come.

The bell will sound like a schoolboy. Section chiefs, and all supervisors stood in front. We formed a line. The spirit and discipline of every morning in my head. And this is my new day.

The apple is finished, all the employees go into their respective places. The feeling of being wrong makes me less relaxed when working.

But I still have to try, "Don't put it up!" the voice of a man rebuking me, the voice was so familiar in my ears, I turned, he asked. "What's your name, new boy?!" I answered him nervously.

Uuuh, it feels like my heart will be dislodged, maybe this is what is called the fierce supervisor. To my surprise, she looked a lot like my ex, someone I loved but hated the most.

Oh my God, why did I meet again with a figure who was very similar to him?. But she taught me how to properly sew, so I don't think it's too creepy. But I don't want to see that face, at the glance of his nose, his smile is very similar to the one I want to forget.

I went back to work. I admit to using the knowledge of Mr. Aldi the results are neater and smoother.

A few days passed without any problems. Mr. Aldi just watched me from a distance, sometimes standing near my desk, then went around again to another place. I am quite happy with my work.

Until one night at ten, when my eyes wanted to be closed suddenly a power outage. "Dead me!" nihaya also had no candle or flashlight. Darkness is one of my traumas, I can't sleep if it's pitch dark.

"Niha!, Niha!" I felt Nihaya's body.

"Yes, just sleep Nur, I'm sleepy!"

I was speechless, unable to bear to disturb Nihaya who had just fallen asleep. I kept my eyes closed, but I couldn't sleep.

I was agitated, flipping through the body like a roasted fish. "When is his life?" my grunts are soft, but still the lights do not light up. The sound of a clock in the mosque shows at two o'clock, "Oh my God, when am I sleeping?"

Soon the lights were on "Alhamdulillah!" I can finally close my eyes.

At five I heard Nihaya waking me up, but my eyes were still sticky and could not open. Until six I could not wake up.

"Nurmala, cantiiik!!, let's not work!?" I immediately jumped into the bathroom, but my stomach mules, so when the angkot came I did not get out of the room, I was finally left behind.

Finally an angkot approached, "Come sir, hurry sir, I'm late!" I'm going to the driver.

"Prophey, it's too late!" answer the angkot driver. My heart was getting restless, the angkot kept on going and I finally arrived at the factory.

Everyone is standing in line.

I heard the words from the section chief that seemed to be close to closing, I slipped in the back row. But it seems Mr. Aldi has seen me.

The apples are done, all towards the machine, I heard Mr. Aldi calling me.

"Nurmala, come to my office for a second!" My heart is shrinking, it will surely get angry.

I slowly stepped into a room that was not large that read "Supervisory Room"

I was down, because I admitted to being wrong.

"Why are you late?" I remember my ex's voice again. But I have to answer this question. And I'm telling you the truth about my fear of the dark.

At first glance I saw the face of Mr. Aldi who said fierce like softening, there was a smile on his thin mustachioed lips.

"Back to your job, tomorrow don't be late again" those words made me very relieved.

I went back to my machine, when I was just sitting down, Soni came to ask me a question. "What's Nurmala doing?, is Mr Aldi scolding you?" He seemed sympathetic.

As I was telling the story, Mr. Aldi walked out of his room, approaching Soni. His fierce face came out "Soni, get back to your job!"

Soni clings like a burglar caught red-handed, Soni rushes towards her engine.

When riding the angkot, it turns out that Mr. Aldi also went up, I felt clumsy and groggy looking at his face, so I was more silent looking out the window. The shadow of the past popped into my mind, making me enjoy the taste of myself even more. The transport stopped when we got to the front of the contract, and we went down.

Our Sunday off, Soni followed by taking me for a walk to enjoy the morning, I invited Nihaya along. We took a long walk and sat back in the square. There I saw Mr. Aldi walking with his friend, his gaze momentarily fixed on me.

"Go home yuk!, I'm bored here" I said to Soni and Niha. Finally we walked somewhere else, and went home on an angkot.

When the angkot passed the square, Mr. Aldi also went up. Once again, seeing his face recalled the heartache of my ex. They talked about many things, as usual I prefer to look out the window.

At first glance I looked at Mr. Aldi was watching me, quickly I turned my gaze back out the window of the questionnaire. I heard his voice clearly. And oh, really similar to my ex.

Angkot stopped when Nihaya asked for it, so I went down and returned to the contract. All day long the face of the former and the face of Mr. Aldi kept swirling in my mind.

Visualization of Nihaya and Nurmala

Blue: Nihaya

Pink: Nurmala