The Love of the Duda

TCSD 9: The Arrival of the Karta

The sun is starting to rise. The radiance that felt extremely scorching as if it was burning the skin of anyone who was currently beneath it directly. The baby also felt a strong blow stroking the leaves of teak trees that made it fall down. At times of this kind of season, water supplies become scarce which requires them to conserve the water stored in their bodies. By removing the leaves they are trying to adapt to reduce evaporation.

The Karta oracle looked at this teakland before her with a gaze filled with happiness. In the end, his intention to challenge the most beautiful woman in his village will soon become real.

Not only in the eyes of the Karta master, in the eyes of the people who are near Mara, surely they agree if they make Mara as the most beautiful woman in this village. The face of Mara has a blend of the faces of the natives with the Dutch. This is indeed because Paramitha Andadari who is none other than the mother of Mara is a Dutch woman who has long settled in this village. Having an ayu face, coupled with a melodious voice, makes Paramitha Andadari ever reach his golden age by becoming a sinden who is so famous in this village. Not only in this village, even in other villages Paramitha Andadari is the only sinden that has its own charm.

But his luck in the world of Sinden, inversely proportional to his personal life. Paramitha who was captivated by the charm of the handsome young man named Baskara Aji Sadewo who had absolutely no permanent job and only relied on the legacy of his parents, it made his life seem more tormented. Even everything they already had was exhausted just like that due to the gambling habit done by the man. Until finally Paramitha died, probably because it was no longer able to bear the burden of his life.

"I lost to Baskara because he married the woman I loved. But now I will not lose again, for the daughter of Paramitha will soon be my wife." Karta smoked a strong cigarette pipe and then reflected the smoke. "Don't get his mother, his son did. I think Mara is much prettier than Paramitha, hahahaha!"

Karta continues to be shaken. Having three wives, it seems that it is still not enough for a man who has even entered that old age. I don't know what he uses, because at the age of almost entering this old age, Karta still looks fresh and fit.

"Well, will tonight be a visit to Tanti's mom's house?"

Pramono who is a confidant of Karta suddenly came to surprise the man who was dissolved in his own mind. He turned his body and saw, Pramono was already behind his back.

"That's definitely Pram. I'll be at Tanti's house later tonight. Of course to discuss my marriage to Mara."

"For the night, what should I prepare for the Scouts?"

Karta seemed to think for a moment. Both his eyes rotate and occasionally he reflects smoke from the cigarette pipe he sucks.

"Prepare a quintal of rice, some kind of kitchen needs such as oil, eggs, sugar, flour, fruits, clothes and do not forget a few chickens, maybe Tanti will keep the chicken for side work."

Pramono was slightly jolted by what the master said. "Juragan, is tonight a proposal? Why are the items carried by the boss so much?"

"Yes, it can be said that way. Tonight I will directly propose to the girl who is the only daughter of a boy who used to be my rival. And even if it's not a proposal, it's okay because my property won't run out just to bring the stuff to my future wife."

"Good Juragan. I'll prepare everything."

"Good Pram, prepare everything perfectly. I want to pamper my future wife, so she loves me more."

"Ready Scouts!"

Pramono began to swing his legs to leave the dragon. But only a few meters he shifted his body...

"Pram!"

Pramono's footsteps stopped. He turned back to the boss. "Yes Juragan?"

"Am I not too old to be Mara's life partner?"

"Of course not a Scout. Although the age of Karta is almost into the age of twilight, but Juragan still looks youthful, even mighty. Still like a forty year old man."

Karta's eyes glared slightly. "About one day my son with Mara will inherit whose face? Will he inherit his mother's face? Or me?"

"Of course the face of the draughtsman and Mara will be combined, be a handsome boy if a man, and will be beautiful if a woman."

"Yes, it could be said that marrying Mara would improve my descendants Pram."

"I totally agree with Juragan."

"alright. Quickly prepare everything Pram. Remember, don't miss anything."

"Ready Scouts."

***

Mara looked at the vast expanse of sky with a glaring gaze behind the window of her room. Tonight looked so gloomy, the moon would not show its face at all. He decided to hide behind the clouds. As for the star flickers, they also chose to hide, not one bit revealing its luster.

Mara's heart is like the sky tonight. It is dark without a ray of hope that illuminates. His heart raged, thinking about what would happen at night. And maybe tonight is the end of his life as someone who has freedom because from tonight, he will be officially hosted by the boss of Karta.

"Mara, prepare! Soon the master of Karta will be here soon!"

Tanti's voice outside the room made Mara wake up from her daydream. Now there was nothing else he could do but just continue to follow where the flow of destiny dragged his body.

"Son, this is your last chance. Get out of here!"

Baskara who had been sitting sweetly behind the child, said softly. His heart seemed to rumble to see the state of the child like this. Tonight, although the child looked so beautiful in a white kebaya suit, it could not cover the deep sadness that was so visible on the look on his face.

Mara walked closer to her father. He took a squatting position and then grabbed the father's hand. "Mara's not going, Dad. If Mara leaves, Dad's safety could be threatened. Mara doesn't want anything bad to happen to me."

"Son, I beg you. Get out of this place. Let me do something for your happiness, son, because all this time I haven't had time to make you happy."

"Dad, Mara once promised to always look after Dad. And if Mara leaves this place right now, it's the same as Mara reneging on Mara's own promise."

Baskara. "No Son. With you running away from this place, which will make you happy at the end of your life. Get out of this place, son. Allow me to atone for all the sins I ever committed against you and your mother!"

"B-but Yeah...."

Mara's words stopped after she heard the sound of the horseshoes so deafening. Mara stood behind the window, and it was seen that some andongs had stopped in front of her house. And the andongs brought some goods that were specially brought by the Karta master for him. The woman just smiled bitterly. It turned out that the body he had would be exchanged for those items.

Meanwhile in the front yard, Tanti and Puspa have welcomed the arrival of Karta with a big smile. The two women endlessly smiled widely because soon their dreams of becoming rich will soon come true. Certainly with three hectares of teak garden promised by the Karta master.

With a soft voice, Tanti gave a welcome to her great guest. Karta who was in front of Tanti, just rolled her eyes, staring fixedly at the building in front of her.

"This is indeed really tough and not worth mentioning as a house. Was your husband so poor that he could not afford a proper home for my future wife?"

Tanti just commented a little of her smile. "This is what we are like, Juragan. But with the intention of the Karta boss to interfere with Mara, it will certainly be able to change our fate."

Tanti repeatedly praised Karta, thinking that she often praised the old man before her, she could make Karta feel happy. And it could be, he would get more from far more Karta.

Karta smiled faintly. "You don't have to worry, once I marry Mara, I'll wake you up to a mansion."

The faces of Tanti and Puspa are getting brighter. It was unexpected that they would earn such a multiplied profit by making Mara the wife of the Karta master.

"Then what about the teak land that Juragan promised yesterday? Can I get it now?"

Shamelessly, Tanti asked what Karta had promised. Apparently the middle-aged woman was already impatient to want to immediately enjoy the rewards.

Karta is a little broken. "Pram, get me the chocolate map I brought."

By obediently Pramono took the brown map referred to by the Juragan, after which he gave it to Karta.

"This is the three-hectare teak land I promised you!" Said Karta while handing the brown map to Tanti.

Tanti hurriedly received the brown map and looked at the contents. His eyes widened, when he saw a certificate of teak garden area of three hectares had changed to his name.

"Juragans... Th-this?"

"Yes, I never denied what I promised. Now that teak land is legitimately yours."

Tanti grabbed Karta's hand with a slight bow of her head. "Thank you very much, thank you." Tanti paused for a moment. "Then let's go to Juragan. Surely Juragan was impatient to meet Mara soon, right? I'll call Mara."

"Yes, that's what I meant and what I came here for."

"Emmmmm Spirits!"

Karta turned towards Pramono who was calling out to her. "What's Pram?"

"What if I call Mara? Just in case Mara would run away."

Karta is seen weighing the words of her right hand while nodding her head. "Rightly what you said, Pram. All right, take Mara in front of me right now."

Pramono. "Mother Tanti, where is Mara's room? Let me call him."

"There's a room near Pram's kitchen. Get Mara here!"

"Good!"

Pramono set his foot towards the kitchen. While Tanti, Karta and Puspa sat in the living room while waiting for the arrival of Mara while talking.

In her father's room, Mara was sitting limp on the bed. This time he was really looking forward to a miracle that could take him out of this house.

"Sstttt Mara!"

The soft voice of someone disturbed the soul of Mara who was dissolving in her own mind. He looked towards the door. "You who?"

Pramono approached towards Mara. "Calm down, don't be afraid. I'll help you get out of this place."

The words from Pramono instantly made Mara aghast. "-you mean?"

"I can explain to you later. Now the most important thing is we get out of this place first!"

"But my Dad?"

"Don't worry. I'll carry your father. And we can both get out of this place right now!"

Without wasting much time, Pramono crouched down in front of Baskara. He asked Baskara to immediately go up to his back. After all the positions were safe, the three men crept out of the house through the kitchen door.

Carefully they set foot so that their foot movements are not heard. And in the end they can get out of the house and start running through the thick of the night.

While in the living room, Karta felt so agitated because the one that had been waiting for, never came. Karta got up from her sitting position "Take me to Mara's room!"

Change according. He then walked in front of Karta to go to the stepson's room. When Tanti opened the door of the room, she was surprised that she did not see a single person in the room. There is only one wheelchair that has no owner.

The card that saw this room in an empty state could only clench its hands. His jaw was hardened and the look on his face looked like someone was holding back anger.

"Based on traitor you Pram!!!"

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