The Rose of De Haas

Chapter 1: Being Found in the Mud of Sin

POV Author

Dutch East Indies, 23 January 1919.

"When are you going to pay your debt, Goenawan?" a jongos from the rich Dutch lord to Goenawan, an indigenous owner of oil palm business in Sumatra.

Goenawan is running out of words, fearing the consequences of being unable to pay his debt to the Dutch master as his business has steadily declined in recent months.

Next to Goenawan, there was Tuminah the wife who had started crying because she remembered their agreement with the Dutch master who had given them a loan of money.

The atmosphere of the supposed quiet and pleasant afternoon changed one hundred and eighty degrees from the arrival of the Dutch Lord's jongos to the residence of the Goenawan family.

"I can't afford it anymore, Darijo." replied Goenawan desperately.

Tuminah, the woman in her late twenties hugged Sarinah princess only with tears in her eyes while the girl could only look at her parents confused.

"Then, I will immediately call Meneer here to get compensation from the debt that you can't afford to pay," final Darijo while glancing at the beautiful girl in Tuminah's arms.

Darijo then left the Goenawan family home, which again raises a question in Sarinah's mind.

"What really happened, Father, Mother?" asked Sarinah who did not understand why her Mother and Father were crying while hugging her tightly.

"Please promise me to always be kind to you in front of you, Sarinah."

Unanswered question marks in his mind, Sarinah the young girl is now increasingly confused by the words of his father just now.

With a confused face that he could not hide, Sarinah could only hug Mom and Dad who continued to cry in silence.

After losing a lot of their garden land, what else should be missing from this poor Goenawan family?

...****************...

The noise from the horse-drawn carriage carrying Mr. De Haas to the Goenawan family home captured the attention of the local residents of the indigenous settlement that night.

Adolf De Haas, a Dutch master who is a wealthy businessman berparas handsome is often attention.

His body is sturdy and tall, his hair is blonde with a pair of sapphire blue eyes that are so attractive to the opposite sex especially the age of the young and unmarried Master.

To many eyes, Mr. De Haas is like a mighty and handsome male lion whose charm is so dear to miss.

With illumination from several torch sticks carried by his gangsters, Mr. De Haas finally managed to arrive at the Goenawan family home.

"Welcome, Sir. Sorry to make you have to come to our abominable house," said Goenawan trying to be friendly to the Dutch master but the sadness could not be hidden by the father of one child.

"There is no need to present anything, I came here only to receive payment from your debt" said Mr. De Haas.

Goenawan gulped his saliva, not knowing what to say when the Dutch man immediately sat himself on the wooden chair of his living room.

Unwilling to make the Master wait, Goenawan then inched into his house to call his son and wife.

"Come, hurry! The master has come" whispered the head of the family to his wife.

Tuminah nodded, embracing the princess to walk out of the room towards the living room where the Master was waiting.

The sharp gaze typical of Mr. De Haas immediately turned soft when he looked at Sarinah, the figure of ayu who was standing in front of him in confusion.

The girl had a fair yellow complexion with a pair of dark-brown netra complete with her red, fragrant lips, a beauty so striking to a native.

Mr. De Haas also admitted in his heart that Sarinah's beauty was extraordinary when compared to other women who had been in a relationship with him.

Stiffly, Sarinah finally smiled as she was forced by the Father standing behind her.

"Because the compensation I get is indeed very attractive, I consider all your debts paid off. Take him into the chariot" said Mr. De Haas after a long time stunned to see Sarinah's beauty.

"Mom and Dad sold me?" sarinah asked with eyes that had been soaked by tears.

However, Sarinah never felt ready even though she knew this kind of incident had become common in the Dutch East Indies.

If a family is unable to pay its debt to the Dutch master where they borrowed the money, then if there is no valuables equivalent to the nominal debt then they must be willing to lose their child as compensation.

Inevitably, Sarinah must accept her fate for the safety of the lives of her parents whom she loves so much.

"There is nothing we can do but this, son," replied the Father, who had no power to hold back his tears.

"Be as good as you can, my child," said the mother reminded amid the family's last embrace.

After being able to fully digest the situation that befell his family, Sarinah stepped up to follow the Master on a horse-drawn carriage.

The rain that fell suddenly soaked the earth as if to be a picture of sadness that enveloped the Goenawan family.

Along with the horse-drawn steps the chariot their daughter was riding so far, Goenawan and Tuminah could only hope that their daughter's life would be better after living as a Nyai.

"After arriving at my house, just throw away all the clothes you brought from the house" said Mr. De Haas slowly, like a mutter amid the rumbling sound of rain.

"Yes, Sir?" The dreamy Sarinah could not clearly hear what the Master was saying.

"Dump all the clothes you bring when you get to my house, Sarinah."

For Sarinah, hearing a Dutch master want to call his name is a very extraordinary thing considering that the Dutch people have always treated them, the indigenous people like dirt in their own country.

"If that's an order, then I will do it, sir," replied the obedient Sarinah with a blank look forward.

Mr. De Haas who was very fascinated with the beauty of Sarinah was unable to hide his interest in the native girl.

Since being in the horse-drawn carriage, a pair of sapphire blue obsidian belonging to the Master has always faithfully searched every inch of Sarinah's charming face.

"If I want a child from you, don't you mind?" ask the Master again.

Sarinah was again astonished by the treatment of Mr. De Haas who was very different from the others.

I don't know what the Master thought until he asked such a question.

Sarinah smiled, although she had to keep nodding and then softly said.

"If you feel it's okay to get a child from a despicable woman like me then you can get whatever you want, Mister."