The Rose of De Haas

Chapter 10: The Big Decision

Midnight after the party held at the family residence De Haas ended with a fairly hot incident, Mr. De Haas sucked his cigar on the porch of the house while looking at the dark street in front of his house.

He began to think of ways to still be able to provide a safe and comfortable life for his son and wife. Truly, the man wants the life of his son and wife to continue to go well even though he will be gone.

Mr. De Haas loved his son and wife very much, although he rarely expressed it in words. All the Master thought about was how he could give the best life to the two women he loved so much.

"Why haven't you slept yet, sir?" greet Uncle Darijo who just finished sweeping the front yard of the house.

With a long broomstick in his hand, the middle-aged man walked over to the Master.

"I was just thinking about something" Mr. De Haas said, still with his eyes fixed on the front.

"Master must have been thinking about the evil opinions of the Masters and Madam at the party just now, didn't you?"

Mr. De Haas nodded lethargicly, at once Uncle Darijo immediately understood where the problem faced by the Master sat.

The middle-aged man admitted, although Mr. De Haas was very firm he still treated others properly as a human being, far different from other Dutch masters who often treat the natives with so cruel and inhumane like treating an animal.

Ten years ago Uncle Darijo worked for Mr. De Haas, so now he can understand what the Master is feeling.

"I have one suggestion for Sir, would you like to listen to my advice?" asked Uncle Darijo to Mr. De Haas after the old man put his long broomstick on the place where he used to store cleaning tools.

"Tell me what your advice is, Darijo."

"I heard from various sources, the sugar business is on the island of Java. Don't you think you should try it too?" uncle Darijo said without hesitation.

Uncle Darijo has often heard rumors about the construction of sugar factories in Java from other Jongos when they were gathering in recent weeks.

Some of Jongos' friends from Uncle Darijo said, Their master returned with a lot of money after participating in the sugar business on the island of Java.

At that time, if you want to know the life in the house of one of the Mr or Mrs of the Netherlands, you just have to ask their Babu or Jongos.

The culture of gossip has existed since that time.

Mr. De Haas straightened his shoulder after hearing Uncle Darijo's words.

"That's so? I guess it was just a figment of the thumb" Mr. De Haas replied hesitantly, looking at his interlocutor still with his trademark cold glare.

"No, Mister. What I said is true. Maybe you can also start a sugar business on the island of Java, who knows there the lives of Madam and Nona will be better," said Uncle Darijo with seriousness.

Although his status and that of Mr. De Haas is nothing more than a Master and Jongos, Uncle Darijo still cares deeply about Mr. De Haas and his family. He hopes, by moving to the island of Java their social life will be better in the future.

"I'll consider your advice. Then go get some rest, Darijo."

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

In recent days, she often found her husband was daydreaming like he was thinking about something very serious that eventually made him curious.

The day had gone by, it had become a routine for the De Haas family to drink warm tea while chatting on the porch of their luxurious house almost every day.

Roses, the only child of Mr and Mrs De Haas also grew very well.

The little girl is now no longer easy to cry when left by the mother to serve the needs of her Papa.

"Are you willing to come with me to move to Java?" mr. De Haas asked after slowly blowing a thin transparent smoke over the porcelain glass in his hand.

"Why should I mind? Isn't following wherever my husband goes a reality for a wife?" Sarinah asked her husband with a warm smile.

"But, at least we have to wait for the Rose to be able to sit alone, right? A cruise to the opposite island definitely takes time," Sarinah added, recalling the Princess's Rose.

"I'm glad to hear that if you don't mind. All right, we're moving to Batavia in a few months. While waiting, I will prepare other things that we need to live comfortably there" replied Mr. De Haas.

"How about you, my husband? Don't you mind leaving your business here?" Sarinah poured her own special tea into her glass.

"I've thought about it carefully. A quarter of my business will be run by Peter Van Ross, while the other half will be handed over to you and your mother so they can live better in this city. The rest, I will manage myself from Batavia."

Sarinah did not expect that her husband would take a decision of this magnitude, it was only natural that the man was often daydreaming.

Peter Van Ross and his wife are a wonderful couple. No wonder the decision was taken steadily by Mr. De Haas after thinking for a few days.

"Is that not too much for my parents, baby? Didn't you know that Father and Mother are just a pair of natives from the village?" Sarinah asked as she wiped her tears that suddenly seeped out without excuse.

The woman was moved, she knew very well that half of the business owned by her husband would make a lot of money.

Of course after managing it, the life of Mother and Father will be much better.

"Mother and Father deserve a better life, Sarinah. After all I had brought their only child who was certainly much more valuable than money," Mr. De Haas said, further making Sarinah moved.

"Thank you for loving me and my family so incredibly, my husband..."

Mr. De Haas got up from his seat, then gave his wife a warm embrace of love.

Never thought Sarinah, her life with Mr. De Haas which was initially triggered by a debt link now makes Sarinah find a man who really loves her even her parents at once.

Sarinah now has no regrets at all about having anchored her heart to Adolf De Haas, who is now the husband and father of her son.

"Together, my dear wife. Let's hope our lives in Batavia get a lot better."