The Rose of De Haas

Chapter 5: Meeting Mom and Dad

Mr. De Haas' smooth forehead then contorted. "what do you want, Sarinah?"

"May I meet my Mother and Father for a moment, Sir?" Sarinah expressed her desire to make Mr. De Haas's face change.

"Are you unable to grant my request, sir then-"

"Later tonight we'll be staying at your Mother's and Father's house, but only one night" Mr. De Haas finalized.

"Really, Sir?"

Mr. De Haas nodded with certainty, smiling thinly convincing Sarinah that what he said was earnest. Somehow, Mr. De Haas could never say no to anything the young Nyai wanted.

Presumably Mr. De Haas really loved the young woman more than he liked the man's initial guess. In the depths of his heart, he did not want to lose Sarinah.

"Yes. But before that you also have to eat a lot, Sarinah. Come on, quickly finish your meal," ordered Mr. De Haas still with his smile that has not faded.

Mr. De Haas' reddish lips like rose petals are so charming, making Sarinah also smile, washed into the charm of the Master.

The pair of lovebirds then eat quietly while facing each other, enjoying Chinese food presented with a variety on the table.

Visitors to this Chinese restaurant are not so crowded, the atmosphere is peaceful that makes Mr. De Haas and Sarinah able to enjoy their food solemnly interspersed with small conversations.

Although not infrequently Dutch people who passed by to look at Sarinah full of scorn, the young woman remained indifferent, preferring to respond to the words of the Master then replied to her gently and politely.

"Have you ever eaten something like this before?" Mr. De Haas asked as he fed Sarinah with a piece of beef she had cut.

Sarinah shook her head softly. "never, sir, this is my first time eating a foreign food like this but it tastes so delicious, thank you very much, Sir."

Mr. De Haas was very flattered, Sarinah was never stingy and always said thank you for the little things she gave to increase her comfort to the girl.

"I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do, Sarinah."

Only such words were always uttered by the Master without knowing how happy Sarinah had been treated this well by the Master.

Sarinah was grateful, Mr. De Haas treated himself very well even though he was just a native who was looked down upon by other Dutch people.

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

The sunshine that shines so hot does not dampen the spirit of Mr. De Haas and Sarinah to leave for Sarinah's hometown today. In the car, Mr. De Haas was busy preparing various things that they would presumably need during the trip.

"Darijo, I'm going to Goenawan and Tuminah's house because there's important business so you don't have to come. Oh yes, because the trip is quite far then I decided to go home tomorrow," Mr. De Haas explained that afternoon while he was heating his car engine.

Darijo nodded obediently. "alright, Mister. is there anything else I need to work on?"

"No need, just do everything as usual," said Mr. De Haas quickly, bringing Sarinah into his car.

"Good, Sir. Then be careful on the road," replied Darijo manfully as he continued the work, sweeping the courtyard of Mr. De Haas' house with a broomstick in his hand.

The car driven by Mr. De Haas then moves slowly but surely towards the highway, going to the village where Sarinah's hometown is located.

Although the road taken is not solid, but the winding road through the hills makes their journey feel further.

The green hills that cool the eyes did not make Sarinah saturated, she just missed her Mother to forget all her fatigue.

A few hours have passed, the sun has set attracting all the light that is then exchanging it with a dark sky.

Tonight there was no moon, only a few stars dotted the dark sky.

The journey of the two finally bore fruit, Mr. De Haas and Sarinah managed to arrive at Pagar Alam safely without significant obstacles.

"Mother! The father! I'm home!" call Sarinah with watery eyes, so missed her parents after so long without seeing.

"Sarinah!" Goenawan and Tuminah cried out to return the call of the princess, then the three clenched each other tightly to make Mr. De Haas feel touched.

Mr. De Haas has not had both parents for a long time, nor is he the same as Sarinah who is an only child.

Seeing the moment of togetherness of the small family of course made Mr. De Haas feel something in his mind.

"Sorry to trouble you, sir... Our son has never separated from his parents like this" Goenawan said, feeling bad for the Dutch master.

"No problem. I couldn't feel what Sarinah felt because I haven't had parents in a long time," sahut Tuan De Haas while sitting on a wooden chair on the porch of a simple house owned by the Goenawan family.

"It's grieving, sir," Tuminah said softly.

"Come in that case, you must be tired after a long journey," invited Goenawan kindly, holding the hand of the princess and Mr. De Haas to enter their house.

Arrived home, Mr. De Haas was treated so warmly by Goenawan and Tuminah that a daughter-in-law in the house made Mr. De Haas feel comfortable and regained the affection he had not felt for a long time after the deaths of his parents a dozen years ago.

"Please eat, sir. Sorry we didn't have time to serve a more decent meal" Tuminah said as she hurriedly prepared dinner for all of them.

Mr. De Haas smiled gently, enjoyed the warmth of the little family then nodded politely as if he were talking to his own parents.

"It's more than enough, Mother."

Spontaneous remarks from Mr. De Haas made everyone surprised and amazed, considering the Dutch Master called Tuminah as Mother.

"Then let's eat, Sarinah, Mother and Father" said Mr. De Haas this time with a smile that was so warm.

"It feels like we're talking to a son-in-law, yes" Tuminah said as she prepared a side dish and rice to eat together.

"Ah, right. From now on you should stop by here more often with Sarinah yes," Goenawan chimed.

Conversations were finally inevitable, Goenawan, Tuminah and Mr. De Haas began chatting about various interesting things together.

Sarinah could only smile at the interaction between her parents and Mr. De Haas. They look very harmonious really like in-laws and daughters-in-law.