The Rose of De Haas

Chapter 6: The Unexpected Day

As usual in the morning, Sarinah seems to be busy cooking breakfast for Mr. De Haas who has been waiting for her with a glass of warm tea and newspaper on the front page of the house.

It has been more than a year since Sarinah came to this house, and now the stomach of a young woman who is not even seventeen years old seems to be bloated because she is pregnant with her child with Mr. De Haas.

Sarinah's life as Nyai is much better when compared to his other nyai in the land of Sumatra, only one in comparison to a thousand who get a Master like him.

Everyday Sarinah only does light work such as cooking for the Master or preparing clothes that the Master will wear unlike other nyai who do all kinds of work for the Master.

The babus and jongos in this house also always treat Sarinah well and well mannered like a family.

If there is a big event like a Christmas celebration or banquet, they all work together compactly, what a Dutch home away from cruelty.

After he finished baking his bread, Sarinah put his homemade toast on a wide porcelain plate in white.

"Be careful of the road, Sarinah. The floor is still wet must be slippery," said Bibi Inem warned, considering one of the babus had not long finished mopping the floor.

Sarinah nodded obediently, walking slowly towards the front yard where the Master had been waiting for her.

"Master has been waiting a long time? I'm sorry, I ran out of fuel" said the gentle airman, lowering a plate he had brought to the table in front of Mr. De Haas.

"No problem, the important thing is that you can serve me a delicious breakfast," the adam replied with a smile, inviting the Nyai to sit next to him.

Sarinah smiled gracefully, sat down next to the Master then noticed the native European man enjoying his homemade breakfast.

Although Sarinah knew she did not deserve to love the Master, but she could not lie to her feelings that continued to crave the Master.

"Norgin' sah?" call the Master to interrupt.

"What's your breakfast lacking, sir?"

Mr. De Haas shook his head. "that's not it. There's something I want to tell you."

Sarinah focused entirely on the Lord. "lantas on what, sir? I'm so curious."

"Now you're pregnant and I've decided to marry you so that our child has a stable social status. Are you willing to be my wife?"

Mr. De Haas' words made Sarinah freeze in place. He was just silent, out of words because he did not think that the Master really intended to marry him.

The words of Mr. De Haas did not involve sweet words smelling of love, but seeing the Master to want to think about the future of his son was more than enough for Sarinah.

"Do you not want us to get married, Sarinah?" the Master asked worriedly, seeing that Nyai was silent.

"How can I say no, sir? You have been very kind to me all this time, I also want the child I bear to have a much better life," Sarinah replied later with a smile that was so charming.

"Then, we're going to do a wedding blessing procession this weekend. Are you ready? I'll get Darijo to pick up Mom and Dad."

"I'm happy to say yes, sir."

The sacred day that Sarinah and Adolf De Haas were waiting for finally arrived. Right on this day they will bind the sacred promise of marriage before the Almighty God.

Like a Dutch wedding, everything looks lively ranging from the beautiful decorations with white themes that adorn all corners of the house Mr. De Haas to the many guests who attended ranging from high officials of the Netherlands to the native nobles attend this sacred event.

Because it has a very large backyard, Mr. De Haas chose to carry out their wedding blessing procession in the backyard of his luxury home.

The invited guests who have occupied their respective places do not think that Mr. De Haas will actually marry the Nyai rather than choose to marry a European woman equivalent to him.

The music sounds soft, along with the entry of the bride accompanied by her Father into the location of the event.

Sarinah wore a very beautiful and luxurious white dress made by the clothing store Lady Diana. The wedding dress was made very gracefully and meticulously in every detail to successfully cover Sarinah's distended stomach very well.

Sarinah's step towards the altar that is so graceful makes people drugged about the beauty of her face that is very typical even though people were busy gossiping ugly things about her.

While at the altar, Adolf De Haas was waiting for him with a proud smile with a Dutch priest who would marry them both.

"You two are ready?" ask the priest when Sarinah arrives at the altar.

The two brides nodded confidently, making the wedding blessing procession then began so solemnly.

Some people even cried tears of joy after watching a pair of different human children of race and caste become one in a sacred marriage bond.

After the wedding ceremony is over, the invited guests alternately began to come closer to Mr. De Haas and Sarinah to congratulate him even though some high-ranking Dutch officials were reluctant to do so because they felt this marriage hurt them as a superior nation.

The high-ranking officials felt that marrying a native woman was the same as marrying a dog.

"Congratulations on your marriage, Ladies and gentlemen. May you be happy always," said one of the native nobles with courtesy while shaking the hands of Mr. De Haas and Sarinah alternately.

"Thank you" said Mr. De Haas.

A Dutch man who dared to marry an indigenous woman especially those from lower social status groups was a buzz that shocked the media at that time.

The marriage of Adolf De Haas and Sarinah is very interesting for media crews from all over the archipelago, there are many journalists present there to make this marriage as hot news in the newspaper.

Some of them also seemed to interview the invited guests who were present, just asking their opinions about this wedding with various types of questions.

"Sir, do I need to expel those people?" darijo asked with a sharp glance at the reporters who asked the question that cornered Madam De Haas.

Mr. De Haas shook his head slowly. "no need, Darijo. just let them enjoy the party I just need to get rid of the print media that ruin my wife's good name later."

Darijo swallowed his saliva in fear, knowing that the Master would never mess with his words and again the influence of Mr. De Haas was indeed very extraordinary.

"Good, Sir. I'll buy each of the newspapers that published your news today and hand it over to you."

"good. Do your job well as always."