The Rose of De Haas

Chapter 7: Life After Marriage

The sun that day has not yet come out.

The sky is still as dark as a pair of crow wings but Mr. De Haas already seems busy in front of his desk is working on business taxation regulations that have just been set by the Dutch East Indies government.

There is a new tax policy for big businessmen, making Mr. De Haas a headache. For some reason lately the government likes to change the policy as they please without careful consideration.

Mr. De Haas' blustery ranum lips appear to flank an expensive cigar with a thin smoke still billowing, giving rise to a tobacco scent so distinctive.

"Why are you awake? it's still four o'clock in the morning" Sarinah, who was suddenly standing in the doorway of Mr. De Haas' open study, made the man flinch.

Sarinah was standing at the door of her husband's office still in a light blue nightgown, her long black hair that was freely uncluttered and still looked charming.

His pair of dark beads looked at Mr. De Haas questioningly.

Mr. De Haas hastily removed his cigar, he did not want his wife and prospective child exposed to tobacco smoke from the cigar he smoked.

"I'm working on a new tax policy. The more days the government just wants to make the policy make my head dizzy," explained Mr. De Haas while complaining to his wife Sarinah who is now pregnant.

Sarinah smiled gently, stroking her husband's blonde hair trying to provide comfort. "forgive me the blind one about taxation, my husband."

The young woman was standing behind the chair where her husband was sitting, without being asked to directly massage the two sturdy shoulders of Mr. De Haas who felt stiff from working too long.

Despite having many Jongos who can be relied upon in administrative affairs like this, Mr. De Haas still wants to work on sensitive matters related to money as it is today on his own without the help of others.

Thanks to the hard work and persistence of the Master, so do not be surprised if all fields of business owned by Mr. De Haas get very rapid progress. Not infrequently, other Meneer also often secretly envied the success of Mr. De Haas who was not even his age had stepped on the head of three.

"It's not your fault, Mijn liefje. I just want to solve it myself more accurately so you don't have to feel guilty like that" replied Mr. De Haas with a thin smile.

As their married life progresses, Sarinah and Mr. De Haas' relationship grows closer by the day that they will soon be welcoming their first child.

Although not in higher education, Sarinah is actually quite intelligent. He can even do the financial opening of the estate owned by Mr. De Haas very well even though only once taught, making Mr. De Haas love his wife more and more.

The gentle massage Sarinah gave slowly but surely made Mr. De Haas feel sleepy. The head of the Master who began to bow down made Sarinah smile amused, anxious about her husband's behavior.

"If you're sleepy, why don't you sleep in your room?" insinuating the wife, made Mr. De Haas hastily re-establish his head.

"Who said I was sleepy?" Mr. De Haas asked in an unacceptable tone even though Sarinah could see clearly that her husband's eyes had become reddish in color.

The wife laughed amusedly. "honey, if you can lie to a horse that does not mean you can lie to your wife."

Mr. De Haas chuckled after hearing a joke from Sarinah. "my wife is indeed the greatest entertainer.then let's go back to sleep."

"alright. Let's go back to my room, husband."

Who would have thought a man who was famous for being firm and cold like Adolf De Haas could be a very sweet husband and love his wife with all his heart?

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

Doctor Reign, a Dutch man with bright brown hair, smiled before answering Sarinah's question.

"Monya and her baby are both in very good shape. I'd suggest that you don't do strenuous activities, that soon your child will be born" replied Dr. Reign graciously.

"Are there any special foods I need to eat to facilitate the labor process, doctor?" again Sarinah asked, but this time she took out a small notebook and a pencil from her bag preparing to take down important things.

Doctor Reign then patiently mentioned the good foods to be consumed by Sarinah before her delivery day, while the young mother-to-be noted so skillfully, Doctor Reign began to understand why Mr. De Haas wanted to marry the native-faced woman.

"Thank you very much, doctor. Then I go home first," Sarinah resigned after her little note was filled with scribbles about eating that she should consume and avoid.

"Be careful, Mrs De Haas. Please give my regards to the Master."

"Yes. Come on, doctor."

A pair of Sarinah's legs walked slowly out of the gynecological examination room, slowly but surely down the main hallway of the hospital to the front yard where her husband was waiting for her to return.

When he passed several medics on duty along the way, a friendly smile automatically adorned the beautiful face of Madam De Haas that made anyone melt the warmth of her smile.

Mr and Mrs De Haas have a very opposite attitude like water and fire, it is natural that the newly married couple became a favorite lip in the social environment of the Londo people.

The city of Palembang which was experiencing a dry season with high air temperatures that day made Sarinah sure not to wear footwear as she used to do before marrying Mr. De Haas first.

"How's the examination? Is everything good?" mr. De Haas asked enthusiastically, holding his wife's hand slowly towards the car after noticing her presence at the hospital's main entrance.

Sarinah nodded, smiling warmly then.

"yes, my husband, the doctor said I should eat some of these foods and avoid some of them as well."

"You recorded it like that?" Mr. De Haas chuckled in amusement after seeing Sarinah's little note that he showed.

"I'm obliged to do it. You know, don't you think I'm forgetful? But my shortcomings will not be an excuse to make my son lack of essential nutrients that he must get," Sarinah explained.

Mr. De Haas nodded with a smile that was still burning. "yes, yes, please give everything that is best for our child."

Arriving in front of their car, Sarinah's steps immediately stopped when she felt something flowing from between the base of her thighs.

"Darling... What's this flowing?" sarinah asked timidly, reluctant to move from her place.

"flowing? isn't that river water?" Mr. De Haas continued walking without looking.

But how surprised Mr. De Haas was when he saw that there was already so much water seeping from his wife's pair of legs.

"Gosh what is amniotic fluid?!"