THE WOUNDED EARTH

THE WOUNDED EARTH

The loud sound of slamming the door made me wake up from my dream.Rushing out of the room into the middle of our house.I see only the mother who was there, sitting leaning against the door leaf while crying.

 I can only be silent, though,staring at my face mother.Mom's cheeks are swollen and bruised.No words can come out of my mouth to be able to comfort his heart that must be destroyed at this time.In my mind implied a sense of hatred on my brother...Are all men the same, just attach importance to his desires without caring about our feelings, his wife's child…..

This is the story of our lives, my mother, my angel, the wounded angel of the earth.

 

 

30 Years ago……

     My name is Yati, a village from Kalimantan.When I was only 6 years old, and my younger brother was 4 years old.      Abah is the village chief in our village,as a village head Abah has enough land but only a small part can be taken care of.Abah like to hang out in the stalls at the end of the village while the mother every day takes care of the garden and if my mother is working in the garden or rice field, I am the one who takes care of my sister and cleans the house.This is how my daily life as a daughter at home.

I rushed to the kitchen door when I heard a knock that must have been my mother,….

“Have cooked rice with salted fish son?"ask mom.

“Already mak”, answer me.

“Where's your sister?"ask her while wiping the sweat.

“Just slept in a swing mak”, I replied again.

Mom came in and walked towards the swing, gently rubbing my sister's head.

My mother sat next to me,…

“Bikin sambel yes?"said gently.

“Iya Mak, not complete if you do not use sambel kan” sahutku with a smile.

My mother smiled too.

“How come you haven't come home?” his voice sounded slow and hoarse, as if asking himself.

“Not yet mak”, I answer no less slowly.

“Yes already, a bath first yes..new we eat” he said while moving to the bathroom.

I looked at the back of the mother who was away, the back that carried all the burdens of the family without any complaints I had heard from her lips.

Dusk passed, I looked at the adzan magrib sayup-sayup sounding.I and my mother took turns to perform magrib prayer because one of us had to take turns to look after my sister.Finished magrib prayer, we also had dinner together. 

 

 

  “Assalamualaikum Saroh,Saroh”.heard a middle-aged female voice from outside our house calling mother's name.

“Wa alaikum salam”, I replied.

I hurried to open the door.

“Eh wa Tinah,from mom ya wa?”ask me.

“Yes, do you have any nak?”

"There was a wa, while Yati called mother.." I went into mother's room.

Mother came out to meet wa Tinah who was sitting on the terrace.

“What's wa?”ask mom.

“How are you doing, I see now you're a bit skinny."

"Maybe it's just soy sauce wa", my mom.

“Where is your husband?”

“Regular wa,most hanging out,"sahut mom.

“Until when do you want to be patient with your husband's behavior?”tanya wa Tinah quietly as if not to be heard by me.

“You who work hard for the sake of family while he is engrossed with the woman's shop.”

“Add your day so skinny, instead women warung that enjoy the results”

Mom just kept quiet, whatever you're thinking right now.

“Yes already, I'm here to pick up peanut seedlings yesterday”kata wa Tinah.

“Iya wa,”sahut mom while moving inside.

Mother gave a package containing peanut seeds to wa Tinah.

“I go home first Yes Saroh,”

“Yati, here!”…kata wa Tinah 

With two thousand dollars.

“Ma love ya wa”hail me with pleasure.

Uwa Tinah and mom smiled at me.

“Uwa go home first yes, assalamualaikum..”ucap uwa Tinah.

“Wa aleikum salam”sahut me with mom.

It was getting late, and we entered the house.

I feel that tonight my mother's mood is a bit different, I'm more silent than usual.Either because of the speech wa Tinah last afternoon.

Bani, my sister has fallen asleep after isya.I see my mother has not slept as well.Emak approached and gently rubbed our heads.

Not how long I too drifted to sleep in the cradle of mother's affection.

 

 

In the middle of the night, I woke up to hear a broken object following the sound of brother who was angry again.

“I've told you, the woman's job is to take care of children and household chores, do not take care of the affairs of the husband outside the house” snapped Abah which I believe must be aimed at mother.

“Sorry bah, I can not stand it if the behavior continues like this.I just ask, you can appreciate my feelings as a wife abah.If you like the same woman stall, please divorce me..”word mom while sobbing.

“That there is nothing to do with Inah,”tegas abah aloud.

“If there is no relationship, continue to say the same as him alone in the room, dark-eight again.Emak clay itself is not the word of people who often accuse."I heard my mother's voice slow.

“Ooo already dare you stalk abah huh..? Well, now I'm divorcing you.Please bring your children but don't expect to bring a dime of my treasure!" snapped again.Then it passed leaving his own mother in her tears.

I approached my mother.My heart was rushing down the cheeks.

“Mak...”ucapku slowly.

Mother raised her face, trying hard to smile even though her tears were still dripping.

My mother hugged my body tightly.

I can feel how much pain my mother is feeling right now

Even the night went very slowly, accompanying the sad in heart.

 

“Yati, put your clothes in this bag yes son, all your sister's clothes are the same mother's clothes in the room.Emak want to go to the house wa Tinah for a while…”said mother who suddenly appeared in front of my room.

"Well, mom.But where are we going, mom..? I was curious.

“We go home to granny”

“Emak stay a minute huh?” Mother said as she passed.

"Yes Mak, I replied.

There is a sense of pleasure in my heart because we want to go home to grandma but also there is a sense of sadness, this return must have been related to the last quarrel of my mother with Abah.

I took the clothes from the closet and put them in the bag that the mother had given me.I remember there was my savings on the bottom shelf closet.Every mother or anyone who gave me money was never me use for snacks, always I can make later enter elementary school.I count all, collected Rp 170,000,-.I didn't think it was this much, I put the money in a small wallet and put it in my pocket.

I am almost 7 years old, soon I will register for school.It is nice to imagine being able to school, learn and play with friends later.

 

 

“Assalamualaikum wa Tin..,”sopa mom on terrace wa Tinah.

“Wa alaikum salam,eh Saroh...ayo in”,sahut wa Tinah friendly.

“Sorry to disturb uwa this early, I came here to say goodbye, we want to go back to the village.."emak then told all the events last night on wa Tinah how to treat abah to drop talaq on my mother.

According to the mother, Tinah was the first to know all this because wa Tinah was the closest relative to the abah,wa Tinah is the older sister of Abah.But wa Tinah is the one who helped my mother a lot during this time.

“All there must be a silver lining, may Allah SWT give patience to you yes Saroh,”.kata wa Tinah look sad.

“Then, I say yes wa.”Mother moved from her seat.

“Wait a minute Saroh,.."prevent wa Tinah then go inside her room.

“This is the money for the sale of peanuts that was yesterday the day after,”kata wa Tinah while handing over Rp500,000,-

“And this money Rp500,000,- for Yati, deliberately uwa save it first to later buy his school supplies,”add wa Tinah again.

“But this is mostly wa,”reject mom.

“Saroh, That's a bangkan uwa.Save this money first, who knows later you need it".Wa Tinah persuaded.

“OK wa, then I say yes wa.." said mother while kissing uwa's hand and hugging her.

Wa Tinah has no power to hold back her tears, "the patient is Saroh.." she said softly.

My mother was unable to hold back her tears, no longer able to speak.

Mom tried to smile, then left wa Tinah who was still silent.

 

 

“It's done all son.?”asked the mother who suddenly appeared at the door.

“Already mak”answaku.

“This please keep in your luggage bag mu”, said mother thrust an envelope containing money given wa Tinah.

I greeted the money and put it in my pocket.

Mom walked towards the kitchen.

I followed from behind.

Mother opened the container where the rice was stored,"Alhamdulillah is still there" he said.

"Why is the money stored in the rice mak.?, asked me.

“Let's not be found abah,nak” replied mom slowly.

“Ooo so yes..basal women durhaka”yar abah who suddenly appeared.

I was in front of my mother, pushed to the side until it fell.Then quickly, he took the money in the hands of his mother.

“Do not take bah...”prevent mom trying to reclaim the money in your hands.

Abah's eyes glared sharply at the mother, then a loud slap landed on her cheek.

My mother fell down near me.

I quickly hugged my mother.

We both cried as my feet moved away.

After being sure there was no more, my mother and I got up from sitting down.

“Quick nak, we have to leave now”said mom.

I rushed to wash my face, then took the bag in my room.

Mother came out of the room carrying my sister.Alhamdulillah my sister this child is not fussy as if to understand the state of mother now.

 

 

We walked to the intersection to wait for a taxi.

I carried a small bag and guided Bani while my mother carried a bag containing our clothes.

Every time they passed the neighbors, they would ask us where we were going.Emak just reasoned to visit my grandmother in the next village.

At exactly 07:45 a rural taxi stop at the intersection to pick up passengers who want to go to the city or other villages.

The three of us also took a taxi transport to the village of grandmother.Have not traveled far like this.

 

The present…

 

“Yati...,Yati..

“Yes,Mac…."

I rushed to the mother's room, I threw the cellphone on the mattress.I saw the mother who was lying under her wheelchair.I immediately papah her old body back sitting in a wheelchair.

"Where did you fall…?I asked gently as if facing a young child.

“If you want anything, call Yati”

“Yati was in the room working on something”, I explained again.

“Emak just tired of sleeping so earlier I tried to sit in a wheelchair.Emak does not want everything depends on you and your sister."

“Kok mom said that,.Yati same Bani is a child of mother so emang should we ngerawat mother like our mother ngerawat we used to”.

“Alhamdulillah, I am grateful to have children like you," he said with a happy smile.

“Oh yes,emak has not been medicated this morning right…? briefly Yati get her water again yes.”

I went to the kitchen to get some water and nerve medicine for my mom.

Soon I went back to my mother's room and gave her medicine and water.

My mother took her medicine very hard.

“Now mother rest only yes..”my word.

Mom smiled and then slowly lay down on her bed.

I rubbed and kissed soft cheek mother.I want to give love and happiness in his old age even with economic limitations because I know that property does not guarantee a happy person.

All this time my mother has suffered too much, bearing the burden of life for our sake, for the sake of me and my sister.

Mother hard work hard to make a living for the needs of our lives and also so that we can school like other children.

I believe that education is very important at least have a High School diploma so that I can work, so that I have better expectations, he said.

After I was sure she was asleep, I slowly went back to my room.

I open again the writing application on the phone that I just left.At this time I try to learn to write novels, I am inspired by other novel writers who can channel their hobbies to work while generating income every month.

All this time I just love to read novels to fill the time.

Especially if you have gone home from work night shift, before bed I take time to read for a moment.

Currently I work in an individual-owned minimarket with a salary under UMP even so I am very grateful because nowadays it is difficult to find work, today you are out, but you are out,tomorrow there will be many who apply to replace you.

While Bani was still in high school in the final grade, she also worked part-time after school.In the motorcycle laundry near her school.I am very grateful to have a sister who is understanding and independent like her.

My dream is to buy a house for my mother so that we do not contract anymore.If I expect my salary as a minimarket employee is clearly impossible.During this my salary is only enough for our daily needs in addition to having to buy drugs mother's nerves every month and pay rent.

The clock has shown at 09.00 am, I must be ready to cook for lunch mother later.Ku close my phone screen and immediately move to the kitchen.

 

 

Today I enter the night shift again, every 1 week all employees here change shifts.If the morning shift enters at 08.30 am, the return at 17.30 pm while the night shift enters at 14.30 pm,he's home at 22:30 p.m.

My work cleaning the room and compiling display items on the shelf has been completed to coincide with rest time, I also went to the back shed.There is a special room for employees to rest either want to eat or pray.

I opened the provisions I brought from home.Nasi added omelet and a slice of spicy fried tofu is quite luxurious for me.

“Yat...”, the sound in the back shocked me to the point of choking.

Ridwan laughed when he saw me looking for a bottle of water in my bag.

"I'm sorry, sorry, she said, sitting in front of me.

I glared at him for a sign of annoyance.

“Aish..., glaring aja kok still sweet yes.”goda kak Ridwan.

“Mm dreadlocks, will not mempan..”sungkut me while returning to bribe the rest of my lunch with cuek.

Brother Ridwan kept looking at me to make me uncomfortable.

"There's something strange about the way I eat…?ask me with a jutek attitude.

“No...cuman, intermittently...!”.said brother Ridwan by bringing his face closer to my face.

I feel my chest pounding.Actually in my heart I admire him but I feel afraid that he will find out.

I'm getting nervous.

“There's a mole on your lips.." he made me grow clumsy to the point of dropping my supply box.

"Why don't you…?

"Are you groggy…?

“You like me.?.?”she said flirting while laughing.

“Enak aja.."I replied while cleaning the supply box and then ran away.

I was relieved after being sure Ridwan did not follow me anymore, I held my chest that still felt racing.When with Ridwan did feel beautiful for me, it did feel good for me,her flirtatious jokes gave her own color in my heart but I was still afraid to admit this taste.

I went back to the minimarket hallway.

"Yat, where are you going….? Ask Ririn temen and my best bestie.

“From the back, rest eat lah”.

“Hmmm pants....,eh td kak Ridwan nyariin tuh...”cut it again.

“When I meet,”I reply while tidying up the display items.

“Ngapain.?” Ririn asked curiously.

“Custom, take a storm.”my answer is just anyone while laughing.

"Huh you are Yat, not very sensitive the same feelings of people.Kak Ridwan likes you, you know noth…?

“Enggak.”answer me with a pair of bego faces.

“Culun” basics.Ririn said with a laugh.

“Ehm..ehm..”voice loud behind us.

“Eh bang Ronald,”my words in shock.When Ririn instantly covered her mouth with her palm.

Bang Ronald is a minimarket supervisor here.

“You're still busy Yat.?”asked Ronald expressionlessly.

“Not really bang."I answered a bit tense fear bang Ronald angry because we joked at work hours.

“In front there are mothers who nyariin you, said your family from the village.Try you look ahead now" he again firmly and passed away leaving us.

"Down bang Ronald, I rushed to the front near the parking area.I saw 2 mothers were sitting chatting with the guard there.

“Assalamualaikum,maaf..ibu looking for me.?” Greet me politely.

"You Yati, Maisaroh's son huh…?ask the mother.

“True Ma'am,”answer me with a smile.

"Pretty..., persis her mother huh..?said the other mother.

“Call mom,uwa Ida and this is her sister uwa”, he explained.

I immediately greeted and kissed both of his hands, a sign of respect for the parents.

“Uwa there are still relatives of Tinah wa, Tinah,uwa mu.Kepika uwa both want to pilgrimage around Banjarmasin and can trust from wa Tinah so that later stop by your workplace.Actually uwa want to meet your mother but wa Tinah does not know your home address now."obviously wa Ida.

“Iya wa, we just 3 months ago moved”.

“This is a deposit from wa Tinah for you”.said wa Ida while handing over a large package.

“And this phone number Laila, her son wa Tinah.If you are already at home contact wa Tinah at this number yes.”.

“Good wa, asap Yati contact wa Tinah.”

"How's your mom doing, Yat…?ask wa Ida.

“Alhamdulillah well wa,.”I deliberately lied, fear later wa Tinah know the true state of the mother of wa Ida and for sure it will make her sad later.

“Alhamdulillah..., then uwa both say yes.., salam to your mother.”kata wa Ida.

“Baik wa, later Yati convey mother.Thank you for the deposit yes wa” replied me while greeting them back.

I walked to the employee storage locker, I kept the parcel from wa Tinah in the locker.Don't forget I also keep the phone number of Mr. Laila on my phone.

The time has shown at 22:30 pm, all employees who enter the night shift are getting ready to go home.I rushed to the locker to pick up my belongings. 

“Yat, my flattened motorcycle tyre may leak.You came home in anterin aja Ridwan aja yes..?”ririn.

How do you keep going..?ask me back.

“This is me again watshapp my brother, ask at fetf”, he said again.

“Hmmm someone called my name,”sahut Ridwan's brother who suddenly nongol behind us.

“Basic kale...”umpat Ririn.

“Jailangkung Ririn,”sahut me at the same time with brother Ridwan.

“Iya, that's my point,”said Ririn did not want to lose her rent.

“Kak,anterin the geeky go home tuh.”kata Ririn cuek.

"Tumben, another fight huh..?asked Ridwan to tease us.

“Again M, december.”yelling me at the same time as Ririn.

“Ban motor I leaked sister”clear Ririn.

“Ooo ”, Sahut kak Ridwan does not want to lose.

“Ya already,..ayo Yat,up flying horse ku”kata kak Ridwan.

“Flying horse,..dubek times,”kata Ririn laughs while running away.

“Backed,”shouting sister Ridwan.

I can only laugh.

“Ayo Yat, handle yes..if not handle her fear later you fall,”.

“Fall in my heart..”timal again.

“Gombal”, I said as I sat on his splotch.

I felt happy in my heart.

Seriate

 

Until when can Yati keep her feelings secret to Ridwan and what things do wa Tinah want to convey to Yati...?

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