Under the Hugs of the Colonial Army

The day before the wedding

The silence of the night of Sri Utami's return from the army Barracks.He gontai walked into the yard of his house, entered the house and immediately lay on his bed. Sri Utami woke up not as usual, his house was started crowded by people who were preparing for his wedding. He walked out of the room and cleaned his body. He saw the busyness of the mothers who arranged his house and also cooked various kinds of food, he could only sigh. Nyi Dasimah patted him from behind.

" Wedding, take this food to your future-in-law's house" said Nyi Dasimah as she handed over the cooking basin, Sri Utami simply nodded and took it rushing up the delman.

****

" You finally agreed to marry my son, Sri." Said her future self-employed mother-in-law with a triumphant smile.

But Sri Utami just silently did not answer all the words of his future master, occasionally only answer 'yes'. Behind the bedroom door, Arya Wiraraja was peeking at the beautiful girl who was about to marry him, expanding her smile. Arya already has one wife and one child. However, it has become a habit of nobles not enough one wife.

Sri Utami did not feel at home for a long time, he occasionally looked at his delman, he wanted to escape immediately. After the basin was given the contents of the exchanger, Sri immediately rose and said goodbye.

Amidst Sri's journey to observe the streets, she prepared to draw up her escape plan on the day of the wedding. He silently marked the ready path. Then from the opposite direction the soldiers were in the morning sport with bare-chested, the inspector there was seen Van Berg leading his troops. Seeing the scenery, made Sri Utami feel happy and proud of Van Berg. Realizing that a pair of eyes were watching him Van Berg looked at him and blinked his eyes and saluted Sri Utami who was above the delman. Seeing Van Berg's behavior, Sri Utami laughed while covering her mouth.

Apparently Van Berg also chased after Delman who was boarded by Sri Utami and stopped him and then barged in and sat in front of Sri Utami. His sweat poured out from his forehead and the rest of his body. Sri did not bring drinks, he then opened the contents of the food exchanger was basin and gave citrus fruit to the soldier, he immediately ate it.

" Where are you out of?"

" From the home of the future-in-law."

" Why go there, don't you hate the wedding?"

" I have other plans."

" I'm coming to your house?"

"For what?"

" It seems that I should introduce myself to your fierce father, as well as I would propose to you?"

" In my custom where it can be like that, women who have received a male proposal should not accept other proposals."

" It doesn't matter, we try first, you're forced to marry her anyway, right?"

Sri Utami did not reply just to sigh, throwing away everything that made her heart tight. Too brave of the colonial army according to his mind. But he also did not refuse when the soldier wanted to come to his house.

Moments later, delman stopped at the grounds of Sri Utami's house, which was busy with wedding preparations. Sri Utami went down first from Delman, who was then followed by Van Berg, both of whom went into the house. All who saw it felt astonished mixed in shock, because the woman who had been invited to sit side by side with other youths was not commonplace.

Van Berg sat in the front room, Sri Utami carried his basin back, then informed Nyai Dasimah and his father

that they have guests. Both of them immediately met Van Berg, who was followed by Sri Utami. How surprised Raden Sugeng when he saw the coming Van Berg.

" What are you here, sir? aren't we having any business?" asked Raden Sugeng sarcastically.

" Mr. Raden Sugeng has nothing to do with me, I have business with Mr. Raden" Van Berg replied kindly.

" Hurry up and say, we're busy right now!" said Raden Sugeng arrogantly.

"WHEAT YOU TALK! YOU DON'T SEE THAT YELLOW JANUR! Sri has been taken by someone else! Don't you dare propose to him, I also don't want to beat the invaders like you master. All of you poor people, dredging the wealth of our nation, what kind of bread do you give to my son? The stolen money? Money oppressing the people? Heh!" Raden answered with emotion.

" I have a pengilan from my post as a soldier, I did not take pak Raden's people's money," replied calmly.

" Where do you think money comes from, HEH! It's From US!" Mr. Raden Sugeng is getting on board.

Van berg just silently bowed, realizing his interlocutors already hated so deeply to the Dutch. He decided to say goodbye to the host. The next day Van Berg again came to meet with the same intention to ask for blessing to marry Sri Utami. But Raden Sugeng's stance also remained firm, unwilling to accept Van Berg's proposal. Sri Utami could only cry as hiccups in her room, watching the young man she loved continue to be reviled by her father. Van Berg out of Sri Utami's house did not bring any results. He looked towards the window of Sri Utami's room, looking at the shadow of her woman was crying as she hiccupped. Van Berg could only sigh, puzzled that he should kidnap the girl.

***

As is common in traditional Sundanese weddings, some rituals must be carried out before the wedding begins, the day before the wedding Sri Utami must undergo the ritual Siraman and Ngeuyeuk Seureuh. In the yard of the house already sat Sri Utami with hair draped beside her jug. Raden Sugeng said a prayer and then Sri Utami was poured from the dipper by Raden Sugeng, followed by the Sri Utami brothers. Lastly the ritual leader wooping water while chanting jangjawokan (mantra):

the holy cai hurip

cai grace cai delights

hayu self urang bath

the shower was taken by the prophets

her flush with the Angels

the spiritual body

cur fountain of Allah

cur fountain cahayaning ingsun

cai sacred body likes

mulih sampurna

sampurna is paraniam

After that, Sri Utami's hair was cut slightly by her parents. While Sri Utami returned, the mothers and young people in the yard were fighting beubeutian and hahampaan. Sri Utami came out again, one tumpeng was prepared, Nyai Dasimah and Raden Sugeng cut the tumpeng and then alternately fed Sri Utami, as the last time he satucated children. After that Sri Utami's hair was planted in the front of the yard.

At night, Sri Utami must undergo the ritual Ngeuyeuk Suereuh (processing betel). The leader of the ritual called Pangeuyeuk invited Raden Sri Utami and Prince Arya Wiraraja to ask for blessing to his parents accompanied by the Song recited by Pangeuyeuk. The two gathered in front of both parents and then the bride was bared by rice and beaten slowly by a lid while being given a banquet. Pangeuyeuk opened the white cloth of the cover. After that, Prince Arya was led to a place that has been provided jambe and betel nut, he had to split it, then he had to pound the pestle into the granary three times.

Pangeyeuk made a lung and lastly performed a saweran. The two brides were then led along with the elders to the crossroads and throw water used ngeuyeuk seureuh. Then 7 pellets are lit as a symbol of the number of days illuminated by the sun.

During the ritual, Sri Utami just daydreamed and her gaze was blank, not implied the slightest happiness on her face. It was realized very well by Nyai Dasimah, who felt sorry to see Sri Utami. Tomorrow is the day that Sri Utami never expected, can she escape from her marriage?

SERIATE....