The Suffering of Si Kembang Village
Three Different Places

The simple house, now feels lonely without the presence of Nilam. Usman's grandfather always locked himself in his room more.

The cry - Pure's cry was no longer heard.

While the loneliness began to penetrate Hana. There was no place for him to complain. No listener for her to share her stories.

There's nothing more....

"Hana," called Pure who was already standing in the doorway of her daughter's room. "Why are you, lately, always daydreaming a lot?"

Hannah looked towards her mother. "Mom knows the answer."

"Because of Nilam?"

Hana threw away her face.

"Why do you think of that selfless girl, Hana. Been given a good life and ran away."

"That feels good is Mom, not Nilam's sister."

"Stop blaming Mom, Hana."

"Easy, Mom. I don't want to argue" said Hana lazily. "Oiya, Mum. I want to ask Mom."

Purely stepped closer to his only child. Then he sat himself on a simple bed beside Hana.

"What mean?"

"That time Mom asked me willingly to replace Nilam's brother married Juragan Dahlan. But when those Dahlan people came and really asked me to replace Nilam, why didn't you allow it? Isn't that what Mom wanted?"

Purely stunned responding to Hana's question.

"Because of Mother, Mother...."

"Because of what Mother?"

"Of course it's because I don't want to lose you, Hana."

"Isn't that what Mother wants, I became the wife of a rich man, even though that man was the Nurse of Dahlan, an old man who already had three wives."

"No, Hana. I'm correcting Mom's decision on that."

Hana frowned in wonder.

"Why? Did you know anything?"

Purely stared at both of Hana's beads.

"Because when Mother came to see him to negotiate about Nilam, the Dahlan Scribe had already determined his own terms."

"What?"

"Mothers can have many treasures, but we will all no longer be able to meet Nilam, forever."

Hana flabbergasted.

"And Mother agreed to it because it was Nilam's sister. And not me...! I was afraid I would no longer be able to see me if I really replaced Nilam. I see, don't you, Mom?"

"I-yes, Hana. Th-you're right. I don't want to be separated from you."

Hana looked at the mother's gloomy face.

" Nilam's brother didn't sin against you, ma'am.... She was a good girl and innocent too. His presence in the midst of our family, is destiny. He won't take anyone's love. She's loved by everyone, because she deserves to be loved, Mom...!"

Pure jerked to hear the words of his son who was slightly peppered the snapping.

"Merosa...."

"I'm disappointed in you, Mom. Very, very disappointed." Hana got up leaving her mother stuck in her place.

***

Today Nilam has started his activities in a small shop owned by a married couple who have been willing to accommodate him to live in their home.

"Sir, please deliver these coffees to the guests at the front" the shop owner's mother ordered.

Yes, Nilam changed his name to Nuri, as a form of disguise to avoid the pursuit of Dahlan's men. He also wore a black cloth given by Samiah's grandmother to cover his head.

"Good, Mom." Nilam received a coffee tray that the mother of the store gave him. Then step towards the front, to give the coffee to the buyer.

"Excuse me, here's the coffee, sir," said Nilam softly, placing the three-glass coffee on a round table occupied by the three shop men.

"Thank you sweet lady. Looks like you're new here, miss."

Nilam nodded politely. "Yes, Sir. Excuse me." He turned his body intending to go back into the store to approach the owner.

Suddenly, one of the three men held his arm.

"Where are you? Keep us here first. Take it easy, we'll give you a big bonus. How's it?"

"Yes, Miss. We're having fun here first" said the other man.

"Sorry, sir, I still have a lot of work to do."

"The shopkeeper will let you, Miss. Because they'll also get more than just the price of this coffee."

"No, Mister. I beg you, don't."

Nilam continued to struggle trying to release the 35-year-old man's check.

The other two men just laughed in response to their friend's mischievous behavior.

"Sorry, Sir. Please let go of my nephew. He's not used to it. I can find another escort woman to accompany the Gentlemen." The owner of the store arrived - arrived after coming from the market still with a basket of groceries in his hand.

"So this girl's your niece?"

"I want it."

"I'm sorry, sir. My niece is married."

Nilam was a little surprised by the words of the owner of the shop. But he knew it was a way to keep him from distracting the men.

"I don't have a problem with that. I can even buy her husband."

"Sir, can you see the cloth covering his head? You'd be so disgusted to see it without the cover."

"You mean?" The man had a confused face.

"He had a skin disease that spread all over his head."

Nilam was surprised a second time.

The man gasped, he immediately released Nilam's hand from his check.

"Snubrate! Get out of front of me!"

Without warning, Nilam immediately ran into the kitchen of the store, with fear still implied on her beautiful face.

"Nuri, what's wrong with you, son?" asked the shop mother, who was astonished to see Nilam's frightened face.

"A-I-"

"She's bullied those market thugs." The shopkeeper who had joined in the kitchen gave an answer.

"Which gang, sir?"

"That's in front."

"Yes, God. So they're market thugs who are known to be cruel?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Nuri, are you okay, son? Are they rude to you?"

"I'm fine, Mom. You came on time" replied Nilam. Then glanced at the store father who was busy raving a glass of tea in his hand. "Thank you, sir, for helping me."

"Same - same, Nuri. Forgive me, for giving the thugs an excuse that may not be as pleasant in your heart."

Nilam smiling. "I'm okay - what. Anyway, my head's still fine." Nilam chuckles to remember the words of the father of the tavern when facing the thugs.

"What did you say to them?" ask the shop mom.

"Nothing."

"Isshh, this father."

****

The Gavin residence

"Gav, how? Did you manage to meet your little girl?" ask Kenzie. He is now in Gavin's study at his private residence.

Gavin. "No, Ken," Javan Gavin sat on the couch next to his best friend.

"Why? Was she married and brought her husband? Or for some other reason...."

"He's alive, Ken."

"Lantas, why didn't you manage to meet him?"

Gavin. Her memory wanders on in her conversation with her neighbor Nilam's mother. And also Didy's writing that made him miss the girl even more.

The story of Nilam being forced into marriage with an old man with a three-wife, just kept spinning around in his mind.

It is also about Nilam who still remembers him. And what made his heart rustle the most was Nilam who missed him so much.

"Gav.." call Kenzie. He saw a silent Gavin looking straight ahead with a sad face. "Gav! You okay?"

Gavin. "i-yes. Wh-why, Ken?"

"Yes, my God. Looks like you miss that girl a lot, Gav."

Gavin glanced at Kenzie beside him.

"Very, Ken."

Kenzie smile. "I've never seen you this fragile. Then, what's the reason you can't meet him?"

"He's gone from that village, Ken. He's running away from his marriage."

"What?! Why...?" Kenzie put on a surprised look.

"Because he was forced to marry a married old man, who he certainly did not love, Ken."

"Oh, my God.... In this modern era, there are still those who embrace forced marriage. I don't understand the minds of those people." Kenzie threw his body on the back of the sofa behind him. "Who forced her to marry the old man, Gav?"

"His aunt."

"What's? Her aunt? Where are his parents?"

"I don't know. I forgot to ask. Back then, when I lived in that place, both of his parents were still complete."

"Ouh," replied Kenzie briefly. A moment later he realized something. Then rise from his comfortable position. "Wait, Gav. I just remembered, why is your story almost similar to the story of the girl I met in that village...?"

"REally...????"

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