CUTS
Second Pinangan...

A month after a terrible event happened. The people are back to life as usual. A lot happened in that month. Government officials continue to do spelling to reduce the wiggle room of the rebels who have been cornered into the wilderness. Many empty bases were found by the soldiers in combing the forest and hills. The empty base was then used as the headquarters of the soldiers. Again I heard the news that the central government sent thousands of soldiers to secure Aceh.

I heard the news from Bang Min who was talking to Abu in front of the house. “Abu did not see, I don't know how many hundreds of army trucks that passed the sub-district road yesterday. They were also carrying tanks, only this time I saw such war cars. They're really gonna kill us, Abu.”

“Not us, but the Acehnese boy who became a rebel.” Clear Ash.

The conversation went on while I stole all the news that Bang Min had told me. Bang Min also said that Paya Nie was now occupied by a large number of soldiers. Almost every village now has more than five army posts.

Bang Min returned to his home after picking a basket of mangoes in our house to sell to the sub-district. Bang Min was a fruit collector from the village to be sold back to traders in the district. The Acehnese word is called mugee. News from the Min bang is always new because he always comes down to the sub-district with his blind motorbike. Capitalized KTP Merah Putih he can always go to the district to sell natural products from our village or neighboring villages. If the situation is not possible or there is contact with weapons then the soldiers will prohibit Bang Min from going down.

By noon the road ahead of my house sounded crowded. I looked out with Rendra and it turned out that many soldiers were getting off the truck at the base not far from my house.

“Assalamualaikum,” Say Abu who just returned from the field.

“Alaikumsalam.” Abu handed me cassava and sweet potato.

“Many new soldiers are coming. Soldiers yesterday are out of service here.”

“Ouh, fast a lot of trucks passing earlier.”

  I helped Umi in the kitchen to prepare lunch for Abu. I also boiled sweet potatoes and cassava new Abu pickik in the fields. Rendra again enjoyed eating, and sweet potatoes and boiled cassava became his favorite.

“Assalamualaikum.” I heard people greeting me from outside.

Abu was taking a bath and Umi was also bothered so me and Rendra were out. I was surprised to see the people who were in front of my house. They smiled kindly then I let them in.

“I call Abu and Umi first.” Pamitku then went to the kitchen.

“Umi, in front there are guests.”

“Who?” Umi was surprised to hear that there were guests visiting.

“Family Khalid.” Umi looked at me while sighing. Ash came out of the bathroom and looked at the two of us with a frown. “The family of Khalid is coming again.” Umi then immediately met the guests.

Abu also sighed and followed Umi to meet the guests. “Sorry waiting, I just got home from the farm.” Say Abu convivial.

“We also apologize to Abu kinsman for coming in the afternoon.” Said one of Khalid's oldest relatives, handing over the hand they had brought.

I enjoyed the boiled sweet potato on the bench behind the kitchen wall with Rendra while looking at the duck and chicken that Rendra really liked. The toddler was even close friends with the goat. He has no fellow toddler friends, only Mae often comes to play with him.

Meanwhile, in the living room an older person who said he was the representative of Khalid was proposing to me again. Their voices are still heard to my ears, this proves how small my home is.

“Khalid asked us again to ask Abu's daughter Cut for him, which is why we came here. We also just got here because a month ago it was difficult to leave the village.” Definitely Khalid's Relatives.

“I as the head of the family also want to apologize to the Fathers and Mothers because I can not accept suggestions from Khalid. It is a tradition in our lineage that female descendants will remain married to a Teuku so that our lineage is not lost. Unlike the late Ilham, he was a man. His descendants will still get the title ‘cut’ or ‘Teuku’ because they were born from men with a lineage ‘Teuku’” Clear Abu.

At this point I fell silent and began to digest the words of Abu. “Descension line?” “What's that important?” “Since when did Abu sort out one's bloodline?” Various questions came to my mind after hearing Abu's words about the bloodline.

I've heard about the noble lineage in our family, where a ‘cut’ should not marry a man who is not ‘Teuku’ aka not titled nobility like us. But a ‘Teuku’ can marry a girl who is not titled ‘cut’ because she is a boy. The lineage will follow boys instead of girls.

I was already curious then chose to steal the hearing from behind the kitchen wall. I peeled some sweet potatoes for Rendra so she wouldn't babble and got me caught off guard while eavesdropping on the parents' conversation.

“So our bet is rejected again?”

“I'm sorry, but I can't break our family's hereditary rules. It has already become like a law made in defending the bloodline.”

“To be honest we are disappointed because according to Khalid, his proposal this time will be accepted. He wants to be a father to Ilham's son, his best friend.”

“God willing, Khalid will find a more appropriate and better soul mate than my son and he will not have to add to his burden of fatherhood for my grandson. God willing, we can still take care of the baby even without both parents.”

“Alright, if so. We excuse you first, once again we apologize if it has disturbed the Abu family during the day.” Khalid's relatives got up from his seat and followed by others. Abu and Umi drive them to the front of the house that is still friendly by the army truck that just came.

I peeked behind the living room wall. At first glance I saw the look of annoyed faces from them but I was happy because Abu had rejected the proposal. I smiled sinlessly as Abu and Umi caught me peeping.

“Umi don't feel good about receiving these items.” Umi said while showing their luggage such as sugar, tea, coffee and dried pastries.”

“We can't refuse, it will make them even more angry. Just accept it, it's Teuku.” sustenance Abu Saying.

“Abu, can't Cut marry a man who isn't ‘Teuku’?”

***

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