Idol Nanny
Economic Hit,

"Fin, the more here the market gets quiet. Not like before," complained Badiah with his right hand used to support his cheek. The four-five-year-old looked at some people who passed by the road in front of her lapel.

Fina only smiled faintly when she heard complaints from Badiah who was none other than her real mother. The hijab girl has been helping her mother sell tempeh and bean sprouts at the market since her father died a year ago.

"Patience, Mom." That was all Fina could say.

Fina Imaniyah was the first child of the couple Badiah and Hasan. She has one younger sister who is still sitting in the second grade of High School and became a santriwati in one of the boarding schools in Jombang. Likewise with Fina, since graduating from elementary school, she went to school and entered the boarding school in Jombang. Of course in a different place with her sister named Khairunnisa or commonly called Nisa.

"Assalamualaikum, Madam Bad" said a woman of the age of Badiah as she stood in front of her lap.

"Vaalaikumsalam. Masayehlah ... Ma Sri how are you? We haven't seen each other in a long time, Mom." Badiah stood up from his place and immediately approached the figure.

"Yes, Mom. I rarely go anywhere because I have grandchildren. I am busy taking care of the grandchildren now" replied the woman who had the name Sriamah.

"Alhamdulillah." Badiah was happy when he heard the good news, "Where was this from, Mom?" ask Badiah.

"Oh, my goal was to come here to see Bad Ma'am because there was a letter from Nisa. I yesterday was 'jambang' to the cottage and Nisa kept sending a letter to Bad ma'am," said Sriamah as he handed a piece of paper folded into a square.

Sriamah's youngest child is indeed a pesantren with Nisa. They used to be a school when they were in elementary school and for shelter, they were neighbors of the village. It is traditional if pesantren children leave a letter to their family if they need something, because in the place where Nisa studied it, the rules are quite strict. Families are only allowed to visit once a month.

"Thank you Sri ma'am is willing to bother coming here just to deliver a letter from Nisa," said Badiah while wiping Sriamah's arm.

"Together, Mom. Then I say yes ma'am, because there are still needs elsewhere," said Sriamah with a sweet smile.

Badiah went back into his lap after Sriamah left. He sat on the bamboo bench that Fina was in at the moment. The middle-aged woman immediately opened the letter from her youngest daughter because there must be something important so Nisa sent a written message for her.

Assalamualaikum, Mom.

Mother and Mother Fina when to go to the cottage? Nisa kangen loh same mother and mother. Bath soap, detergent, shampoo, sanitary pads, toothpaste are also thinning, ma'am. If the sideburns do not forget to bring ya ma'am.

Mom, I'm sorry if Nisa's bothering me. Yesterday the school requested that Nisa immediately pay off the books, arrears of SPP and the rest of the building money payment. The school will not give the exam card before it is paid off because Nisa has been in arrears for a long time. The semester exam is next week, ma'am. Nisa wishes mom would come to the cottage with Fina. That's enough news from Nisa, once again Nisa apologizes for bothering mom.

Wassalamu'alaikum

Nisa

Bradiah could only sigh after reading the letter from his youngest daughter. His head felt heavier because he did not know where else to find money to pay for Nisa's school fees. Since her husband died, her small family's economy has been in disarray. Debts in the brothers began to pile up.

"Why, Mom?" fina asked after observing her mother's facial expression, "Nisa asked for a sideburn, Mom?" Fina tried to guess the problem her mother was thinking about.

"Yes. The school told Nisa to pay the delinquent due to next week's exam. Where else do you have to find money, Fin? It is also time to pay the bank. Earlier this morning was contacted by the bank," muttered Badiah without looking at Fina.

"That means everything has to be paid in this week huh, ma'am?" asked Fina in a soft voice, "are we looking for a loan?" fina's proposal.

"Where are we going to get another loan, Fin? We already have debt in lek Har and lek No." Badiah stared at his eldest daughter's face at a glance and after that turned the other way.

The sadness is clearly depicted on the sweet face of Badiah. It made Fina feel sad and did not know what else to do. Since his father died, his family's economic condition has declined dramatically. As the first child, Fina felt useless because it could only help Badiah sell in the market. Several times Fina applied for a job with her High School diploma but was not accepted, as she did not have any experience.

"Fin, I'm going to Anin's lap for a second. It's time to pay the price now" said Badiah after standing up from his place after taking the money from the wallet.

While Fina could only sigh heavily after seeing the departure of Badiah. Again and again the feeling of guilt is present again because it can not help anything other than selling in this small field.

"Eh Fin, daydream anyway! Falling in love again or what?" Suddenly the sound of Mega who was none other than the chicken seller beside the Badiah stall surprised Fina.

"Find it again! There are still fresh tomato baskets. Wanna don't?" bargain Mega while pointing the stall at the end of the market.

"Mbak Me no job info? If there is for the info dong Mbak, who received employees with a certificate of MA (Madrasah Aliyah)." Fina tried to find a job after remembering the heavy burden her mother bore.

"Yesterday Budeku who works as a maid in Surabaya nawarin job, Fin. It's a babysitter. He said his salary was quite large and had to live there," said Mega after remembering the information conveyed by his mother's brother.

"Nothing other than that?" Fina looks sluggish after hearing the job mentioned by Mega.

"Eh, don't get me wrong. My word is his salary is big, Fin. Three million five hundred base salary. It's normal to be a nanny for two million, Fin. If in Surabaya, which is next to my employer's house, you live in the employer's house and can eat. You are patient and patient with a child. Why not try it," explained Mega without exaggeration.

Fina seems to be thinking about an offer from Mega. Three million five hundred was a considerable amount of nominal for Fina. Maybe with this salary he can help the cost of lodging and school Nisa, as well as paying bank installments every month. That way Badiah does not need to seek loans to others. Sometimes Fina felt hurt when she heard the spicy words from her mother's brother when asking for help.

Sometimes it is like that, we will be looked at one eye only because of treasure.

"Look Me, now make sure first what his job is still there. Later tell me again Mbak Me, but that is not fitting there is a mother," said Fina after thinking about the job.

***

The three rakaat obligations have been completed by Fina and Badiah. Women of different generations were sitting in the living room they used to occupy to gather with family as well as the dining room. The 21-inch television is there as a complement.

"Why are you crying?" Fina felt astonished when she saw her mother who was sobbing with a gaze that could not be separated from the television screen.

"Mother was saddened by Fin when he saw the hafidzah. Mom thought about Nisa at the cottage. If our economy continues like this, is it possible that Nisa succeeded in memorizing the Qur'an. I don't think I can afford it anymore." The sobs of Badiah sounded bitter. The forty-five-year-old woman could not imagine if it happened, because the goal of her late husband was to have a daughter who managed to memorize the Qur'an.

Fina could not bear to see the sadness on the face that began to wrinkle. Maybe this is the right time to discuss about the work offered by Mega. It just so happens that the job has not been filled by anyone else. The beautiful girl also sat down in front of the chair occupied by Badiah.

"Mom, Fina wants to talk to Mom," said Fina while touching the knee of Badiah covered with negligent batik.

"What's up, Fin? Did Lek Har call you so we can pay the debt right away?" ask Badiah with a trembling voice.

"No. Ma'am. Fina wanted to ask permission to work in Surabaya, Mom," Fina muttered in a soft voice.

"What work, son? No! Mom won't let you. I'm sorry if my complaints become a burden on your mind, but I don't want if you have to work, let alone get to Surabaya," refused Badiah while staring at his daughter's face intensely.

Fina told me about the work that Mega delivered this morning. He tried hard to convince his mother to give him permission to go to Surabaya, "Mom, Fina please for this time only, give permission for Fina to work. There's no other way, ma'am. Fina did not want to if until Nisa dropped out of the mumps because of the cost. After all Fina worked only for a while, until Nisa finished school and went to school, Mom." Fina looked at Badiah expectantly.

Badiah became more and more stunned after hearing the request of his eldest daughter. Really, from the bottom of his heart, Badiah did not want if Fina worked as a nanny, let alone away from home. However, the cramping economic situation made him worry about the decision.

"If you go to Surabaya, what about your martial arts training, son? Who will train the children in the village hall?" ask Badiah when he remembers the children who needed Fina.

"Later Fina will talk to kang Ali. There are a lot of other coaches, ma'am. Now the most important thing is the blessing of Mother. Yes ma'am .. This is an easy job, ma'am." Fina was still trying to convince Badiah.

The middle-aged woman was pensive for a few minutes. Perhaps she is at war with her own feelings, "well, if this is God's way for our family, mother allows you to go there." He was forced to give permission to his daughter. Some advice for Fina was heard there, because Badiah did not want Fina to forget the religious guidelines she had learned in Pesantren for six years.

"Thank you, Mom. Fina will definitely do her best. Fina won't do anything that can tarnish our family" Fina said with a sweet smile. Tears could not be contained anymore, "then Fina now want to meet Mega and kang Ali mbak to finish the business before Fina left for Surabaya," said Fina before leaving her place.

Could Fina's decision change the family economy or make things worse?

...🌹To Be Continue 🌹...