Imperfect Wife
CHAPTER 1 ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES

CHAPTER 1 ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES

"Mas can only send money that deck. You use as economical as possible yes, if there is more windfall it will be directly transfer mas."

It was a sentence that often ringed in my ear, the other day I called Mas Heri to send monthly money as usual.

But the amount that Mas Heri transfers is not like the first few months he worked on oil palm plantations off the island.

Before Mas Heri worked outside the island our domestic life was already having difficulties in terms of economy and Mas Heri my husband, he used to work as a freelancer in the project of building a toll road one of the big cities in Java.

The age of our marriage is entering the fifth year and has been blessed with two hearts .

Our first child named Rasya this year is almost four years old, while the second child named Arsya is only one and a half years old .

My own name is Kumala Dewi, a housewife who is determined to devote her life for her beloved family.

At least that was my wish at the beginning of marriage until now, but who would have thought the ordeal came when our marriage age entered five years.

Initially,

Our marriage was so sweet and harmonious, it was only when our second child Arsya was sick that she had to be treated for days in a private hospital, and still had to undergo outpatient treatment for months.

At that time, we did not have a government health card. So, the contents of the savings were drained for Arsya's treatment costs, and we are grateful that Arsya who was diagnosed with pulmonary flex disease managed to recover after a series of treatments for months.

In a similar situation, my husband Mas Heri dropped out of his contract with the project manager where he had been working all along.

Home life that initially sufficed began to experience shortages and increasingly minus until it had to be in debt to and fro.

Often I have to owe money at a neighborhood stall to be able to prepare food for my little family.

Not infrequently I also have to accept jokes from neighbors who feel his life is much better than me. They just don't know what it's like under the economic pressure I'm feeling .

Cih~ If I can be honest then right now I want to shout out loud removing all the burden.

Unfortunately I can only be silent while bowing my head every passing in front of the neighbors who are gossiping and I myself am the material of the gossip.

Huft~

One day a friend came home and offered Mas Heri to work on an oil palm plantation off the island.

The opening of oil palm plantation land requires additional labor and Mas Heri initially hesitated between having to accept or refuse.

If you accept then the consequence is that we have to run a long distance Marriage or Long Distance Marriage (LDM).

But if you refuse it means that Mas Heri must work odd jobs again with an uncertain daily salary.

Mas Heri could not bear to be away from me and the children but I convinced, for the sake of economic improvement then we must be willing to sacrifice distance and time.

"For the sake of children, for the sake of the life of our small family to be better in the future" I said at that time to convince Mas Heri.

The beginning of a hard farewell where this is the first time I take care of my two children myself. But because there is great hope for the welfare of the family, Mas Heri will fight and I will survive with children.

For the first three months everything went normal and well alone even arguably Mas Heri's job was a success.

Our economic conditions are improving, even I can open a small shop at home. I also got insurance for my family.

The neighbors are no longer condescending, even they are starting to familiarize themselves with me.

Our social status in the village became more respected, as said a lot of money must be a lot of friends.

I think it's already a concept of neighborly life in the area I live in.

However,

In the second three months Mas Heri wandered outside the island, we became infrequent in communication. From the first routine once a day increasingly reduced and ever for two weeks Mas Heri did not call, but I also miss my husband.

Besides being difficult to contact, the monthly allowance I received was also reduced. From the initial 5 million rupiah dropped to 3 million rupiah.

I had complained to my husband but Mas Heri gave an excuse if the condition of the plantation was not good . I can only sigh every time we call it Mas Heri who complains more.

Conditions like this make me have to save money, as frugal as possible so that the money given will be enough until the next month.

Have I ever called Mas Heri, asking why the money he transfers is getting less and less ? The yes period of the plantation continues to experience difficult periods up to months ?

But the answer I got was not as I expected. Mas Heri just said, "Use the best I can and don't call often if just to ask for money. I'll give it again next month. Anyway do not let children lack, you set yourself yes ."

Though I was having trouble taking care of two children, plus the monthly money that kept on decreasing. I had to brainwash how to survive until Mas Heri sent money the next month.

The ordeal did not stop there, we had been separated for almost a year, and our communication had also been cut off.

Like a storm-struck reef in the ocean, I had to survive without any definite news from Mas Heri.

Just imagine from the initial 5 million per month, down to 3 million per month and now not even even a year of monthly money that I received only one million.

A million can get what ???!!!!

I often scream in my heart when I see the nominal money transferred. My heart screamed as fast as it did.

Insurance money has been in arrears for several months, my business shop is also getting quiet because the merchandise is not as complete as before.

One million, just enough to eat twice a day me and the kids. That too with side dishes and vegetables.

Once me and my son only ate rice side dishes crackers. Sometimes only rice mixed with soy sauce.

My two children do not complain, they are my two children who are smart and understand the condition of parents .

"Hum, later if you get a lot of money Rasya just as Arsya wants to eat fried chicken ya buk." a bit of my eldest son's speech is very heartbreaking.

And the answer I can give is, "Patience, son, I hope you can wind down a lot so we can eat good."

My two little angels smiled to confirm my words.

Being honest every day in situations like this makes me cry at night while hugging my two children.