The Lives of Five Hundred Thousand
The quarrel between Nuri and Surya

I was upset at the response of Surya who instead scolded me after I spoke honestly to him that I sold fried food around every morning.

"Do you think the money you give is enough? what if I sell fried foods? a halal job. Where does the money come from so I can feed the mas in this house if not the result of selling fried foods? did you ever give me shopping money? never is it?"

"At least you're looking for a job that weighs a little cake, this is even selling itinerant fried foods. It's a shame, to be on the tarok where my face if my friend knows that a Surya's wife is just a traveling fry salesman."

"It's up to you to talk about what. 'cause that's the only thing I can do to look for extra rizki while babysitting Zain my son."

"Yes the only way you can do because you just graduated high school and stupidly eat it his brain does not function to think. your face is beautiful Nuri but baby your brain is empty and stupid is not smart like Ipah my ex-wife."

My blood started to boil. Again and again my husband insulted me and compared me to his ex-wife. I closed my eyes and clenched my hands wanting to feel like I was punching my husband's limp mouth but I was trying to hold back my emotions from exploding.

"Yes, then you divorce me this fool and go back to your smart ex-wife." I spoke as quietly as I could, even though my hands were itching to tear my husband's mouth.

"You're a little bit threatened to ask for a divorce. Though I said like that let you think of Nuri so you can be like an ipah who is good at making money."

"Yes, but unfortunately I'm not Ipah Saripah who is good at making money by entangling people with debt and taking multiple profits." Because mas Surya who often compared me with his ex-wife who said good at finding money silent silent soul kepo me thrashing and I find out about the profession ex-wife who is proud of it. According to the information I got from one of my friends who happened to be in a neighborhood with my ex-husband's wife that Ipah Saripah was a middle-class loan shark.

"What do you mean say that? never slander my ex-wife, you Nuri!" To the extent that Surya defended his ex-wife. I wonder to Surya that he is still in love with his ex-wife why divorced first.

"Who is slandering. indeed, the fact is that your former wife is smart to make money that you are often proud of and compare with me as your legal wife is that your ex-wife is a loan shark everyone also knows. Ck, great yes school to undergraduate but the end ends become loan sharks. So loan sharks don't need to go to school until an important undergraduate capital bacot doang." Finally, my itchy mouth dared to reply to my husband's hurtful words.

"But at least he's not stupid like you Nuri."

"Ck, yes, your ex-wife is smart and her cleverness is just to fool people."

"You...!" mas Surya did not accept my words and then he swung his hand about to slap me but before his hand landed on my cheek I first deflected it and pushed it until he fell backward.

Mas Surya was flabbergasted to see me, maybe he did not think that I who looked weak could defeat him. I don't even understand why I'm this strong. Is it because my heartache is out of bounds to make me stronger to be able to protect myself from people who want to hurt me physically.

"Better you quickly return to Jakarta mas, I do not want you here because it will only fight. And one more thing don't try to hurt me physically if I don't want to break your legs and arms."

My threat made the Surya mas dumbfounded and in addition subtly I drove the Surya mas from my house. Mas Surya who felt that getting eviction from me did not accept.

"Owh, you dare to throw me out Nur? well, then I won't give you any more money let you know the taste and I'll make sure you can't live without my money."

Arrogant once mas Surya as if the money he gave every month amounted to millions even though not much.

"Please mas, please just save the money amounting to five hundred thousand. I'm not afraid of hunger because I believe that God's life will never run out."

"How arrogant you are Nur, just selling mobile fried food has felt great.I want to see where your ability lies without my money."

"Don't talk too much, please talk to me right now."

Mas Surya was silent at my request and laughed loudly.

"I will not divorce you Nuri, so you feel what it feels like to have a relationship hanging" said Mas Surya with a cynical smile.

I closed my eyes and clenched my hands. I'm upset, I'm disappointed, I hate Surya who has been zoning my life. I immediately rushed away from the face of Surya without responding to his words again. I washed my face and changed my clothes. I'd rather catch up with Zain at Raihan's house than be at home just gonna always see Surya's shitty face.

I was preparing to leave the house but Surya stopped me in the doorway.

"Where are you going? did you forget your husband hasn't had breakfast?"

I cut my lips. You guys don't have a face without shame asking me to eat. Though we just had a fight about the former and also the living. He spoke as if nothing had happened between me and him.

"From now on, just find your own food. Take care of yourself and wash your own clothes, as you said earlier, that you will not give me a material living, so I will no longer serve you."

Mas Surya was stunned. My firm statement was able to make him shut up. I walked past Surya who was still staring at me. After being outside the house I turned around and stared intently at Surya who was still silent while watching me.

"I hope that after I get back home you are no longer in this house and don't forget to bring all your clothes because I don't want to put them up." Then I continued my steps away from the house and Surya mas.

"Lady...!" surya mas call is not ignored because I no longer care.

I set my foot towards Raihan's house with glassy eyes. After arriving in front of the gate of Raihan house I immediately took a deep breath and wiped my tears. I opened an unlocked gate maybe Raihan accidentally didn't lock it.

"Went in mba..!"

I tailed behind Raihan and I felt Raihan's body really smelled good and I liked the smell.

"Wheels..!"

Raihan turned to face me." why mba?"

"Where is the hajj? why does your house look so deserted?"

"Indeed this house is always deserted mba. Mother went to Bogor this morning she said she wanted to spend two nights at Syifa's sister's house."

"Sir Syifa...!"

"syifa's brother was my first Mba Nuri."

"Owh!" I did not know so well with his son Bu Haji and I also never felt to meet with the two brothers Raihan.

"Zain where's Rai?"

"It's on mba. Come on up!" I followed behind Raihan to the second floor where Raihan's room was.

After arriving in front of Raihan's room I immediately opened the door and saw my son Zain playing a puzzle on the floor of Raihan's room.

"Mrs....!" Zain smiled and looked at me and got up and walked up to me.

I noticed Zain's already neat appearance and put on a new shirt.

"Zain's had a shower, son?"

"already mama...!"

I turned towards Raihan who was smiling looking at me and Zain.

"Rai..would you bathe Zain and buy Zain new clothes?"

Raihan smiled sweetly once then nodded.

"That's a dress shirt for Zain mba!" Raihan shows a pile of paper bags on the bed. I was stunned to see the number of paper bags and approached him.

I hold one by one paper bag and I count ten. I'm sure this shirt costs a lot if seen from the paper bag and the name of the store listed.

I looked towards Raihan who was looking at me.

"Rai...did you buy all these clothes for Zain?"

Raihan smiled." yes mba..!"

"This must be expensive clothes expensive Rai.why are you wasteful. You are in college and certainly need a lot of money especially soon you thesis. Then why do you spend your money on Zain Rai? aren't you afraid of Madam Haji?"

"Mba don't worry.my money won't run out if it's just buying Zain clothes."

"But Rai..!"

"Mba just calm down. I bought all these clothes with my money instead of my mother's money."

"You have a lot of money, Rai.is it true that you work Rai until your money does not run out?" I deliberately insinuated Raihan because he was always royal to me.

"Affluent work mba he..he..!"

I can't believe Raihan's answer must be something Raihan's hiding from me. But I choose not to ask any more questions about the source of the money that Raihan has and I believe that the money that Raihan gets is halal money.