The Lives of Five Hundred Thousand
The sharp tongue of Bu Rida

In the afternoon, I walked while carrying Zain towards the vegetable stall. On the side of the road I look at Raihan's house in a state of closed gate may seem like Raihan is leaving.

I set my foot towards the vegetable stall with passion because tomorrow I want to sell fried food again. Even though Raihan forbade me from trading for a while and has given me a lot of money but I do not want to rest on my hands, I already feel healthy and strong.

Arriving at the stall, I met with Bu Rida and Bu Siti, the owner of the stall that I used to entrust my cracker merchandise. I smiled and greeted those who were choosing vegetables but Ms. Rida turned her eyes away like she didn't want to see me and only Ms. Siti greeted me kindly.

"Eh, there's Nuri. Then why not send more crackers to my shop Nur?" asked Ms. Siti while patting my arm.

I smiled at him and replied, "I don't have time yet to make crackers Mom!" I reasoned when in fact I was lazy to make it because the results would only be mastered by my mother.

"Lho, this Lady does not know that this Nuri has switched professions to be a traveling fryer." Ms. Rida suddenly interrupted our conversation while staring cynically at me. I feel like Bu Rida's attitude has changed since I got close to Raihan.

"Oala really Nuri? pantes alone do not make crackers anymore people busy selling. Awesome you Nuri, even though the crackers are quite good in my shop you know, people on nanyain."

Miss Rida looks chipped her lips to hear Bu Siti praise me and then chimed in, "Halah, great what the hell is Bu Siti. Selling fried food around is said to be great."

I just kept quiet and listened to their chatter without wanting to chim in on Bu Rida's spicy words.

"Yes great ma'am, still young but want to sell fried food around without any shame. Young people today are mostly proud of Bu Rida." I'm glad to see Miss Siti defending me.

"Living demands of Ms. Siti, because life must eat. Yes like this Nuri, his life is difficult plus his education is low. He just graduated High School so yes usually only selling fried foods because of his skills only that. Try if he goes to college like my son Risa can work in his office."

Ms. Rida talked about me as if there was no one near her. My chest feels very tight to hear the insults from him. I did not expect at all that Miss Rida who I consider a good person turned out to have a razor sharp tongue. I hold my emotions in order not to explode because this is in a public place and I don't want to make a mess because of my anger at Bu Rida.

"Isn't Risa still in college, Miss Rida? he has not worked and not necessarily Risa what work after graduation. The point is do not demean others, Miss Rida because the fate of people in the future no one knows. Who knows in the future Nuri became a businessman even though only graduated High School."

In my heart, I guaranteed Ms. Siti's words. Hopefully one day I can change my life destiny for the better so that it is no longer inferior to others. I was amazed at Ms. Siti, her face looks dirty and chatty but it turns out her heart is good. But on the contrary, Miss Rida who looks more covered clothes and the wife of an ustad turned out to have a venomous tongue.

"Well, businessman. It's a long way off, Miss Siti! It is impossible for Nuri to be a businessman, what businessman? fried businessman? if Risa is clear she is in college and has been made sure to get a good job and a big salary if she has graduated later."

Ms. Siti did not chimed in any more but just smiled slantedly and shook her head. Maybe Ms. Siti did not expect the wife of an ustad to speak insulting to others, as well as me who did not expect the attitude and nature of Bu rida. Because usually Miss Rida is gentle with others. Is this the true nature of a wife of a real ustad? I don't know I don't know.

I left Bu Rida and Bu Siti and then approached the shop owner and ordered everything I needed. After I finished shopping, I rushed to leave the shop and Bu Rida and Bu Siti were still shopping. But before I say goodbye to them even though Bu Rida did not respond.

I left the shop holding Zain and carrying a big plastic bag. But without thinking I saw Raihan sitting on his bike and smiling at me. He was waiting for me on his sport bike on the side of the street in front of the shop. I wonder why Raihan is here and what is needed? I'll approach her soon.

"Rai..kok you could be here?"

"Can dong mba, right I have legs and motor he..he!"

"I mean what are you doing here?"

"Waiting to shop."

"Lho, really....!"

"Here, yuk ride. Here's the shopping, let me put it in front of me!"

Although still feeling surprised at Raihan from where he knew if I was in the stall giving a plastic bag that I held to him and then riding his motorbike. Before Raihan stuck the gas, I took my eyes to look at the stall and I saw that Bu Rida was watching us with her face looking very sour.

Raihan stopped his bike in front of my house. I got off the bike and was about to get my plastic groceries but Raihan prevented it.

"Let me take the mba."

Without me telling Raihan to walk towards the kitchen to store my groceries and I tailed behind him.

"Thank you Rai?" I said after Raihan put my groceries on the table.

"Do you want to sell again?" ask Raihan seriously.

"I.iya Rai!" I replied nervously as I did not follow his orders not to sell for a while.

"Is my money less mba? Do I want to add more so that mba does not sell?" asked Raihan with a flat face. It seems he doesn't like me to dispute his orders.

"Rai.I know you have a lot of money and thank you very much for the money you have given me. But I don't want Rai's arm.because I'm used to making money."

"I just want to be healthy. What if I go down again?"

"I'm healthy Rai, inshaallah I'm strong."

Raihan sighed heavily and said, ''it's up to you." Then he took over Zain in my sling and took her to the living room.

Suddenly the sound of lightning boomed above the sky then it rained quite heavily. I was in the kitchen running to the living room because I was afraid Zain was crying at the sound of lightning. But after in the living room I found Raihan hugging Zain tightly and then I smiled to see him.

"Is he crying Rai?"

"No mba, just surprised!"

"I'm gonna take Zain for a second, okay?"

"Ready..!"

I went back to the kitchen to make fried bananas as a snack in this rainy day. After I finished frying I made coffee for Raihan and tea for myself. I put everything on the tray and took it to the living room where Raihan was.

"Well, wife of understanding!" Raihan muttered as I placed a cup of coffee and a plate of fried bananas right in front of him.

I turned to Raihan and raised my eyes but Raihan just smiled at my expression which he thought was funny.

"Warm on Rai, at eating his fried banana," I told Raihan who was sipping his coffee deliciously.

"I'll see you soon, he..he !" raihan replied and then took one fried banana on the plate and then fed it into his mouth.

"Not when you have a wife? what do you want to serve including when it rains, want a warm warm warm in the same warm coffee and fried," he said with a seductive tone. I just smiled when I heard it.

"Aren't you going to college today Rai?" askaku in between eating fried bananas.

"No mba, I just went to the showroom for a while and met one of the custamers who wanted to buy three units of cars in my showroom."

I frowned at Raihan's explanation and asked, "what did Rai mean? your showroom?"

Raihan looks wrong but before long he replied," that's mean custamer who wants to buy three units of cars at once in the showroom where I work mba."

I was a little mangosteen but I felt Raihan was hiding something from me but I don't know maybe it was just my feeling.