The Lives of Five Hundred Thousand
Gossip cheating

The clock shows Maghrib time. But the rain has not shown any sign of easing. Raihan looked at the rain outside through the window while scooping his curtains.

I watched Raihan after putting Zain to bed in the room. Then I greeted him and broke his daydream. Raihan turned his head towards me then walked over and approached me. With a distance of only a few inches Raihan looked at me. Raihan lowered his head, bringing his face closer to mine as soon as our gaze met. Raihan was about to kiss me but before his lips touched my lips he stopped a few inches and said, "do you want to pray Maghrib with me?"

The sweet breath of Raihan came out and I loved it. Without me noticing my eyes closed feeling the warm gusts of his breath. And in a state of shock Raihan teased me, "would you like a kiss from me?"

I opened my eyes and lowered my head in shame and replied, "sorry Rai.me..!" I didn't go on anymore because I felt so ashamed to speak honestly that I liked the smell of his breath.

Raihan smiled then lifted my chin so that my face lifted upwards staring at his face back.

"Hurry to divorce mba, so that I can marry you and we become a halal couple. I know I'm starting to like me, right?"

My tongue felt so faint to speak that I could not answer Raihan's question. Both of my eyes looked at her handsome face but my lips were tightly locked. I honestly said that I did start to like him not as a sister but as a grown man. I liked her every gentle treatment so much that I felt comfortable being close to her. It was a figure like Raihan that I needed to accompany me and guide my way of life.

The sound of lightning blaring in the sky scattered our houses that looked at each other so we realized that we had not yet performed Maghrib prayer. Raihan smiled looking at me who was wrong and then he asked me to immediately take water ablution. I also agreed to his orders.

I held two prayer mats in the TV room and then we performed the congregational magrib prayer. It has been the umpteenth time I pray together with Raihan, a worship that I never did with my own husband because mas Surya never wanted to pray.

"Rai, are you hungry?" ask me while folding the prayer mat.

"If I'm hungry what do I want?"

"You cook Rai!"

Raihan smiled and chimed in, "maybe, I want to enjoy mba's cooking tonight."

I smiled and rushed to the kitchen. In the kitchen I was silent for a moment thinking about what to cook? then I opened the fridge and I saw a plastic bag of fish in the freezer. I just remembered that I had bought fish in a traveling fishmonger this afternoon and I had not had time to cook it. I started busy myself cooking while Raihan waited in the living room. Half an hour later, my simple cooking was done. Fried fish, sambal and sauteed kale I served on the dining table.

I walked towards the living room to call Raihan. But after the living room, I found Raihan sleeping on the sofa. It was fitting that no sound did not even appear in the kitchen as he fell asleep. I approached him and squatted down. I put my hand over her cheek and then pat her softly.

Raihan did not open his eyes but his hand moved to grab my hand which was patting his cheek. Then she brought my palm towards her mouth and kissed it with her eyes closed. I was stunned to see Raihan's treatment. Is he dreaming? my thinking.

"Rai, Raihan..are you delirious?" I asked the sleeping person hoping to hear my voice and then he woke up.

Raihan did not answer but smiled sweetly while continuing to kiss my palm.

"Rai, are you sleeping what pura sleeping anyway?" ask me in a slightly upset tone. Raihan still did not want to open his eyes but his mouth spoke.

"I'm dreaming of getting married and doing our first night!" he said and then opened his eyes.

I moved my lips feeling annoyed to have been worked by him. I pulled my hand out of his hand and went towards the kitchen. Raihan tailed behind me and unexpectedly his hand grabbed my body tightly from behind.

"Rai, don't be like this I'm so hungry." I refused in Raihan's arms because I was afraid my mother would come and see us hugging.

"Two minutes mba!"

I finally let Raihan hug me even though I felt was wast.

"It's Rai, let go!"

"One minute more mba!"

"Wheel.....!" I pinched his hand and made him squeal in pain then released both his hands on my waist.

"Mba Nuri is so happy!" said Raihan while holding his pinched arm.

"Eventually you are naughty Rai!" then I continued my steps towards the kitchen.

Raihan eats voraciously even though the menu is very simple. While chewing I noticed Raihan who ate without a spoon but with his hands directly. Though if at his house Raihan always eat using a spoon.

"Tumben you eat without a Rai spoon?" godaku's.

"He..he ! it turns out eating with hands directly more delicious mba."

"You know what?"

Raihan nodded and put the food back in his mouth.

The rain had begun to subside and Raihan said he would go home. In addition to the rain has subsided Raihan is also afraid that his mother is waiting for him at home because his mother said today to come home and now it should have arrived at his home.

"Greetings to Hajj Ma'am, huh Rai?" I said when Raihan got on his bike.

"Whoever mba, yes I've come home first mba."

"Rai's heart!"

The dawn prayer rumbled and I woke up soon. I read Zain sleeping beside me and kissed him before I got out of bed. As usual, after praying I made fried dough. I fry some fritters vigorously until it's done.

I looked at the pile of fried food on the winnow and then I smiled at the results of my labor from dawn. I rushed to clean myself and changed my clothes that were more suitable to wear. Then I carried Zain who was still asleep but suddenly he woke up because he was disturbed.

"I'm sorry, baby mama's disturbing Zain's sleep, we're looking for more money, son?" Zain didn't answer he was just silent maybe still not fully conscious.

I walked down the street holding Zain and carrying the winnow over my head. I started to make my voice inviting the buyers but no one came to me. When I meet someone and offer my merchandise they reject it. Even when I go to my customers' homes they refuse when usually if I come they welcome it with pleasure. Not infrequently I find people who are cynical to me when I offer my merchandise.

I walked over to the house of Miss Rina, a nice person who always gives used clothes to Zain. Usually he always buys my trade with a lot of money.

"Mom Rina...Why buy fried food?" I shouted in front of the porch. Not long after, Ms. Rina appeared from behind the door of her house and looked at me.

"Eh, Nuri just looked again.Where is a week not selling?" asked Miss Rina kindly. Miss Rina has always been friendly to me.

"Yesterday I was sick and was treated in the hospital for five days Ms. Rina!"

"Yes, Allah Nur, are you seriously ill?"

"Yes Mom!"

"Continue now how are you?"

"Thank God it's healthy, ma'am, it can sell again."

"Thank God, then, I think you're going where Nur is!"

I smiled and offered my merchandise, "do you think Miss Rina would buy some fried food?"

"By Nur, but ten thousand? because the husband and children again live in his eye home.

"Oh, good Mom!" I immediately lowered my winnow and placed it on the terrace floor of Bu Rina's house.

Bu Rina looks dumbfounded to see the winnow contains three kinds of warm fried foods that are still a lot. Because I was surprised that Miss Rina was silent and then I asked, "why is Miss Rina silent?"

"Kok, fried tumbennya still many gini Nur?"

"Yes Mom, this morning only Bu Rina bought my fritters. I also wonder why everyone I offered refused including customers who usually buy but this morning they refused."

Ms. Rina looks silent to hear my complaints about my trading that has not sold.

"Nur...!"

"yes, Miss Rina !"

"I'm sorry Nur, I'm so sorry before. Actually I do not believe about the rumors circulating in this village. Because you happen to be here so I want to ask you directly whether you are right or not. Maybe the reason people don't buy your fritters is because of that rumor."

I looked seriously at Ms. Rina and asked, "what gossip does Mom mean?"

"That's Nur, I heard rumors that you cheated on Raihan with his handsome son Hajah Fatimah. I'm sorry, I hope this rumor isn't true."

I was gaping to hear a story from Ms. Rina that I was in gossip about cheating with Raihan. It is fitting that almost everyone looks cynical at me and does not want to buy my merchandise.It turns out the cause is gossip that reported that I married women have had an affair with Raihan. What is my closeness and Raihan can be said to be cheating even though we do not have any ties? So who is the one who can spread this rumor that turns off my livelihood? my thinking.

"That's not true Mom, I have absolutely no relationship with Raihan. He was close to me purely with the intention of helping. Anyway I know myself Mom, I'm married and Raihan is too young." I deny the rumors that Miss Rina told me. Although I actually doubt my own words considering Raihan who often hugs and kisses me.

"Yes Nur, I believe in you. You are patient Nur."

I nodded weakly.

"Yes already Nur, I want to fry it twenty thousand. It seems like the husband and children are coming home soon."

I nodded then stuffed fifty fried seeds into a plastic bag and gave them to Ms. Rina."

"Why so much Nur? I only ordered twenty thousand nur."

"It's okay, ma'am, rather than not eating, and here's the rest I'll probably share with the others."

"Well, thank you, Nur."

"Same Ma'am, then I'll excuse you!"

I went back to my house. I took Zain down from my sling and I put a lot of fried winnow on the floor of my porch. I'm confused about what I want to eat this much fried food. If I share it with the neighbors, I'm afraid they rejected it because just now when I offered my merchandise, they all refused.

When I was thinking about my fritters, a group of santri children passed by the front street of my house. Because my house is not far from a pesantren so often children santri milling. It crossed my mind to give all my fries to them and I called them to come to my house. They were very happy to get free food from me and there were some santri who prayed for good for me.