The Lives of Five Hundred Thousand
Retaliation to Miss Rida

My savings money is running low because I use it for my daily needs while I have no income from anywhere. Mas Surya really did not give anymore of his five hundred thousand to me. I don't want to ask him myself either. I don't want to be a beggar to a husband who doesn't have a heart like Surya.

I was thinking of applying for a job at a company but I was thinking again how would Zain be if I left? I am confused in what way to make money? while my brain hasn't come up with any ideas to figure out how to make money.

"Did I make crackers again? what's more now that there's no mother." Suddenly the idea of making crackers appeared in my brain. Not that I feel happy because of the departure of my mother who is now living outside the area along with her biological sister there. But, I just want to enjoy the results of my efforts to make crackers that I have never enjoyed.

Three weeks passed. The news of my closeness with Raihan began to fade. Even now Raihan is rumored to be dating Risa. And for the past three weeks I have not seen Raihan.

In the morning, I walked as I led Zain slowly through the streets that were still empty of riders. In the middle of the journey and accidentally I passed by Raihan who seemed to be exercising in the morning. From a little distance Raihan stopped running the next morning and looked at us who were walking towards him. I became nervous to see Raihan in front of me but as much as I could make it as calm as possible.

When I got very close to her I lowered my face and passed her without greeting her and while Raihan just kept quiet while watching me. But without guessing Zain who I was leading grabbed Raihan's hand.

"Uncle lehan's...Lindu Zen!" said Zen while looking up high looking at the face of Raihan who was silent. I did not expect that little child could talk to express his longing feelings without being directed by an adult.

"Zain, take his hand off. Uncle Raihan is busy, Zain mustn't bother. Let's continue the road again soon we reach the stall."

I pulled my little child's body plan to continue our journey. But his tiny hands did not want to be released and coincided with that Raihan crouched down and clutched tightly Zain's tiny body.

"I'm sorry uncle, forgive uncle!" Raihan said an apology with a voice shaking like holding back a cry. I was also moved to see Raihan holding my son in love while Raihan kissed Zain's face and head. I didn't feel like my eyes were flowing in the river.

"Zain where are you going, baby?" raihan asked after releasing his embrace from Zain's tiny body.

"Antal mama walung."

Raihan looked up at me and Raihan stood up to match his height with me. He stared at my face which was constantly shedding tears nonstop. Raihan stretched out his hands cupping my face and wiped my tears with both of his thumbs.

After that, Raihan brought my head leaning against the chest of his field and I did not reject it because I missed the chest of this field, I missed the roar of his fragrance breath, I missed Raihan's gentle treatment. I cried in Raihan's arms, spilling my heart. Raihan stroked my back as if to soothe me from the crying and occasionally he kissed the shoots of my head.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" raihan's words made me realize that we were on a public road even though there was no house but only a garden. I was afraid that someone would look at our actions and be made into gossip again. Then I immediately pulled my body from Raihan's arms.

"Sorry Rai, I'm afraid that Haji and Risa's mom saw us and they misunderstood me" I said, wiping my tears. Then I held Zain and was about to leave, but Raihan held my hand and held him tightly.

"I miss you so much mba!" Raihan admitted that he missed me. I wanted to express my feelings to her that I missed her too. However, I can't, anymore because of the circumstances.

"Rai, please let go of my hand, I don't want your lover to see us and misunderstand."

"Love, whose lover?"

"Aren't you the same as Risa?"

"Do you think I'm dating Risa?"

I did not answer the question but rather stared in both eyes.

"Risa's not my girlfriend, even though her parents have asked my mother. I've only been trying to get close to the wishes of Risa's parents and my mother but we don't have any attachments. Anyway I can't like it even though I tried it but my heart can't turn away from you mba."

"Rai.I'll go first!" I switched the conversation because I did not want to linger long close to Raihan, I was afraid to be gossiped about again.

"Where are you going mba?"

"I'm going to the stall at the end of Rai street!"

"I'm taking ya mba?"

"Is it because of the gossip that mba doesn't sell anymore?" tanya Raihan arrived to discuss the sale of fried foods.

I sighed, "maybe my sustenance is not Rai's!"

"Well, what do you do now?"

"I'm just unemployed. Actually I'd like to apply for a job at the company but if I work outside what about Zain."

"Does my husband still give me money?"

Raihan's question made me shut up. I was confused to answer. Did I be honest with Raihan that solar mas no longer gives me a living. But if I'm honest about the same thing I opened my husband's disgrace even though Raihan may have known how Surya behaved to me. Bathin I'm in a dilemma.

"Mfa...!"

"Oh, yes Rai, I go first huh?" I hurried away leaving Raihan who was still dumbfounded to see me.

After arriving at the stall I saw Bu Rida chatting with two mothers while choosing vegetables. I greeted them but Miss Rida looked cynically at me and I ignored her. I picked the vegetables next to their table so that even their chatter could be heard clearly in my ears.

"I often see Risa's mother's son shaking hands with Raihan if they are near Bu Rida."

"Yes can be said like that Mom, Madam Hajah Fatimah asked Risa to be her daughter-in-law,"Jawab Bu Rida in a loud voice probably intentionally so that I could hear her.

"Well, seriously Bu Rida? will be made by dong with haji ma'am!"

"he.he ! Actually, who wants Risa is a lot of ma'am, but Bu Hajah Fatimah has spoken first as I want to tie Risa to Raihan.

"Well, but does Raihan want to be in a match with Risa as well as Miss Rida? because as I know Raihan is close to.....!"

"Yes dong Bu, she might reject my beautiful son, still a virgin and not a married woman but a gatel with each other. You see where they're shaking?" Bu Rida denies Risma's mother's question. She's so confident that Raihan likes her son. Though Raihan has just been frank that he has been betrothed by Risa's parents to his son Risa and Raihan himself does not like Risa. Funny indeed women ask men like custom minang only when here custom Sunda. I know that Ms. Rida insinuates that I am a married woman who is same as other men. He doesn't know how Raihan bucin is to me and I'm sure if he knows his heart will get hotter.

After choosing what items I will buy, I immediately handed the goods to the seller to count and pay for them. When I was about to leave the shop there was a new mother came and asked why I did not sell anymore.

"For the cheap gossip that people have spread envious of me Mom, because Raihan is closer to me than his son who is said to be beautiful and well educated. Until Raihan in the betel nut you know the woman's parents are so afraid that his son with Raihan. Though Raihan himself did the same thing to me if he did not like the woman and not his type.if he looks to piggyback on the woman, it is not Raihan's will, you know, but the compulsion of her woman. If you think it's funny too, Mom, women ask for a kayak man in the land of minang only when here the custom of Sunda and should be the man who asked this woman instead..uh..!"

I answered him at length with my voice loud. I purposely let the three mothers hear it. That's right, you, the two mothers who were beside Bu Rida turned to Bu Rida as if to find out what I said was true or not because the version of Bu Rida Raihan's parents invited her child. While Bu Rida herself turned red while staring intently at me.

"Kok, do you know much about Raihan Nur?"

"Raihan himself who spoke with me Mom, we were close from the time Raihan was still in High School. We often eat together and often go together even stories together

If something happens to Raihan he often tells me and vice versa I tell him so we know each other. If you don't believe me, just ask Raihan my words are true or just exist."

"So about your gossip with Raihan is not true dong Nur?"

"Betul Bu, and the fall of slander. Oddly enough, Mom, the guy accused me of cheating with Raihan but he himself supported his son to be with Raihan. That's weird! getting rid of me from Raihan by slandering and then entering his son into Raihan's life. I know the mode."

"I wonder who the woman you're talking about is Nur? is he a village man too?"

"True Bu, honorable and respected people in this village. The wife of an ustad but her mouth is like a person who has never learned about the religion of Islam and the law alone" I replied in a satirical tone. I lyrics the person I satirize is being misbehaved because it was stared at by three mothers who were in the shop including the mother who spoke to me. It turned out that he immediately realized who I meant and I was satisfied to see Bu Rida's facial expression.