The Lives of Five Hundred Thousand
Miss Rida

Today I plan to make more crackers because the stock of dry crackers has run out even the raw materials also run out. I had to shop first to the stall to buy raw crackers. I glanced at Zain who was playing in a car and called out to him, "Zain, here son!" Zain turned his head and walked towards me after releasing his toy.

"We're going to the yuk stall! Zain wants to come?" Smiling, Zain nodded in agreement to my invitation. Zain is always happy if invited to walk even though only to the stalls while walking. I kissed her whole face with a squishy look and carried her.

I set both my feet down the streets that are quite crowded by vehicles back and forth towards the stalls I headed while carrying Zain. From across the street, I turned to the white-painted, two-story house and saw that the gate was still tightly closed. But before long the gate was opened by the figure of a young girl I knew. He noticed that I was standing across the street and smiled sinisterly at me. After which, he turned his haughty gaze in another direction as if assuming I was his enemy. While I just put on an ordinary face just look at his behavior.

Not long after, a middle-aged mother approached Risa in the doorway. They talked and hugged like they looked familiar. The hajj ma only realized my existence after releasing his embrace from Risa then looked flat at me. I gave an awkward smile towards her then stepped away carrying a question in my mind that is why morning Risa was at Raihan's house did she stay over? I remembered Raihan saying that Risa was a desperate woman, she could have waited for Raihan to come home until he stayed over.

Honestly, there is a dislike of me seeing Risa staying at Raihan's house. Did Raihan spend the night with Risa? I asked in my mind. Then I shook my head so that I would come to my senses and no longer have to think about Raihan's business.

Arriving at the stall, it looks quite crowded buyers because it is still morning. There are also some mothers I know and a mother who some time is hostile to me just because a Raihan is choosing vegetables while chatting. Then I greeted them with a warm smile.

"Good morning mom!" while walking into a vegetable stall and a fairly large sembako.

They turned their heads towards me including Miss Rida but she immediately turned her cynical face away after seeing who was greeting them.

"Eh...Nuri! want to shop Nur?" bu Siti asked, He was standing two meters away from Bu Rida.

"Yes Mom!" I answered, with a smile that could not be separated from my lips.

"It so happens that we meet here, I want to tell you that your crackers have run out since that day Nur!" she continued, Ms. Siti reported about the crackers I had sent to her stall two days ago. I was astonished to hear that my crackers had run out when it had only been two days. I really did not expect it turned out that my homemade crackers are selling well in stalls. A smile also rose on my lips and I unceasingly expressed gratitude in my heart.

"Alhamdulilah Bu Siti, thank you very much for the notice, ma'am?"

"Yes Nur, if you can today send again yes Nur, keep the number added again yes so doubled." Ms. Siti asked me to send another cracker with more amount to her stall while her hand held my arm. However, I could not support it because the stock of raw crackers was gone.

"But, sorry Miss Siti, if for today I can not send because it is out of raw stock. You see yesterday I made it just a little as an experiment."

"Oala gitu ya Nur, even though it has been asked a lot in my shop." Ms. Siti said in a disappointed tone.

"Indeed your crackers are so good, Nur." A middle-aged woman arrived to have an opinion in the middle of my chat and Ms. Siti. Then me and Ms. Siti turned her eyes towards him who was standing next to Ms. Rida. I smiled at him too.

"Today I bought it at Bu Mimin's shop. The beginning of the trial one uh even to the bill until it is wrapped up in wrappers. When I ask where do the crackers come from? Bu Mimin said Nuri's crackers." Connect again. I don't know this mother but she knows and knows my name. I myself do not know all the people of Kenanga village which numbered more than four hundred heads of families, only people who are closer to home.

"Halah Bu Iyem this is excessive, where the name of the crackers it feels the same as the taste of crackers. If I think the taste is normal just like the taste of crackers sold on the market is not even good at all and the smell is rancid. Then mommy knew no, after I ate the crackers I threw up vomit you know."Ms. Rida arrived to chimed in Bu Iyem's speech with a condescending tone and tucked in slander.See once she did not like to hear compliments for the crackers I made.

"The time is rancid, the feeling is not deh, even very fragrant, and I eat it until wrapped in packs does not vomit, said Bu Iyem, he said his opinion.

"True Bu iyem, Nuri crackers that are now very tasty. Maybe Miss Rida bought some leftover crackers long time?But where's the buy, ma'am? because Nuri did not send the old crackers to the stall again almost two months ago and Nuri sent back just two days ago."

"You don't just believe the same face of calm! not necessarily his heart too. Who knows there is a jampe in crackers that he made to attract buyers. What else is a hard person, anything will definitely be done including going to the shaman." Miss Rida said with a cynical smile.

Ms. Siti and Ms. Iyem looked at each other. Maybe their thoughts are the same as I did not expect the wife of an ustad to speak such bad words as immoral. Her nature and attitude are not in accordance with the status as the wife of a prominent ustad in Kenanga village.

I took a deep breath and took it out. As much as possible I can endure my emotions so as not to make a fuss in a public place despite actually wanting to tear his rotten mouth apart.

"Well, Bu Rida vomited after eating my crackers? maybe Bu Rida caught a cold eating her can vomit so. You see my homemade crackers are one hundred percent hyginies and healthy and I dare guarantee anyone who eats them will not vomit except for people who have spiteful and envious nature on me." I said calmly but pressurized. For I am very angry with this serpent woman.

Bu Rida immediately glanced at me with her haughty face and said, "do you think I envy you Nur? what should I envy of you? rich people are not, poor people are beautiful and still look forward to my son. Your education is also low then what I envy from you Nuriii.ngaca dooong!" Both of his eyes he raised towards me. I want my fingers to touch both of his eyes.

"Nur, Miss Rida, I'm done with paying. I'm first huh?" Bu Siti arrived at the end and then said goodbye and approached the shop owner. Like he didn't want to interfere.

"I'm done too!" Ms. Iyem tailed behind Ms. Siti.

I have not yet moved from the place where I stand. I read Bu Rida who was looking cynically with her eyes raised towards me. While smiling and relaxed even though I was actually upset and angry I said with a little insinuation and threatening," Very dear yes, yes, The wife of an ustad and respected with the appearance of her shari but unfortunately her boneless tongue often makes slander. is this ustad mother not ashamed of the same appearance of this shari'a mother? Don't think I'm afraid of my mother or the same family she said. Look ma'am, once again mother made slander and shut down my business, I will not hesitate to report mother to the police on defamation charges. It's easy for me to put my mother in jail because I have solid evidence." I looked at him with sharp eyes and then I smiled at him. I did it because I was so angry.

Bu Rida looked surprised after hearing and seeing the expression of my face that suddenly changed from relaxed to piercing. His face turned tense. Maybe he didn't expect me to dare threaten him and challenge him. I myself was already upset, he was already brightly disfiguring my crackers in front of others even in front of myself. Besides, he thinks I use the services of a shaman so that my crackers sell. At times he could have brought negative issues about me again to others like he had done despite different issues. I don't care if he's just insulting me but not shutting down my livelihood. With annoyance he stomped his feet and then moved away from the stall leaving the goods he had chosen.

I walked away from the shop after I finished shopping. My right hand held Zain and my left hand carried a large bag of flour. Quite heavy if felt, especially while walking a considerable distance. However, I do not want to complain and indulge because of the small two traits that I never maintained in myself until I grew up.

When passing through Raihan's house, I glanced at the house in a state of closed gate, maybe Risa has returned to her house or is still in the house raihan. Is Raihan in his house with Risa?" again I thought of Raihan and Risa. I shook my head back, dispelling the thought I was still thinking.

Arriving home, I immediately dropped off Zain and put down my groceries. I have to make crackers immediately because the morning will change during the day and I need sunlight to dry my crackers so that they can be fried immediately and then I distribute them back to each stall. I don't know why my feeling says all the crackers that I put in every stall have run out what else was said by Ms. Siti that my crackers run out on the day I sent them.

"Zain is playing alone in the TV room ! mama wants to make crackers first, "let me tell Zain.

"mama oce!" zain replied, then he walked up to pick up a variety of toys that I kept in a large container. Zain started taking down one toy after another while I just watched it. In my heart I am grateful and grateful to Raihan because thanks to him Zain has a large collection of toys that are good and expensive. No longer like the old days who only played with junk I found in just any place. If you remember that it's sad to see Zain. Suddenly I felt like I lost Raihan when just last night he came home from my house. I looked towards the door, for some reason I expected him to come when yesterday I asked him to stay away from me.

I let out a long sigh, I should be spirit without Raihan for today and for the day of the next day. Then I took my foot toward the kitchen, and I realized that I had to make crackers before the sun got higher.

In the middle of making crackers, my brain thought back to Raihan. I don't know why in my brain is Raihan again and Raihan continues as I remember. Is it because for three days he always visited my house, accompanied me and helped me make crackers so memorable? I shake my head, I can't depend on Raihan anymore.

It took three hours to finish making crackers. At exactly ten in the morning by noon I had started drying all my crackers on the flower fence beside my house. My smile expands to see the winnowing rows filled with my hard-earned crackers. I hope that one day my small business will turn into a big one. True said Raihan, nothing is impossible if we want to try and work hard and pray to the provision giver.

When I was satisfied looking at my efforts that were in the sun over the flower fence, the tail of my eyes caught a middle-aged woman standing a few meters away then I turned to the figure of the woman and looked up at her. Since when did he stand there and watch over me? I murmured in my heart.