TRAPPED IN A MARRIAGE
OPENING
The morning atmosphere in the village brings coolness to anyone who feels it. The rooster tree, the goat, the cow's moaning, and the gentle whirring of the wind plus the thin fog that began to fade exposed to the warmth of the sun. Who is not at home and comfortable with the atmosphere of a village like this.
But behind the beauty and beauty of the atmosphere, there is a girl who is tired. Her body has been sweating since morning. He was grappling with his rough work of printing bricks and arranging them neatly in a lio.
Ninu Agustina, the girl's name was already used to the menial work. His skin was brownish, probably due to frequent sunburns, his curly hair was tied up carelessly, his face was innocent but sweet. At her age she had to struggle to support her sick mother and her sister who was still in elementary school.
Yes, 3 years ago his father died from falling from a jackfruit tree as he slashed the branch. At that time, a neighbor asked his father for help to cut the branches of his jackfruit tree because it had touched the power cord. Ninu's father who worked odd jobs happily did so, enough wages can be added-plus buy salted fish to eat. But fatefully, not yet the branch of the tree was off Ninu's father slipped and fell with the back against the ground violently. No need to wait long, he exhaled before he could be taken to the puskesmas.
His mother who had been sickly for a long time forced Ninu to put the body into the backbone of the family. He couldn't possibly have to rely on his little sister who was now in 6th grade Elementary School.
Every day Ninu guerrilla work from one house to another, just washing clothes, cleaning the house, cleaning the garden, or anything that he can do. But before that, every morning Ninu worked in the lio making bricks until 10 am.
The tiredness gained sometimes was not worth the wages received, but it did not make Ninu despair. Only sometimes he muses, will be until when he goes through a routine like this. It will not lead to any meaningful life change. While he had aspirations of wanting to go to school, wanted to be smart, and wanted to live well, bring his mother to treatment, and send his sister to success.
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At 4am Ninu had woken up. His eyes gnawed while collecting lives. Although sleeping on a bed that is limp and hard but tired all day makes him sleep soundly every night.
After his consciousness gathered, he got up and immediately headed for the bathroom beside his house. Not lingering in the bathroom, Ninu immediately re-entered, his goal now was the kitchen. Light the stove, cook rice, boil water, and make porridge for his mother.
Ninu took a deep breath when he saw the rice in the pot was just enough for today. That meant that today he had to earn money to buy rice. Whereas if he got the money he wanted to buy shoes for his sister Ima. Ima has long been wearing used shoes given by Bi Tati his father's sister who lives in the next village, which is now hollow in some places. It is not worth wearing. But yes, you want how else the stomach can always beat anything.
"Teh Ninu is awake?" Sapa Ima who arrived - arrived was already standing near the kitchen door.
"Eh you've woken up Ma" replied Ninu "To the water there continue to help keep nyepu" Ninu ordered.
"Yes tea" joined Ima and went straight out to the bathroom.
At about 5 o'clock all the kitchen business is in order. Ninu immediately approached his mother who was lying on a wooden bed in his room.
"Ninu.." his mother's weak voice greeted "mother wants to go to the water, son"
"Come on, Ninu help"
"I'm sorry mom always bothers you and Ima" her mother's sad voice doesn't make Ninu stop her movement to get mom into the shower
"It's okay ma'am, it's Ninu's duty" he replied gently.
Returning from the bathroom, Ninu sat her mother in a wooden chair in front of the dining table. Melting her mother's body with warm water, combing her hair and tying it, then she prepared porridge and fried tofu for the mother's breakfast, while for Ima breakfast rice and fried tofu.
They were used to breakfast before 6 am because Ninu had to leave for Lio at 6 am as well as Ima. The distance from home to school is quite far to be reached by walking about 30 - 40 minutes. Mother will be alone at home until Ima comes home around 12 p.m. After that Ima is responsible for accompanying and taking care of the mother, while Ninu will go home in the afternoon after working in several places. Usually Ninu will go home with a tired face but sighah, especially if many who tell him to work automatically will be good enough also the money he got.
That was the routine that Ninu and Ima did every day. Tired but unable to protest. This is the path of life that he must walk. Till when? Until they venture out of the zone.
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"Bu Ninu left for lio ya" Ninu said as he touched his mother's hand. "Father later before leaving do not forget to take mom sitting in the bale and keep the kitchen door lock ya"
"Yes tea, ready" replied Ima spirit while grinning. Ninu smiled looking at his mere puppet sister. Indescribable affection for Ima and mother that makes him want to do rough work to meet the needs of their lives.
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Hi readers meet again with my work as a replacement for the previous story.
Enjoyably. Waiting for support 😍🙏