Back from Malaysia<\/p>\n
Manggar Maula Mahabana<\/p>\n
Suli had been working as a domestic servant in Malaysia for two
\nyears now, leaving behind her husband, Karto, and two children:
\nNono, who was aged four and a half, and Nini, 3.<\/p>\n
Karto patiently looked after both children. Every time Nono
\nand Nini asked when their mother was coming home, Karto would
\nanswer: \"Emak1 will return when you go to elementary school!\"<\/p>\n
Karto's reply would soothe their longing, but then they would
\nask how she would get home.<\/p>\n
\"She'll fly home. The plane will land right in front of the
\nhouse,\" said Karto.<\/p>\n
\"Hooray! We'll have a plane!\" Nono exclaimed with joy.<\/p>\n
\"Let's fly together, round and round up there!\" Nini shrieked.<\/p>\n
Karto smiled, amused by the jovial response of the children.<\/p>\n
Every afternoon, Nono and Nini would scream happily as an
\naircraft flew overhead.<\/p>\n
\"Maaak! Come here quickly! Come home!\" they shouted while
\nclapping their hands.<\/p>\n
They waved until the plane was out of sight, smiling without
\nshowing any sadness or disappointment. For they knew their mother
\nwould be back only when they went to elementary school.<\/p>\n
* * *<\/p>\n
Suli regularly sent home most of her earnings via money order.
\nThe amount was more than enough to support her family. Karto
\ncould even afford to save part of the money in the bank.<\/p>\n
Karto spent his days hanging around at home, instead of
\nworking in the fields. While the family had no problem earning a
\nliving, he thought there was no need to work. And since he was
\nalready dependent on his wife, he willingly stayed at home to
\ntake care of the children. He deemed it his duty to do so.<\/p>\n
Lonely? That's what Karto felt when his kids were asleep. As a
\nnormal man, he was frequently uneasy in his loneliness. In the
\nfirst year of Suli's absence, he could still spend his days
\nwatching TV or listening to the radio. But in the second year, he
\nbecame restless. One night, he felt so desolate that TV and radio
\nbroadcasts became too boring to keep him occupied.<\/p>\n
\"Do I have to cheat on Suli?\" He thought he could find another
\nwoman with whom he would share his affection.<\/p>\n
\"Who can I make love to?\" Karto tried to recall the women he
\nmight be able to approach.<\/p>\n
\"Sri Wati!\" He whispered one of the names. He was sure that
\nthe young and pretty divorcee would need his company. Sri Wati
\nhad been divorced by her husband after five years of marriage
\nbecause she was considered infertile.<\/p>\n
\"I needn't worry about her getting pregnant when I make love
\nto her!\" Karto thought.<\/p>\n
He was convinced of winning her heart. He would offer her new
\ngowns or a gold necklace if necessary, by spending the money he
\nhad saved from Suli's wages.<\/p>\n
When Nono and Nini were sound asleep that night, Karto
\nimmediately left for Sri Wati's house.<\/p>\n
\"What's wrong, kang2?\" asked Sri Wati in surprise.<\/p>\n
\"Come over to my house! Suli has sent a letter for you!\" Karto
\nreplied.<\/p>\n
Sri Wati readily followed Karto.<\/p>\n
\"To be frank, I'm lonely, Sri!\" Karto said as they reached his
\nhome.<\/p>\n
Sri Wati looked astonished, but his coaxing soon did away with
\nher fears.<\/p>\n
\"From now on, let's make believe that we're a married couple!\"
\nKarto said forthrightly. Sri Wati gave in to his hugs and kisses.<\/p>\n
\"Our relationship must be kept secret,\" said Karto.<\/p>\n
\"What if people find out, kang?\" Sri Wati said, anxiety in her
\nvoice.<\/p>\n
\"We'll get married!\"<\/p>\n
Sri Wati smiled in relief.<\/p>\n
Their affair eventually became public knowledge. All their
\nneighbors were aware of it, yet they finally chose to turn a deaf
\near, as if they hadn't heard anything about it. The widespread
\ngossip, lasting several days, died down.<\/p>\n
\"Don't you worry, Suli knows nothing. She'll be back in two
\nyears!\" assured Karto as he observed Sri Wati's apprehension.<\/p>\n
Since their neighbors no longer cared about them, she dared
\nstay in the same house with Karto.<\/p>\n
\"Don't be sad if emak doesn't come back,\" Karto told the
\nchildren. \"You've got another mom now!\"<\/p>\n
\"Another emak, so we've got two?\" asked Nini in an innocent
\ntone.<\/p>\n
\"Another? Who?\" Nono was confused.<\/p>\n
\"Mak Sri Wati! She's your new emak, she always loves us!\"
\nanswered Karto.<\/p>\n
Nono began to understand.<\/p>\n
The children's amiable attitude added to Sri Wati's relief.
\nThey frequently asked her to accompany them when going to bed.
\nShe treated them tenderly and affectionately like her own
\nchildren.<\/p>\n
One day, Sri Wati's parents admonished her for not getting
\nmarried to Karto. She was advised to be married even if only
\nwitnessed by a village religious chief.<\/p>\n
Sri Wati, however, ignored her parents' warning. She even
\nasserted that there were no special relationship between her and
\nKarto. She said she stayed with him only out of pity for Suli's
\nkids. She just wanted to help look after them so that they would
\nnot live without motherly love.<\/p>\n
\"Don't be eaten up by rumors!\" Sri Wati cautioned her parents,
\nwho kept silent thereafter and never blamed her again later.<\/p>\n
* * *<\/p>\n
\"Emaak! You needn't come back again, I've got a new mom!\" Nini
\nscreamed, standing beside Nono while looking at the sky.<\/p>\n
Karto and Sri Wati watched them from the porch, smiling with
\npleasure.<\/p>\n
Sri Wati was wearing Suli's nightdress, and Karto seemed proud
\nnext to her.<\/p>\n
That night, Karto was awakened from his sleep by a knock on
\nthe door. He hurried to open it, only to be shocked by the sight
\nbefore him.<\/p>\n
\"You were sleeping, kang?\" asked Suli while stepping inside.
\nShe walked straight to the bedroom, carrying her bags.<\/p>\n
Suli was flabbergasted to see her two children on the same bed
\nwith Sri Wati. She exploded into a loud cry.<\/p>\n
Sri Wati woke up.<\/p>\n
\"That's unbelievable of you, kang Karto!\" exclaimed Suli
\nthrough her tears. \"You have the heart to cheat on me!\"<\/p>\n
Karto could only stand in panic.<\/p>\n
Sri Wati turned pale in her shame, and chose to flee.<\/p>\n
Nono and Nini got up, looking confused and worried.<\/p>\n
Suli rolled on the floor, shrieking and wailing. She felt her
\nheart torn to pieces.<\/p>\n
For the next few days, she did nothing but stare into space,
\nslowly losing her mind.<\/p>\n
Translated by Aris Prawira<\/p>\n
Notes:
\nEmak or mak: Javanese term of address for a mother
\nKang: Javanese\/Sundanese term of address for an older man<\/p>",
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