Oppressed<\/p>\n
Manggar Maulana Mahabana<\/p>\n
It was only natural for Tugimin to dream of having educated
\nchildren. For he himself was unschooled, his parents lacking the
\nfunds to put him through school.<\/p>\n
\"The father may be uneducated, but not the children,\" he would
\nsay to his fellow pedicab drivers.<\/p>\n
\"My kids must be office workers, or even company directors. As
\na bank director, they would be rich. I will be on easy street if
\nmy kids are wealthy!\" he would say, his eyes bright, as they
\nwaited at the market for their next rides.<\/p>\n
Tugimin's favorite customer was Mrs. Neli, the wife of a local
\nbank office chief. She looked beautiful and clean, her body
\nfragrant with perfume. She lived in a mansion, but every day she
\ntook his pedicab instead of her family's sedan.<\/p>\n
\"It is nicer taking a pedicab as I can feel the fresh morning
\nair,\" she would say to him.<\/p>\n
She was kind, often giving him her used dresses for his wife
\nor the old pants of her husband Pak (Mr.) Gunadi. He was a very
\nbusy man, leaving early in the morning and returning home late at
\nnight.<\/p>\n
When Tugimin and his wife donned the used clothes, they felt
\nlike they were the village chief and his wife ready to go out to
\nvisit their neighbors.<\/p>\n
And when he looked at the example of Mrs. Neli and her
\nhusband, Tugimin became more determined to give his three kids
\nthe best education possible. He worked hard to put them through
\nschool, and would see that they went to university.<\/p>\n
Tugimin also had a calf. Before he came home in the late
\nafternoon, he would find grass to feed the calf. When it was old
\nenough, he would take it to market so he would have more money to
\npay for his children's education.<\/p>\n
His wife, Wagiman, also sold boiled corn from their house to
\nsupplement their income.<\/p>\n
\"We have to save a lot of money and live frugally, but once
\nour kids finish their education and get good jobs, we will have a
\nmuch better life!\" he would always say to himself.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
As usual, Tugimin went to Mrs. Neli's house to take her to the
\nmarket. He was surprised to find that the house was quiet, and
\nthe doors and windows were still shut.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Neli was nowhere to be found.<\/p>\n
One of the neighbors came close to him. \"They are all in a
\nmental hospital,\" she said conspiratorially to him.<\/p>\n
\"What's wrong?\"<\/p>\n
\"It's Pak Gunadi!\"<\/p>\n
The day before, the woman said, right after Pak Gunadi
\nreturned home from the office, he had suddenly acted
\nirrationally. He beat his wife and destroyed everything he could
\nlay his hands on. The police were called, and he was taken away.<\/p>\n
Tugimin was dumbfounded; why would such a kind, generous man
\nhave done such a thing?<\/p>\n
\"The bank where he works has gone bankrupt, he is out of a
\njob,\" the woman said in answering his unspoken question.<\/p>\n
Tugimin left, his mind spinning with thoughts about what had
\nhappened.<\/p>\n
\"You are early, Pak?\" Wagimah asked.<\/p>\n
\"I feel dizzy!\" Tugimin said curtly as he went into his
\nbedroom.<\/p>\n
\"You must need a coin treatment, Pak,\" said Wagimah, following
\nhim into the room.<\/p>\n
Tugimin was quiet, curled up on the bed.<\/p>\n
\"Need a coin treatment?\" Wagiman said again.<\/p>\n
\"Or perhaps you need some medicine?\"<\/p>\n
\"I feel dizzy because there is too much on my mind,\" Tugimin
\nfinally answered.<\/p>\n
Wagimah chuckled. \"What are you thinking about, Pak? Stop
\nthinking about politics, will you. We are just the little people.
\nWe just follow what our leaders say! Several general elections
\nwill not change our destiny, Pak.\"<\/p>\n
\"Keep your mouth shut, will you!\" Tugimin shouted.<\/p>\n
Wagiman was still chuckling. \"Come on, Pak. What is it you
\nhave been thinking about?\"<\/p>\n
Tugimin slowly told his wife about Pak Gunadi's breakdown.
\nWagimah listened quietly, her eyes telling her feelings of
\nsympathy and sorrow.<\/p>\n
\"I know now that having a respectable job carries serious
\nrisks. If you lose it, you may end up in a mental hospital!\"
\nTugimin said.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, Pak. The higher you climb, the harder the fall.\"<\/p>\n
\"That's why I have begun to feel worried about our kids.\"<\/p>\n
\"Why?\"<\/p>\n
\"I'm afraid that if our kids fail to earn a university degree
\nor don't get good jobs after graduating from university, they
\nwill go crazy from despair and frustration.\"<\/p>\n
\"Let's just hope that this will not happen to our kids.\"<\/p>\n
\"We are poor people. I can see that our kids cannot compete
\nwith the children of rich people.\"<\/p>\n
\"So, what had we better do, Pak?\" Wagiman asked, her voice
\nheavy with a sense of burden.<\/p>\n
\"I think our eldest son should not go to the university after
\nfinishing senior high. Let him take care of our calf. Then he can
\nalways join the army ...\"<\/p>\n
\"No, Pak. You have to spend a lot of money to join the army.
\nLook at Yanto, Pak Somad's son. He was rejected by the army and
\nhas ended up emotionally traumatized. Do you want to see our
\neldest like that, laughing to himself night and day?\"<\/p>\n
Tugimin did not say anything, for he knew it was true.<\/p>\n
\"Well, the son of a pedicab driver must also be a pedicab
\ndriver,\" Wagiman said.<\/p>\n
\"But I have always encouraged our kids to study hard and earn
\na university degree!\" Tugimin said.<\/p>\n
\"That is just your aspiration, Pak. But you must accept the
\nreality of our lives.\"<\/p>\n
Tugimin sighed, long and deep.<\/p>\n
\"Come on, Pak. Don't think too much or you will get sick.\"<\/p>\n
Tugimin felt sure his kids would never want to be a pedicab
\ndriver like him. They would roam the streets in the city, taking
\ntheir diplomas and application letters, seeking jobs from one
\ncompany to another.<\/p>\n
But they would never succeed, beaten out by children of
\naffluent fathers who could pay their way.<\/p>\n
It was close to midday and Wagimah was busy in the kitchen.
\nTugiman was still lying in bed, deep in thought.<\/p>\n
After midday, his children returned home. His eldest told them
\nhe needed some money for the diploma and a farewell party at
\nschool. His second eldest also needed money for a study tour
\nduring the school holiday.<\/p>\n
\"We have to make a donation for the construction of a new
\nschool building,\" his wife said when their youngest son came in
\nthe door.<\/p>\n
Tugimin's mind spun into a dizzying swirl of confused
\nthoughts. He walked slowly into the bedroom, took a mirror in his
\nhands and slammed it to the ground. He was only getting started.<\/p>\n
Translated by Lie Hua<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/oppressed-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }