Asti Girl Carrying the Curse
Chapter 38. The Plan Stay Plan
The change in Satrio's attitude was also felt by Lek No and Bulek Ratih. The man was still being polite with the married couple which was considered like in-laws to him. Satrio was still willing to say goodbye and greet Ninuk's parents when he was going back to the city tonight. Without Asti and the baby, Akbar of course.
Bulek Ratih brought a lot of souvenirs for the family of Mbok Bayah who lived opposite the housing complex. Starting from a sack of rice containing 20 kg, coconut and banana garden results. Until some raw food that many brought the neighbors as a gift to complete the Akbar wedding.
Ninuk entered Asti's room after finishing Isya's prayer. It was like he was talking about something important.
" Mom I can talk, can't I?" ask the teenager slowly.
" Want to say. By the way, Nuk! Why doubt?"
" But Asti don't be angry. Seriously!"
" What the hell, Ninuk. Don't like secret play! " Asti said he didn't like it.
" Mom feels, no. What if Mas Satrio's attitude changed a lot now?"
"Feel, anyway. Ninuks. People say, yes. That's so! The life of the household has its ups and downs. Unless you read teen romance novels that are always happy ending, right?" asti said.
His words were like comforting themselves. His Life! It's a household she has to live with Satrio. All his joys and sorrows he will receive patiently and steadfastly.
" So, Ma'am! I've seen Mas Satrio familiar with a nurse who works at the hospital, where Ma'am Asti was treated when giving birth first."
Asti's eyes are glazed. Yes, God! Just heard a piece of Ninuk's story, his chest felt sore as well .
" Ninuk saw Mas Satrio sitting in the cafeteria behind the hospital. Not just that one time, ma'am!"
The teenage girl opened her hape and showed the photos she had taken secretly. Even though it looks like in the photo they seem to be chatting as usual. But the view of the young nurse in green toska uniform looks very friendly and attentive to Satrio.
"At that time, Ninuk delivered dinner for Pak Cahyadi and Mas Satrio who were guarding Mbak Asti in the treatment room. Pakde directly ate. But Mas Satrio is not, it seems. Pakde also said that Mas Satrio came to Asti's room often it's a little night."
Well, Asti knows the taste of Mr. Cahyadi, the father-in-law. Who prefers to eat his wife's cooking. Though in the hospital canteen, there are various foods and cuisines.But his father-in-law was less tasteful with food there.
"When Ninuk before entering Asti's room, already saw Mas Satrio there. When they return home, they are not there! Did Mas Satrio take the girl home, huh. Ma'am?"
" Yes, never mind, Ninuk. Don't think about it anymore. But I'm asking for help, you don't talk about this to anyone, yeah. Ma'am will ask first well - both with Mas Satrio. He must be angry if we accuse him without any evidence. Moreover, just an ordinary photo like that, can be hugged me later and accused of just looking for trouble!"
Ninuk's face became sad. " It's okay, Ma'am! Just Ma'am Asti beware. The actors are now rampant! There's nowhere...."
" Sst, stop! Anyway, you focus first on your UN. Go to college, right?"
"Yes, I want to... But I can, right. Ninuk find a campus that's close to this area alone?"
"Why? You're not sure you're accepted to college at a state college ? Don't be lazy to learn, Nuk!"
"Ninuk just want to take care of Madam Asti only! I don't want to go to college somewhere far away. Poor fellow Asti, if Mas Satrio really cheated..."
" That's it! now you focus on yourself and your interests first."
" But Ninuk was not willing, Ma'am hurt the same Mas Satrio!"
" Now focus on your exam. Then think carefully about the choice of majors and the intended campus! Except, "
" Unless what, Ma'am?
"Except, you are accepted on campus outside Java Island. Fees expensive. If you don't get on an airplane, you get on a ship."
"Eh, if you study in Bali or Lombok, how?"
Upset, Asti pulled a Ninuk-style shabby conde. "Sure, if you want to go to college there? Don't you even run around chasing after Caucasian tourists. Not to learn ..."
"Oh, Madam Asti is sick, Ih!' Because Asti pulls the konde rather strongly, until it breaks off. Ninuk's face became irritated.
Immediately Asti opened the room door while asking Bulek Ratih to enter.
"That's Ninuk, Bulek. Going to college in Bali. Indeed, which tourists want the same innocent face like Ninuk like this?"
"Don't get me wrong, Mommy? Precisely Caucasian people like girls with brown skin color mature as I. He said exotic ...."
"Exotic what? rotten and dirty sapodilla, yes." Clearly Asti smiled mockingly.
'Why do you want to go to college, in Bali?" bulek Ratih asked also confused. Because he knew Ninuk's English lessons during Junior High School and High School his grades fell.
"New in case of ,Bu ...."
"Just fantasizing about it, why are you two in a storm, anyway?"
Can't bear it, Asti laughed amusedly at the woman's nagging .
"Rather than he studied on Kalimatan Island, or on Sulawesi Island, Bulek, Tak Larung use a raft of bamboo, kapok!"
"Yes, Asti,! He likes to come home later. It does not use that fare if the campus is far away. Now he is always going home, if the monthly money is not enough. Mostly made for snacks!"
Suddenly, Ratih's bullek pulled Ninuk's hand who wanted to move to the room that used to be used by Bude Ayu almarhumah.
" Eh, where are you going?"
"Sleep, in mom's room!"
answer's relaxed.
"Can't! There is Akbar. You will disturb again! Would you like to be told to carry in the middle of the night if my granddaughter wakes up and cries?"
"Mbak Asti, is it okay that Akbar is the same mother?"
"Wild .... Sleep as well, really. Can't cook?"
"Yes, already! I slept in the back house. Sleeping with Asti is not fun. I was told to sleep downstairs. Carpet again, males...."
Bulek Ratih looked at Asti tickled because of Ninuk's behavior." Spoiled! I want to be a student! Stay far away in another city, do not carefree Ninuk later, yes. Asti?"
"Who else? Ninuk is the son of Bulek Ratih!"
The woman went back to check the windows and doors.
"Faith, Asti. There, rest!"
In the back house there are brothers Bulek Ratih who now live there. They are two pairs of husband and wife, and one brother from the family.
Almost four months ago they stayed there to help Lek No work on the rice fields and guard the gardens. Every morning, the sisters would help Bulek Ratih cook in the main kitchen for everyone's breakfast.
After that Lek No and Joko along with three male workers went to the rice field by using an open tub car. In the tub there is a pile of urea fertilizer, a gallon of water, also a coffee flask and various agricultural equipment.
Farming is a very hard job. The farmers are not only busy during the growing and harvesting season. But every day must be diligent in watching the plots of rice fields that began to be planted with rice.
They must check the water supply in the newly planted rice field, so as not to drought. All weeds or weeds must be removed for young rice to grow. Not to mention the provision of fertilizer that must be regulated also by spraying rice pests.
Lek No has taken over the paddy fields that other farmers used to use with a profit sharing system. Almarhumah Bude Ayu was forced to do so because of the urgency of the situation. Some parts of the rice field was sold to buy Asti a shop in the market, so that his nephew had a busy outside the house.
Now, Lek No bears the great responsibility that Asti has given him completely. Slowly in recent years, the coconut harvest from their gardens became the target of other traders and large-scale. The rice harvest is abundant with the best quality. All of that is a blessing in itself for the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Winangun descent. In this land of struggle.