The Woman in the Heart of the Adjutant
Chapter 1

The Woman in the Heart of the Adjutant

Chapter 1

"Sir, why is Acha always teased by friends? Acha has a father, right, Grandma?" whining Raisa to her grandmother. 

Raisa little girl who is only seven years old is often made a joke by her friends because they have never seen the father of the girl who is often called Acha.

"Every child must have a father, a beautiful child," persuaded the grandmother at that time while rubbing Acha's hair so black and fish under it.

Every time Acha complained to Grandma about her friend's treatment, she tried to comfort him. 

Acha was born from the womb of Sartika–a grandmother's daughter. Sartika was pregnant after being raped. Sartika herself did not know who raped her. Seematik Sartika at that time when he came home from teaching njai in surau. The atmosphere of the village without electricity was very dark. Only the torch fire illuminates Sartika's own steps on the savage night.

Suddenly the nape of Sartika felt very sick like someone hit him. Such a powerful blow made Sartika faint. Sartika did not know that his body was dragged into a hut in the middle of the rice field. Nor did Sartika know that the night was the beginning of the gate of suffering.

Yang Sartika knew only when he woke up, he found his body only covered in perfunctory clothes. The cold of the night wind was pierced into the body of Sartika half-naked, maybe that helped Sartika to wake up from the stupor.

He can't see too much. With the help of the moonlight, Sartika fumbled her clothes. With a broken heart that could not be explained how broken, Sartika put her clothes back on. 

His groin was very painful at the time. But he did not really care, he just focused on finding a way out of the rice field under the dark of night. Along the way he cried without a sound.  His shoulders shook with tears. We'll be home soon. Sartika tried to stop her crying and wipe away the tears on her cheeks. She didn't want her mom to know what happened to her that night.

"Assalamualaikum" said Sartika from outside the house.

"Waalaikumsalam," there were steps on the floor of the house.

When the door was opened, Acha lowered her head, grateful that there was only one teplok light that lit so that the mamak could not clearly see the face of Sartika that had been swollen.

"Why did he go home so long? Usually eight o'clock is home. It's eleven o'clock just come home." 

Sartika did not know what to answer, temporarily diverted the mammoth question by asking where the father.

"Father go find you, son. Which parent isn't worried about her daughter's slow to go home."

Sartika did not have time to say goodbye to enter the room, heard the sound of onthel bicycle bell that you have. 

"Thank God you have arrived" said Mamak that night. 

Sartika began to fear how she should tell him what she was going through. 

"Where have you been, Sar?" The sound of the thin-bodied male baritone filled the room with a little light.

"Hmmm, yes, sir. Ta-tadi Sar delivering najai children in the next village. He's afraid to go home alone." Sartika finally lied. She was ashamed and afraid to tell stories.

In his neighborhood, that includes disgrace for the victim. Really sad, isn't it? Should get protection instead of victims who will look for their mistakes. 

Grandma took a breath that sounded so heavy. "Astagfirullah Al azim."

Grandma remembered the incident eight years ago, the night her only child came home late.

"Mom, why haven't you gone home, huh?" Back Acha whining to grandma.

"Acha, don't you know that you're working in town."

"Search for money for Acha, Grandma?" Back that little mouth was rummaging.

"Yes, for Acha school, for Acha snacks."

Just by diverting the conversation was the way Grandma avoided Acha's question.

Now Acha was in the lap of the grandmother who was waiting for grandfather to come home from the field. 

Not long heard back the same bicycle ringing as the grandmother's daydream. Grandpa whose body was starting to be frail had come home from their field. 

Grandfather began to get sick since he knew that the daughter he was proud of was two-bodied and did not know who should be responsible for the child he was carrying.

"Have you taken a shower, Cha?" ask Grandpa to Acha as Acha runs to welcome grandfather's return.

Acha nodded. It seems like grandfather did not feel tired, he was still able to carry Acha on his back. 

"Why not go play with friends?" ask Grandpa to Acha after Acha and grandpa sit on the porch of the house just straighten your legs all day work.

"The evil Acha friends, Cake," whined Acha. Grandpa looked up at Grandma. 

Grandma showed an expression that explained the chapter of things that Acha had always experienced.

After sipping the water presented by the grandmother earlier, grandfather remembered how people pelted the roof of their house after knowing Sartika was pregnant.

They feel the most holy man on earth. Judging someone without listening to the real thing that happened.

Initially, grandparents also could not accept the fact that Sartika was pregnant. They had expelled Sartika from the house. 

Sartika pleaded not to be expelled. However, Grandpa's disappointment at that time was very big.

The news of Sartika's pregnancy spread everywhere, until Mother Kades heard it. Be grateful, of the many residents in the village was only Mother Kades who was clear-minded. 

Sartika who walked aimlessly, was picked up by Mother Kades and brought home. 

Sartika at that time was on the edge of a cliff under which there is a river with rocks that are quite large. Enough to crush the skull of the head if it falls on it.

"Mom knows you're not wrong, son. I know you're being honest that I don't know, how your parents would have fared had you killed yourself." Kades' mother tried to open the mind of Sartika who was in a state of turmoil at that time.

"But, the same mother does not believe the same Sar, Buk," replied Sartika stammering Isak crying.

"They're not in disbelief, they're just surprised. Come on, boy. We're going home to Mom!" 

With all persuasion and diversion of views, Sartika finally can be saved. Mr. Kades quietly walked behind Sartika. After the situation felt quite safe, he hugged Sartika's body from behind and pulled it from the cliff guardrail.

Sartika wept and rested on the ground. He was beating his stomach. She hated that pregnancy. 

"Already, Sar. Already!" Ms. Kades clasped Sartika's hand tightly to stop her from hurting the four-month-old fetus in her womb.

Kades' mother managed to persuade Sartika at that time and brought her home. 

"Mom doesn't hate me?" sartika asked astonished at the attitude of Mother Kades.

"No."

"I'm just the unlucky bearer of this village, Mom. I am a bearer of disgrace. I'm a sinner."  The sartican tears broke instantly.

"You are not a sinner. It's just those who are unaware of their sins."