03. Criteria

Sakha returned to the field feeling still annoyed. He regretted having gone home earlier, even if only for a moment. Because his third wife, Nia, never stopped teasing him even though she knew that day was not her schedule. Sakha does not really like aggressive women and is always willing to interfere in his affairs. Nia knows that, not to interfere in Sakha’s business, even though they are husband and wife. The three wives of Sakha know this, but sometimes they often forget because they are controlled by their own feelings.

Earlier, Nia had mentioned Sakha’s plan, which Sakha had never told anyone other than the person concerned. Sakha was so irritated that his wives began to feel entitled to take control of his life.

“Sir!” Galih, who was watching the workers transporting sacks of corn that had been harvested into the box car to be taken to the warehouse, greeted Sakha who had just arrived.

“Tonight,” said Sakha after standing beside Galih.

“Why, Sir?” asked Galih confused.

“You go to the Head of the Neighborhood’s house again and claim the promise,” replied Sakha.

Galih cleared his throat. “Don’t you want to get to know your future wife, Sir?”

“I don’t have time because tomorrow afternoon I have to arrive in Jakarta,” said Sakha. “But one thing,” he continued, pausing, “I want you to judge them for me.”

Galih nodded in understanding.

“Hmm. Do you remember the type I mentioned earlier?”

“I do, Sir. Just leave it to me.”

“Then, I will leave for Jakarta tonight. Does your job well, Galih.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Having given such an order, Sakha turned and walked away from before his servant. Galih stared at his boss’s back for a moment, a frown of doubt appeared on his forehead.

Galih more or less knows the reason Sakha wants to rush to get married again. It’s not that he attracted to Mr. Jamal’s daughter who is growing up in the village, it is just that Sakha has other agendas. That is an heir.

He is already head of three, but has not been blessed with children even though the women in his house have almost fulfilled the quota.

Sakha will not care if his fourth wife is Mr. Jamal’s daughter or not. The important thing was that the woman was able to give him a child. Even so, Sakha certainly did not want to be fussy. It just so happened that Jamal owed Sakha a lot and most likely couldn’t pay it because the man was now sick and unable to work. Jamal also happened to have beautiful unmarried daughters.

Actually, beauty is not included in the criteria that Sakha has mentioned. As long as she is a woman who is able to conceive and has the qualities and attitudes that Sakha wants. However, Galih saw from Sakha’s wives that all three had very beautiful faces, then Galih included ‘beautiful’ into one of the criteria that his master’s wives must have.

Galih also suspected that Sakha was interested in marrying someone here to strengthen his position further in this village as an immigrant. So that no more envious people who try to knock and throw him out of the village.

While doing his job supervising the workers, Galih thought about which of Jamal’s biological daughters would meet all the criteria Sakha had mentioned to him.

The big sister, Mawar.Or the little sister, Melati. Or maybe, Ririn?

Nevertheless, from Sakha’s meeting with Ririn yesterday, it seems that Sakha doesn’t seem interested in women who look like that. Sakha didn’t even know that Ririn was also Jamal’s daughter, because when compared to her two sisters, Ririn was clearly very different. So Galih removed Ririn from the list of criteria he was looking for.

***

Airin opened her eyes, feeling her body so heavy and stiff. Pain hit her head like a hammer. Suddenly Airin groaned while holding her forehead.

“Mawar doesn’t want it, Father! No matter what, Mawar still refuses! Why do you have the heart to me?!”

The sound of a woman’s shrill cry could be heard outside.

Airin realized that it was because of the commotion that she woke up. However, for a moment, Airin stared confusedly at her room and the clothes she was wearing, as well as the towel lying on the nightstand beside her bed. When the memory of the cornfield and the scorching sun entered Airin’s head, Airin understood why she was here now.

Since two days ago, Airin actually had a fever, but it wasn’t too bad. Therefore, Airin kept forcing herself to come to work without telling anyone about her condition. As a result, she fainted in the fields.

It must be the workers who brought her home, Airin thought.

She lowered her feet to the floor then stood up, turned to the mirror against the wall and stared at her deathly pale face. Airin chuckled in amusement at her appearance that seemed far from good. However, because of Airin’s high curiosity about the noise outside, she forced her feet to step out of the room.

“Mawar, marrying Mr. Sakha wouldn’t hurt, right? He is a good and responsible person, your life will definitely be guar—”

Jamal’s voice was cut short by his daughter’s frustrated scream. “I do not want! I do not want! NO MATTER WHAT I DON’T WANT TO DO THAT!”

Airin backed away for a moment, surprised. The scene before her was so unusual. Mawar was kneeling on the floor with Mother trying to calm her down, Father sitting on the sofa with a difficult expression. While Melati was sitting not far from him; sobbing.

What is really going on? Airin thought. She was about to approach them to ask herself, but Airin refused and chose to eavesdrop behind the door of her room which she opened slightly.

“Why me, Father?” Mawar’s whisper sounded sad. “Why not Melati? Or Kak Ririn?”

“Melati hasn’t graduated yet, she still has to finish school. As for Ririn … you don’t have the heart to choose Ririn. During this time Ririn has sacrificed a lot for us, she is the backbone of the family now since your father is sickly,”explained Jamal carefully. “Just accept it, Daughter,” Jamal continued again, sounding like someone who had given up.

If you speak in such a desperate tone to Airin, Airin will do whatever you say, even if Airin doesn’t want to. As long as the most important thing is that I can reduce the burden on your back.

The sound of Mawar’s cries grew louder and louder. Airin was compelled to go outside, but her head was spinning with the voices of Mawar and Melati, and Mother’s soft voice trying to calm them down.

Airin then walked unsteadily to her bed and lay there with her eyes closed tightly, while feeling a painful throbbing in her head. From what she heard just now, it seems that this has something to do with Father’s debt to Mr. Sakha, no wonder Galih came to the house yesterday and chatted with him for a long time.

Apparently, Airin thought, it turns out that Mr. Sakha wants Mawar or Melati to be his wife.

Of course, their family will get many benefits if they marry a rich person like Sakha. Nevertheless, if Father agrees, he has indirectly sold his daughter to the perverted boss.

Airin did not have a good impression of Mr. Sakha. She only knew that the man already had three wives who he even brought with him to the village to participate in the corn harvest at the end of this year.

Even though he already has three, he still feels like it’s not enough. What’s his name if he’s not a pervert?

Airin doesn’t like Mr. Sakha. She doesn’t know why she feels that way even though she doesn’t really know her boss very well. Every time Sakha comes to supervise workers, Airin always tries to avoid him when other workers are actually dying to get closer in order to gain the trust of their big boss.

 This dislike seems to be supported because Sakha is not a monogamist. Airin never liked polygamy even though it was allowed in religion. Which woman is willing and able to stand when her husband asks to marry repeatedly? Moreover, a man who likes to be ambiguous like that really has a low value in Airin’s eyes.

Then now Mawar, Airin’s sister whom Airin loves very much, will be married by the perverted boss and become his fourth wife.

Even though Airin’s head was dizzy and her whole body was in pain, Airin was still able to think. And aware, that she will never support the marriage. She will not let the marriage happen.

If Sakha wants all the money that Father have borrowed, Airin promises to pay for it all. All she needs is more time to collect it. Now even Airin has started saving.

After all, how much does Father owe that man?

***