On a sunny morning in Mandala Jati village, as usual before the sun rises all residents, especially farmers and traders, have prepared their agricultural tools to start working on the fields, so in the morning when the sun has risen the food must be ready on the table and the backbone of the family has left their homes.
While the children will certainly go straight to play or deliver food to their parents who are working, Agra is no exception who is now on Wira's cattle drive after delivering food to his mother in the fields, but it is different from the usual day because Agra's face continues to be bent sour and his eyes leak tears, and if you look closely his ears have also turned red.
"What's wrong with you? Your face looks like someone who has been found out after hiding a secret" said Aruna looking at Agra who was preparing the cows.
"Huh? How did you know?" asked a surprised Agra.
"Because you look like mang ata when caught fishing secretly". Said Aruna who turned to the person in question followed by Agra who looked in the same direction.
The two saw a thin, dry man feeding a cow but with the same expression as Agra, feeling noticed the man looked back at the two children who were looking at him. "What?"
Agra immediately shook her head and continued her work, while Aruna also asked again. "So? What have you been doing? Don't tell me you peeked at girls bathing this morning?"
Agra immediately threw a handful of grass at Aruna. "Watch your mouth... don't let me be considered a pervert because of your original talk!"
"pueh...peh!!! Hey take it easy I almost even ate these grasses!!" said an annoyed Aruna while getting rid of the grass on her body.
"Never mind... I'm leaving" said Agra who left the drum while carrying a bamboo basket on his back.
"Wait, you're not looking for grass today?" said Aruna who hurriedly caught up.
Agra shook his head. "There is still a lot of grass in the kendang, I want to go to the market first who knows there are vegetables that are not on sale, not bad for feeding my horse"
Aruna nodded and followed Agra towards the market, and after a while the two had arrived. Actually, even though it was called a market, it was just a crossroads in the middle of the village and because it was always passed by residents and there was a market in the village.
With a large enough space, some residents chose to build bamboo shelters and set up temporary kiosks to sell their wares on the spot.
The two children wandered here and there in the crowded market, although the merchandise was not very diverse but because it was still very early in the morning the merchants were still eager to offer their wares.
When Agra saw a pile of unwanted vegetables in the corner of a stall he went straight to it. "boss!!... can I take these rotten vegetables?"
The stall owner who looked a little old looked down and found Agra and Aruna standing there, the merchant immediately recognized Aruna as Wira's daughter. "oh..oh.. Aruna? What do you need here?"
Aruna shook her head. "I'm just dropping off my friend the owner... doesn't want anything"
The stall owner turned to Agra and sure enough his gaze was slightly different though still friendly. "So what do you need, kid?"
Agra pointed at the pile of slightly rotten or damaged vegetables on the ground. "Boss! Can you give these vegetables to me? I'm willing to work for a few days if you give these vegetables to me."
The owner of the vegetable stall thought for a moment but before he could answer a meat trader next to him interrupted. "What? Isn't this Aruna's son and Agra's son? What are you doing here?"
Aruna turned her head and returned the greeting while Agra replied. "oh.. hello uncle, I just want some of these broken vegetables."
The butcher was confused by Agra's answer. "Why do you need those rotten vegetables? Is Kirana sick too?"
Agra quickly shook his head. "No uncle I just want to clean it and then feed my horse with these vegetables"
The butcher nodded and helped talk to the vegetable vendor next to him. "Just give the vegetables, anyway you will also be helped not to dispose of the vegetables? after all he is Bima and Kirana's son"
Hearing the two names the vegetable merchant changed his attitude. "oh!!! I just remembered hahaha... it turns out you're Bima and Kirana's son!!! Take... take whatever you want"
Agra smiled and bowed her head. "Thanks boss!!! Thanks uncle! I'll bring you mom's herbal medicine sometime."
The two merchants smiled and nodded then continued their activities, Agra's mother Kirana used to be a traveling herbal medicine seller but after getting married and giving birth to Agra she had quit her job but even so she was still a seller.
receiving orders or requests from people who order herbal medicine to her, and that's why Kirana usually always collects spices that can be used as herbal medicine, so much so that usually when making herbal medicine she always makes more than she should until she shares it with surrounding neighbors who are in need.
Agra immediately collected the damaged and rotten vegetables into his basket, after being full he immediately said goodbye to the traders and went back to Wira's cow, but on the way he passed someone who deliberately bumped into him, causing him to fall and make a mess of his vegetables.
"Huh!!! Where is this poor kid from? How annoying!!!" the person said in a haughty tone.
Agra turned her head to see who hit her, a boy who was bigger than her, maybe a few years older, his clothes were also cleaner and more beautiful like Aruna's although his clothes looked more luxurious and flashy in contrast to Aruna who seemed simple.
"Tama!!! Why are you always acting like this!!!" said Aruna while blocking the child named Tama.
Tama herself did not feel guilty after deliberately bumping into Agra. "heh... so what? After all, she's also a person who's not too important in this village"
Aruna became upset and pushed Tama. "If Agra is not important then you are a useless person!!!"
Although Aruna's encouragement did not have any effect on Tama but somehow Tama became annoyed. "Hah!!! What did you say earlier!?"
Aruna was getting more and more defiant and was not afraid of the angry Tama. "huh, listen!!... YOU-ARE-GARbage".
Tama became furious and she began to clench her fists and prepared to hit Aruna, but when she raised her hand a child suddenly stopped her.
"boss!!! boss!! calm down, remember even though you are the son of a merchant and your brother is a Bahureksa soldier but they always advised you not to mess with Demang Wira" said the boy who seemed to be a servant or a subordinate of Tama.
But because her anger had not disappeared, the fist landed on the child who had previously stopped Tama's punch which was previously aimed at Aruna, not stopping there, Tama continued to hit and kick the child even though the child looked very thin and small when compared to the fat and big Tama.
"Shut up you bastard!! You are my family's errand boy!! and you as an errand boy dare to advise me!!" said Tama while beating the boy.
"Mercy...mercy den Tama... " whimpered the child.
Nearby there were also several children who seemed to be Tama's men but they just acted casual and relaxed while waiting for orders, the adults around him also looked away and did not want to interfere with the child named Tama.
Seeing that Tama was not going to stop Agra threw a bunch of kale and hit Tama. "If you are a man, you should fight someone who is worthy of you"
Tama, who was hit by the throw, naturally became even angrier until her face turned red. "What!!! What did you say!? You dare to lecture me!? You think you're my equal!?
Agra picked up her vegetable basket again and replied casually. " course not... I wouldn't fight someone lower than me."
"You!!!" Tama understood the meaning of Agra's words that were humbling her, she immediately wanted to go to her but Aruna blocked her.
"If you make trouble with Agra then you are making trouble with me" said Aruna
firmly.
Tama sniffed rudely and immediately turned around while being followed by his
men, Agra and Aruna just watched them, for a moment the two found that a child who was beaten earlier looked down while saying 'thank you' even though there was no sound from his mouth.
"Let's go back Aruna" Agra said while holding her.
Aruna snorted briefly and then immediately followed Agra who had gone back to Wira's cattle drive, the next day was the same as usual where Agra cleaned the rotten and good vegetables and gave them to his horse, after which he would take one of the cows and a cart to look for grass.
So far other than the incident this morning there has been nothing unusual and it has remained peaceful as usual, but unfortunately such thoughts will only be realized if you do not provoke anger in those who have a vengeful and angry nature.
In a rice field in the afternoon Kirana was resting at the mouth of the forest with a basket full of plants as usual, as she was waiting for the pickup of her only son who should come at this time of the day, in the shade while looking at the residents who were cleaning themselves at the small spring near the rice field where they worked.
Some of the women approached Kirana and intended to rest there waiting for the men or her husband to finish cleaning up. "Agra is late again? Not like usual."
Kirana smiled and nodded. "Yes, ma'am... I think he was deliberately late because he was afraid of me because I scolded him last night."
"Agra? Why, I thought you couldn't get angry, Kirana" asked one of the ladies curiously.
Kirana nodded in embarrassment at the mom's words. "It was just a momentary emotion ma'am... because yesterday I found my son's secret savings from him working behind my back for some time"
The ladies there nodded in unison. "Why Kirana? Isn't it great that she already has the awareness and initiative to help her parents?"
Kirana sighed and looked up at the evening sky. "haaah..., I just don't want him to be burdened by our family's current condition mom... sometimes that kid acts like an adult at such a small age..., all this time he also doesn't really hang out with kids his age who are usually very cranky, spoiled, and playful all day..., it's not that I don't like his attitude all this time, but I'm just afraid that in the future he will become someone who likes to be alone and live in loneliness..."
That afternoon Kirana unconsciously let out the worries that were in her heart about her worries for her son, hearing Kirana's explanation the other mothers whispered and nodded to each other afterwards when they saw the men finished cleaning themselves they left.
But before joining the return journey one of the ladies who looked older than the others patted Kirana on the shoulder. "Kirana child... you don't have to worry about an uncertain future, all of us though don't know Agra as well as you but we all know Agra's character... and we are sure that he will be a very good and reliable man, because the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree..."
Kirana who got the advice was very happy because now she felt much better and her heart was not as heavy as before. "Thanks mom... I understand now"
They finally gathered but as usual there was one person who did not like Kirana's presence. "huaaa... what's wrong with you, earlier your face was bent down and now you are so happy? Have you found a new man that you can flirt with because Bima will soon go to heaven?"
Yep... who else in this village hated Kirana other than Swari, hearing Swari's words the mothers only whispered to each other while making expressions of dislike, but on the other hand Kirana held her chest to calm herself because Swari's words now made her almost ignite her emotions.
Kirana who had calmed down smiled gently. "Swari, thanks for the concern but I have decided and vowed that I will have only one husband in my life even if death do us part."
Kirana's words amazed the people who heard them, not only because of her sincerity in accepting fate, but also because it showed the determination and commitment of a woman and a mother who is known to be very gentle and loving.
Not many people can be like Kirana, because even though she is already a mother of 1 child, she is still relatively young and very beautiful like a village flower, besides that widows who are left to die or other reasons that do not tarnish their honor, in this era and they still have a beautiful face and a good attitude will still be contested by single men and merchants and even nobles if they are lucky.
Swari who heard Kirana's words became annoyed. "Huh... ! I don't believe your nonsense!!! I'm sure that you will do the same trick now or later when you tease Bima."
"Believe it or not is not a problem for me Swari" Kirana replied softly. "Kirana!!! YOU!!!" snapped Swari as she approached Kirana.
But before Swari could get there a gentleman stopped her. "EHEM!!!... it's getting late, shouldn't we hurry home? It's dangerous when it's dark"
"Yeah, right, let's go home!!! Hurry up, hurry up," said one of the ladies as she grabbed Kirana to get away.
Seeing the attitude of the people around her in favor of Kirana, Swari grew to hate Kirana. If Swari's gaze and hatred could be used to hurt someone then it would have been a long time ago.
However, when they were about to return home, there was a group of men heading towards them and each of them carried a wooden stick. Among the group of men was a stocky child riding a cow, but the child was wrapped in a lot of gauze that almost covered his entire body and a splint that supported his left hand.
The group of men had fierce faces and when the two camps met for no apparent reason they immediately blocked the citizens who were with Kirana, a slightly older man put down his hoe and walked forward. "Excuse me? Why are you gentlemen blocking our way?"
One of the leading men approached and immediately pointed the stick in his hand towards someone. "We have business with him"
All the residents turned to the person in question and all of them focused on one person, Kirana. "Me? What's wrong, sir? What did I do wrong?"
"cuih!!... Don't be so innocent, you whore! Look what your son has done to our young master!!!" the man said as he pointed to a child who had bandages all over his body.
Kirana seeing the accusation naturally did not want to believe it, but the boy on the cow looked very convincing. "Wait sir, are you sure? My son Agra would never do such a thing."
"hallah... don't be evasive!!! Look at Mr. Tama now having to endure pain all over his body because of that damn kid!" the man argued.
"TAMA!?...TAMA!?? IS IT YOU!?" said Swari who was suddenly hysterical.
"Auntie?" BIBI SWARI!?... HUHUHU...BIBI LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED
DO !!!" said Tama while whining.
Swari quickly took a quick look at Tama but even though she said she took a quick look, she did not realize that there was not a single wound on her body, not even a scratch.
"Kirana!!! Look what your son has done!!!" He shouted, pointing at Kirana.
Kirana herself became confused and panicked because of the continuous accusations, the surrounding residents also some retreated out of fear some tried to calm down, but what power with those who have status and power?
Even though the villagers were outnumbered, the fact that someone was behind the thugs made them helpless, and Kirana herself was grabbed until she fell down in front of Tama.
"Look!!! Now how are you going to take responsibility for what your son did!" Tama said haughtily.
"Wait a minute den Tama... what exactly is the problem? I don't understand" Kirana replied.
"Huh!!! Your son has been a problem from the beginning!!! Nephew, you better beat him up!" Swari said harshly.
Swari's words got a nod from Tama. And with a sly smile he immediately ordered his men. "Aunty is right!!... you beat her up!!! Beat her as much as you like but don't let her die!!!"
The thugs grinned happily and stretched a little. "Ready den Tama" The thugs happily did as their master instructed,
Kirana who was just an ordinary village woman could only surrender to being beaten by the thugs, while the villagers also tried to ask for forgiveness but Swari prevented them and told her nephew to go further.
"That niece of his won't be able to take it if she's treated like that!!!... Just give her to your men for satisfaction" Swari whispered.
Tama smiled and nodded. "Wait!!! Ok I think I'm bored... you can do whatever that poor woman does."
"That's right doro!? Whatever!?" said one of the thugs. Taman nodded "Right! Do whatever it takes!" "Ready!!! Thanks Doro!!! HAHAHA"
The thugs now began to rip off Kirana's clothes, the villagers fought back even more, but unfortunately those who fought back were beaten, making them retreat helplessly.
"NO!!! NO!!! Den Tama please let me go PLEASE!!!" Kirana said pleadingly.
Tama looked at Kirana with a condescending look. "Huh? You dare to yell and order me around!!!. you!!! Quickly do what you want to do!!! Then throw him into the
forest to be eaten by wild beasts!!!"
"READY DORO/ DEN!!!" said Tama's goons almost simultaneously. "NO" Kirana shouted.
Kirana's clothes were getting more and more torn and with all her strength she kept trying to maintain chastity and dignity, but when the thugs were about to succeed in doing their depraved thing a familiar voice was heard from a distance.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY MOM!!!"
The shout managed to distract everyone's attention, there was a boy who was spurring his horse to run at its maximum speed, the boy's face was filled with anger.
"Agra? " Kirana said when she realized who was coming.
== PREVIOU==
Agra and Aruna were on their way home, and for some reason his feelings kept saying something bad was going to happen but he didn't know what the bad thing was, the hanging feeling kept enveloping him.
"Are you sick agra?" said Aruna worriedly.
Agra immediately shook her head. "No. no let's go home"
The two of them were on their way home after grazing and bathing the cows belonging to the village chief Wira, but when they returned Aruna saw something floating in the river.
"Agra? do you know what's floating over there?" said Aruna as she pointed at what she saw.
Agra looked in the direction Aruna was pointing, she sharpened her eyes and after a while she realized what her friend meant. "Hiyah!!!"
Agra immediately kicked the belly of the cow he was riding and directed it towards the object floating on the river, while Aruna only looked confused on the riverbank on Agra's horse.
The cow that Agra was riding swam calmly although it was not very good at swimming but it was enough to approach the floating object, when Agra arrived he immediately pulled the object and found that it was a boy his age.
Agra immediately brought the child to the edge of the river and checked it, finding that the child was drowning Agra immediately gave first aid to the child, Aruna had wanted to prevent what Agra was doing but before she could do it the child coughed out water from his mouth.
"uhuk!!!... hoek!!"
Agra patted the boy on the back to help him expel the water in his stomach. "Are you okay?"
The child looked to the side and found a boy and a girl looking at him. "Where is
this?"
Aruna approached and answered. "This is the river of Mandala Jati village... who
are you? Why did you drown in this river?"
"I was hunting in the forest but somehow my horse got out of control and I fell in the river and was washed away because I couldn't swim" the boy replied.
"oh... then? what's your name? what you going to do after this?" Agra said.
"ba... Bara... yes, Bara is my name!!! " the boy said in a stuttering tone,
Agra looked at him suspiciously but he was still patiently waiting for bara to finish his sentence. "I'll just stay here, soon there will be some people who will pick me up"
Agra gazed at the sky and then she left for a few moments to gather dry wood. "at least warm yourself."
Aruna saw her friend lighting a fire and also went around to look for more wood and just realized that Bara was shivering from the cold and after lighting the fire Agra and Aruna sat down to accompany Bara to warm up, after a while after that several people appeared from across the river seeing Bara smiled happily while Agra immediately stood up and prepared his horse and cow mounts.
"Looks like they're your friends... then we'll go" Agra said while pulling Aruna. Aruna herself became confused by Agra's actions. "hey... what's the rush!?" "I'm late to pick up mom" Agra said briefly.
With this brief reason, Aruna immediately shut up and obeyed what her friend said so that shortly after the two of them quickly left the place, not long after that the people who had just appeared approached the embers and immediately knelt down.
"Raden, forgive me for my negligence in taking care of you!!!" said the man
firmly.
Bara just smiled and turned to Agra and Aruna. "No problem... wake up
commander Cakra..."
On the other hand, Agra had finished delivering the farm owned by the village head Wira and immediately asked permission to pick up his mother, on the way his heart kept saying something bad until he overheard a conversation between residents.
"hey... did you see Tama's den earlier?" "no... what's wrong?"
"It looks like he's going to start another drama." "Really? What drama?"
"I don't know... it's definitely not a good thing... you know she always plays the victim!"
"You're right... let's hope the target doesn't end up badly"
Despite the distance Agra could still hear the conversation, she also just remembered that this morning she had offended Tama, and as if getting an answer she immediately spurred her horse as fast as she could.
When he entered the rice field area in the distance he saw that many people were struggling on the road, Agra felt even worse and immediately picked up a stick that he found on the road.
When he was not too far away he could clearly see that his mother was being beaten by several men who looked like thugs, with anger mounting he immediately shouted. "WHAT YOU DOING TO MY MOM!!!"
Agra immediately swung the stick he was carrying and directly hit the head of a thug, the blow was so hard that it made the stick Agra carried broken, not stopping there he continued to swing his stick here and there to attack the thugs to get away from his mother the horse he rode also occasionally kicked some thugs who resisted.
After seeing the thugs move away Agra jumped up and hugged her mother. "MOM!!!... mom!!... are you okay?"
Kirana saw her son's worried face stroking his head and she smiled with pain. "Mom, it's okay, son..."
"Damn! You've come son of a bitch" said a boy on a cow who was none other than
Tama.
Agra turned her head and looked at Tama with a serious look. "What is your problem that you
hurt my mom!?"
Tama looked at Agra with a condescending look. "Huh... is it wrong for me to want revenge?... you've made me like this and you don't want to admit it!?"
Agra was now confused. "Me? What do you mean I did all that to you!?"
"Admit it already, you son of a bitch!" interrupted Swari as she continued. "Don't play dumb, the victim is right in front of you and you want to dodge it? Don't expect it!"
Agra became even more confused but before he could answer Swari interrupted him. "Already!!! Now the culprit is here! You better beat those damn moms and dads!"
"That's right... you guys do it fast!!!" Tama continued.
Several thugs now approached at Tama's command and closest one immediately raised his stick and prepared to hit the mother and child "THUD!!!"