Chương 16: A Lie for a Life
Meanwhile, Aryan got off the cart with the help of Marni.
"Have you eaten, Aryan?" Marni asked while stroking her adopted son's hair.
Aryan smiled and nodded.
Yes, of course, Marni must know about this because she is the one who has prepared provisions for her husband and also Aryan. Provisions are only two pieces of boiled cassava.
"Go take a shower first, Aryan. After that, I have a surprise for you, honey."
"Is that true?" Aryan smiled widely with sparkling eyes. "What kind of surprise was that, Mom?"
"Hey, calm down," Marni laughed softly, again she rubbed her adopted son's head. "You'll find out later. Now, come in."
Aryan went into the hut. Marni was left alone with Munra outside.
"What has happened to you, my dear?" Munra asked while tying the female buffalo's reins to a tree on the left side of their hut.
Then Munra moved his pedati-cart close to where the female buffalo rested.
"Hmm?"
Marni just smiled and looked a little spoiled to her husband. Yes, of course, she did all that to cover up the disgrace she had done with the fat merchant. Just so that Munra wouldn't suspect her. And yes, Marni had thought of many reasons to cover it all up.
"No," replied Marni, still with a sweet smile on her lips. "Nothing happened. Just one or two good news."
"Is that true?" Munra asked, then they embraced each other and entered their hut. "Then, the good news about what?"
"Oh, my dear husband," Marni smiled and pinched her husband's cheek affectionately. "You are so impatient. First, go take Aryan to bathe in the river behind. Later, I will tell you, my dear."
Munra laughed softly. "Why do you look so flirtatious today, my dear?"
"I told you, go take a shower first. I'll tell you later."
"All right, all right."
And after that, Munra took Aryan out of their hut through the back door and went straight to the small river.
Meanwhile, Marni let out a long sigh while staring at the back of her husband and her adopted child at the back door. The sigh sounded so heavy and sad.
It is true, Marni was able to smile spoiled in front of her husband, in front of her adopted child, however, in her heart, Marni screamed and cried because she had sinned even though she did all that for their child.
After the two people she loved the most were no longer seen, Marni returned to her hut. Prepare food for her husband and her adopted child. Yes, this time the food will be a surprise for Aryan and Munra, as well as news about the merchant who will help them find a teacher for Aryan, although Marni does not know at all that the merchant's promise is only a game for the merchant's pleasure.
Marni prepares the food on a bamboo table. There is only white rice, and boiled vegetables from cassava leaves. Such food alone is a luxury food for those Sudras.
Finished preparing food on the bamboo table, Marni then came out of the hut through the front door. She checked the condition of the female buffalo who was chewing the grass in its mouth while lying down, then checked their cart. After making sure everything was okay, Marni returned to the hut and closed the door.
She went to the kitchen, checked the stone stove. Above the stove, there was an old pot. The water in the pot seemed to have boiled, and Marni turned off the fire. She prepared a jug filled with drinking water—the jug that was made from clay—three bamboo cups and brought all of that to the table where she had prepared food for her husband, for her adopted son, and of course, also for herself.
*
When Munra came back from the creek with Aryan, he was quite surprised to see steamed white rice on the bamboo table and wondered: Where did Marni get the money to buy a bowl of rice?
However, because Aryan was still there, Munra didn't want to argue about the white rice that looked very tempting. Maybe tonight after Aryan fell asleep, he thought.
"Well, now close your eyes first," said Marni as she covered her child's eyes from behind and then led Aryan to the bamboo table in the middle of the small room.
"Please tell me, Mom," Aryan looked quite impatient. The smile and laughter of the seven-year-old boy managed to distract Munra. "Tell me, Mom. What kind of surprise will you give me?"
Marni winked at her husband, a sign for Munra not to speak about the white rice on the bamboo table first.
Munra smiled widely. There is nothing happier for the middle-aged man than seeing the joy of his adopted son right now.
"Are you ready?" Marni asked when they were in front of the bamboo table.
The distinctive aroma of white rice touched little Aryan's sense of smell. The boy smiled wider.
"I'm ready, Mom."
Meanwhile, Munra took a seat across from the two people he loved very much. Smiling at Aryan's impatience.
"All right," said Marni. "One two three!"
Aryan gaped and was so happy to see white rice in the basket made of woven bamboo slats.
"Rice?" Aryan said with wide eyes. "Are we really eating rice right now, Mom?"
"Yes, dear, we are," Marni smiled happily. She hugged her adopted son, rubbed his head and back, kissed the top of the adopted son's head many times.
Munra took a deep breath. However, he was very happy with the harmony of his household. Even though life is always lacking, he is always grateful for it. What's more, this time he saw his wife's eyes filled with tears. Obviously, it was very clear to Munra that his wife was holding great emotion in her chest.
How long have we not felt the pleasure of eating rice?
Munra may need a lot of fingers to count the number of days, weeks, maybe even months. And yes, that's how long they can't buy rice.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Quà tặng
-- Nhận quà Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực