Sunday, October 17, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Jade In The Middle Of Snow
EVEN grown up together, Hsueke and Ku Yameng lived in different worlds. Hsueke was a daughter of Wang, a family in dynasty of the principality of Machu, while Ku Yameng was their servant’s son, Aunt Chao, who also took care of Hsuke. But they fall in love, and not sanctioned by the different status and because Hsueke had been engaged with a son of Luo family. They were desperate to elope. But Prince Wang found and catch them.
Yet the unsanctioned marriage was now to be a fetus. Prince Wang was shock. He wanted to kill Yameng, but Aunt Chao and Hsueke protected him with their bodies. Seeing Hsueke was reckless, Mrs. Wang who was very loving her daughter, persuaded her husband, because without Hsueke, she would also die. Prince Wang softened. He let Hsueke give birth because she refused and threatened to kill her self if they forced her abortion. He also let Aunt Chao lived, but was expelled from Beijing. While Yameng exiled to miners in Shinchiang. For changing, after giving birth, Hsueke must remain married to the son of Luo family. Yameng asked Hsueke fullfil these conditions and kept surviving through suffering. Because, if they kept living, he hoped they would meet again. Hsueke agreed with these terms.
A year later, Hsueke born her baby. Mrs Wang took the baby away. But Hsueke begged for her baby was not killed. Mrs Wang gave the baby to Aunt Chao and told her to seek Yameng and lived together.
Hsueke married with Luo Chikang from family of officials. In order to maintain loyalty to Yameng, at wedding night Hsueke told the truth, she ever married. Chikang was very angry. He wanted a divorce. But Mrs Luo said the divorce meant to fulfill the wishes of Hsueke. She wanted Hsueke remain be a daughter in law of Luo family to torture hern agony. She also punished by cutting off little finger of Hsueke her own.
Eight years on, times changed, governments changed. Manchu empire collapsed, replaced a republic. Mr. Luo was no longer be great officers and died. Mrs Luo took her family moved to Chengte, including Hsueke. In this city Chikang run business andbeing friend with a ruling generals. He also married again with Ciashan who gave him a son named Yulin.
Aunt Chao who could not find Yameng came to Chengte with his granddaughter, Hsiao Yutien. She was poor and sick. Thinking that her grandmother needed money for treatment, Yutien willing sold to Luo family as a servant. Aunt Chao intend to meet Hsueke to say who actually Yutien was. But Aunt Chao passed away. Yutien only could visit to her grave with sorrow. First Hsueke saw Yutien, her heart was thrilled. She always protected this little maid when she was having difficulties.
Meanwhile, at the residence of Prince Wang, a guest named Kao Han came. In fact he was Yameng who already adopted by entrepreneurs from Fuchien surnamed Kao and changed his name to Kao Han. Seeing his presence, Prince Wang was angry, but Ahte, faithful servant protected Kao Han. From Mrs Wang, Kao Han knew his daughter was given to his mother, and tried to find him. But they didn’t not meet. Mrs Wang told him to look for them, and did not interfere Hsueke, who already become a daughter in law of Luo family in Chengte.
Kao Han just wanted to see Hsueke because he thought his mother would contact Hsueke. When seeing Hsueke, he knew Hsueke unhappy. Moreover, Feichui, a faithful servant who managed him to meet Hsueke, talked a lot about the suffering of her lady. When she met Han Kao, Hsueke told him to look for Aunt Chao and their child.
Luo residence was tantrum because Yutien missing. Earlier she had asked permission to visit the tomb of her grandmother because of her grandmother's birthday. Hearing this matter, Hsueke was surprised because it was also Aunt Chao’s birthday. She offered to come look into the tomb. From the tombstone, she knew who the grandmother Yutien was. After asking a few things, she believed Yutien was her and Ku Yameng’s daughter.
Fortunately, Yameng did not go looking for his mother and child yet. He was surprised to hear from Hsueke. Both were happy and sad. They were busy thinking of ways to sent away Yutien from the Luo family’s residence. In fact Chikang had already felt suspicious. Kao Han intend to meet Chikang to talk and ask his wife and daughter, because he himself had married again and had a child too. But Hsueke prevented.
Yameng asked assistance of Prince and Mrs Wang. They went to Chengte. Chikang flatly refused to devorce. He acknowledged loved Hsueke, and wanted to change. Prince and Mrs Wang including Hsueke were surprised to hear his confession. They intend to take this opportunity to send Yutien to Wang’s house. Their attention to this little maid made Mrs. Luo felt suspicious. Finally she could dismantle Hsiao Yutien identity. Chikang who heard about it was very furious.
Authors: Chiung Yao
Translators: Pangesti A Bernadus, Nita Madona Sulanti, Indrawati Tanoto, Pangestuti Bintoro
Publisher: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, Second Print, July 1997
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Amungme
Since returning to his hometown, Opitawak, Banti Village, Central Mountains of Jayawijaya, Omabak, youth Amungme seemed changed. He had finished his college in Yogyakarta and later graduated as an elementary school teacher, who would teach in his hometown. It was not only a cleaner appearance by always dressed neatly, but his attitude became more calm and polite, no more emotional and irritable as ever. This change was surprising tribal citizens, especially Impamai his mother, and his brotheer Baenal.
Omabak could not keep a secret much longer to Impamai. He then told about his new faith to Impamai, that he no longer trusted their god, Mam On, but only A God is above all gods, namely: Allah SWT. Apparently Impamai was not surprised to hear Omabak’s confession, because she never caught him doing ritual worship which certainly was not like the way they worship the god Mam On. Originally Impamai worried Omabak wouldl make the god Mam On angry and cursed him. But because Omabak was fine, she was convinced to follow in Omabak’s footsteps as a Muslim. Impamai began to change her life as a cleaner, no longer living mingle with pigs and dogs. Apparently Impamai felt calmer. She also began to learn prayers and love to receive a gifts from Omabak, mukena.
After Impamai, actually Omabak would like to invite Baenal too. But before he could speak, his brother was being harbored his own problems. Baenal loved Nebea, daughter Ondoafi Teknay, their chieftain. But that girl who started growing up and was undergoing the exile according to their tradition of being angry because considered Baenal betrayed by liking another girl, Kamantoi. Though the news was deliberately delivered Sebare, the girl who loved Baenal and paired with him, along with another girl, Werori who faced disability due Nebea harmed. The goal for their revenge on Nebea that during this act cocky and arrogant because they feel as a single daughter of the chief.
By convincing his love toward Nebea, Baenal asked to pick sacred erom in forest of the ban. Yet according to their tribal belief that only men who are married and fulfill certain conditions which may take sacred erom. If the prohibition was violated, the perpetrators would get terrible curse from god Mam On. But the desperate Baenal determined to meet this demand in order to prove his love in Nebea. Nebea herself eventually regret it but could not rectify the request conveyed through Sebare as she was in exile.
While Ondoafi Toknay planned to marry Nebea, after she return from exile with a young man was considered appropriate as head of the tribe. It turned out that the chosen was Omabak, because Ondoafi was impressed with his change attitude after being back from the land of Java and planned to teach elementary school in their area. This decision of course more heartrending Baenal. But Omabak could not openly refuse, then assured him that he would not marry Nebea. He was also willing to help Baenal take sacred erom from forest of the ban with the aim of changing the citizens of tribal beliefs about God's curse that had been Mam On haunt them.
At the time to perform marriage ceremony, Nebea returned from exile, Omabak was not found. Nebea was also looking Baenal and not find him. Only Impamai who knew her two children went to forest to took sacred erom. While their other two companions were waiting for them at the edge of the forest.
Opitawak tantrum when Omabak and Baenal emerged with sacred erom. Ondoafi who searched Omabak deliberately ask Suprimanggun, Opitawak religious leaders, who planned to lead the wedding ceremony to postpone the event, was furious. But Ondoafi was also afraid to see a sacred erom which brought by Omabak safely. He thought he had supernatural powers so Mam On could not curse on him.
Realizing doubt of Ondoafi, Suprimanggun intervened. He was angry and reading spells to attack Omabak. But Omabak was very confident with the help of God, just raised his hand and prayed for protection. As a result, the attack of Suprimanggun had no impact. Suprimanggun then fled, as well as Ondoafi Teknay, All citizens of Opitawak hailed Omabak.
Back to his residence, Ondoafi found Nebea possessed. He accused Omabak who wanted to harm her. Due to ever see the way of treatment to heal the possessed, ruqyah, Omabak also practiced by having Impamai take mukena and put it on Nebea. Actually, Omabak himself was not too sure because Nebea was not yet a Muslim. But ruqyah managed to make Nebea quieter. Omabak was increasingly hailed as successes. Residents Opitawak acknowledge its miracle as a demigod and they bowed down to worship him. It was realized Omabak, his struggle to broadcast the truth of Islam was still be very long and not at all easy as he imagined.
Author: Peringgala Ancala
Publisher: PT Mizan Bunaya Kreativa, 2005
Al-Bahri: I Came From Sea First Book: Lebaran Gift
One day, I was working as a scenario writer in a private TV station, accidentally met Al Bahri, a traveler. At that time his condition was ill so I took him to my house. When conscious, Al Bahri who claimed to come from the ocean, asked me to give the diary he wrote volumes was more severe than I expected, Al Bahri was taken to hospital.
I read the diary Al Bahri vol 1. From here he got to know Al Bahri. His parents were from Aceh. His father died from the conflict in the earth of Veranda of Mecca. His mother who having old pregnant intend to evacuate to Java on a ship. But while giving birth on board, she died. The captain of the ship peal Azan in her baby's ear, gave named the baby boy as Mohammed Al Bahri, and became his adoptive father. Al Bahri grew up on the boat, taken by his adopted father across the sea.
When he was 7 years old, his adopted father left him in land, studying in a pesantren (Islamic boarding school). Ten years later, he left pesantren to fulfill his adopted father’s mandate for exploring, as he has explored ocean. Story of Al Bahri’s travelling was poured in a diary that has been sorted according to theme. He intends to turn them over to his adoptive father as evidence of his travels.
Al Bahri diary vol 1 was a story about his experiences in different cities to celebrate Eid. The first year Lebaran Al Bahri celebrated in Dieng. He was acquainted with Mr. Darmo Kusumo and granddaughter Kartika. Mr. Darmo Kusumo gave him a job. While Kartika, his granddaughter who recently arrived from Jakarta by necessity. Her daddy brought her mother who was diagnosed with cancer to America for treatment.
During the month of fasting, Ramadhan, Kartika who spoiled and accustomed to city life, stayed in the village with boredom. She's lazy worshiping despite his grandfather told her to pray for her mother healing. But at takbiran night, poison gas disaster again threatened villagers. Grandpa told her to flee to Wonosobo, escorted by Al Bahri and Nasuhi. On the way, Al Bahri was down to help her grandfather who tried to rescue villagers who lead by him. But poison gas lodged in the body so that his Mr Darmo Kusumo died.
Kartika was very sad and sorry because more denied her grandfather's advice. She had felt comforted when her parents came to bring good news. Apparently, Mom did not have cancer as first diagnosis. Al Bahri was happy to hear this news.
Al Bahri second year was celebrated with a family who lived in a village, Tanah Abang territory which controlled by the thugs. Al Bahri who had been robbed and beaten a group of thugs to hurt. Rescued by Mr. Darwo, a porter and his wife a vegetable trader. They have 3 children, Nining in senior high school, Iwan, a junior high student, and Tini the youngest.
One day, Al Bahri saved Nining and her boyfriend who surrounded by a group of thugs. Apparently Nining’s boyfriend was one of the thugs who had ganged up and hurt him. He felt ashamed and guilty. But Bahri told him to forget what had happened. The family then decided to leave there, followed transmigration program for searching of a better livelihood.
The third Eid Al Bahri celebrated with a widow who had 2 children, Bu Arum, a seller in traditional market of a small town in South Beach. They passed Lebaran with concern, as the market where they earn a fortune on fire. Asih, the oldest daughter had accused the fire was not an accident, because the government wanted build a modern market there, so the poor traders in the market driven out. She wanted to do a demonstration. Bu Arum forbid her, because her late husband also had lead a demonstration and shot to death because of it.
But ignoring her mother, Asih kept becoming the leader of the demo, and finally picked up the officer. Bu Arum felt worried because Asih was released yet while some of his friends who were free. Asih finally brought home by Matt Brewok who had long loved Asih. This opportunity was he used to proposed Asih to Mrs. Arum. Although she looked beibf forced, Asih accepted the proposal.
Since Al Bahri’s diary was good and useful, I and a publisher planned to turn it into a book as a a Lebaran present to Al Bahri.
Authors: Gola Gong
Publisher: Asy-Syaamil Press & Grafika Tahun 2001
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)