Indonesia, 20th century.
White random patterns decorated a blue curtain cloth, it fell down elegantly covering a black frame window.
The sunshine shone through a small pit making a wonderful straight light into the room.
Peach coloured floor marble were hid by dust and decorated by a light coloured carpet.
On the corner of the room, a luxurious bed was covered by an emerald colour blanket.
A huge mirror with rubys stones frame was made up of teakwood and mahogany, strong and crafted with beautiful classic mythical creatures.
I was astonished by the old-fashioned luxurious image of the room.
Classic and beautiful in the same time, my favorite.
The maid who had wore a yellow silk corset as a top and batik cloth as a long skirt, left me alone in the room after preparing a long-sleeves embroidered blousse with a front opening fastened with brooches (kebaya bordir) and an animal hand-drawn batik cloth (batik tulis) on the bed.
In my mind, the maid feature could not be forgotten.
I didn't think she's one of the ordinary maid. The way she dressed and looked shows that she had a higher status, but it was too moderate for the mistress of the house.
She looked like one of the concubines (gundik) or maybe the second wife (selir) for the master of the house.
At the time like this, we had too many status for women like them.
Women could not work but had to survive. Not being a prostitute for those Dutch had already made us grateful.
One of Zhou Meng Yi's messenger was sent to find me in prostitution near Pesisir river this morning. I lived with my auntie, 'Chixiang', there. Chixiang is not her real name, people just called her that and she kept secret of her real name. The reason why people called her chixiang was pretty obvious, she has a sexy bohemian looks and a good nature. As a ca bau kan, a courtesan, many people want her. Ca bau kan itself is a word that used to call a courtesan who entertained chinese men in colonial indonesia.
All the women who lived in Pesisir river are ca bau kan, prostitutes, and they were about to change me one until Zhou Meng Yi's messenger came to find me.
After I put on the clothes, a light knocked audible to my ear.
"Nduk, have u finished?" an old women voice sounded from outside the door.
('nduk' was a called for young javanese maiden.)
"Sahaya bendoro," I answered, like a low-rank maid or slave to the master.
(sahaya bendoro means "yes, master" and usually spoken by the maid or concubine to the master.)
"Wealah, no need to be polite. Soon your status would be higher than me, nduk. Just call me 'mbok', 'nje?" said the old woman politely to me.
"enje, mbok." I answered gently.
She hold my arms and put me to sit down in front of the mirror. I followed as she gestured what to do.
"nduk, nduk, how old are you toh?" She said as she arranged my hair slowly.
"fifteen, mbok."
"ah," She said. "not much younger." she whispered to herself slowly.
"Listen to me, nduk. You do know that bendoro Meng Yi is going to marry you, right?"
I kept silent. I wonder why that thought never come to me before. However for what other reason he sent his messenger to find me?
"nduk?"
"enje, mbok."
"what do you think, nduk?"
"He doesn't want me to be his wife, isn't he?"
"Gundik. You'll be one of his gundik."
There's another silent.
She put away all the hair that covered my face so that she could see my face clearly.
"nduk, gundik was better than a ca bau kan. You know that, don't you? or maybe... you want to be like Chixiang?"
I kept silent. At least Chixiang had freedom to live anywhere she wanted. Had freedom to choose.
After hesitated, I answered, "No, no. But... all my friends live in Pesisir. Then Chixiang... what can she do without me, mbok?"
However the old maid just sighed hearing what i said. "Nduk, are you worry about Chixiang or your freedom? Meng Yi knows you from her. He used to be her customer until he laid his eyes on you, nduk."
My heart screamed. My eyes covered with tears. I was scared to see my reflection on the mirror, what will this man called Meng Yi would do to me if I cried? Will he hit me? kick me? I didn't know.
But one thing I know. I didn't want to be briddle in this big house, wearing kebaya and kain everyday. Living to follow the master obidiently, fulfill his needs and his wants, while he was not even my husband formally.
I kept silent and put my head down, time passed by as the old maid arranged my hair.
My mind drown inside my imagination, I didn't even care people around me.
Carefully she took my chin up to see my own reflection. For the very first time in my whole life, I watched my own reflection from a real mirror. I've never seen such a beautiful creature. My eyes blinked. Was that really me? This was the first beautiful clothes i ever had in my whole life. My long hair had been put up neatly. I could not believe that was really me.
"Look at you, nduk. Beautiful!" The old maid said admiring my reflection.
"Yes, indeed she is." I amazed with the voice and the reflection of a young man on the mirror. His figure was handsome and his white chinese skin sparkle in my eyes. I've seen many chinese men, but he's one of a kind. He'll be my future master, my future husband. Zhou Meng Yi.
-PURE FICTION-
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