That night she was happy. So the moon, revealing itself perfectly in the dim sky, added to the brightness of her joyful spirit.
“In about a month, I will propose to you,” the man said. His voice was soft, his words simple. The young man was very sincere in expressing his love. But the girl sitting next to him was startled by his words. A shock that triggered the nerves of her happiness.
“Really, Mas? Does that mean you are ready to fulfill my father’s conditions?” the girl asked cheerfully.
The young man named Fajar had just arrived from the city earlier that evening. His return was to inform Sari, his beloved, that he got a job at a leather factory in Malang, and of course, to let her know that he would soon propose to her. His happiness wasn’t just about getting a job, but also because he now had the ticket to marry his beloved. Sari’s father didn’t want to risk his daughter’s life by marrying her off to a man with an unclear job. Now, with a job secured, Fajar felt he had obtained that ticket.
A month ago, Fajar came with his father to propose to Puspitasari, the daughter of Karim. But he had to leave carrying the burden of disappointment. His father also carried the shame because Mr. Karim refused to accept a farmer like Fajar as his son-in-law. Apparently, the muddy fields where the young man usually worked hindered his love path. Mr. Karim gave him a month to find a job. If not, a young man from the neighboring village was ready to replace Fajar to marry his daughter. He didn’t want his daughter to remain unmarried just because she was waiting for that young man to get ready.