Minah

Minah lived in a quiet village. Her mother and father loved her very much, also the old one, her grandmother. Contrary to old tradition, her father allowed her to go to school. At eleven she was already in the third grade. Few girls of her age enjoyed such privileges.

One day, happy in her father's arms Minah asked, "Father, do you know about the school of Kartini? It is new in our town and only for girls. Let me continue to go to school there."

"No, I know the school very well, but it is not necessary for us. Schools for girls only make trouble. Girls should stay at home. Do you understand?"

"But what about the other girls who are going to the school? Why can't I go too? What has happened to you father? Why are you so like these?"

Suddenly she was afraid of her father, but she had to go on. Shaking his hands she said slowly.

"Father, don't be angry any more. Am I not your only child? Tell me why I can't go and why you are so different? Don't you want me to become clever, like the others?"

"No. Girls of eleven should stay at home. You are waiting for your beautiful day. Don't you want it?"

"I don't know what it is father. What is my beautiful day?"

"Your wedding day of course, I want to see you happy during my lifetime. It is a good match, that's why I have chosen him. All my possessions will be for both of you. Isn't that very nice?"

But Minah turned silently and ran to her room.

Weeping bitterly she could not sleep. Nor could the old woman, her grandmother. Wanting to comfort Minah, she said:

"My dear, listen to me. Marriage is the one ideal of our women and girls. You know that?"

"I don't want to think of it. Let me die?" sobbed Minah.

"Listen, my sweet heart" said the old woman embracing her. "Your father will be angry if you do not want to marry. In my opinion, the only beauty in life is for a couple like you to marry. He is a good one, a teacher. School is not necessary for a girl like you. Look at your mother. She was not educated in a school. But her life has been happy because she married your father. He is head of the village. All the people respect him. He has enough of everything. Even though he has many wives, he has given much to all of them money, clothing, diamonds, — many things. What is it you want, my sweet?"

"No! I want none of it" cried Minah, "I want to go to school. I want to finish my studies."

For three months Minah tried to change her father's mind. But it was no use, she had no choice. She must marry Atmadja, the one chosen by her father. Suddenly the thought occurred to her that perhaps Atmadja, her husband, would allow her to go to school again after they were married. This thought persisting in her mind, she decided to consult her grandmother.

One night snuggled in the arms of that lovely old woman, Minah spoke of her ideas: "Please tell Atmadja, that I will marry him if he will allow me to finish at the primary school for girls. If he is a good man and a good teacher, he will allow it and even help me to become clever. If he does not agree, then really I do not wish to marry him, and if my father forces me, I want to die..."

The clever old woman smiled and said: "I am sure that he will agree with you entirely."

The young teacher Atmadja and his little girl wife had settled in a nice house in another village. Minah was not very clever as a housewife, nor was she obedient, so her husband often lived with her and did not run the house. Associating the fact that she was still a child, her husband was patient with her. He raised no objections to her attending school and both agreed that after finishing primary school she should go on to the Private Middle School for girls. Atmadja helped her with her lessons. They were not like husband and wife, but more like a devoted brother and sister.

But with the coming of the Second World War to Indonesia the good fortune of this young family came to an end. The Japanese attacked the Indonesian Dutch forces, defeating them in less than three months. The Indonesian people now lived under the oppression of the Japanese. Many young people were used as forced labour for the Japanese army, with little remuneration. Some were also forced to become soldiers.

Many people died on the streets and in the fields from hunger. Every day trucks and trains hauled Indonesian rice and textiles to the harbours to be taken away. And this ill fortune was to befall Minah and Atmadja, too. Atmadja was ordered to leave, they knew not where.

For days on end Minah cried. She wept as she accompanied her husband to the station, where they were joined by many others, just like themselves. As Atmadja sat in the train waiting, Minah drew his hand to her and said, "Atmadja, tell me quickly. What can I do? I will await your return although perhaps I shall become an old woman like our beloved grandmother. Believe me, I love you as a sister and as a wife, too. When will the war be finished. Tell me. Answer me ..." Minah paused, sobbing, but Atmadja sat silently.

"Of course," she went on, "when the war is finished, you will come back home?" Filled with sorrow for her, Atmadja suddenly said, "My dear Minah. Do you know that I am to become a soldier. I am your husband, and I long to continue our happy life. You will always be in my heart. I will come back again when the war is finished. But, perhaps ... I will die on the battlefield. Perhaps that is my fate ... I will be killed, not for our motherland ..." He pressed Minah to him in a tight embrace. "No," she cried out, "No! I do not want to hear it. I only want you to come back soon."

"My dear Minah. Do not worry about me, continue your studies. Perhaps I shall appear in your dreams, and you in mine. Then will be nice, won't it? Let me go, till we meet again. You must go now." A Japanese soldier appeared shouting "Go! Go!" Slowly the many weeping women left.

Two years later, having completed her primary studies, Minah wanted to continue at the middle school for girls. But there was a problem. The school was located in the town. It meant she must go to town every day. But she decided to do it for Atmadja's sake. For three years she got up every morning at five o'clock and travelled to town.

Minah was now 16 years old. She was growing up. Sometimes, thinking of her husband, she felt she must make herself beautiful for when he returned. But then she would remember that her father forbade this. It was too dangerous. She must not let the Japanese soldiers see her beauty. Many less beautiful girls and women had been forced to submit to them.

She had to walk past the Japanese army barracks when going to and from school and she became more worried every day. They often tried to attract her attention. It was so disturbing that she stopped going to the school but it was too late. Japanese Commander Josida had already noticed her.

One day he presented himself to her father with the request that he permit Minah to become his second wife. Keeping his anger in his heart, her father was afraid to refuse. Finally he said, "The family has no objection, but first we must ask Minah."

"Good", "Tomorrow I shall come again. Minah should move to my house as soon as possible."

"I will arrange everything."

Josida left, smiling.

Next day he returned. "Well," he asked. "What does she say?"

Slowly, Minah's father answered, "Sir! Josida! I beg you to be patient with her. She is ill just now from shock, because you asked so suddenly. She wishes you to be especially patient with her. Believe me, she will be very nice to you. Please, come to her bed."

Josida's henchmen were surprised, because these things had never gone off so smoothly before.

Following the father, Josida was delighted to see Minah.

"Do you feel better?" he asked, "I have come to see you."

"I am very happy to see you," Minah smiled at him "My father has told me everything about you, and I agree. I will follow you after a little while."

"I hope you recover soon." Josida said happily. Smiling he shook Minah's hand. Her grandmother sat quietly by.

"Tomorrow I shall come again", called Josida, departing.

"Your acting was good", said her father, "but you must not let him suspect anything, we must play for time..."

"It is too dangerous," interrupted the grandmother, "tomorrow or tonight Minah must leave here. That old devil has no good in him. He is not to be trusted."

"I want to go now," cried Minah,

Breaking the silence, her grandmother said, "Minah, perhaps you should write him a love letter. Tell him that for the sake of your health you must go to the mountains for one week and when you come back you will move to his house. In the meantime we will prepare to flee."

The next day Josida laughed loudly and heartily when he received Minah's letter. His orderlies smiled. "One week is long", laughed Josida. But to get a girl like Minah I must be patient. The nice night will come soon.

Josida's Indonesian wife remained silent. She had no right to protest, even when he spent his nights with other women.

Three days of the week of grace had passed. The family had agreed to leave in the dead of night for another, far off village. Just as they were ready to go, there was a knock at the door. No one dared to open it. The knocking continued. The father, his heart pounding, opened the window.

"Who is there?" he asked.

"I will tell you later. Let me spend the night here, will you?"

"Where are you from?"

"Djakarta. I will explain if you will give me a minute or two. Are you the father of Minah?"

"No! No! You cannot enter this house."

"Father" said the young man, gently, my name is Priyadi, I bring a letter from Atmadja for you and for Minah. Don't you want it?"

"My God! Excuse me, son. Please enter," said the old man. Quickly he asked the womenfolk to prepare something for the young man to eat. Surprised, the young man asked why the family was preparing to leave.

After hearing the story from Minah's father, the young man assured them, "Don't worry. Don't go anywhere. I will be responsible for everything." Atmadja has told me everything about your family.

Suddenly the situation changed and became critical for the Japanese. The people of Djakarta proclaimed the independence of Indonesia, calling upon the people throughout the country to follow their lead. The town under Josida's command appeared to be very quiet, but it was a deceptive quietness.

Josida tried to carry on as usual, but he knew that the end of the war was at hand.

That evening, after supper, he sat in his office talking with his aide. Suddenly he said, "Tell her she must come here tonight. Quickly!"

As the aide turned to leave, Josida's wife rushed in and ordered him not to go.

Josida stood, surprised and silent.

The beautiful Indonesian woman turned and faced her husband, angrily she said, "Don't you realise what is going on? Tomorrow you and I will be dead, killed by the people's army, but your head is still full of nice girls and women. You are like a crazy man. You should remember that thousands of your people have been killed by atomic bombs. I will not let you bring another Indonesian girl here."

Josida snatched desperately at the pistol his wife aimed at his head, but too late. Six bullets pierced his skull.

His wife ran quickly to her room to reload the revolver. With the automatic in her hand she was afraid of nothing. She was ready if the Japanese soldiers came for her. It was very quiet. Then she heard shouting on the other side of the wall. She remained calm, waiting.

Thousands of people with their sharp bamboos were attacking the Japanese authorities. The main body was coming to the headquarters, and she was glad. Her home would become a headquarters for the Indonesian Revolutionary Army. She had sacrificed her whole life — now all she wanted was to help the Revolutionary Army.

***

Although Indonesian Independence was proclaimed on August 17th, 1945, the revolution still goes on. The people have to continue to fight and attack the Dutch army. And a girl called Minah, who knew the feudal and colonial period, the fascist period and the period of independence, works in the office at the Revolutionary Headquarters and waits for her husband.