Sekar's Escape

The land of Java three thousand years ago

"Sekar!" "Sekar!"

The owner of the name ignored the screams.The woman, wearing shabby old Javanese traditional clothes, ran with all her might to escape from her father, who was chasing her not far behind her.

Today Darma, Sekar's father, came home grumpy. Sekar could guess that Darma had lost the gamble. Every day, Darma only gambling at the farmer's market closest to their homes.

"Sekar, stop!" Moments before Sekar ran, Darma grabbed Sekar's arms roughly and demanded money from her. If Sekar didn't have money, Darma would use her as his next bet. Darma did not hesitate to sell his daughter to a bookie, as if Sekar had no value.

"I don't want to come with you, Daddy!" Sekar was determined. He lifted her sewek high and continued to run faster. He must not be caught by Darma.

"You insolent child!" Darma stopped running, gasping for breath. His old age made his strength no longer able to catch up with Sekar, who was still young and ran fast.

Sekar glanced back. She could see Darma had stopped running, but Sekar was still running. She had to find a hiding place that Darma couldn't find. Her father was addicted to gambling, and every time he lost, Darma went crazy. Sekar's father often threatens to take Sekar and sell her, so Sekar has always preferred to make money than go with her father. But today, Sekar has no more money. This afternoon, Darma had brought all the money that Sekar had worked for.

A few minutes after that, Sekar arrived at the market area. Sekar was a little relieved that there were so many people and her father would have a hard time finding Sekar in the crowd.

Sekar briefly looked back and saw Darma's whereabouts. Until Sekar's steps stopped in front of a crowd of people in front of the bulletin board. "What is going on over there?" Sekar asked herself. Her eyes narrowed at the crowd not far in front of her, then she stepped closer. Sekar tiptoed. Trying to see what's going on up there. But Sekar couldn't see anything. Finally, Sekar patted the back of the middle-aged woman who was standing not far in front of her. "Mbok, what's wrong? Why are there so many?"

"There is an announcement from the kingdom," said the middle-aged woman called Mbok. Sekar's brow furrowed.

"Announcement?" she asked, for sure. Sekar thought it was no wonder they were all gathered around like that. "What announcement?" Sekar asked again.

The woman in front of Sekar explained. "The Kingdom is looking for young concubines from every corner of the city for the Prince who has just succeeded the throne of the previous King Nduk."

Sekar rolled her eyes. "Concubine?" Then she was silent for a moment. Since this was the first time Sekar had heard of such an announcement, she didn't quite understand it.

The middle-aged woman in front of Sekar nodded. "Many say that being a royal concubine is the same as being free from trouble. They can live in the kingdom without struggling to make money every day," she said.

Sekar listened carefully. In her mind, she had never imagined what a royal concubine would look like. What made Sekar interested was when this unknown woman in front of her said that he didn't have to work hard to earn money every day. And if Sekar is in the kingdom, it is certain that Darma can't look for him anymore. Not long ago, Darma's name was in Sekar's mind. Darma's voice shouted again for his daughter's name. Sekar glanced back. "It's bad that Dad is already here!"

Where should Sekar run? If his father got any closer, he would definitely be caught. "Mbok, if I register as a concubine, can I enter the kingdom now?" Sekar asked.

The woman in front of her shook her head. "I don't know. Just ask Nyai Kasmirah, who is standing in front of you," she answered, pointing ahead.

Sekar followed the woman's finger, then without asking much more, Sekar immediately ran towards someone called Nyai Kasmirah. She is the manager of the largest brothel in the city. And this time, Nyai Kasmirah is trusted to find many beautiful women who will be selected directly by royal officials.

Sekar pushed her way through the crowd of people in front of her, towards Nyai Kasmirah. Standing right in front of her, "Nyai, I want to register myself as a concubine. Take me with you!" Sekar immediately pleaded with Nyai Kasmirah.

Nyai Kasmirah did not immediately answer. She watched Sekar from top to bottom. The criteria sought by Nyai Kasmirah on the orders of the royal guards were: young, beautiful, and having a beautiful body. In Nyai Kasmirah's observation, Sekar had it all, but Nyai Kasmirah looked at her in surprise when Sekar asked to be brought now. Nyai Kasmirah brought her face closer to Sekar. "Cah Ayu, you don't look like someone who wants to register as a concubine. Did you run away?" asked Nyai Kasmirah.

Sekar widened her eyes in shock. How could Nyai Kasmirah know? Is it so obvious that Sekar is trying to run away? But there was no time to think about that for too long. Sekar must immediately find a place to hide from her father. Sekar was fed up with having to earn money for her father every day. A gambler and drunkard who is always rude to Sekar. Sekar wants to just disappear and never see her father again. Sekar grabbed Nyai Kasmirah's hands. "Help me, Nyai. I promise to obey all your orders if you give me a place to hide," Sekar pleaded.

"Sekar! Sekar!" Darma's voice sounded faintly closer in the crowd.

Sekar gripped Nyai Kasmirah's hand tighter. She looked at the brothel manager's face. "Help me, Nyai!" Sekar begged endlessly. Without a second thought, and according to Sekar, the kingdom is the safest place to hide right now. Darma will not dare go there for any reason. "Will you help me, please?"