Image source: Pixabay
The bamboo grove is seen licking the coconut leaves on the edge of the rice field. While the bamboo leaves looking like dancing in the wind coming from the sidelines of the hill. The bamboo sticks that grow tightly crowded in large circles, also joined each other rubbing. Thorns that will become bamboo twigs, no doubt become victims of old bamboo stems and then fell to the ground. This bamboo grove has long flourished there. The circle of bamboo shrubs is also getting bigger so blocking the road of citizens.
This bamboo root is firmly planted in brown soil, which is adjacent to the 1.5 meter irrigation canal. Strong winds that coming, sometimes can not hit the bamboo shrubs. This bamboo grove looks increasingly arrogant because it gets a direct supply of water from irrigation. The irrigation-- became the main water source for the rice field of citizens-- also never refused to supplying water for bamboo shrubs. This irrigation is also never tired to accommodate the water downstream on the hill Telkom and empties into the river Meureudu.
Occasionally, irrigation water overflows in the rainy season. Stage-type wooden houses - typical Malay - located near irrigation canals are not uncommon flooded when water in irrigation overflows. The flood also affected the houses of Nora and Dahri, two daughters of Abu Geuchik and Pocut Aisyah.
Nora is the youngest daughter of Abu Geuchik. The skin is yellow, has a sharp nose and blonde hair. Her body was taller than some of her older sisters, when they were at Nora's age, including Dahri. Her's known to be intelligent, also tend to be more fussy than other daughters of Abu Geuchik and Pocut Aisha.
Dahri's character is much different from Nora's. This little girl is known to be calmer. Her skin is also darker than Nora. Dahri is the sixth daughter of Abu Geuchik. Physically a little weak, though she was older than Nora. Dahri who is a third grade elementary school is often played with Nora. One of their playgrounds is the bamboo grove area on the edge of the village.
Nora's father and Dahri are geuchik. This is another name for the village head in the Aceh language. This brown-skinned man with curly hair has long served as a geuchik. Even half the age of Abu Geuchik was spent as head of the village. This also makes the villagers familiar call his name Abu Geuchik. Whereas the original name of Abu Geuchik is Abdurrahim. But this name is less popular in Ulim village.
One day Abu Geuchik was wanted by the army. The soldiers did not know the address of Abdurrahim's house. They then asked the address of Abu Geuchik's house with name Abdurrahim to a number of village youths sitting in the coffee shop. Suddenly the army was angry, for guessing that the young man was play them. Upset, the soldiers finally beating the youths.
They only then knew that Abdurrahim was Abu Geuchik, the village chief, after they reported the case. "Abdurrahim is my name," Abu Geuchik told the youths.
Abu Geuchik has long wanted to retire as head of the village. However, many residents refuse to replace Abu Geuchik because of high risk. Being geuchik in conflict areas must be ready to accept the anger of the soldiers. They must also take the risk of losing their lives in the event of gun contact in the village. Especially if the war killed the soldiers of the country. This is the role that must be implemented by Abu Geuchik so far. Likewise, Abu Geuchik never complained.
Besides serving as geuchik, Abu Geuchik also taught at madrasah ibtidaiyah in the local village. This school is under the Department of Religion, which is at the same level as the primary school. At the school, Abu Geuchik teaches history subjects. Here also Dahri schooling. Nora will also went to school in this madrasah.[] (to be continue...)
This paper is just a fiction. The idea of stories, places and events is only the author's imagination by taking the background of Aceh's flow during the conflict. If there are names of characters, places and the same storyline, just coincidental. This fictional story I dedicate to my family.
THANK YOU FOR READING MY POST