Happy Ending Story

                           Malin Kundang

Long ago there was a story in a fishing village on Air Manis Beach in Padang, West Sumatra. There is a widow named Mande Rubayah who lives with her son, Malin Kundang. Mande Rubayah really loves and pampers Malin Kundang. Malin then grew up to be a diligent and obedient child. When Mande Rubayah was old, he was only able to work as a cake seller to provide for himself and his only child. One day, Malin fell seriously ill, until his life almost died but finally he was saved-thanks to his mother's hard work. After recovering from his illness he was increasingly loved. They are mother and daughter who love each other.

When Malin was an adult he asked his mother for permission to go abroad to the city, because at that time there was a large ship docked at Air Manis Beach. "Don't Malin, I'm afraid something will happen to you in the overseas lands. Just stay here, accompany mom," said her sad mother after hearing Malin's wish to go abroad. "Mom calm down, nothing will happen to me," said Malin, holding her mother's hand. "This is an opportunity, ma'am, because it's not necessarily once a year there is a big ship docked at this beach. I want to change our fate, Mom, let it be," Malin pleaded.

All right, mom let me. Hurry back, mother will always be waiting for you son," said his mother, crying. Although with a heavy heart, finally Mande Rubayah allowed Malin to go. Then Malin was provided with seven packs of rice wrapped in banana leaves, "For your provisions on the trip," he said as he handed it to Malin. After that, Malin Kundang left for overseas leaving his mother alone.

Day after day passed, the day seemed slow for Mande Rubayah. Every morning and evening Mande Rubayah looks out at the sea. "Have you arrived at the boat, son?" he asked himself as he continued to look at the sea. He always prayed for safety and a speedy return. Some time later when a ship came docked he always asked how his son was. “Have you seen my son, Malin? Is he okay? When are you coming back?" he asked. But every time he asked the crew or the captain he never got an answer. Malin never left any goods or messages to his mother.

For years, Mande Rubayah kept asking but there was never an answer until his body grew old, and now his way began to bend. One day Mande Rubayah received news from the captain who had brought Malin, the captain gave Mande Rubayah happy news. "Mande, do you know, your son has now married a beautiful girl, the daughter of a very wealthy nobleman," he said at the time. "Malin, hurry home, son, mother is old. Malin, when are you coming home..." she moaned pitifully every night. He was sure his son would come. Sure enough, not long after, one sunny day from a distance, a majestic and beautiful ship sailed towards the shore.

The villagers began to gather, they thought the ship belonged to a sultan or a prince. They welcomed him happily. Mande Rubayah was very happy to hear this, he always prayed for his son to be safe and soon returned to visit him, the light of joy began to come back to him. But for months since he received news of Malin from the captain, Malin never returned to see him. When the ship began to dock, a pair of young people were seen standing on the bridge. Their clothes glittered in the sun. Their faces were brightly decorated with smiles because they were happy to be greeted with joy.

Mande Rubayah also jostled to approach the ship. His heart pounded hard when he saw the young man who was on the ship, he was very sure that the young man was his son, Malin Kundang. Before the village elders had time to welcome him, Malin's mother approached Malin first. She immediately hugged Malin tightly for fear of losing her child again. "Malin, my son. You're right my son, right?" she said holding back tears of joy, "Why haven't you told me so long?"

Malin was surprised to be hugged by the old woman who was dressed in rags. He couldn't believe that she was his mother. Before he could think of speaking, his beautiful wife spat and said, “Is this ugly woman your mother? Why did you lie to me in the first place! Didn't you say back then that your mother was a noble on the same level as me?!” he said sarcastically Hearing his wife's harsh words, Malin Kundang immediately pushed his mother to the ground, "Crazy woman! I'm not your son!" he said harshly.

Mande Rubayah could not believe his son's behavior, he fell to his knees saying, "Malin, Malin, my son. I am your mother, son! Why are you like this kid?!” Malin Kundang didn't care about his mother's words. He will not acknowledge his mother. He was ashamed of his wife. Seeing the woman prostrate to hug her legs, Malin kicked her while saying, "Hey, crazy girl! My mother is not like you! Poor and dirty!” The old woman lay on the sand, crying and hurting. The people who saw it were stunned and then returned to their respective homes. Mande Rubayah fainted and lay alone. When he realized, Sweet Water Beach was deserted.

He saw Malin's ship getting farther away. He did not think that Malin, who was loved before, could do that. His heart ached and hurt, then his hand was raised to the sky. He then prayed with a heavy heart, "Yes, God, if he is not my son, I forgive him for what he did earlier. But if he really is my son named Malin Kundang, I ask for your justice and make him aware that I am his mother," he said sadly while crying. Soon the weather in the middle of the sea, which had been sunny, suddenly turned dark. It suddenly rained very heavily.

Suddenly a big storm came, hitting Malin Kundang's ship. For a moment he was silent and thought that if this was a rebuke from God for him who had ignored the figure of the woman earlier, it was indeed his mother. Malin also prayed to God and apologized for the treatment he had just done and begged to be saved from the storm that had hit him. He tried to save himself by swimming to shore and shouting for help to residents. Finally there were some residents who heard it and ran to help Malin to be brought to the mainland. Malin lay limp and asked one of the residents to call his mother. Not long after, his mother came and wept when she saw the body of her child who was lying limp and cold. Then Malin was brought home by his mother. When he got home, Malin wept bitterly and apologized to his mother for the treatment that hurt her mother's heart. His mother forgave malin's treatment. And now they live happily together in one simple house.

A little message for all of us:

no matter how big your mistake, parents will always forgive even though it hurts him a lot. you should watch your words and behavior, lest you hurt your parents, especially your mother who is pregnant, giving birth, and taking care of you since childhood. A mother's prayer will always and easily be answered by God. and remember that heaven is at the feet of the mother.