Timun Mas (Twisted by Natania Arum / 11 IPS 3)

Once upon a time, not far from a jungle, lived a husband and a wife. They were farmers. They were diligent farmers and always worked hard in the paddy fields. They had been married for many years and still not have a child yet. Every day they prayed and prayed for a child.

One night, while they were praying, a giant passed their house. The giant heard they pray.

"Don't worry farmers. I can give you a child. But you have to give me that child when she is 17 years old," said the giant.

The farmers were so happy. They did not think about the risk of losing their child later and agree to take the offer. Later, the giant gave them a bunch of cucumber seeds. The farmers planted them carefully. Then the seeds changed into plants.

No longer after that, a big golden cucumber grew from plants. After it had ripe, the farmers picked and cut it. They were very surprised to see beautiful girl inside the cucumber. They named her Timun Mas or Golden Cucumber. Years passed by and Timun Mas has changed into a beautiful girl.

On her 17th birthday, Timun Mas was very happy. However, the parents were very sad. They knew they had to keep their promise to the giant, but they also did not want to lose their beloved daughter. Days before she turned 17 her parents has always been very kind to her, more than usual, she grew suspicious but didn’t thought of anything other than they’re being kind because it’s her birthday soon. The day before she turned 17 she overheard a conversation about giants and promises but she didn’t understand the full story and chose to turn a blind eye instead.

Throughout the years without them knowing the giant became an evil giant whose goal is to devour humans, he became an enemy in the whole nation. The giant remembered his promise with the farmers and went to their house immediately the day Timun Mas turned 17. The parents, knowing this day would come has prepared Timun Mas for everything coming ahead of her. Since she was a kid Timun Mas was thought how to self-defense, fight, even to kill people, but she never understood the reason why. The day came and the giant was already coming for Timun Mas, her parents gave her everything she needed and only told her to save herself, whatever it may take. With that Timun Mas ran for her life, she took some routes she don’t even know. The giant was very excited about the thought of eating her because he has made her his target since 17 years ago. The giant kept telling Timun Mas to just give up and go with him, of course Timun Mas didn’t give in and it made her ran even faster. Timun mas ran with all her might but it leads to a dead end. 

She thought she lost hope because the sound of the giant is still clear meaning it’s not far from her. She got her fighting gear ready knowing she have nowhere to run, when the giant came she first throw rocks at him, the giant got angry and threw a tree at Timun Mas, it didn’t get to her but did make a new path, she ran in circles in effort to distract the giant. The giant got confused and lost sight of Timun Mas. Timun Mas saw her chance and run closer to the giant throwing a sharp bamboo (bambu runcing) which hit the giant exactly in his leg and made him weak. She then continued with her attack until finally the giant is dead, Timun Mas returned to her home with victory. Her parents and the whole village was so proud of Timun Mas for killing the giant because for years no one was brave enough to get near the giant.

Moral lesson :

The inspiration I got to make this plot twist is actually from a bible story of David and Goliath. David and Timun Mas both didn’t knew they could be the ones winning a battle against a creature that was basically impossible for them to kill. I wish from this plot twist I hope people can realize that at times it is not about the size of your enemy. Nobody ever thought that Timun Mas was going to be the plot twist and the savior of the village, but she proved herself by winning against the giant. The small girl who didn’t knew anything saved the village. Additional lessons I added was the parents giving Timun Mas lessons to fight since she was small. From Timun Mas’ point of view maybe she was confused or felt it was not needed especially thinking she was just a small girl, but sometimes at life when we don’t understand why our parents are doing something, most of the times it will always be for the good cause. No parents will want their kids to suffer, in this story the parents was trying to protect their daughter without telling the cause so it wouldn’t scare her. The method works and Timun Mas showed what she was been thought all along in the battlefield against the giant, and returned with victory.