Bawang Merah and Bawang Putih

The Life of Hardship

Bawang Putih’s days were filled with endless work. From dawn till dusk, she cleaned, cooked, washed clothes, and took care of the animals. Her hands were rough from the hard labor, but her heart remained pure. She never complained, despite the unfair treatment. She believed that kindness would eventually prevail and that someday, her good heart would be rewarded.

Meanwhile, Bawang Merah spent her days idly, lounging about in pretty dresses, tending only to her own needs. She loved to mock Bawang Putih and make her life even more difficult. The stepmother never stepped in to stop this behavior, and instead, encouraged it. She would often say, “Why can’t you be more like Bawang Merah? Look at how beautiful and graceful she is!”

Despite the constant mistreatment, Bawang Putih remained kind, always believing that there was good in the world, and in time, her life would change for the better.

The Tragic Incident

One day, Bawang Putih’s father fell gravely ill. He had always been a hardworking and loving man, but the illness took its toll on him quickly. As his health deteriorated, he realized that he might not be around much longer to protect his daughter from the cruelty of her stepmother and stepsister.

Before he passed away, he called Bawang Putih to his bedside and said, “My dear child, always remember to stay kind, no matter what life brings your way. Kindness is a strength, not a weakness. Your heart is pure, and one day, it will bring you happiness.”

With tears in her eyes, Bawang Putih promised her father that she would stay kind and strong, no matter what happened.

After her father’s death, life became even harder for Bawang Putih. With no one left to defend her, the stepmother and Bawang Merah became more abusive. They forced her to work even harder, giving her no rest. Her only solace was the memory of her father’s words and the hope that someday, her life would change.

The Magical Encounter

One morning, as Bawang Putih was washing clothes in the river, one of her father’s favorite shirts slipped out of her hands and was carried away by the current. Panicked, she chased after it, but the shirt was swept downstream, disappearing out of sight. Fearing her stepmother’s wrath, Bawang Putih decided to follow the river and retrieve the shirt, no matter how far it had gone.

She followed the river deep into the forest, until she reached a secluded area she had never seen before. There, near a small waterfall, she found an old woman sitting by the water’s edge. The old woman was holding the missing shirt in her hands.

“Is this what you’re looking for, child?” the old woman asked with a kind smile.

Bawang Putih nodded, surprised to find the shirt in the hands of this mysterious woman. “Yes, thank you so much,” she replied, bowing respectfully.

The old woman handed her the shirt and said, “You’ve come a long way for this. You must be very determined.”

Bawang Putih explained her situation, telling the old woman about her cruel stepmother and stepsister, and how she had to retrieve the shirt to avoid punishment. She spoke with such honesty and kindness that the old woman was moved.

“I see you have a good heart,” the old woman said. “For your kindness and patience, I will reward you. You may take one of these two gourds with you. One is large, and the other is small. Choose wisely.”

Bawang Putih looked at the two gourds. The large one seemed tempting, but remembering her father’s advice to always remain humble and kind, she chose the smaller gourd.

“Thank you,” she said, taking the small gourd and heading back home.

The Unexpected Treasure

When Bawang Putih returned home, her stepmother and Bawang Merah were furious that she had been gone for so long. They demanded to know where she had been, and Bawang Putih explained the encounter with the old woman. Skeptical of her story, they snatched the gourd from her hands and cracked it open.

To everyone’s surprise, the small gourd was filled with gold coins, jewels, and precious stones. It was a treasure unlike anything they had ever seen.

The stepmother and Bawang Merah were shocked but quickly realized the value of what had happened. They began plotting how they could obtain more treasure. They scolded Bawang Putih for not choosing the larger gourd, despite the immense wealth that had come from the small one.

Greed clouded their judgment, and they decided that Bawang Merah should go to the river and try to find the same old woman to get her own gourd.

Bawang Merah’s Attempt

The next day, Bawang Merah followed Bawang Putih’s instructions and made her way to the river. Pretending to be kind, she waited for the old woman to appear. Sure enough, the old woman emerged by the waterfall, holding a shirt.

“Is this what you’re looking for?” the old woman asked.

Bawang Merah quickly took the shirt and said, “Yes, it’s mine.” She tried to mimic Bawang Putih’s humility, but her insincerity was obvious.

The old woman, seeing through Bawang Merah’s deception, still offered her the choice between two gourds. Without hesitation, Bawang Merah grabbed the larger gourd, thinking it would hold even more treasure than the one Bawang Putih had chosen.

Excited, Bawang Merah rushed home with the large gourd. She couldn’t wait to see what riches were inside. Her mother greeted her eagerly, and they both cracked open the gourd together.

But instead of treasure, the gourd was filled with snakes, scorpions, and other terrifying creatures. They shrieked in horror as the creatures swarmed out of the gourd, filling the house with chaos.

The stepmother and Bawang Merah tried to get rid of the creatures, but it was too late. The house was overrun, and they were forced to flee in fear. Their greed had led to their downfall, and they were left with nothing.

The Happy Ending

With Bawang Merah and her stepmother gone, Bawang Putih was finally free from the cruelty that had dominated her life for so long. She was able to live peacefully, using the treasure from the small gourd to rebuild her home and live comfortably.

Word of Bawang Putih’s kindness and her miraculous fortune spread throughout the village. One day, the prince of the kingdom, who had heard of her beauty and good heart, came to visit her. Struck by her gentleness and kindness, he fell in love with her.

They soon married, and Bawang Putih became the queen, ruling with wisdom and compassion. She never forgot the hardships she had faced, and she always treated others with the same kindness and generosity that had once been shown to her.

As for Bawang Merah and her mother, they wandered the countryside, penniless and alone. They had learned the hard way that greed and cruelty only bring misfortune, while kindness and humility lead to true happiness.

And so, Bawang Putih lived happily ever after, surrounded by love and prosperity. The village, too, thrived under her benevolent rule, and the story of Bawang Merah and Bawang Putih became a legend, passed down through generations as a reminder of the power of kindness and the dangers of greed.

Moral of the Story

The tale of Bawang Merah and Bawang Putih teaches us that true beauty comes from within, and that kindness and humility are far more valuable than wealth or power. Greed and selfishness may bring temporary gains, but they ultimately lead to misery and loss. In contrast, those who act with compassion and generosity are rewarded with lasting happiness and success.

The Legacy of Bawang Putih

Bawang Putih’s story continued to inspire the people of the village for many years to come. Her legacy was not just one of beauty or wealth, but of kindness, resilience, and the power of a good heart.

Whenever children in the village heard the story, they were reminded to always be kind to others, no matter how difficult life might become, for kindness was a strength that could overcome even the harshest of challenges.

And thus, the story of Bawang Merah and Bawang Putih endured through time, a timeless lesson for all who heard it, teaching that in the end, it is not riches or power that bring true happiness, but the purity of one’s heart.