Moses Suhardi’s house in Dumoga Village was nicknamed ‘The Ark’, not only because it was huge but also because it evoked the image of a ship. The first storey, the widest part, resembled a vessel’s hull. The second storey jutted out over an open space, surrounded by railings like a deck. Its pointed edge, projecting towards the front yard, looked like a bow, while the spoon-shaped back formed the stern. The towering structure in the middle resembled a bridge.

Moses Suhardi lived in the house with his wife and their three children, each of whom had their own family. It was said that Moses had built such a large house so his children wouldn’t have to move out; so he and his wife, Anung, wouldn’t be left lonely in their old age; so their grandchildren would be free to run around the place. People, their voices tinged with envy, praised him to his face for creating a sanctuary for his family. Behind Moses’s back, though, people ridiculed the four families for living under the same roof, like sardines in a can.

Dinar Suhardi knew this. She wasn’t happy living with her parents, older siblings, and their spouses. But her husband’s salary as a part-time teacher wasn’t enough to cover a mortgage or rent a house. That was why she’d moved from her rented room into the ark-like home.

• Tags: Cicilia Oday, fiction, Fulvia, Indonesia, Issue 44