The Tale of Red Onion and White Onion

    By Irvan

    The Tale of Red Onion and White Onion cover image

    11 Aug, 2023

    Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a poor widow with her two daughters, Bawang Merah (Red Onion) and Bawang Putih (White Onion). Bawang Merah was her biological daughter, while Bawang Putih was her stepdaughter. The widow loved both her daughters equally and treated them with kindness and care.

    However, Bawang Merah was filled with envy towards her step-sister. She couldn't stand Bawang Putih's good nature and beautiful appearance. Bawang Merah's heart was tainted with jealousy, and she constantly plotted evil schemes against her step-sister.

    One day, the widow fell ill and passed away, leaving her daughters completely alone. Since the widow had no wealth to leave behind, the two girls had to find their own means of survival. Bawang Putih remained optimistic, while Bawang Merah became even more resentful.

    Bawang Putih took the responsibility of taking care of their old house and the little garden. She worked hard every day, planting vegetables and selling them at the market, hoping to earn a meager income to sustain their lives. Bawang Merah, on the other hand, spent her time idly, dreaming of a life filled with riches.

    One morning, as Bawang Putih was tending to the garden, an old beggar came by, asking for some food. Bawang Putih kindly offered him a portion of their meal and a handful of vegetables. The old man was touched by her generosity and blessed her, hoping that her kindness would be rewarded.

    Meanwhile, Bawang Merah saw the old beggar leaving their house and realized that Bawang Putih had given away their food. Filled with anger, she scolded her step-sister for being foolish and wasting their resources on a stranger. Bawang Merah's heart grew colder with each passing day.

    Months went by, and the sisters discovered that the beggar they had helped was actually a powerful wizard in disguise. The wizard had been testing the villagers' hearts for goodness and kindness. He decided to reward Bawang Putih for her selflessness and punish Bawang Merah for her wickedness.

    One evening, Bawang Putih received a magical tree sapling from the wizard. The sapling had the ability to grow instantly and produce valuable items. Bawang Putih was overjoyed and promised to use the tree's gifts to help those in need. The wizard was pleased with her pure intentions.

    Bawang Merah, who had been observing the events, grew envious once again. She couldn't bear to see her step-sister's good fortune. So, in the depths of the night, she stole the magical sapling and planted it in her own garden, hoping to benefit solely from its powers.

    But as luck would have it, when Bawang Merah woke up in the morning, the sapling had withered away, leaving behind nothing but a dry stump. The wizard had learned of her deceit and punished her wickedness by taking away the tree's magic. Bawang Merah was left with nothing but regret and sorrow.

    Meanwhile, Bawang Putih, unaware of her step-sister's actions, continued to use her magical gifts for the benefit of the villagers. The tree provided her with an abundance of rice, fruits, and valuable treasures, which she happily shared with those in need. Her kind heart and patience were rewarded tenfold.

    As time went on, news of Bawang Putih's miraculous tree spread far and wide. People from distant lands came to witness its wonders and sought Bawang Putih's help. She became known as the "Benevolent Guardian" and was greatly respected and loved by all. Her life was filled with joy and contentment.

    On the other hand, Bawang Merah lived a life full of misery and regret. She realized the consequences of her evil deeds and understood that her jealousy had caused her downfall. No longer able to bear her guilt, she sought forgiveness from Bawang Putih, but it was too late.

    In the end, Bawang Merah's life served as a lesson for others. People in the village understood the importance of having a kind heart, being patient during tough times, and never letting envy overpower their judgment. And so, the story of Bawang Merah and Bawang Putih served as a reminder of the consequences of one's actions.

    The Tale of Red Onion and White Onion