Kesuna and Bawang: Two Sisters Who Have Completely Opposite Characters

Illustration of Kesuna and Bawang with their mother who shows favoritism (Source: Personal Collection)

The story of Kesuna and Bawang is one of the most famous Balinese folktales. The story tells of two sisters who are very different in nature and fate. Kesuna is a diligent child and obedient to his parents. He always helps others and works hard to achieve his goals. Meanwhile, Bawang is a lazy and mischievous child. He often plays tricks on others and never thinks about the consequences of his actions. Kesuna and Bawang still have both complete parents, her father who is working in a rice field. And there is a mother who likes to go shopping and likes to prepare a bonfire for cooking purposes. One day, the mother wanted to go to the market and maybe the mother would be home longer, then the mother also told the two of them to go pound the morning and clean the chaff. 

Illustration of Kesuna pounding rice until exhausted (Source: Personal Collection)

Then after receiving orders from the mother, Bawang immediately told Kesuna to share the task, Kesuna was in charge of pounding rice and Bawang was in charge of cleaning the husks.Then kesuna went to pound rice for so long that he was tired and sweaty. After all this time the kesuna went to pound rice, then the kesuna went back to where Bawang was relaxing and wanted to take turns working to clean the husks as said by the previous Bawang. But Bawang said, “You all clean the husks, later I will clean the house, so that if you come home, you can immediately cook the rice.” Instead of cleaning the house, Bawang still relaxed and did not carry out his duties.

Illustration of Kesuna doing the work that Bawang should be doing (Source: Personal Collection)

After Kesuna cleaned the husk too, Kesuna returned to Bawang and saw Bawang who was still relaxing and not cleaning the house, then Kesuna asked Bawang “Bawang, I have cleaned the husk, why don't you clean the house like you told me?”. But Bawang replied “why don't you all let me help mom cook later”. Even though she was tired, Kesuna still followed Bawang's words to clean the house. After Kesuna was tired of doing all the housework that her mother told her to do alone, Kesuna wanted to go to rest and bathe in the river.

Illustration of Mrs. Bawang and Kesuna who are about to return after going shopping (Source: Personal Collection)

But not long from Kesuna who went to bathe in the river, came his mother who had just returned from the market and spoke calling “Bawang..., Mom is home”. Kesuna, Mom is home” Bawang who was relaxing in the house also heard the voice of his mother who was about to get home, Bawang panicked and immediately rushed to the kitchen to dirty his hands with husks and rice so that his mother would believe that Bawang was doing his homework. Mom also came over to the dirty and said

Illustration of Bawang who lied that he did all the housework (Source: Personal Collection)

“Bawang, you did all this work? Where is Kesuna?” Bawang replied “Yes mom, I did everything until I cleaned the house, even Kesuna went to relax and bathe in the river”, Mom said “Kesuna is a lazy child! Later if he comes, mom will immediately punish him with dad”

Illustration of Kesuna and Bawang's parents waiting for Kesuna's arrival with a feeling of wanting to be angry (Source: Personal Collection)

Then Kesuna came back home and saw her mother and father who were waiting for her in front of her house with a face full of anger, then her father said “Kesuna! You lazy boy! Instead of helping your brother clean the house, but instead go wandering to the river, from now on you are expelled from this house!”  There was no other choice, Kesuna walked away from her house, she did not think that her brother had the heart to slander her. When she was tired and desperate, Kesuna was suddenly surprised by the arrival of a white starling.

Illustration of Kesuna meeting the magical Bali Starling (Source: Personal Collection)

“Hey young man, poor you, your brother slandered you and your parents kicked you out” said the starling, ‘Hey starling, how come you can talk, then how do you know my problem?’ replied Kesuna. “Ah that's not important, but take it easy I can help you” said the starling. “Really? How?” asked Kesuna, ‘Bring me a guava on the tree’ After receiving a guava, the starling ate and spit out the seeds and magically, the seeds turned into gold jewels.  “Now you can use this jewelry to buy a house, so you don't have to live here anymore” said the starling. “But I want to go back home and don't want to live anywhere else” said Kesuna. ‘Yayaya you are right, this way, I will take you home, I will talk to your father and mother what really happened’ said the starling. Kesuna went home with the starlings. Arriving at home ... “You should not expel children at will, you have to find out the real incident, don't like to believe children who like to slander their siblings! As long as you know, your son named Bawang has slandered Kesuna!” said the starling to Kesuna's parents.

Illustration of Bawang who feels guilty and regrets his actions towards Kesuna (Source: Personal Collection)

“Hey! Bawang, confess! You have slandered your brother! If you don't confess, I will curse you into a frog” said the starling to the father, mother, and Bawang. Finally, Bawang admitted his actions and he also admitted that he had been lazy if his father and mother were not at home.

Illustration of Kesuna thanking the Bali Starling for helping her (Source: Personal Collection)

Meanwhile the starling chose to live not far from Kesuna's house, because he felt happy like he had a family, he occupied a hole in the tree. “Hey bird, who are you really?” asked Kesuna, ”I am a Bali Starling, an endemic bird from the island of Bali, someday in the future I will become one of the protected animals, because you humans really like to hunt me.”