Recently on social media Sohu, a story about a "rare" love affair has been shared, attracting public attention in Indonesia.
Selamat, a young man born in 2000, married a elderly woman named Rohaya, who was 71 years old at the time, in 2017.
Currently, the couple is 24 and 78 years old, with an age difference of over 50 years.
Their fateful meeting occurred when Selamat accidentally saw Rohaya on the street and was attracted by her kindness. He secretly followed her home.
When discovered, instead of being scared, the young man honestly expressed his feelings. Since then, he began to visit Rohaya frequently, and gradually they developed feelings for each other despite the age difference.
Their decision to marry faced strong opposition from many sides.
Selamat's family, especially his parents, were extremely angry when they heard the news. They were concerned about the significant age gap and the gossip from the community.
However, with Selamat's determination and persistence, he successfully convinced his family and was allowed to marry in 2017.
Contrary to speculations about financial motives, Rohaya actually belongs to the poor class in society.
In fact, after getting married, Selamat moved in with his wife and took on the economic responsibility for the family.
He worked in the fields and took on additional jobs to make ends meet, showing remarkable maturity for his age.
According to Sohu, Selamat's love for Rohaya is believed to stem from his close relationship with his deceased grandmother. After her death, it seems Selamat found in Rohaya a replacement figure to express his love and attachment.
However, the married life of the couple is not without its peculiarities.
Selamat often makes Rohaya stay at home out of fear that others will "notice" her. Although there were initial arguments, Rohaya gradually accepted this behavior from Selamat as an expression of love.
While many people doubt the durability of this marriage, the couple continues to live together. Rohaya takes care of the house and cooks, while Selamat works to provide for the family.
Although this story can be seen as a form of special love, the significant age difference between them inevitably raises concerns about the future.
As time goes by, it may not be societal prejudices but the natural laws of life and death that will be the greatest challenge to this relationship.
