BERHALA ISLAND
EPISODE 29: LEBARAN SILENT

    "Allahu akbar .., Allahu akbar ..., Allahu akbar ..... La ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar .... Allahu akbar wa lillahil hamd."

    "Allahu akbar kabiiraa, wallhamdu lillahi katsira, wa subhanallahi bukratan wa ashila, la ilaha illallahu wa la na'budu illa iyyahu mukhlishina lahud in wa law karial kafirun, la ilaha illallahu wahda, shadaqa wa'dah, wa nashara 'abdah, wa a'azza jundahu wa hazamal ahzaba wahdah, la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar. Allahu akbar wallillahilhamd."

    The sound of takbir echoed throughout the air space. The sound of bedugs was everywhere. It is a day of Eid, a day for Muslims celebrating the day of victory, people celebrating the Eid al-Fitr. Of course, for everyone will definitely have fun, will definitely have fun watching the arrival of Lebaran, the day of victory after a month of fasting. Lebaran is a victory day that is welcomed with joy by all Muslims in Indonesia.

    Eid al-Fitr or Eid, is a moment that is always awaited by all Muslims. Of course, before Lebaran day arrives, Muslims must undergo fasting for a whole month. Fasting is not just holding back hunger and thirst, it is also holding back all lust. That is why Lebaran is also referred to as the day of victory.

    Mudik is a tradition carried out by all Indonesians ahead of Lebaran. Those who wander out of town to work, will take advantage of the moment of Eid to visit parents and family in their home area or in the village. Even the government gives a special holiday on Eid, with a greater number of holidays, so that everyone can celebrate this day together with loved ones in the village. Many people who go home, to meet their families, want to gather with their relatives. Of course, that day is a day that everyone is waiting for. Including my wife and her children.

    Yes, Isti is very hopeful for the arrival of her husband, Podin.so are her children, who long to wait for the return of her father. Understandably, the longing was already very deep, especially in the heart of Isti who was left married again by Podin.

    In the kitchen located at the back of the rukonya, Isti has cooked ketupat and chicken opor, which of course it is a special meal on Eid day. Of course, ketupat food and chicken opor will be eaten later, will be enjoyed to commemorate the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Of course Isti wants to eat ketupat and chicken opor together with all members of his family. But when Isti had prepared the ketupat and chicken opor on the dining table, watching all the food presented, he again grieved. He thought back to Podin. Will her husband come home to see his wife? Will her husband come home to see his hometown? Will her husband come just to apologize to his children who he had left without any affection?

    However, when Isti sat at the dining table, while daydreaming that of course thinking about her husband, suddenly his little daughter, Asri, came to him.

    "Bu ..., when did you come home ...?" asked Asri to his mother, who of course the daughter was very long with her father because it had been two months left by his father without any news.

    "Prophey yes, Asri .... Later if your father has got the money, his work is done, definitely home, will definitely be lebaran with us ..." so said his mother answered Asri's question, while stroking his son's head. And without feeling, tears dripped from his eyes watching his children who missed his father so much. But it all exists only in fantasy. Of course Isti is very sad. Of course Isti's heart is very sore. And of course Isti felt very much in need of the presence of her husband.

    It wasn't just Asri who came at the dining table. But also with the Goddess who certainly while taking her younger sister, Antok. Then Dewi sat his sister on the chair where the dining table was. Then the Goddess herself also sat opposite her mother.

    "Bu ..., when did you come home ...?" so asked the Goddess to her mother.

    "Goddess .., be patient, Son .... All of you are patient .... Maybe your dad is busy .... Maybe your father doesn't have time .... Maybe even if on Eid days like this, of course your father's business place is getting crowded. Everyone needs entertainment. Everyone wants to sing. Then your father's business place must be crowded with visitors. If that means you can't go home. That is, you have to keep his place of business as much as possible." so clearly his mother to her children.

    "Lhoh ..., why didn't you come home ...? Let's go, ma'am .... Cook the day of Lebaran people at homecoming, people at home village, people on new clothes bought by his father, but we ...?! Father did not go home ..." said Dewi who of course was also disappointed because his father who was said by his mother would probably not go home.

    "Daddy .... The father did not know his son wanted to meet ..." said Asri who was certainly disappointed.

    Indeed, it was the words of the hearts of his children who actually missed his father very much. Of course, his son was very hopeful of the presence of his parents.

    Isti will not tell his children the truth. Because Isti does not want his son to know that his father already has another wife in Jakarta. Of course, if Podin, his father already had a wife again, had a family again, surely he would also be more difficult to live with his young wife, rather than going home to have to give money to his old wife. Not to mention that Podin had to buy clothes to his children. Of course it takes a lot of money. Even if Podin went home, if Podin had to see his wife, he would also feel uncomfortable. Because his luxurious house, his magnificent house, his large house, was already going to be sold. And he has no home to live in anymore. If Podin had to go home to the shop that was used as a place of business by Isti, of course he would also be embarrassed because at that time, Podin had expelled his wife and children.

    Isti kept what her husband had done to his children a secret. Isti does not want his children to know about his father's behavior. Isti did not want his children to be angry with his father. Isti did not want his children to be disappointed with what his father did. And of course Isti also does not want to hurt his children.

    But of course, as a woman who had to support three small children, Isti was also overwhelmed, Isti also felt deprived, because the needs of his life were not just eating, but also eating, not just drink, not just sleep, not just rest. But he also had to send his children to school, had to give clothes to his children, and of course he also had to pay for other contributions in the administration of his housing or his ruko. Isti had to pay for electricity, had to pay for water, had to pay for cleanliness.

    Indeed, if you think about it, Isti feels very heavy with the life that is now. But if he is compared to when he was still poor, when he had no home, when he had nothing, Isti is still grateful because he can still try today. And of course he did not want to owe his neighbors anymore. So he took pains to sell, organize his shop from morning to night.

    However, Isti remains grateful because his children are still small and diligent to help his mother sell in the store. Yes, at least he can teach kindness to his children, he can teach a diligent way of life, how to save, and even save. His children are also in accordance with what their parents have always taught.

    But this time, today is the day of Lebaran. On Lebaran day, usually Podin along with his children and his wife, took to go to his grandmother's house, took away to his brothers to visit there. But this time, Isti was really hit hard. He feels very lonely. He felt in his life to be quiet. Because of Lebaran this time, his children are still small not awaited by his parents. Isti himself was also sad because her husband never came home to see her.

    "No, no, no, no. Mercon, ma'am ...?" ask the little boy to his mother.

    "Jeez ..., Antok .... Don't play mercon .... It could erupt later .... Later if your boredom can be injured ..." said his mother to the youngest child.

    "But, in the past you always bought Mercon Antok if it fits like this ...." Antok protest felt that he was often bought firecrackers by his father. Yes, of course, even though Antok was a child, he still remembers when every leaflet of Podin always bought firecrackers and fireworks for his children. Even if it is just one or two sticks. But at least, he wants to make his children happy, he wants to give the best for his children.

    But unfortunately, this time Lebaran the eagerly awaited Podin also did not come.

    "Yes .., Ms .... Usually if the father comes home later he buys us fireworks." as well as Asri who still remembers that his father lebaran buy fireworks. Then the fireworks were lit. Then thrown on the branches of the tree, his son was happy to cheer happily watching the fireworks.

    Of course, on this occasion, Asri also wanted to get fireworks from his father. Unfortunately what he expected, what he wanted, what he missed, on Lebaran day this time, his father did not come home.

    "Have ..., tomorrow if your father comes home, surely you will buy firecrackers with fireworks." so said his mother who certainly calmed her son.

    "If for example I buy myself, may not, Ms ...?" so asked Asri to his mother.

    Isti. He was confused to answer. If he allows his son to buy fireworks, it means his son is wasteful. Because of the money they had this time, it was actually very saved, very irritated. He needs a lot of money to meet the needs of his life. But if his son wants to buy fireworks, it means he has to spend money to pay for it. Of course for Isti, even though it costs only about five thousand to ten thousand rupiah, but the amount of money that means a lot for the purposes of his life. Yes, this time Isti did not dare to live extravagantly, did not dare to carelessly spend money without any useful purpose. If he buys his children fireworks, it means he also teaches his children to live extravagantly, can not save expenses.

    "Buy a mercon, buy a firecracker, buy fireworks It's not good, Asri ..., Antok .... Unfortunately the money was squandered without any benefit .... If it's just a mercon, if it's just fireworks, we'll be able to see people who are on the ignition. Well, try to go to the second floor. We're going upstairs. We'll see how those fireworks are on the sky. We can see it more clearly and it looks good. So, it's not even dangerous. If you buy it yourself, continue to ignite the mercon itself, continue to erupt and the explosion hits you, even danger .... Could be hurt, could be danger .... Anyway do not need to buy a mercon, a danger." so said his mother who certainly gives an idea to her son, that firecrackers and fireworks are actually a danger to small children.

    "But .., you used to buy fireworks ..." Asri protest who certainly remember when he was bought firecrackers and fireworks by his father. Yes, at that time his father bought fireworks and firecrackers, then who ignited the fireworks was also his father, who ignited firecrackers and his father.

    "Father is an adult .... Already big, and dare to ignite firecrackers .... It's okay, because it can already estimate the eruption. Well, if you are a child, what dare to ignite your own firecrackers? What about boredom?" his mother said to her young children.

    "Yes later the firecracker Mother ..." said Asri who again wanted to force to his mother.

    "Come, Asri .... Mother is afraid .... Mother does not dare, later if kabledosan even mother is sick ..." so her mother said it is certainly reasonable not to buy firecrackers.

    Such a picture is certainly acceptable to his children.

    "Yes, Asri .., Antok ..., we don't play firecrackers or fireworks. Take a look on television, there are news many people are injured because of the innocence of fireworks, the innocence of firecrackers, the innocence of the mercon .... So we better watch it from that window, it looks and it's safer .... Later we go to the second floor, we open our windows, keep watching from there .... I see, yes .., instead of buying a mercon, instead of buying fireworks, mendingan money saved .... Tomorrow can be used for useful purposes." so said Dewi, her big brother, who is really smart to give reasoning to his sisters. Of course Dewi also felt that the life of her mother was still very difficult and still in desperate need of money. Even the Goddess had also thought that her parents needed a lot of money. And it was proven because his large house, his magnificent house, his luxurious house was sold on the grounds his father needed money for a business in Jakarta. Dewi, the little boy who is still sitting in second grade SD was able to think of such a thing. This shows that Dewi is a good child, a smart child, a smart child, a child who understands the needs of his parents.

    "Well ..., it's better now if we eat ketupat same opor, yes .... Here, look ..., mom's been cooking the same opor ketupat. Well you guys still like this Eid food, right ...?" said his mother who had shown ketupat on the table, with opor vegetables in a large bowl.

    "Asik .... Mother cook opor ..." as soon as the children say, and of course he was very happy because looking at the table was ready, already presented ketupat with his opor vegetables.

    "Yes .., now we eat together enjoy ketupat lebaran, enjoy opor lebaran. Well .., it's just delicious .... Instead of being made to buy a mercon, mending money to cook ketupat same opor .... Yeah, right ...?" said his mother, who then sliced the rhombus, split and cut into small pieces, put in a plate, then given the opor sauce. Then Isti took the chicken thigh that was in the opor, the chicken thigh was then combed to be taken meat, so Antok, Antok, the smallest child can eat it without difficulty because the bones have been removed.

    "Here we go .... Chicken opor is just as bad for the smallest of Mother's children .... Steady, Antok .... Let's eat ..." said his mother who handed a plate containing ketupat with chicken opor vegetables to her youngest child.

    "Thank you, Mother ..." so said Antok who certainly immediately tasted the sauce. "Hmm ..., delicious ..." so he said as he gave his thumbs up.

    Furthermore, Isti returned to mix the typical Lebaran food for his big son, Dewi and his sister. Isti took the rhombus again, then split and cut into small pieces, then given a vegetable chicken opor and soup is quite a lot, then given to his two daughters.

    "Come, Asri  .... This is for Dewi ..." said his mother who distributed plates containing ketrupat with the chicken opor.

    Then, Isti with his children, the four of them immediately ate ketupat opor on the night of Lebaran. Yes, the four of them enjoyed the night of Lebaran by eating ketupat and vegetable opor, without a father, and also no Eko, his biggest son who had died.

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    Meanwhile, in Jakarta, Podin who enjoys lebaran with his young wife, is certainly very much different from his wife and children who live in a shophouse. Yes, Podin with Maya, his young wife, he fiddled, they enjoyed lebaran in the way of the rich, the way of celebrities, the way people make money, the way people who like to waste money.

    Yes, Podin with Maya, they enjoyed the eid night by having fun at a luxury hotel in Puncak, which they rented to celebrate Lebaran, by enjoying the beautiful scenery of nature, the beauty of tourist attractions. They enjoy the atmosphere of Eid by having fun and fun at entertainment venues.

    Such is the fact that Podin who has forgotten religious values, has been traditional values, has forgotten the values of togetherness in Lebaran, has forgotten his son and wife who suffered. But he actually enjoyed the sacred holiday, celebrating the Eid with activities that are certainly very contrary to the meaning of Eid al-Fitr itself. Podin and Maya enjoy Eid with a variety of pleasures that indulge lust.