Calibra: A Delayed Taste
CALIBRA | CHAPTER 103

"What do you want?" Ibra asked as she turned the wheel and her eyes went around to and fro, looking for something interesting among the roadside food stalls. "But, let's find a parking spot first. It's hard, it's so bad."

"It's like it's empty there, Mas." Audi pointed to a space that was several meters in front of them.

Ibra follows the direction of Audi's view. "Where?"

"That's in front, near the toaster."

"Ooh ..." Ibra.

The man immediately moved his wheel in that direction. Dense road conditions made it a little difficult for them to stop. After stopping, both are still confused about what to buy, all look good when thirsty and hungry.

"What do you want, Yang? There's a pentol, won't you?" Ibra looked at Audi and asked.

"Now. But I'm gonna go find some egg rolls first, there's no, huh?"

"Don't know, get down first."

Ibra and Audi went down, walking down the roadside between the crowded people and the food stands that lined up. What a wonderful ramadan. The usual place full now became many folds fuller and almost without any gaps.

Ibra took Audi in her arms, led her to the shoulder of the road, while she was on the side. Ibra deliberately did that so that Audi was awake from a series of motorcycles that were milling.

"Telor roll, tuh." Ibra pointed at one of the carts not far from them.

He also invited Audi to cross over to get to the merchant. They were greeted kindly by the seller who was a middle-aged father.

"Please, Aa, Tet, portions are still plenty!" he was busy serving other customers. His hands were very nimble wriggling on the frying pan. Really experienced.

Ibra looked at Audi and asked. "What message do you want?"

"Ten thousand enough times" said Audi. "A part of the house does not eat a lot of eggs. Oma, Om Edzar and Papa also rarely eat."

Ibra. He then mentioned the order to the seller. "Sir, twenty thousand, yes!"

"Ready, Jang Kasep!"

Jang is Ujang, a Sundanese term for a young man. While kasep itself means handsome.

Audi frowned as he looked up at Ibra. "Kok, so twenty thousand?"

In response to the astonishment, Ibra simply smiled, rubbing a glimpse of Audi's hair. Either that's the reflex that Ibra's used to, or she's really anxious about Audi's hair color. For sure before Audi dye hair, Ibra always did that.

"There are Bibi too, who knows they want."

Oh, aye. Audi forgot the two workers who were still in Oma's house. Whereas others at home, only those who are willing to stay even though the desire to welcome Ramadan with family must be equally strong.

"Oh, yes I forgot, hehe."

After buying rolled eggs, Ibra again took Audi down the road to find other snacks. Up to almost half an hour they have been able to get approximately five types of snacks.

"And Mama and Aunt Safa must be cooking at Oma's house?"

"Yes, anyway. But yes we buy, who knows who will."

Audi belching. "I just found out that Mas Ibra was wasteful as well. Kirain became a more economical soldier, not yunya."

Hearing Audi's sneer, the Ibra container was immediately blown away.

"His name is also another fasting person, Cla. Not just Mas, everyone and surely you are too, all food is imagined and demanded to be realized."

Clucking slowly, Audi also replied. "Well, what side dish do you want?"

Ibra stopped laughing. "We're moving to another location, yuk?" invite her with an enthusiastic voice, similar to an excited puppy.

Unknowingly Audi is doing respiration. Even so he still followed Ibra's steps to the place where their car was parked.

"We can't eat rice. Ajaan already more than three hundred thousand," chirps Audi who again only responded to the oddity by Ibra.

***

The voice of praise and recitation of the holy verse of the Quran has been loudly proclaimed in the nearest mosques. The hour hand was already pointing at the number five over fifty-five minutes. About three minutes to the adzan magrib.

The Halim family had gathered to sit on the dining table which was full of various dishes. Not to mention the results of Ibra and Audi snacks earlier also crowded the table area. As Audi guessed, the number made a head shake, and the funny thing is that Ibra seemed to ignore all the eyes that were on him the first time they put the food there.

Well, Ibra's portion of food is a lot. Let's just say a big swish of snacks that he can all devour. True said Oma, the content is very enough to divide the small children who live in the villa complex.

At the table itself there is already a large bowl of fruit ice, salak seeds, and of course dates that never miss as a menu item. If the snack and menu side dishes rice friends have not been asked, so many Audi so confused themselves. He secretly regretted Ibra who was insistent to buy another side dish outside. Lha, the menu presented by three Halim women there is more evocative and makes saliva aroused.

Three minutes later the sound of the adhan was heard in every mosque. They all say the sentence hamdalah as a form of gratitude because they can undergo fasting smoothly.

Before drinking, Om Edzar led them all, reciting the iftar prayer solemnly. After they finished they stormed the dish that had been waving alluring eyes. And of course the first thing to go is ice fruit and salak seeds for Oma who is not able to drink cold drinks.

"Alhamdulillah .." whispered everything almost simultaneously.

Edzar smiled. "May this first fast be our reference to stay in touch with each other even though some of us live far apart. God willing, may our families remain as warmly intertwined as they are now."

"Amijn ..."

Oma Halim smiled shadyly at the sight of her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter who had gathered despite being incomplete without Jeno. His heart felt the warmth that spread caused a sense of pleasure. Happy not to be confused, he hopes that after his absence, the next descendants of Halim are able to maintain this bond well.

The rhythm of spoons and other cutlery collide presenting clinks between the chatter and light laughter that flowed in the dining room. Every now and then Audi and Ibra exchanged lyrics and threw smiles. They are like a young couple who are overwhelmed with kasmaran. The pink hue did not seem to escape the faces of the two.

Especially when Ibra several times throw flirtatious flickering that makes Audi can not bear to stumble a smile.

Of course, in that intimacy there is a heart that is not happy, none other than Dava, Papa Audi who is still reluctant to open a place for Ibra as his son-in-law.