Childhood Match
Between Gendhis and Goddess Shinta

After the morning prayers were congregated at the mosque, one by one the residents seemed to come to the house of Pak Argo and Pak Ratno. Qosidah music strains from the sound system sung pesholawat Ai Khadijah quite friendly enter the ears of the listener. Little children play running around here and there as if they also feel the happiness of two families.

The more daylight, the atmosphere in the yard is perfect. Tables, chairs and dishes are neatly arranged. In front of the entrance to the courtyard, there are several small decorative flower arrangements as well as several chairs used to welcome invited guests. Photos of Latitude and Gendhis who was smiling sweetly were plastered beside the entrance and side of the decoration.

The atmosphere was getting crowded, invited guests arrived. Starting from the residents of Merangi Village and other villages around the top of Sumbing. Community leaders, religious figures, Pak Argo colleagues from the vegetable market and not to forget also some Lintang school friends and Gendhis also seem to come one by one.

"Are you ready, Mother Goddess?" Ask Ms. Party at the makeup artist she came to a few days ago.

"Attent, Miss Party. A little more makeup, keep changing dresses." Ma'am Dewi replied as she finished the makeup on Gendhis's face.

"All right, I'll stay first. Later if you are ready to say Mr. Ratno only yes, because the guest has come." Said the Madam Party who was just standing at the entrance of the room of Gendhis, without having a chance to see her prospective daughter-in-law who was sitting in front of the mirror.

"Oh, yeah. Ma'am.. readypp..." Reply Mother Goddess.

In the guest chair, Lintang chatted with his friends. She was a little nervous and seemed to have been impatiently waiting for her lover to come. The strains of the Qosidah Nasidaria music group from Semarangpun City also made the event even more lively.

Moments later, take to the entertainment stage of a young man who turns out to be the show's fiancee. Still one package with WO "Dewi Mayang" Lintang options. With the language is agile, polite also neatly arranged, the MC opened the event. The guests also saw a hikmad.

Latitude gets more nervous when the name of her lover is mentioned.

"Mbak Dewi CS from Dewi Mayang Wedding Organizer, welcome to deliver Roro Ayu "Gendhis Sweet Ayunindya" to the top of the guarantee." Said the show host.

Roro Ayu is equivalent to the term "mbak" but is commonly used for the Jogjakarta palace family.

All eyes were on the path where Gendhis came out of the dressing room. It did not take long, a tall girl appeared wrapped in a young army color dress combined with silver brocade. Plus the graceful hijab and makeup, complete with accessories, made Gendhis like the princess of the new king out of the palace. Lintang stunned to not realize the MC also asked him to sit in the guarantee along with his parents. He saw his walking lover with pride. Walking towards the pelaminan together with Mr. Ratno and Bu Sari beside him.

Everyone was amazed to see Genphis. Sweet girls who prefer to look natural are rarely decorated. And when Mother Goddess conjured her into a princess, as if the beauty that had been hidden, appeared very special.

Not finished their admiration, not a long time, came young people dressed in Javanese custom to bring the handouts selected for Gendhis a few days ago. Like the invited guests, Gendhis was no less surprised by the many offerings.

Gendhis whispered to Lintang who was sitting next to him next to Pak Argo.

"MashaAllah... Mas Latitude, what else is this?"

"Gendhis.it's just what we bought at the store at the time." Reply Lintang also whispered.

"Subhanallah... Mommy..." Gendhis was at a loss for words to express all about this engagement.

"Where, Dis? You like it, right? This is all I designed for you. And did you know that our wedding party will be a thousand times more luxurious than today." Reply Lintang sure. He knew that what he asked his parents would never be denied, let alone the affairs of Gendhis. Must be top priority.

Genphis was silent. I don't know what he felt that morning was mixed, between happy, but also worried. So that his smile also looks a little less detached than usual.

Gendhis continued to look at the boxes containing the offering. Very different from what he bought a while ago. It seems that Lintang has conjured it up to be so stunning. Starting from a set of prayer tools formed to resemble a dome, clothes that are formed like a wreath, make up, shoe bags, everything almost looks not like the original. There is a box that resembles two geese, some are in the form of a cute rabbit. Jewelry boxes, dowry boxes, fruit, and so Gendhis could no longer guess what was inside. All of it is made very beautifully and neatly complete with all the accessories and the same color, the favorite color of Latitude.

The engagement began. Everyone seemed to be following the event. Until the time of Lintang is welcome to ask Gendhis.

"Gendhis... Will you marry me? Spending the rest of your life with me?" Lintang said a little nervously while opening an oerhiasan box containing a pair of engagement rings.

The audience was surprised too.

"Oh.so suwiiiiiit..." Some guests seemed to be talking to each other. Especially the jomblowans and jomblowati. As if they were asking, when did the princess or prince come into their lives?

Gendhis was still silent, making Lintang inevitably have to repeat his words.

"Gendhis... Will you marry me?" Latitude Speech.

The voice of the invited guests became crowded, until some of them shouted.

"You..want..want..want..want..." That voice is getting more and more crowded.

The sound system operator gave a wireless mic to Genphis. Gendhis spoke up.

"Bismilahbornrahmanirrahim..." Gendhis said softly, increasingly making a row of invited guests who were impatiently waiting for answers to come out of his mouth.

"Mas, Lintang.. I want to marry only on two conditions..." Gendhis said instantly made the invited guests flinch then fall silent.

They never thought, with all that Lintang also his family gave up to this luxurious party, he still asked for conditions? What else is lacking in latitude? What else hasn't Lintang given him? The line of questions seemed to be dancing in the minds of all the invited guests. Without exception, including Gendhis parents, to make Bu Sari shocked and immediately spoke to his daughter in a soft voice.

"What are you talking about, son? Why didn't you say this before if you wanted to apply for conditions?" Ms. Sari looked disappointed.

Gendhis was still holding the loudspeaker continuing his words with a calm and resolute face.

The invited guests were still waiting solemnly for what Gendhis was to say.

"I want to marry Mas Lintang as long as... Mas Lintang wants to keep the trust we have given, and Mas Lintang wants to promise that our wedding party will be held as simple as possible, not a luxurious wedding party. I want to get married, as long as Mas Lintang wants to meet the two conditions that I submit." Again, the words of Gendhis managed to hypnotize all who were present at the party. It turned out that what they thought about Gendhis a few minutes ago was wrong.

"Damn..." Ms. Sari screamed a little, seemingly clueless as to what her daughter had just said. He seemed to want to throw out a sentence to make Gendhis withdraw all his words. But that desire prevented ole Bu Parti by holding the right arm of Bu Sari and trying to calm her down.

"Already... Miss Sari, believe me. Let Genthis speak..." Said Ms. Party calmly.

After a moment of thought, Lintang finally spoke up. Staying away from luxury especially at the wedding later is the toughest thing that Gendhis asked for at that time. But for the sake of his heart, whatever he will do.

"All right, all the conditions that you submit I will fulfill." Answer Latitude firmly.

The festive engagement party was immediately turned into a day.

Bu Sari who was stunned and disappointed was a little relieved. Only Mr. Ratno seemed to remain calm. Besides Mr. Argo and Bu Parti who are also proud to see Gendhis. They believe and believe that the future daughter-in-law of their family is a girl who is smart, mature in thinking, does not like to bother others, and she is also a girl who cares for others. Everyone who came to the party that afternoon was thinking the same as the family of Mr. Argo thought calm Gendhis.

And finally representing Lintang, Miss Party pinned the ring to the ring finger of her future son-in-law. The party atmosphere was back to its original position, where guests are welcome to enjoy the dishes and entertainment that has been provided. Everyone looked happy and enjoyed the party, except for Bu Sari who was still a little disappointed with the attitude of Gendhis in the party.

After the engagement was over, some people were tidying up the place. It didn't take long, in a matter of hours, the entertainment venue had been transformed into a stage for puppet art performances. As the initial plan, that the evening after the engagement, there will be a show Puppet Kulit Gagrak Ngayogyakarta. Puppet skin morphologically has characteristic shape, inlay pattern, and distinctive (staining). The title of the play that will be brought is the Story of Ramayana by a famous puppeteer from Yogyakarta.

This puppet show is the most awaited by the citizens of Merangi Village. The geographical conditions plus the environment that is far from the hustle and bustle of life in the city make this village still highly uphold their ancestral heritage, including the culture of early matchmaking.

A truck with a dark green tub stopped at a crossroads close to the party site. All eyes were on the car that was seen carrying the goods and the passengers were quite full. From the back door of the truck, some men came out. Some are old, but most are still quite young. They walked towards the entrance of the party location. The guests rushed to invite them.

"Monggo-monggo.let's go in." Sapa Pak Argo friendly as he reached out to shake hands.

"Oh... Yes, Mr. Argo. Thanks." Answer the man who is no longer young.

Mr. Argo also allows all truck passengers to sit in the seats that have been provided.

"How, Ki. Travel from Jogja?" Ask Mr. Argo, stale.

"Alhamdulillah, smoothly Mr. Argo. It's a little jammed 'cause there's a road fix, but it's only a minute." Answer the old man.

"Yukulah.. monggo ndak not hesitate, can while resting first, enjoy a potluck meal." Mr. Argo invited his guests.

"Oh, yeah... Mr." The old man with his gang was also one by one began to taste treats from Mr. Argo.

The old man was Ki Seno. The puppeteer who will perform shadow puppets at the Lintang and Gendhis engagement event. Ki Seno is a famous mastermind from Bantul Yogyakarta. He's the mastermind of Kampung Merangi. Every once a year, namely in the month of Shafar, Merangi residents always hold an annual routine event that is a puppet show. This has been going on for tens or even hundreds of years and is a hereditary tradition from their ancestors. Because if one time they neglect not to carry out the tradition, there will be a disaster or danger that will befall the villagers. And this time, they were specially invited to the Lintang and Gendhis engagement.

"Ki, you want to get organized now?" Said Wanto, one of Ki Seno's colleagues in the show.

"Can... When we're done eating, we'll be ready soon, let's not get in the mood." Ki Seno replied to his men.

After eating and resting, Ki Seno's men began to drop off the goods from the truck. Some carry drums, some carry gongs, some carry xylophones, saron and other modern musical instruments such as keyboards and drums. Some carried several large bags containing their oversize clothes during the show. Also seen two people lift a wooden box that looks old-fashioned but still sturdy and good. Apparently it is a place to store the figures of wayang kulit to be played.

"Wanto, tell your friends to tidy up all the equipment on stage. When we're ready we'll just start." Ki Seno said as he continued to observe his men who were then tidying up the musical instrument on stage.

"Well, Ki..." Reply Wanto.

"How's "Sindennya? Is it ready?" Ki Seno asked his men.

"A little while now, Ki. Still dress. It's over." Wanto.

Ki Seno nodded his head.

A few minutes later, the stage was filled with all the show equipment as well as the cast. People were looking as if they could not wait to see. Boys, girls, old, young, little kids, all sitting in chairs.

While on stage, Ki Seno sat in front of a white screen of cloth stretched out lengthwise. The Ramayana puppet character has been standing upright stuck on a banana leaf stem in front of the screen. Starting from the figures of Sri Rama, Dewi Shinta, Lakshmana, Hanoman, Ravana and other figures.

The gamelan groove is pitched by the players with its agility. Gending-gending jawi dindinyung melodious by five young sinden and beautiful beauty, complete with a bun and traditional Javanese clothing that is in line with the clothes of the Gamelan Penabuh.

The day changed at dusk. The guest chair is full of many people who khikmad watch the puppet show. Puppet skin with Ramayana play began and will end tomorrow. A story that symbolizes the loyalty of Goddess Shinta to Sri Rama. So too will Gendhis who will keep his loyalty to Lintang until the time they get married later.

*****