Hansa & Geeta
The Chapter XXVIII

Dad looked quickly. “But I have to rest.”

Grandma raised her hand. Ask Dad to be quiet. Then I looked at me, waiting for an answer.

Of course I nodded. “Totally?”

Grandma assented. Then switch to Dad. “I'll be fine. No need to overdo it,” he said then went into the room.

Every time I came home from a trip a bit far, Grandma must immediately rest. Exhaustion.

But back then I was too small to understand Grandma's condition. As soon as I heard about the walk with him, there was not the slightest bit of worry in me as I felt.

I jumped up and played again.

...…...

“Geeta, today I will go with Grandma loh.”

I'm standing by a stone wall, in the backyard. I'm putting my head up there.

“I still don't know how to meet you alone. Eli didn't want to take his eyes off me.”

Glancing back, I found Eli standing guard over me.

“See, she's still glaring at me.”

Mumbled himself. I was muttering to myself. I wish Geeta could hear me from the swamp.

I sighed lazily. “Let me so today I really can walk the same Grandma.”

Then grunt again. “But Eli came along too. He said help Grandma take care of me. What would I do anyway?”

My eyes looked straight at the calm and clean swamp water.

“Sometimes later Geeta, I want to take you for a walk too.”

I held the necklace hidden behind my white shirt.

“Surely we can walk together also later.”

Not long after, Uncle exclaimed from the kitchen.

“Hannie! Let's go!”

I turned and ran small. Looking up once, I saw Geeta's head emerging from behind the swamp water.

He raised his hand. ‘Dadah’. He seemed to say that.

I smiled, and ran faster.

“Iyaa!!” sahutku.

We'll go to the market. There are many antique shops.

And it turns out that in the market a lot of attention. If Eli doesn't hold my hand, I don't know where I'm going.

Two other housekeepers brought Grandma's groceries. Besides fixing Grandpa's watch, Grandma all shopping.

“It's been a long time since shopping like this, Ren.”

Uncle nodded. He also helped bring bags of groceries.

“Iya, I used to love shopping. Mr. sampe is tired waiting for him.” Uncle chuckles.

Whether it was just my feeling, as soon as I heard the word ‘Bapak’ from Uncle's mouth, Grandma's gaze turned mellow.

“Iya yes, I waited in the car at that time.”

The uncle who was aware of his words made the atmosphere around him change, instantly speechless.

He ignored the topic that second as well, and Grandma's eyes re-lit.

It seems like the topic about Grandpa is quite sensitive for Grandma.

“Ah, Uncle! It's an antique shop!” I shouted while pointing to the front shop. Help Uncle change the mood.

Uncle and Grandma turned at the same time towards me.

“Weh yes. Let's go gas.”

With a big smile Uncle took Grandma's arm and led her to the store.

“Come Eli, come!!!” I who did not want to be left immediately tugged at Eli's hand so that he walked faster.

“Iyaa, patience,” say Eli tired.

Since then, it seems Eli is the most overwhelmed. Although the task is only to take care of small children, but it is very tiring.

Because that little boy was me.

...…...

“Logs is a bit old, Bu.”

Grandma nodded. “About how long?” ask the shop owner.

The old man of the shopkeeper noticed Grandpa's watch again. “Kira-we four to five hours lah.”

Grandma surprised. “Old huh?!”

The man laughed stiffly. “Yes, the old watch is a little difficult. Ribet.”

“Yaudah we ate first,” suggested Uncle.

Grandma weighed, then agreed. “Judah. We'll be here again, sir.”

The man nodded. “Iya, on whose behalf, Bu?”

“Sophie,” replied Grandma briefly.

“Mie his chicken one can half ga, Mas?” ask Eli to the seller.

We sat at the front desk, near the tent. Eli ordered into the cart, not far from where we were sitting.

“Can, Mba. One half, three regular chicken noodles, two meatballs?”

“Iya, that's aja.”

After ordering, Eli returned to the table.

“Eli, look. That's why the chicken?” I asked as Eli sat down.

He looked in the direction I was pointing. Found a chicken in pain in the cage. Don't stop crowing, and make a revolt.

“Wah, yes. That's a good chicken. Why yes?” sahut Eli's.

The uncle sitting beside me leaned his body forward. “What's up?”

I pointed in the same direction. “That's why the chicken?”

Uncle immediately gawked as soon as he saw the same sight.

“Wah, crazy! It was Chicken Cemani. How tortured?!”

Uncle's words attracted the attention of Grandma who was talking to two of her household assistants.

“Why Ren?”

Uncle shrank the voice, and pointed in the same direction.

“Nek, can we help ga? The chicken was kasian..” I asked Grandma, after she gave a response more or less the same as Eli and Uncle.

Grandma thought for a moment. “The chicken touts are for sale, we can buy.” He turned to look at Uncle Ren. “You asked Ren, same Hansa. Mom wait here. Capek.”

Uncle stood up. “Judah. Yuk.”

He pulled the back of my shirt without a cue. “I can walk alone!” my hiss held back the anger of being in a public place.

We crossed. Uncle held my hand tightly. Afraid of release again.

“Mission, bang..”.

The chicken shop owner came out.

“Yes? Why?” they are less friendly.

I can't believe he's the seller here.

“Ah, the... This chicken is for sale ga ya?” asked Uncle while pointing at a small cage containing sick chickens earlier.

From the tone of his voice, I knew Uncle was holding back emotions and trying to stay polite.

That Aunt May must've been gasing.

“Oh, how brave are you?” reply the seller with the appearance of the urkan.

Uncle smiled stiffly. The way the salesman spoke was really sickening. I could feel Uncle's hand tighten up.

Haahhh, this guy is making me sick indirectly. He's the one who's disrespectful, but I'm the one who got hit.

Just beware that Uncle really vented his anger on me.

“This chicken Cemani right ya?”

“Iya.”

Uncle was silent again. There was a frown around his forehead. “O-Oh... If that's thirty?”

Sellers laugh. I also scrunched my forehead. What do you mean thirty?

“There is cemani thirty,” grunts.

“Loh, I bought two five aja, bang.”

The seller chuckled. “Ga original time it was mah.”

Uncle sighed. “Judah, forty.”

The seller is still shaking. “Ga dapet my good luck with that.”

I looked at Uncle hesitantly. He looks very angry. “Fifty.”

His tone was full of emphasis. The seller immediately looked very happy.

“Well, that's dong. Directly pack this?”

Uncle grunts. Take his grip off me. Then pull out the hair. It was obvious that he was holding back emotions.

He pulled out his phone. “Have an account bang?” tanyakanya. Now Uncle's unfriendly voice.

The seller realized the lack of friendship. And smiled arrogantly. "Yes, ada.”

Not long after, the transaction is complete. Uncle asked for a bigger cage.

“I transfer more, make his brother medicated.”

Uncle pointed at his own head with his index finger. Smiling tilted towards that seller. Then pull my hand again.

“Cepet healed, yes,” he said again before going across.

I looked back for a moment. The seller looked angry and hit his desk.

That was.. Uncle scoffed at him, didn't he?

.

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