MARANTI (FOOD OF THE DEAD)
EPISODE 137: DAYDREAMING
To relieve his feelings of sadness because his request was rejected by Jamila, Minul planned to sit on the edge of the rice field while observing the beauty of nature in his village. He's like that when his mind is upset. Like when she was left behind by her husband, for days she sat on the edge of the rice field while observing the scenery that made her a little calm. The difference is, there was Jamila who accompanied him. Bring food and drink for him. But now Jamila is the source of his turmoil.
“Yes, Jamila deserves to be angry with me. I'm too mean with him ...,” many times Minul said that to himself.
“What should I do so that Jamila can forgive me?” Minul kept thinking hard about the anger of his best friend.
After about an hour Minul was sitting on the edge of the rice field, suddenly Pak Salihun passed by and found out the woman was sitting in a hut located on the edge of the rice field.
“Assalamualaikum ..” say hello to Mr. Salihun.
“Waalaikumsalam ...,” replied Minul in a weak voice.
“Loh, what are you doing there, Nul? Do not want to help Ms Reni prepare for the seven daily events of Mr Hartono?” asked Mr. Salihun while taking a seat a bit far from Minul. Incidentally the size of the hut is quite large. So, the distance between one end and the other is rather wide.
“Not there, Sir. Just want to relax just eliminate the paralysis. Tired also who want to help at the house of Bu Reni,” Minul replied with a tone of voice that showed someone who lost the spirit of life.
Minul whose sitting position was a little far from Mr. Salihun was increasingly marginalizing his seat until it touched the hut pole. He did not want Jamila to be even more angry with him when the woman suddenly saw him. Because of Minul's knowledge, Jamila is currently close to Mr. Salihun.
“Loh, how come you're not even excited like this, Nul? Usually if there are people here who bother, you are very eager to help. Save water, lift dirty dishes, lift gulai, and others ...,” Read Mr. Salihun.
“Again males only, Mr. Salihun,” replied Minul short.
“Hm .. If I notice you're not tired physically! But, tired of mind, huh?” ask Mr. Salihun in a polite tone.
Minul did not answer. He turned his gaze back to the paddy field that spread wide in front of him. With silence Minul made Mr. Salihun convinced that the woman in front of him was thinking at that time.
Mr. Salihun turned towards the woman and he said in a soft voice.
“Nul, you see Mr. Mat and Bu Mat who are sitting in the cottage over there. They look happy and joking, right?” said Mr. Salihun while pointing to the east side.
Out of curiosity, Minul also looked in the direction intended by Mr. Salihun.
Minul did not answer Mr. Salihun's question, but Mr. Salihun knew that Minul was questioning.
“You know not that they both failed to harvest because the pad was eaten by rats,” continued Mr. Salihun.
Minul who had just heard the news was surprised by the information conveyed by Mr. Salihun just now.
“Why don't they show a sad face, sir, if they have suffered from crop failure? Ask them spontaneously.
“You want to know the answer? Because they are aware that it is all fate and they are sure, if now they fail to harvest, then at another time their harvest will be doubled,” replied Mr. Salihun straightforwardly.
Minul just kept quiet and tried to digest what Mr. Salihun said While Mr. Salihun hastily connect his words with other words.
Mr. Salihun tried to remind Minul of his turmoil a few years ago.
Minul shed tears because he remembered the incident several years ago.
“Iya, Sir. The world collapsed at that moment. I've lost everything,” Minul replied with a slight sob.
“Well, same as now. Whatever your problem now is, you should be able to put it just as you were when you parted with your husband. Accept it as God's destiny! Pain, yes. But, rest assured that one day everything will return to normal. Only time will answer it,” continued Mr. Salihun.
Minul again sobbed because he remembered the beautiful stories during his friendship with Jamila.
“But, Sir. Now the problem is different. I made a mistake with someone and that person just found out and that person won't forgive me.” Minul said with teary eyes.
Mr. Salihun did not immediately reply. He let the woman in front of him vent his emotions first. After feeling calm again, then Mr. Salihun ventured to argue according to his capacity.
“Nul, I'm sure the person you're referring to is not unwilling to forgive you. But, he still needs time to organize his heart first,” replied Mr. Salihun slowly.
Minul looked into Mr. Salihun's eyes. There was a shade he felt at the time. The shade he did not feel when he was alone with Mr. Ratno. However, this time Minul hastily threw away the feeling of admiration for Mr. Salihun because he knew Mr. Salihun belonged to Jamila.
“Thank you, Sir. Mr. Salihun has made me aware of this,” Minul replied later.
“Same-Sama, Nul. This is all I can give you,” Pak Salihun replied politely.
“Now I realize that I shouldn't think too much about it. My son really needs my presence,” said Minul.
“Thank God then . You better go home and take a shower. You see, since I was here, kayak smell so wry,” Pak Salihun's tease so that Minul's mind does not return spaneng.
“Eh, I took a shower this morning. Not me who is wry,” said Minul while slightly smiling.
“Oh, if you haven't had a shower at all, Nul! Meaning that the wry is not you, but me,” replied Mr. Salihun in a joking tone.
“Lah, Mr Salihun has shower what yet?” asked Minul while smiling.
“Not yet,” said Mr. Salihun with his innocence.
“Basic! Mr. Salihun himself who did not take a shower even accused me of not bathing,” protested Minul while smiling wider than before.
“Ya. I'm sorry then,” said Mr. Salihun lightly.
INSIDE the old man was delighted to see the cute smile of the bongsor woman again.
SERIATE