MARANTI (FOOD OF THE DEAD)
CHAPTER 7: THE MEMORIES
I stepped up leaving Mas Diki who was sleeping snoring. Sleeping in the front room is the same as remembering my teenage years. Every time I stay in a bude house, I always choose to sleep in the front room. The front room was the usual room occupied by Sister Ning since she was a child. I was indeed most familiar with Sister Ning from a long time ago, but familiar in this regard was not like the familiarity of today's teenagers. At that time I still keep the norms of decency in facing Mbak Ning who is older than me. Moreover, if it is in front of Bude Yati who is very guarding the customs and decency of the ancestral heritage. But, if there is no bude, anyway, the way of talking me and Ms. Ning more freely is not as me if there is Bude Yati.
Sister Ning is a very understanding sister. It became a place for me to pour out my heart. I am comfortable telling Mbak Ning my feelings because, besides being a good listener, she can also provide solutions to the problems I am experiencing. Like that time I was once assessed by my classmates. I'm not comfortable with that because I don't like my friend very much. He was the son of one of the teachers at school and many of my girl friends who had a crush on him, but I myself was uncomfortable with his attitude that I think was too excessive and tend to rely on both parents. Ms. Ning was the one who gave me the solution to be able to avoid the guy in an elegant way and not hurt her feelings.
On the contrary, Sister Ning also often told me about her personal problems. Starting from the story of his love with a neighbor's child who is not approved by Bude Yati, until the problem of his love for Mas Vishnu which is also not liked by Bude Yati. Sister Ning and Bude Yati have different principles when it comes to dating affairs. Bude Yati wants to have an established daughter-in-law while Mbak Ning is already hooked with Mas Vishnu who comes from a mediocre family. Mbak Ning and Mas Vishnu have undergone a backstreet relationship since they are still both in High School. Graduating High School they had broken up because of being discovered by Bude Yati. Ms. Ning at that time was stopped from leaving the house except for school only. That too Bude Yati has installed a spy in the school to watch the movements of Mbak Ning and Mas Vishnu. But, her name is soul mate not going anywhere. A few years later Ikbal, who was a child, had dengue fever and was in critical condition. Ikbal needed a blood transfusion as soon as possible. Bude Yati was trying to find suitable blood in the PMI, but the stock was empty. Bude Yati to ask for help his friends to search in other districts, but the same results are nil. While Ikbal's condition is declining. I remember all the families trying to be donors, but nothing matched. Finally, Mas Vishnu who also heard about Ikbal who was sick came to register to become a donor. Luckily, Mas Vishnu's blood matched perfectly with the blood needed by Ikbal. Finally Mas Vishnu donated his blood to Ikbal and after that Ikbal's condition was improved and healed. Since then, Bude Yati began to open his heart to accept the arrival of Mas Vishnu in our big family. Without waiting for a long time, a few months later they got married. And proven thanks to Mas Wisnulah, Ms. Ning can be a more mature figure, pity, and of course more eager to live life.
"What is so special about Mas Vishnu, Ma'am, until Mbak Ning is as loving as Mas Vishnu?" ask me one day.
"His face is ordinary, you know for yourself what kind of guys have approached me? Work is also ordinary. Hm .. but, Mas Vishnu it makes my heart comfortable, Dik Sin. I can also be myself, and also Mas Vishnu always invites me to be closer to Allah SWT. Isn't that what we're looking for in life, Dik Sin?" mbak Ning said with sparkling eyes and a blushing face.
That is how I grew up together in the affection of our mothers who were so amazing. Ms. Ning and I took turns to stay over each other. Sometimes I stay at his house, sometimes he stays at my house. But, most often I stay at his house because of Bude Yati's request. Bude Yati said it was nice if I stayed at her house because Ms. Ning could get up at dawn to pray and help Bude Yati work in the kitchen. Unlike if he sleeps alone, can carry until noon. Especially on holiday. Basic Sister Ning ...
I turned to the door of Bude Yati's room which was closed. Then after that I passed through the room of Mbak Ning and Mas Vishnu. I walked on a hambal that was deliberately held in the living room to accommodate the neighbors who prayed for the late Bude Yati. There are some empty mineral water bottles left over last night that have not been cleaned.
After passing through the two rooms, I also arrived at the kitchen room that was already in a clean state. The bathroom is in one corner of this room. As I walked towards the bathroom, I remembered the moments where Bude Yati was still alive. He loved me as his nephew. He often invites me and Ms. Ning to cook together or do other kitchen work.
"Although you can later make your own money. Remember, you must be smart to cook so that your husband does not like snacks outside. Because if it is snacked outside, hm ... temptations are many," Bude Yati message at that time.
It smells like Bude Yati perfume I could smell back then. Maybe I was too upset with him at the time. Duh, it turns out that when I took a picture, maybe this is the effect of the iced tea I bought at the stall near Bude Yati's house. I used the bathroom long enough while enduring the pain in my stomach. My stomach is indeed somewhat sensitive to ice cubes made from raw water. It is likely that the stall uses ice cubes made from raw water to efficiently produce. Rarely do stalls use boiled water to make ice cubes. Thought they were the same when it was the same as tyrannizing sensitive consumers with raw water.
By the time I finished defecating, suddenly a loud noise came from the front of the house. I was surprised at that moment. I rushed out of the bathroom to find out what it was.
SERIATE
Don't forget to read my other work
GHOST VILLAGE
GHOST SCHOOL
THE CIRCLE OF LOVE