Room No.11B
Part. 58

Father told me, Mr. Thamrin is a landlord and a soldier. He was rich, kind, famous, sholeh, friendly yet firm. We live in a small house not far from the house of Mr. Thamrin and Nyai Asih. This house is located on the edge of the garden owned by Mr. Thamrin.

"Kus, you occupy the house. The house I gave to you as my apology." said Mr. Thamrin.

Again my father thanked Mr. Thamrin, he was like a helper angel for our family.

I remember, it was Monday of the second week in October. Our family had been working for two months at Mr. Thamrin's house, that night he gathered all of us who worked at his house. Dad, mom, me, and Tati the cook. After our magrib prayers sat in a circle in the central room, Tati made tea and prepared Mr. Thamrin's favorite fried taro.

"Stati, Engkus, Kokom, and you Ujang.." Mr. Thamrin said.

"Tomorrow I'll be off-city for a month. This is the duty of the state, I cannot refuse. I ask, you take care of Nyai Asih." said Mr. Thamrin while stroking the stomach of Nyai Asih.

"Him pregnant?" ask Tati sumringah.

Nyai Asih was just a graceful smile. Her beauty never goes out.

"Alhamdulillah, thanks to the prayers of all of you" said Nyai Asih slowly.

"Well, you all know the good news. For that I ask the same of you all, take good care of Nyai Asih as long as I work outside the city." continued Mr. Thamrin.

Good news for Mr. Thamrin and his family, even more so for those of us who serve him, who depend on his life. Mr. Thamrin and Nyai Asih have been building a household for seven years, but have not been gifted with a baby. Only now does God give great blessings to Mr. Thamrin and Nyai Asih.

Mother was awake before the reverberation, she helped Bi Tati prepare breakfast for her photographer, Mr. Thamrin who was about to leave for duty out of town. Right after the morning prayers and breakfast, my father drove Mr. Thamrin to his office using Mr. Thamrin's favorite sedan. Nyai Asih released the departure of her beloved husband from the front porch of the house, while holding his stomach in the company of his mother and Bi Tati.

When Mr. Thamrin left for duty, I was still asleep. I was only five years old at the time, yet to understand and be aware of all things.

During the day I helped my mother dry clothes behind Mr. Thamrin's house, behind the house there was a warehouse measuring 2x5 meters, extending to the back. An empty garden full of rambutan trees, jackfruit, mangoes, and bananas decorate the backyard of the house.

"Yeahanngg. Ujaaaanngg." call Nyai Asih.

"I nyai." I approached Nyai Asih who was sitting on the rocking chair of the living room.

"Please feed the cat. My body is not feeling well." pinta Nyai Asih.

"Good nyai." I also passed to the room where Nyai Asih's pet cat was located, the room was right next to the kitchen. Dozens of cats of various colors, well groomed and fat, unlike the village cat deckil and smell.

***

One week since Mr. Thamrin went on assignment out of town, the condition of the house and Nyai Asih look good. It's just that, in a young pregnant state Nyai Asih often vomit, no appetite, and just want to sleep in his room. This situation made mother and Bi Tati worried about Nyai Asih's state.

Mother and Bi Tati are sometimes confused to find a way so that Nyai Asih can eat, at least there is food intake that goes into his stomach. Occasionally Nyai Asih ate, but again he vomited the food.

The second week since Mr. Thamrin's assignment out of town, Nyai Asih's body became thin. Her face was pale, her aura of beauty faded but not missing her sweet side. That night I was sitting behind the house, in the kitchen there was a mother and Bi Tati was talking about Nyai Asih. Restless to think of a way so that Nyai Asih's condition is not like this.

"I know mantri in the Lower area, maybe it can give potions or herbs appetite for pregnant women" said Bi Tati.

"It is not wrong to try, rather than so I continue to pity see nyai. After all, if it works, our name is good in the eyes of the boss." said Bi Tati.

"Well, I'll go with you. When are you going to the mantri?" ask mother.

"Tomorrow morning, the sooner the better." Bi Tati replied.

During Mr. Thamrin's service, my family lived in the main house accompanying Nyai Asih and Bi Tati. Mr. Thamrin ordered that there be men in the house just in case. Dad slept in the front room with me, we rolled out mats, put up mosquito repellent and brought a sarong cloth as a blanket. While mother and Bi Tati sleep in the room next to Nyai Asih.

 _____

Allahu Akbar Allaaahu Akbar's..

Adhan maghrib roared, heard from a distance. Kang Ujang was silent for a moment.

"Sir, we pray maghrib first yuk. I will continue the story after prayer." said Kang Ujang.

"Yes kang. We are worshippers here." invite me.

I prayed together with Kang Ujang, he became a priest and I am a mum. His voice was melodious, his Quran recitation was eloquent and tidy. After our prayers, Kang Ujang led the prayer. Prayer was over and we shook hands.

"Sir, I'll go to Nek Iyah's house for a while."

"Is there still work?" my many.

Kang Ujang passed by not answering my question. Outside my hostel, the carpet is already in the title, the tent lights are already bright. Some neighbors have been present, especially mothers who prepare dishes for residents who attended the first night. It seemed that Dini and Ela were busy helping.

After the prayer, people started to arrive. Many gather and sit on the carpet that is installed in the front yard of the boarding house. Mr. Grace I saw was present, it should be as an RT present in an citizenship event like this.

I went out of the room, shook hands with some of the fathers and sat right in front of Bang Oji's room, facing the garden next to room 11a. The tent is quite bright, some chandeliers are installed in the tent.

Tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk

"Sheep.check." Mr. Grace tapped the microphone softly, he stood up.

"Assalamualaikum warohmatullohi wabarokatuh." Mr. Grace said his regards.

Pak Rahmat gave the opening words as the head of RT, as well as expressing condolences to the family left behind. I turned to the left right, looking at all the audience who came, but did not find the figure of Bang Oji. I saw that the lights in his room were off, which means he's not here. Kang Ujang was exactly sitting opposite me, his face was down from the moment he left my room.

Tahlil was started, led by an ustad. His face was shady, his beard thin, wearing a clean white cocoa shirt with a black turban attached to his shoulder, as well as a black squat on his head, his age around forty years. After reading the letter of Yasin, then continued with tahlil and closed with prayer.

Cakes, snacks, fruit, and various snacks are served plates. Tea bags, coffee packaging, sugar, and hot water thermos are also prepared by the host. The cool gentlemen chat in groups while plucking the dish on the plate. I sat quietly chewing risol, I looked at Kang Ujang who was busy helping Ela and Dini deliver a snack plate to the entire audience.

I need to find a chance to talk back to Kang Ujang. The story is not finished, my question is unanswered. Got to! Tonight or any time, we have to. As soon as possible if you can.