
"Anjeun ningali eta?" ¹) asked Mang Dudung on his kernet
"Naon?" ²) The kernet asked back.
"The bottle of ieu mucunghul was thrown!" ³) said Mang Dudung still with a look of shock.
"Leres? Abdi henteu ningali," ⁴) answered his kernet confused.
"Aranjeunna manusa?" ⁵) The hankering of Mang Dudung suddenly bristled and it made him shudder in horror.
"But teu manusa, sahenteuna aranjeunna alus. Sareng stillan naon wae pikeun kahadean mamang," ⁶) said the kernet.
"A bottle of naon cenah?" ⁷) ask kernet it.
"Bottle of ubar," ⁸) replied Mang Dudung.
"Nyeri naon cenah?" ⁹) ask kernet it wants to know.
"Sugar pain." said Mang Dudung.
The kernet was shocked. Mang Dudung so drowning. Both think the same. "How can a person who has only met once, know the pain of Mang Dudung which has been many years?"
"Meureun Gusti sent aranjeunna pikeun nganteurkeun ubar mamang," ¹⁰) said the kernet while continuing his work on vegetable loading.
Mang Dudung observed the medicine bottle. Open the bottle a little. A strong medicinal aroma instantly came out. The smell is mixed between the smell of plants, flowers and sweet fragrance. Mang Dudung firmly grasped the medicine bottle. He believed his kernet.
"God has a way of helping people, as long as people also help each other."
Mang Dudung believed that. Good reply to good practice. He felt relieved, because he did not mind bringing the three people to the market.
"Ti ayeuna, continue ngalakukeun anu hade. Gusti will ngaganjar anjeunna kahadean oge," ¹¹) message Mang Dudung on his kernet.
"Nuhun, Mang!" Her net nodded and smiled. They quickly resume the delayed work.
*
******
"Dok, how do we get back to Jakarta? we have no money for the fare" asked Sunil.
"We'll try to find the bus first. And talk to the driver. If it doesn't work, we can find another way." Doctor Chandra walks past the market stalls towards the bus stop heading for the city.
Doctor Chandra approached a man who shouted the word Serang many times. Other majors Doctor Chandra doesn't know. But he's been to Attack a few times.
"Bus to Serang which Jang?" ask Dr. Chandra.
"Iw!" point it at the bus in front of him.
"Whose driver?" ask Doctor Chandra kindly.
"What does Bah need?" ask the man politely, see Dr. Chandra's age.
"We want to go back to Jakarta, but there's no money. Want permission to ride this bus," replied Dr. Chandra softly.
That person originally wanted to nod, but it was void after seeing that the one hitchhiking was not just one person, but three.
"If hitchhiking this much, it's difficult orah Abah," he refused subtly.
"They're not our people, they won't know the way back if we're apart" explained Dr Chandra again.
The man glanced at Robert and Sunil. They are not the faces of Indonesia. But the man flinched.
"The driver will also be angry with me if there are too many people hitchhiking, Bah. Later my payment was cut for the exchange" he explained the problems he faced.
"May I talk to the driver?" haggard Doctor Chandra.
"That's the driver. Kang Asep, the blue shirt is over!" Point the man towards the stall of the fry vendor
"Nuhun, Jang." Doctor Chandra nodded and stepped towards the fried stall.
"Sorry to disturb Kang Asep for a moment" said Doctor Chandra, interrupting the man's conversation with others.
Kang Asep turned his head towards Doctor Chandra and his two friends. He had seen these three men talking to his kernet. Thought maybe it was prospective passengers who asked for buses there.
"Yes, Bah. Aya naon?" tanyanya flat.
"Say the Ujang, Kang Asep brought the bus?" appoint Doctor Chandra.
"Leres," he replied while nodding confirming.
"I want to ask Kang Asep's permission to hitchhike until Serang. We want to go to Jakarta, but we don't have any money" Dr Chandra said frankly.
Kang Asep was silent. He looked at the three people with a flat view. Then take a deep breath.
"For Abah, it's free. But the other two—" Kang Asep tampsk dilemma.
"They are strangers. If we are separated, they will not be able to return to Jakarta" explained Dr Chandra.
"But if they need help lifting things, they will. As long as you can come to Serang."
Doctor Chandra suddenly gets an idea, when he sees another bus lift boxes of goods into the back of the trunk.
Kang Asep looked towards Sunil and Robert who were well-built. They do look strong.
"Jiang!" call Kang Asep.
"Yes, Kang!" The Ujang ran over.
"Yes naon, Kang?" tanyakanya.
"Here, Si Abah can come for free. The second one, ask to pick things up first until the bus leaves!" his orders.
"Yes, Kang" said the man.
"Nuhun Kang Asep's. Don't worry." Doctor Chandra reassured her and gave her a wise smile.
"Yes, already. Abah can go up first!" said the man while nodding.
The three men followed Ujang, returning to where the bus was waiting.
"You have to pick up things as a payment to take this bus" Dr Chandra said via voice transmission.
"Well, Doc," Sunil and Robert said.
Some passengers are waiting. Some of the earth's produce was stacked near them. Opening the back baggage. Sunil and Robert swiftly helped lift the barang6 and arranged it neatly.
Ujang and the owners of the goods dumbstruck saw two Caucasians who helped lift the item did not look tired at all.
Over the next hour, Robert and Sunil worked hard inserting the passengers' belongings. Then the bus was full. They're ready to go.
Ujang offered three wooden windows, for three free passengers were sitting in the hallway, between the passenger seats.
"Nuhun, Jang." His smile while accepting the benches and sharing them with Robert and Sunil.
The old bus came out of the sub-district terminal with a stumble. There is no ac on the bus. So all the windows are opened wide, so that the air in the bus is not stuffy.
"It's fun" Sunil said via voice transmission. "Is this your first experience on a bus while squatting?" Doctor Chandra taunted him.
"Dock Boulevard. Your talent is very creative. With this wooden bench, so there are additional seats for free hitchhiking" replied Sunil
"For long journeys, sitting like this is much better than standing!" robert Timpal
"Yes .. Please enjoy this trip. You will not get this experience on any tour!" doctor Chandra's penis.
The journey turned out to be very far. The road is not always smooth either. Kang Asep is a good bus driver. He can drive well, even when going through bad roads. Passengers inside feel safe and comfortable.
In the afternoon, the bus arrived at the Serang City terminal. All the passengers were exhausted and had their heads turned a little in circles, as a result of the bus swinging for hours.
Doctors Chandra, Robert and Sunil had to get off first, so other passengers could get off.
Doctor Chandra stretched his stiff back as it continued to bend for that long.
"Ah .. my old back," he lamented in his heart.
Robert and Sunil were immediately busy helping to get the passengers' belongings off the trunk. Both of them remained dexterous, even though their faces looked tired.
"Hatur nohun Kang Asep, Ujang," said Dr. Chandra. Sunil and Robert had already finished their task. So they have to be ready.
"How does Abah want to go to Jakarta?" ask Kang Asep.
"Find another ride tomorrow. Now you want to rest, Kang." Doctor Chandra smiled widely.
"It means having no money. But it can still smile wide and sincerely so. I feel very envious," Kang Asep said.
"No need to worry, Kang. If our lives are good, God will lead us to meet good people too! Goodness will bring happiness!" doctor Chandra said wisely.
He was suffering from that man. But Doctor Chandra's two hands held Kang Asep's hands for quite a while. The man was astonished. He wanted to pull his hand, but it was like there was pressure forbidding him.
Doctor Chandra's hand shone brightly and warmed his hand. He saw the old man he was looking at, closing his eyes with his eyebrows linked.
There was a sense of trepidation in Kang Asep's chest, but he was unable to escape. Ujang was also glued to see that. But the two foreign men looked calm and relaxed.
Before long, Kang Asep's hand was released by Doctor Chandra. His smile grew wider and brighter. The middle-aged man looked happy.
"Congratulations Kang, your son will be a great man!" said Dr. Chandra.
"What?"
Kang Asep and Ujang cried out in unison. Both of them did not believe their hearing.
"We're saying goodbye!" Doctors Chandra, Robert and Sunil nodded their heads respectfully.
Kang Asep and Ujang were still dumbfounded to see the three walking away.
*
*
Translation:
¹) "Did you see that?"
²) "What?"
³) "This bottle appeared suddenly!"
⁴) "Then anyway? I don't see."
⁵) "Are they human?"
⁶) "Although not human, at least they are good. And give something in return for Mamang's kindness."
⁷) "That's what bottle he said?"
⁸) "Medicine bottle."
⁹) "What pain does he say?"
¹⁰) "Maybe God sent them to deliver medicine for mamang."
¹¹) "From now on, keep doing good. God will repay him with kindness as well."
********