The Fighter
Chapter 4 The Battalion of Engagement
Finally Wisanggeni sat to the right of the girl. Some young men with cynical faces were seen sneering at Wisanggeni, they still remembered the moment when subtly Rengganis rejected him as they were about to sit beside him.
“There is this event, do you know Anis?” whispers of Wisanggeni to Rengganis.
“We'll see Kang, I don't know either. All of a sudden the guards told us to quickly gather in this place.”
Wisanggeni circulated his gaze around the room, and all the chairs were almost full. Suddenly from the side gandhok house, Wisanggeni saw his father walking while having a serious chat with someone. Not long after they both entered the pendhopo and sat in front of themselves as the host.
“Alright.., since Ki Mahesa as the Clan Leader is already sitting in his place, this meeting event will soon be started. We please Ki Mahesa to convey a welcome greeting to our guests who come from far away, namely the guests of the Suroloyo Clan.” sound Trunojoyo guiding the meeting.
“Thank you Trunojoyo. Welcome to the guests of the Suroloyo Clan, even though my brothers and sisters are not here at the moment. With utmost reverence and respect, we welcome and thank you for the presence of all of you. Tell honestly what the guests want from us, we will try our best to fulfill it.” firmly Ki Mahesa's voice filled the pendhopo, and everyone present attentively listened to him.
“Monggo Brother of the Suroloyo Clan, our Clan Leader has welcomed you to this place. Now is the time for us to beg, Brother to convey the intention of the arrival of the guests here.” Trunojoyo asked the Suroloyo Clan to convey the intention of arrival.
“Thank you for the warm welcome from the Clan Chief, and also from Brothers all. We admit that the reception of the Bhirowo Clan greatly amazed and moved us. As Ki Mahesa expected us to speak honestly, we will deliver a news story that we hope does not surprise the hearts of all of you. Currently I Lukito as the representative elder of our Clan Chief Ki Brahmono, will cancel the engagement of our son Nimas Niken Kinanthi with Ki Mahesa's daughter named Wisanggeni.” The words Lukito spoke were like slapping hard the faces of the elders in the Bhirowo Clan.
“You heard whose name was just called Anis? If I don't hear wrong, it looks like they are calling my name.” Wisanggeni said softly to Rengganis.
“Iya Kang, does Akang really not know if akang turned out to have been betrothed to Nimas Niken Kinanthi.” asked Rengganis with a slightly grim face.
Since Wisanggeni did not know anything, nor had he heard the news, he could only shake his head. A moment later, the main pendhopo room became rumbling like a wasp. The cynical and mocking gazes of the young people in the Bhirowoo Clan were aimed at Wisanggeni. Some others whispered about the son of the clan chief.
“Ki Lukito.., are you aware of the meaning of the words just spoken?” ki Mahesa's resolute voice stopped the rumbling sound in the room.
“Without reducing our respect for Ki Mahesa, I declare that what I just said, everything is true. Nimas Niken Kinanthi.., please Nimas talk to Ki Mahesa yourself about your feelings for Wisanggeni!” with a smile Lukito answered Ki Mahesa's question, and asked Kinanthi to speak for himself.
“Before Nimas apologized, if later the words delivered by Nimas were not pleasing or even offensive from the members of the Bhirowo Clan. Nimas currently has aspirations to become a female swordsman in the East, so it will be an obstacle if Nimas married young. Therefore, in a conscious state and without any coercion from any party, Nimas intends to cancel the engagement that has been arranged since we were children, or even when we were born.” soft but firm voice spoken by Nimas Niken Kinanthi.
“Hei boy..., are you aware of what you just said?” hapsoro shouted suddenly while pointing towards Niken Kinanthi.
Instantly the atmosphere became seized, and when Ki Mahesa was about to speak..
“Ki Lukito.., Nimas Niken Kinanthi and all the members of the Suroloyo Clan whom I respect. My name is Wisanggeni son of Ki Mahesa. Hearing what was said earlier, I consciously accepted what Nimas and Ki Lukito wanted. Our engagement is breaking up from now on, and all you need to remember is whenever. I am Wisanggeni, under no circumstances will I accept Nimas Kinanthi back to me. Thank you.” Wisanggeni delivered a statement that greatly surprised all who were present at the main pendhopo.
After saying it, the man quickly left the main pendhopo.
“That's a fool.., why didn't he take advantage of this opportunity?” some questions were spoken by the people from the Bhirowo Clan.
“Wisanggeni wastes such a beautiful girl.., stupid.”
Without looking back again Wisanggeni walked out of the main pendhopo, and saw the man sitting next to him had already left, without saying much Rengganis immediately caught up with him.
Niken Kinanthi with dim eyes looked at Laksmi, then dropped her body into the arms of her brother.
“Do I need to answer your question Laksmi?” niken Kinanthi lirih.
“I know how you feel Niken. The important thing before I accompanied you came here was that I advised you. All has been done, let's invite Ki Lukito to immediately withdraw from this padepokan.”
****************
“Akang..., can Anis sit here?” asked Rengganis to Wisanggeni who had sat on the limb of the trembesi by hanging his legs down.
The man who had just broken off the engagement, looked at the girl's face for a while, then without making a sound he nodded his head.
“Thank you Akang.” with a nimble Rengganis once jump can already sit his ass on the left Wisanggeni.
Rengganis was confused as to what to talk to the man beside him. After the two were silent for a while,..
“Why did you follow me here Rengganis? Have the guests withdrawn from Padhepokan?” word
Wisanggeni broke the silence between them.
“Pardon Anis Kang Wisang! Not intended to interfere or recookin kang Wisang. Anis only worried about Akang's feelings,” said Rengganis in a soft voice.
“Ha.ha.ha.., you're funny Anis. How much do you judge me?” Wisanggeni laughed out loud listening to the words of Rengganis.
“Meaning Akang? Was Akang not disappointed that it had been decided by Nimas Kinanthi in public?”
Seen Wisanggeni shaking his head.
“No Anis, I told you. I never knew anything about the news if I turned out to be betrothed. Indeed I admit, Nimas Kinanthi was a friend in my childhood when I was invited to go to the east. Nothing ever happened between the two of us.”
“But.., why did Akang immediately leave the main pendhopo? People who do not know, will think if Akang is disappointed and not pleased with their request.”
“I don't care about their words or thoughts about me Anis. Why did I choose to leave pendhopo? I can't see how my father was humiliated in front of his own family Anis. So, instead of a debate between them, I better prevent it by saying my sentence earlier.”
Rengganis was silent, he imagined how Ki Mahesa's face looked red blackened, as a sign if he was trying to suppress and control his anger.
*************