The Lives of Five Hundred Thousand
First hug of Hajj

"Lady...!"call Andre who is sitting while leaning his back and having a chest.

"Hem." I answered him and then glanced at him."Why Dre?" ask me then.

"Have you ever been to Jakarta?"andre asked, his face looking serious.

For a moment I was silent but my gaze could not be separated from his face and in my heart I asked, whether Andre really asked or just mocked me.

"Why look at me like that? are you fascinated by my good looks?" said Andre with his narcissistic pretentiousness.

I smiled wryly and said, "Don't the city of Jakarta, the city of regencies can be counted with the fingers."What I say is true, in my entire life, I have never stepped on my feet in the big city, even though the distance of my area to the city of Jakarta is only four hours. Since marrying Surya, he never took me there even though he himself lives and works in Jakarta.

"Don't be a pugnacious fool, who's fascinated by it, too" I added.

Andre laughed loudly, then he asked again."Have you ever been to Jakarta?" looks like he doesn't believe it yet.

I nodded for sure.

"But isn't your ex-husband working and living in Jakarta?"

"You're talking about Surya?" suddenly my mood so lost to hear the name of the mas Surya has been called.

"Oh, sorry.sorry, I forgot." Andre smiled smirkingly while I turned my annoyed face away.

"Would you not come with me next week to Jakarta?" asked Andre with a serious face.

I turned my head back and frowned at the offer from Andre to come with him to Jakarta. Actually, I really want to visit Jakarta, just want to know what it's like to live in a metropolitan city. But negative thoughts flashed through my brain, is it not dangerous to go along with it? because Andre's culture is half indigenous and half western. I'm afraid that something is not wanted there especially Jakarta big city and I don't know the ins and outs of the city.

"He thought it was a long time ago!"

I was a little surprised and said, "Oh, um.it doesn't seem like it."

Andre took a short breath, he looked disappointed then asked, "why? I was going to introduce you to my cousin who lives there."

"Cousin!" I said repeat.

"He'em, he invited me to attend his new Showroom car Thanksgiving event."

"Oh, did the guy who was talking to you on the phone?"I feel more interested in talking about it.

"You eavesdropping?"

"Little."

"Ha ha ha.you are so honest as Nuri's woman."

"There's no point in being a liar."

"That's right so.. What do you know?"

"Nothing, I just know you're talking to someone."

"Don't you just say you've been eavesdropping?"

"I can't hear your opponent talking about how to eavesdrop and know what you're talking about."

"Ha ha ha You are so adorable Nuri."

I just cut my lips, I think there is nothing funny in our discussion but why Andre repeatedly laughed as if I am the entertainer.

"You know, I was really impressed with my cousin. He is very young but already a successful entrepreneur" Andre said later.

"Aren't you a businessman, too, Dre?"

"yes, but my efforts are not as great as his. What is that I only have a cafe business and two Padang restaurants, while my cousin he has three car showroom branches that are quite large. In addition, he also undergoes oil palm and rubber plantation business and online store of electronic products he is also very advanced. He was only twenty-one."

"Well!"I looked me in the eye, I couldn't believe there was such a young successful businessman. I became interested to hear Andre's story about his cousin and somehow the urge to know the figure of Andre's cousin came to pass, how he looks and who knows he can be a source of inspiration for me to become a successful entrepreneur as well.

"Dre..!"

"Why Nuri?

"I want to come with you to Jakarta."

"Are you serious? why change your mind?"

"Because I want to know the city of Jakarta he he!" I lied and I felt ashamed to speak honestly if I was just curious about his cousin.

"I'll take you and Zain around the city of Jakarta to the corners later."

"really? ask me with a stale base.

"he'em, seriously dong."

Long enough we chatted until the sound of adzan maghrib reverberating, I glanced at Andre who was busy playing mobile phone then I asked, "you do not pray maghrib first Dre?"Andre turned to me and said, "Oh, no Nuri, I was talking about something important with my friend." then he looked back at his phone.

I just shook my head and did not want to force him to pray because the worship had to be with sincerity not because of force or coercion. Andre is not a child anymore but an adult who should have been able to think for himself.

I went from the sofa to the bathroom to take the water first and after that perform the prayer maghrib itself. Actually I really want to pray together but unfortunately there is no priest. As soon as I thought of Raihan, if only Andre were Raihan. No, I immediately dismissed the thought so as not to remember it anymore.

"It's Dre's night, you'd better go home" I said as I walked towards him. Andre who was still playing his phone looked up and said, "you kicked me out Nuri?"

I nodded honestly. Andre clucked." Why did you never have Nuri's stale base? to the point once."

"Because I don't like stale bases."

Andre laughed widely then said in a clear tone." But..I have to go home where Ri, you have the time once already this night telling me to go home to Jakarta."

"Don't you have sodara in this village huh?"

"Yes, but my aunt is staying at her other sodaran house."

"Then you stay at a hotel." I'm suggesting.

"There" I replied briefly.

"Where?"

"In the county."

"Jeez Nuri.....!"he said while patting his head.

"Just far away," she continued later.

"But at least closer than Jakarta, right?"

"I think it's in this area."

"This is a village not a city where there are hotels that are rented."

"When I contract here, I pay for the night."

"Here where do you mean?"

"In this house."

I snorted in annoyance and said, "my house is not rented. You seek another contract.

"You have the heart of Nuri, it's the night I have to find a contract?"

"Whatever it is wherever it's not here."

"Suri ...!"

"I just don't want any slander between us Dre if you sleep in my house. You know, this is Indonesia and this is a village not abroad, a free country." I tried to give Andre an explanation until he understood."

Andre heard a heavy sigh and said, "you know Nuri, I'm actually very hard to leave you guys."

"Don't Lebay deh Dre, you can still come here another time."

"Ah yes, if so I just go home to Jakarta, next time I will follow you to come with me to Jakarta." I nodded and gave a faint smile to him.

The next day....

I was walking towards the stall where my subscription passed by Bu Haji's house, it appears that the gate of his house opened a little and soon it was also seen the figure of Bu Haji who was gushing his body behind the gate of his house.

"Lady..!"sapa Bu haji. His gaze leads to me. I gave a warm smile to the woman who had given birth to the figure of Raihan. The hajj ma'am told me to approach her and I followed her. Once in front of him, Haji ma'am held my arm and said, "Nur, is the stock of crackers in your house still there? I need a lot."

"You mean Haji crackers that have been fried or raw crackers Bu?"

"If there is a raw cracker Nuri, because it wants to be taken to Jakarta to hold a small thanks."

"Oh, do you really need how much ma'am?"

"I need fifty kilos of Nuri."

I turned my eyes to hear the many crackers that Bu Haji wanted.

"How is Nuri? because I would like to add your artificial crackers as an addition to the menu later, because the crackers do not exist where only here."

"How about Mom, I only have twenty more kilos left in stock Mom and that too to be circulated in the stall."

"Well, how about Nuri when I really want to add your crackers as an addition to the menu."

I was silent trying to think how good it was. Suddenly it came to my mind to make it again, there were still five days left and I felt I could produce it as much as fifty kilos. Besides, I also think maybe it's time I promote my crackers out of this village.

"Bu Haji, I'll try to make it again huh Ma'am? easy with this mepet time I can produce as many crackers as Bu Haji messages."

"Truly nur? thank God if you accept it I'm very happy."

I smiled and then asked permission to continue my journey to the shop. Along the way I put a smile on my lips, it feels great that there is a large order of crackers and what makes me happy again is that the person who ordered my Crackers was the mother of the man who had my mind.

For several days I fought day and night making crackers for the order of the Hajj. And thankfully every day given the hot weather so that in half a day only the crackers that I dried immediately dry and ready to be fried. Today is the fourth day I am busy with activities to make crackers. While I was busy in the kitchen, the sound of knocking on the door and greetings were heard in my ears. I paused my activity and walked towards the front porch door to open it. After opening, the hajj maam smiled at me and said hello.

"Sorry Ma'am Haji, the crackers are still less than ten kilos" I said, because I thought the Hajj ma'am came to my house to take his crackers order. But beyond my expectations, Mrs Haji came to my house not to take her order but just wanted to see the way I produced crackers. I let him in too.

"I believe Nuri, your business can certainly develop further in the future just the way you promote it because your crackers have quality. In addition to taste good also how to make it clean and in addition the ingredients are also safe for consumption." The hajj ma'am immediately gave my assessment as well as support and I was very happy to hear it.

"To promote it yourself is also a lot of Nuri's way, now it has been

digital age, you can take advantage of social media or other online store stores. In addition, you can also promote it face to face or dor to dor. You just ask for help with your husband, especially your husband is working in the big city of Jakarta."

Immediately I was silent to the last sentence said by Hajj Ma'am, Husband? Mrs Haji does not know that I am a widow even though I have not filed divorce papers.

"Nuri, why?" haji asked, he looked confused to see me speechless.

I thought I'd just tell him I'm divorced, but it won't make her dislike me any more considering her son's fear of approaching me again after knowing I'm already a widow.

"Why are you Nuri?" Haji asked again.

"I'm actually divorced from my husband" I said, then lowered my face. I thought, even though Hajj Mom would not like me anymore I was okay, the important thing is that I was honest and did not want to cover up.

"Divorce?" said Mrs Haji, looking at me with a surprised face.

I nodded slowly.

"But..why Nuri, why are you divorced?"

"Because.mas Surya remarried to his ex-wife Ma'am, and I don't want to be in polygamy."

"Yes Allah Nuri...!" Haji ma'am hugged me and I started to shed tears and the longer my tears ran.

I cried in the arms of Bu Haji, this embrace is the first embrace of Bu Haji to me. I don't know why I felt so comfortable in his arms, the embrace of a mother I never got from my own mother at my own age until I grew up.