ABHIMANYU WORLD

Chapter LVI: Train to Surabaya

The holidays are fast, there is almost no meaning. If calculated on a percentage basis, it can be described as follows: sixty percent of the vacation time I use to sleep, fifteen percent to help my mother, twenty percent to eat, to eat, and five percent to be upset!

Why chaotic?

First, the intense loneliness forced me to travel more often to the imaginary realm than to the real world. Second, the longing for Surabaya and all its contents also triggered turmoil.

Well, sometimes humans can be categorized as strange creatures of God. Time in Surabaya, a great desire to immediately spend a holiday in the hometown to be free from the crush of the burden of the mountain lectures. Arriving at home, even want to immediately return to Surabaya.

What do you want anyway?

Fortunately, this weekend we have plans to look for other nuances with a vacation out of town. Hearing the word vacation out of town, maybe some people think they have to spend a lot of money and luxury. There are those who think that a vacation is synonymous with staying at a five-star hotel, eating at a restaurant to taste strange culinary, or a walk to a tourist attraction.

For me, a vacation is to lie all day while observing the wedding lizard!

The day before Day H, my mother had prepared everything with jelimet. Some sheets of clothes have been folded neatly, arranged in a bag. Mother chose the best gamis that are commonly used in the Lebaran. Even for stomach affairs, my mother also prepared meat and meat lontong. In particular, she even ordered lempers for supplies on the road. Usually the barrel that makes the lemper. Since Laras does not exist, she orders from someone else.

I'm gobsmacked.

“Kok take lontong for what, Mak?” tanyaku while kneeling lontong placed in cardboard. The smell of lontong is very special. Lontong wrapped in banana leaves really tastes better than regular rice. Especially if it is paired with chicken opor.

“It's for eating later on the train. Instead of snacks it is better to bring your own from home,” said mother.

Oh God, mother!

Jombang-Surabaya trip is only taken within two hours. Maybe you think a train trip to Surabaya takes all day.

Well-natured.

Mother's words have a point. Maybe he thinks a lot of snacks are not healthy, so it is better to bring your own supplies from home.

My mom is getting ahead!

An hour before departure, we were ready at the station to Surabaya. Weni was already impatient to want to take the train. Many times he tilted his head in the distance when the sound of a car approached.

“This is the train?” ask Weni.

At that time, the Bromo Anggrek executive train was stopping, to then continue the journey to Jakarta. His luxurious carriages were enough to attract Weni's attention.

“Not Wen. This is the train to Jakarta,” I replied.

“Later the train is also good like this huh Mas?” ask Weni again.

“Let's take the economy class train, Wen.”

“Ooh. Better than this one?”

I'm speechless. It is better for Weni to feel the thrill of her own ride on an economy class train. I don't need to explain any further.

Every train that came did not escape his attention. When the car we were about to board arrived, I gestured for mother and Weni to get ready. A heavy bag and cardboard I deliberately brought, while Weni held her mother.

“Be careful when going up. Hold your mother tight,” my message to Weni.

Weni.

“Later if you reach Surabaya, keep all wallets and valuables. There's a lot of copet!” my continue.

“Iya to, Mas?”

“It. Copetnya also pinter-pinter. Not taking money directly. Sometimes we talk first so we are off guard. There are even those who only hold the shoulders, we become obedient to the same copet,” explained.

“Wah, like hypnosis huh?

“Hypnosis. Gendam.”

Weni did not understand the matter yet.

Not many passengers were on that day. Even the cars tend to be empty. I deliberately chose the morning departure schedule so that it is not so crowded. The condition of this car is inversely proportional when we choose a schedule in the afternoon. Because the train will tend to be more passengers in the afternoon.

“Kok dirty train?” weni Protest.

I answered that question with a smile.

A few minutes later, the train started to run. For Weni, this was the first experience of taking the train. Thank goodness, he enjoyed the trip. His eyes could not see the view from the train window. Rows of roofs of houses, rice fields to the highway we passed.

“Someone wants to eat lontong no?” tawang.

He has started guerrilla to issue supplies stored in cardboard. I'm not really hungry, actually. Besides, I don't like to bother either.

Eating on the train in my opinion is very troublesome, because the condition of the train that continues to sway. I could not even enjoy the food.

Unfortunately I could not bear to see the spirit of the mother who had already issued his ammunition. He deftly sliced the lontong, placed it in a pinch, then sprinkled it with a bundle of meat. The delicious aroma disturbed every passenger's nose in the carriage.

The dining together in the train frankly made me a little uncomfortable. Eating while people see has different sensations. Moreover, I am not the type of person who is ignorant. The gaze of another person can give rise to a thousand interpretations in the brain. In other words, I was too sensitive to the reactions of others.

“I want to know the boarding Laras. Will you stop by?” chirps mom.

Duh!

Why do you not focus on the same as the lontong and serundeng? What triggered him, how come suddenly there was the name Laras in his mind?

Oh, I know!

Currently, she is chewing on lemper which she ordered from Yu Habibah, a neighbor in the village who used to make cakes for events. So here's. To my knowledge, Laras is very good at making lemper, nagasari and various other traditional cakes. Maknyuus too. That's why my mother immediately remembered Laras when chewing the lemper.

“The barrel is better. It's undercooked strength,” complained mother.

I speak a thousand languages. Not daring to respond, so that the mother does not further continue her investigation of Laras.

“From your contract is still far from the cost Laras?” ask mom again.

Duh, mom! Please, stop dong!

“Ya passable, Mak.”

“Let's take a walk together huh, Bi?” pinta.

Suddenly I felt uncomfortable. Though eager to invite mother and Weni to have fun without involving others. My savings are just enough to take them. But if Laras was invited, frankly I would not have the taste to continue this holiday.

“Laras usually busy, Mak. A little difficult when invited out,” my lie.

“Masa anyway? Lah yesterday how can you travel to Malang all?” search mom.

The deg!

Though I have kept the secret of my departure to Malang tight. Why leak this country's secrets? Must be Mom's phone. Or ... Mr Turonggo who whispered to you?

I don't know.

Obviously I feel dead lice for now. I hope that Laras is really busy when the mother visits Surabaya, so as to minimize the meeting between the two women of different generations.

Baras and mom are a good match. Sometimes they are compact to corner me. Though obviously I'm his son, but mother would rather defend Laras than me.

Women's solidarity deserves a thumbs up!

***