Al Kahfi Land - Time Travel
When Marriage?
Al Kahfi Land, Depok, 2004
Usually around the lake, only the Erlangga workspace in the box house looks bright until late at night, but these days, one of the workspaces in the triangle office also looks bright. That's Widi's workspace.
Widi is forced to go home often at night to avoid annoying questions. As a woman who is considered mature, she began to be often attacked by the question of when to marry? That's why.
The initial attack occurred while Widi was still hitchhiking at the house of Aunt Lina, her mother's younger sister.
"Widi, Auntie is glad you're here, but you also have to have a future of your own. Look, other women your age have been married a lot, you know," said Aunt Lina when Widi was about to leave for work.
"Widi has not had close friends," said Widi surprised, because all this time Aunt Lina never harassed him, especially the affairs of a mate.
"Where would anyone want to sneak? Women really look rich men," said Aunt Lina half-joking, meaning half-serious of course.
Widi flinched, he replied, "widi's work is often to the field, cook with a dress?”
"Widi, not only you, you know, women who work in the field, not only you also know, women who work with motorcycles. How else can I bring a copy of clothes, make-up, perfume? They also know which jackets and helmets are suitable for women,” said Aunt Lina made Widi not warty.
A few days after the tense discussion, Widi decided to move from the house of Aunt Lina to a boarding house closer than the office. He made up the reason, that office work requires him to often go home at night.
After living in a boarding house, it turns out Widi really should often go home at night. There he actually received more attacks of nosy questions from the residents of the boarding house. Where's boyfriend? How not to get married? Not bored by yourself?Want to be fooled?Arrh ....
Questions about the soul mate began to make Widi feel crazy. In fact, while in the office alone, he still felt hearing the question from the reflection of his own face on the glass.
Tonight Widi is again stranded in office silence. She recalled the sweet things that suddenly disappeared from her life, including the memories of someone proposing to her about five years ago. Unfortunately until now Widi never again met him, did not even know his whereabouts.
Where is he? ask Widi inwardly while looking at her computer monitor screen.
Geez, why don't you look up on the internet? pekik Widi is excited.
Widi sat more upright and was ready to type the man's name on the search engine, but her hopes were dashed. Is he a celebrity?Just type his name, he must have appeared.
Widi's relationship with the man who had proposed to her was unique. They had talked seriously about marriage, even though Widi did not know her full name, date of birth, home address and various standard information about the man.
If only time machines existed.
Widi subconsciously typed that sentence on the search engine. He was stunned when he found a website about cross-time discussions.
Widi does not believe, but she needs to do something to take her mind off the onslaught of supernatural whispers about the question of when to marry.
Widi had just managed to register for a chat, some people greeted her, she chose to answer someone's greeting from Bandung.
^Hai Uge^ Reply Widi.
Ow hell! Widi suddenly regretted answering the man's greeting. He just realized, in cyberspace, people can be anyone and dare to talk anything.
^How is the world doing in 2004?ask Uge.
Widi still upholds politeness, she does not have the heart to leave the conversation when she has already said, yes, but do not expect these pleasantries to go long.
^The news is that, with the increase of years, most just replace the ruler, emerging new technology and increase population, Widi replied.
^It is not so dong, it is also a change, ^ said Uge. Widi's answer instead made Uge feel challenged to argue.
^Yes if sought after yes a lot, for a second must have been a change, as if the position of the seconds hand on the clock has shifted from its original place, replied Widi.
^You're a bomb squad? For a second you could make a change, ^ reply Uge.
Nyolot nih people, said Widi.
^Mas! If you want to ask the future mending pet gecko. Do you know if you will be rich or poor?reply Widi satisfied.
Uge laughing. He is increasingly eager to face a skeptical interlocutor, usually it is his ration.
^This is a cross-time discussion, the question cannot be standard dong, ^ type Uge.
^It is precisely your cross-time question is too standard, ^ ridiculed Widi.
^Try changing, give questions that are not standard to people of the past?^ challenge Uge.
^OK. Can you help me in your day? I'd like to say, ^type Widi.
Uge was amazed by Widi's answer, he became increasingly interested in knowing Widi. ^Let's give me the full info, where I can find you in my day.^
^Sori deh, let these pleasantries not be long. I do not believe if we have a different time, type Widi frankly.
^I also do not believe, said Uge.
^Yes, because both sane, so there is nothing we need to obrolin, I say yes, ^ pinta Widi wants to immediately end the chat.
^Wait for Wid, I need a chatmate again, okay?ask Uge.
Widi is reluctant, but he appreciates the polite Uge. ^OK.^
^Thank you yes, we first acquaintance yuk. My nickname is Uge, living in Bandung, studying at ITB, you?ask Uge.
Uge information made Widi interested, he did want to know the news about ITB and Bandung.
^Name summons Widi, a graduate of Berdikari University Jakarta, has 3 years of work as an architect. You're in ITB, class?ask Widi excitedly.
^I am class 95, now it is the final semester, ^ Uge said.
^Last time? New college 4 years, time on the drop out?ask Uge.
^Kirain sane. Don't look for me because, I know very well about ITB so many forces, ^ threatened Widi.
^Yes a test, easy right?^ challenge Uge.
^You are really an ITB class 95 child, in front of BNI there is a coconut ice trader named Kang Yayan, he is very nervous. The question is, what handyman is trading next to Kang yayan? If wrongly answered, directly bye, Widi threatened while laughing amusedly with her own question.
^Ngaco this child! Kang Yayan is a parking attendant, Uge said.
Uge's answer made Widi laugh, it turns out Uge knows. ^Why did Kang Yayan get that ngetop?^
^Late 98, Kang Yayan retired early due to the same marriage. He is a successful travel entrepreneur in Cipaganti. That is the most inspiring story around ITB, said Uge smoothly.
Widi looks for other questions whose scope is narrower.
Do you know the Goddess?^ asked Widi, she seemed hesitant with her own question.
Where's goddess? Name of Dewi kan pasar, ^ Uge said.
The Goddess you know, how many?ask Widi.
^None I know. Maybe the Goddess who is often talked about by guys. Goddess FSRD class 98, that's what you mean?ask Uge.
The narrow question was also devoured, Widi believes, Uge must be an ITB alumni. He wanted to immediately bring the discussion to a sane situation. ^Ge, timid alma mater aja, has entered the site beginian, ngaku from 1999 all. Where's work now?ask Widi.
I am still in college and I am still in 1999. But if you feel in 2004, no problem really, said Uge.
^For joking?ask Widi.
^Lho? I'll be able to answer your question. Why do you know ITB? He said he went to college in Jakarta, so who likes to lie?ask Uge.
^I'm not lying. Need me an email scan of my diploma?^ challenge Widi.
^Later, if I have a company and need architects from the future, ^ said Uge.
^Where do you want to have a company? I am old, not graduated, Ledek Widi.
^Mbak Terminator, ask for your email. Hopefully the date info, can change the theme of the discussion across time, ^ challenge Uge.
^Okay Mas Flinstone. I want to know, later what the reason is again, Welcome Widi.
They exchanged email addresses and sent each other emails, apparently to no avail.
^Huh, your email address does not yet exist. Future people don't know how to send emails?^ ledek Uge.
^Your email is not active. Do people in the past not know how to open an email?sahut Widi.
The debate about cross-time continues, but it has made them even more familiar. These two creatures must be lonely.
*****
Erlangga stopped his work, he walked outside the box house to enjoy the atmosphere of the lake. There his attention was fixed on one still bright room in the triangular office.
Erlangga realized, these nights, the room was always inhabited. Although it looks very faint, Erlangga believes the occupants are women, several times he saw the residents doing the movement he thought was praying. That guy is Widi.
Widi's existence is like giving Erlangga a friend when alone at night, so she does not want to disturb him. Actually besides Erlangga and Widi, there are some security and hygiene workers who live here, but they are in other parts that are not visible from the box house.
Erlangga turned his gaze towards the darkest part of the lake away from the light. Apparently without any light, this beautiful lake looked like a terrifying place. He also realized something.
My heart never touches the light, maybe that's why I'm always angry. The woman looked calm in her life. Perhaps because he prayed, his heart became filled with light.
Erlangga again looked at the triangular office, it turned out that the bright workspace had turned dark. Widi turned off every corridor light that she had passed, and the scenery there turned dark.
Erlangga so imagine, what would this place be like if there was no light at all?What about the darkness of the grave?
I don't know why the question suddenly flashed in Erlangga's head. He was not a coward, but a great fear suddenly enveloped him, he immediately prepared to go home.
*****
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Author, Indra W
