Between Love and Traditional Java

Exit Way

Danial Pov's..

In a hurry I drove my bike out of Andi's yard. I rushed the spirit to find Mr. Ahmad. I want to ask about customs that I only know at a glance the point. I want to get a concrete explanation of this.

I don't want to always be overshadowed by custom when I want to have a serious relationship with someone. I don't want it someday, when my love grows for her, but it has to end. I don't want to feel the pain and difficulty moving on anymore. I don't want the person I love to suffer anymore, with difficulty forgetting.

Tok.dok..

I knocked on Ahmad's door. Hope the owner of the house will open the door. Because I can't wait to talk about my problems. I stood there waiting, until the sound of the door handle sounded. A middle-aged woman opened the worn-out wooden door.

"Sir Ahmad is Lik," I immediately asked Bulik Rahmi, as soon as I called him.

"He is on the beach, there is socialization from the village chief, related to the event that will be held at the end of Ramadan," Bulik told.

"Owh, okay, bulik, I'll just go there." I rushed to turn on my motorbike and drove it to the beach. Today I took a work leave. My feelings are very unsupportive to do work activities.

"That's how it should be, we can open this beach until the night of Feast Day, so we can takbir together here, thank God for the beauty of nature created. Thank God for giving this awake beach the foundation of our sustenance,"

From far away I have heard the passionate speech of the village chief. His voice hardened with the help of a microphone in his hand. His words were hypnotizing the public to do good.

"Therefore, we must keep this beach as maximum as possible, do not let the damage pollute this fascinating nature. Thank you, assallamoallaikum warrahmatulli wabarakatuh." The village chief ended his speech.

After I parked my bike. I walked on the sand looking for the whereabouts of Mr. Ahmad. I saw two men in red talking. One of them, Mr. Ahmad and I approached him. After the event was over I invited Mr. Ahmad to sit in the back seat away from the crowd.

The breeze I felt but did not calm the turmoil in my heart. The waves added a chill to my eardrum that could not stop hearing Dyana's cry yesterday, when I heartily damaged her hearing with hurtful words.

"There's something I want to ask you, sir," I started talking seriously.

"About what Le, you're looking for me" Mr. Ahmad was curious.

"About marriage in Javanese customs sir," I opened the topic.

"Why do you want to get married, doesn't your father know better?" Mr. Ahmad was surprised, because my father was the traditional leader in this village, while Mr. Ahmad was only a mudin.

"Not so fast, sir," I smiled grimly.

"Ehmm. I actually wanted to have a serious relationship with my boyfriend, but you forbid," my face turned sad when I told him that.

"Your father disagrees? What's problem?" ahmad wants to know more.

"My girlfriend is the first child, while I am the third child sir, said the father Lusan?" I hesitated to say the word Lusan, which I did not know in depth what it meant. Mr. Ahmad just cleared his throat.

"So Le, it's really hard if according to custom," Mr. Ahmad voiced his opinion.

"Is there no solution?" I wish there was a way out.

"Le, you are raised from a family that upholds customs and uploads the decency of the Javanese. Living among the rules that become an identity where as one thing the cultural wealth of the archipelago. It is too difficult to let go of the tradition that has been attached," said Mr. Ahmad explained at length.

"What does it mean that I really can't marry him," I'm disappointed.

"what's that?" i wonder.

"May you marry your boyfriend, if there is a good day according to your birth count," Mr. Ahmad tried to calm me who was angry.

"Good day, you mean?" I'm getting confused.

"You should know what he is, you'll have to see him later, too,"

"In ruwat?" I frowned at me.

"Tradition in this village for a first child like you" Mr. Ahmad explained.

"Why is it not free to be born as a first child" I concluded.

"Your boyfriend, you will have to tell him to go through the pingitan for 40 days, then you can not mix first until the seventh night, you also have to accept if you have to marry secretly. Can't invite each other. Can't tell anyone let them know for themselves even your grandfather." Mr. Ahmad continued his long speech, I just listened in silence.

"I understand, thank you, sir, for the explanation" I said, stepping away. There is at least a way out, it is not impossible for me to marry her.

***

When I got home, I laid down my body. I thought about how Dad could bless me.

"Perhaps if I bring Dyana here a lot, you'll be devastated" I thought.

I haven't received a message from Dyana in two days. I didn't expect it when I waited for a message from him, like God blessed me. My HP is shaking.

drrtr..

"And," so Dyana always calls me. We rarely say dear or honey, and affectionate calls in general, which in my opinion also seem alay for some things. I like her who is different from the women I used to know.

He who is actually very independent but can turn spoiled in front of me. He always laughs in front of me when I'm happy. He who likes jail and outrageous when joking. He who is himself, what he is usually like, who does not need to keep the image in front of others. He who if sad always holds it himself, but I let him freely cry on my shoulder without shame.

She's a strong woman who knows how to put herself wherever she is. Know how to behave when dealing with different types of people. It can make me the luckiest man to have it. And it makes me feel proud that he chose me to share his life story.

To take me beyond my limits, to teach me to stay upright when my feet are weak, to guide my way when I don't know where I'm going. She, my simple woman, made me feel special.

"Is it good how you feel?" As fast as lightning I type a reply like that. Make sure he's okay. I am so glad to get a greeting from him.

"It's been possible to talk, I've been thinking" Dyana said. I immediately apologized to him and tried to find a way out for our relationship.

"We haven't decided yet?" I asked for clarity of his feelings.

Because I was careless not to think long, it was that easy I said break up with him It should be that if there is a problem, the problem solved is not the relationship ended. It's foolishness that I could hurt him. Someone who, although I have not known him for a long time, has made me believe that he is the one God presented to fill the emptiness of my heart after a long time away. That he is the one I should be fighting for right now. And may in the future all happiness come. All parents will respect.

"I hope that in the future we are okay, yes" the hope of Dyana that hopefully I am the person who is able to make it happen.

Finally that night I was able to sleep well after my relationship returned well. I dreamt of it in my wake.