CONFINEMENT

CH 83 - PRALAYA

The two young men went down the hill where Griya Manuaba was, carefully stepping through the slippery road in the middle of the night.

"How long have you been in Griya Manuaba, Bli Arsana?" muhibbin asked his companion, the two were still walking down the rice field before finally reaching the Galuh banjar highway.

"I have been with Father Resi since childhood, Bli Ibbin."

"He's been taking care of me since both of my parents died from pageblocks in this area" Arsana told his new acquaintance.

At length the young man told about Griya Manuaba, especially Resi Giri Waja who is a role model for all Galuh residents, most of the banjar area residents are Sisya the Resi.

"What about you, Bli Ibbin?"

"When viewed from the logic of andika, Bli Ibbin is not a native of the Coast Country, is it true my guess?" ask Arsana to Muhibbin.

"Yes, Bli."

"I come from Dauh Tukad, precisely Stone Snake Country, almost one dasa warsa I have been here working and living with Perbekel Batubulan Village who already considers me as his son."

"Thanks to the kindness of youth all this time, I decided to settle in the Beach Country" Muhibbin replied to the young man next to him.

The road that was wet from the rain since this afternoon did not dampen his second step to continue the journey. Arsana was seen heading to one of the houses and it was not long before she returned with a train she was carrying.

"So I borrowed this vehicle on one of the Sisyah Father Resi,"

"It looks like it will accelerate our journey to Manguntur, Bli." Arsana exclaimed to Muhibbin, the man seemed to know what was in the mind of this new friend. Muhibbin nodded his head while smiling at Arsana's explanation. The two went back down the road to Manguntur.

***

A reddish tinge was seen in the eastern sky of the Coast Country, the somber atmosphere seemed to be enveloping the Banjar Manguntur hall with the face of grief of its citizens.

People are still gathering to prepare for a funeral procession, a Joli was seen in front of the banjar hall with a religious stakeholder chanting prayers and in his hand holding a bell that sounded shrill but heartrending breaking the silence of the end of the night that was still wet with the remnants of rainwater mixed with dew.

A train of medium speed was seen approaching the Manguntur banjar, two young men burst into the darkness of the night with the iron vehicle.

One of the two said,

"It looks like someone has died, Bli" one of the young men told his friend and the young man sitting at the back of the carriage nodded his head.

"Rubber, Bli Arsana."

"Tumben all the citizens are seen gathering at banjar hall, my feelings are getting bad."

"Let's get closer, Bli!"

replied the young man at the back of the carriage.

Both are none other than Muhibbin and Arsana. They leaned the train on a tree not far from the gathering place of the residents in the banjar hall.

Some residents turned to the two young men who had just arrived, a look of sadness was seen from the faces when they saw the two getting closer to the banjar hall, a member of the village security who saw the presence of Muhibbin and his friend immediately approached.

"Let's come with me, Good boy" the middle-aged man told Muhibbin and his friend.

"What's this, uncle?"

"Why so many?"

"I saw there was a joli and the regent was gone, who died, uncle?" muhibbin asked the village security officer.

"Next Good boy will know for himself."

"Let Jero Pecalang explain the situation" the man told the two young men behind him.

The three did not go through the front door of the banjar hall, but turned the side of the Manguntur banjar hall directly to the room where Jero Pecalang and Prawira Utama Bhayangkara were located, also seen Jero Balian Kanta and some Bhayangkara troops in the room.

Seeing the arrival of two young men with one of the village security members, Jero Pecalang's view was blocked.

The burly man rose from his seat and hugged the body of one of the young men, none other than Muhibbin, his breathing heavy and his eyes began to glaze at the young man before him.

"Uncle!"

"What's this, uncle?" tanya Muhibbin was astonished by Jero Pecalang's unusual attitude. The man who usually looks firm and straightforward still with a sense of sadness brought Muhibbin sitting next to him.

"Jero Persekel, Nice boy!"

"Jero Perbekel." said Jero Pecalang softly, his eyes could not look at the young man.

"What's up with Ajik, uncle?"

"Say uncle!"

"Jero Balian, please tell me what happened?"

"Why are the residents gathered in the banjar hall and why is there a Joli in front?" now the view of Muhibbin leads to Jero Balian Kanta which is also next to Prawira Utama Bhayangkara.

Everything in the room of the Manguntur banjar hall was silent a thousand languages and with a face withstood the sadness of the evening atmosphere towards that morning was increasingly sad.

"Give your heart, Good boy."

"Something terrible has happened to your whole family" said Jero Pecalang stammering, the man was seen sighing deeply withholding what he felt.

"We found Jero Mekel's residence on fire and Ajik and your mother not safe."

"Ni Mas Sekar and your nephew are now in critical condition."

"While your brother's Light we can't find his whereabouts." replied Jero Pecalang to Muhibbin. The voice of the Batubulan village security chief sounded like a lightning bolt in Muhibbin's ear.

The man told him everything that happened until he and the residents found Jero Perbekel and Sekar lying with wounds from sharp weapons and two people who were confined in a room with a burning body condition nothing but Suratmi and the Holy Kingdom.

"No way, uncle!"

"No way!"

Pekik Muhibbin in disbelief while shaking the shoulders of Jero Pecalang, he said,

"Jero Balian, tell me this isn't true!" now Muhibbin got up to Balian Kanta and again the young man shook the old man's shoulders, now his tears were unstoppable.

The young man hysterically discovered the reality that befell his entire family, the shadow of his entire family was rippling in Muhibbin's mind.

Everyone in the room felt sorry to see the scene in front of him. The incident that befell the entire family of Jero Perbekel greatly hurt the feelings of all the people of Manguntur.

"Where are they, uncle?" muhibbin asked Jero Pecalang, the young man was sitting on the floor with his face down, occasionally he was seen wiping his tears with the back of his hand. He did not expect his departure during the previous day to take Sariwati to the residence of Resi Giri Waja is the last meeting with his loved ones.

"Wake up, Good boy."

"I know what happened to you is so hard, we feel like we lost you."

"Let's take you with you to see your whole family." said Jero Pecalang while clutching the shoulders of the young man who squabbled in front of him.

With the footsteps of gontai Muhibbin following Jero Pecalang to the middle room of the Manguntur banjar hall, all who were in the room followed the two.

Two bodies covered in rags stretched rigidly in the bamboo hall in the middle of the room, several men dressed in white chanting puja-praise spells circling the jade in front of him.

Jero Pecalang and Muhibbin's entourage entered the central room, and Muhibbin hurried to run for his mouth among the white-clothed men chanting prayers.

The young man's body trembled as he approached the two bodies of his loved ones, his body falling down and sitting with a pushy look towards the two bodies before him.

Slowly in the drawstring that covered the two bodies, Muhibbin's body increasingly shuddered and hysterical,

"No!"

"Snake, Mom!" pekiknya, his cry increasingly became to see the condition of both bodies in front of him. The body of Mr. Nengah Wirata who was full of wounds and sharp weapons on his chest and bu Suratmi whose condition is not much different and terrible with burns almost all over his body makes anyone who sees no will power to endure sorrow and anger.

"No!"

"It's impossible!"

"No!" muhibbin shouted among his cries, with his hands clenching the young man continuously hitting the floor venting what he felt.

Jero Pecalang and Balian Kanta shouted to hold Muhibbin's body that began to run out of control. The young man tried to escape from the deck of Jero Pecalan and Balian Kanta.

"Good Boy, patience!"

"Iling, Nice boy!"

"Yinling!" jero Pecalang said to calm Muhibbin, finally after how long the two people can calm Muhibbin and the young man again sat down with a sigh of excitement.

"Control yourself, my boy."

"I know it's not easy for you."

"For now it's better to take care of Jero Mekel's body and your mother's."

"Take care of your sister and nephew."

"After that we search and make sure the culprit gets the reward."

"I'm not going to let this pass you by, you're a big family of Manguntur."

"The pain you are experiencing is our pain as well, blood debt in return for blood, life debt in return for life" Jero Pecalang told Muhibbin. The man was seen picking up the young man helped by Balian Kanta leaving the central room of the Manguntur banjar hall.

"Where's my sister and niece, uncle?"

"Where is my brother now?" mohibbin asked softly after slightly controlling his mood, his eyes were all staring at Jero Pecalang and Balian Kanta.

"They're in the next room, nice boy."

"Currently the Cantrik jero Balian took care of both."

"You better wait outside with me, let Jero Balian and his Cantrik take care of them until their critical time passes."

"About the existence of your brother Cahaya, the Bhayangkara and the security of the village are looking for him" said Jero Pecalang back.

"That's what Jero Pecalang said, Good boy."

"You better wait here, let me re-examine the condition of your sister and nephew."

"It's a good step to prepare a funeral procession for your mother, the residents will help and fulfill what you need for the funeral of Suratmi's mother."

"And you're Jero Pecalang, how are the cremation preparations for Jero Mekel? is everything ready?" balian Kanta asked Jero Pecalang and the man nodded his head,

"Here you go, Jero."

"The residents have prepared everything" replied the Batubulan village security leader.

"Alright then, you guys I'll stay inside first."

"I will re-examine the situation of Sekar and Raya." concluded Balian Kanta, the old man was seen patting the shoulder of Muhibbin who was still down next to Jero Pecalang and passed leaving him into the room again.

*****

Note :

Thank you to the friends of KAHANAN who are still patient and faithful to follow the journey of this writing.

Your support means a lot to me personally, although this writing is far from 'good'.

Salutations.

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Sisya: follower, servant

Joli: Stretcher carrying body

Muput : A series of ceremonial processions.