LOVE SONGS OF LOLOBATA

MOVE AWAY

I don't fully understand what happened to this family before and after my arrival. It's too early to deduce anything based on presumptions and what I saw and felt during the week with my grandmother. There is still a lot of fog that covers the life of this family behind silence. There was no confrontation. Everything went on in silence and silence until it was hard to guess what was really going on. There was no other way that could lead me through all of this except following the instructions of my grandmother who had eaten the salt acid of life.

This morning I suddenly lost the spirit of living my day. There was a heart-wrenching regret in between my happiness meeting the mother of the father I loved so much. I could not believe my arrival made my grandmother have to make a difficult decision for the sake of one sacred word, namely, fair. Not only fair in the distribution of inheritance rights but also fair in granting property that should be done by voluntary means. This morning in order to realize the word fair, the grandmother had to move from a large house that had been a shelter to a smaller and simpler rental house. All done so that uncle and his family are satisfied and no longer envious of me.

There must have been many wonderful memories of their grandfather and family left behind in that house. Akh.... Because of my presence, my grandmother suffered in her old age. It seems true what people say, my existence brings trouble and doom to those closest to me.

Mournfully. Poor to see an old and sickly grandmother forced to go out of her own home. But I was helpless against the decision that Grandma had made. I'm sure Grandma must be very sad. But grandma would be even more sad if I did not want to obey her orders to help try a rented house as soon as possible. Grandma didn't want us to know her sadness. Though I know for my sake grandma forced herself hard. With her advanced age, she felt worthy of refuge in a single sentence of comfort; earthly things would never be brought to death. But were those words sincere out from the bottom of his heart or just a way to console himself? I never knew the answer. All I know now is respecting Grandma's decision. Do not let me disappoint him or make new wounds that erode his happiness at his age that has been so talented.

Grandma made a decision very quickly without asking for my consideration and inevitably I have to follow the steps she has determined. Grandma had made an appointment with the homeowner and sent me to look at the condition of the house while taking care of the contract agreement and everything regarding the lease administration.

"We will rent a house complete with furniture for a year. How next we think as we go whether to live in a coastal house or build a smaller house as needed near the store. What matters is that tomorrow we have to move out of this house." Grandma said before we left. There seemed to be a line of anger buried in his eyes.

It feels like someone who is being driven. Rent a house with full furniture. That means there are not many items that Grandma will bring from the big house that she will leave. All the valuables in the house were given to uncle.

Overturned. It was so sad. I also once felt displaced when forced to leave the baba heritage house in which there are favorite items that have their own stories. The hand-made wooden bed of baba, the old mushaf al-Qur'an used by the baba to teach the villagers to read the scriptures, the castor oil lamp that illuminates our night with its dim light, and several other objects that each have its own function and nostalgia. All those little memorable things I ended up bringing to my mom's house in the new village for the longing release. I always record the memories of each object in a separate space in my brain. The memories I always turn on until my brain wears out can no longer remember them.

Does grandma have no memories of grandfather attached to the objects in the house like I remember baba through the things she left behind. Akh, maybe so many objects left by the late grandfather objects in the house became worthless. Grandma probably has one special thing she'll carry anyway. It's not fancy furniture. Nor is it the crystal lamp or electronic equipment that Grandma will leave in the house. I wondered what was the most special thing according to Grandma and would take her and to the house that would be her residence later.

I stepped into the old house that still looked manicured. The owner of the house is an acquaintance of the grandmother who once helped manage the store. The house consists of 1 and a half floors with 4 bedrooms measuring about 3 x 3 meters and 2 bathrooms. The columns and windows are made of solid teak wood so they still look gallant combined with classical architecture.

"This is the condition of his house, sister Fifa. Old and simple house. I was a little surprised when he suddenly contacted me wanting to rent this house" said aunt Husna, the owner of the house who accompanied us around the house and looked at each corner one by one.

"Let's get closer to the store, auntie. Grandma wants to be nostalgic once in a while taking care of the tavern." I answered with the reason that Grandma had prepared for the other party who questioned her move.

Aunt Husna smiled. He must have received the same reason when grandma contacted him. "Emmm. Means the condition of bu Arifah post-operative installation of the heart ring has improved yes."

"Thank God be good, aunt. Please pray only so that the grandmother is healthy and can return to normal activities."

"The shop wants to expand? Your grandmother asked if this land and house wanted to be sold or not. I can't answer because I have to hone first with the whole family."

"There's no plan there yet, Auntie."

"Tante notice every Friday and Saturday afternoon visitors are very crowded. Sometimes, people don't get to the chair. Aunty thinks it's good to expand or open a branch somewhere else."

Aunt Husna mangosteen. "You learn so fast, Sister Fifa. Deserve ma'am Arifah is proud to praise you. Not only are you beautiful, you're hardworking and smart."

"Don't overdo it, Auntie. The great one in the shop is still Pak Tristan. I can only quote his words."

Aunt Hasna smacked my shoulder with a smile. "Stay aunt salute you. This whole time, Arifah's mom hasn't been proud of her granddaughter except you."

Did ya? That's how good I am in Grandma's eyes. So moved. My chest expands. Happy with that compliment.

"How, Fifi? Do you like living here?" I turned towards Fifi asking for her opinion.

"So big brother." Fifi shrugged her shoulders. His face looks flat. Not enthusiastic nor antipathy.

"Here is the strategic location. Not far from the airport, shopping center, and hospital. Especially for you guys, I've already corrected 30%."

"I took a year's rent complete with his stuff yeah, aunt."

"Can."

"The lease can be sent to the grandmother's notary, Tan. I transfer dp now. The rest I pay tomorrow after the verification process and the legality of the notary is in order."

Aunt Hasna agreed, "When do you want to start occupying?"

"Tomorrow. Sorry we are in a hurry! The next day I went back to Halmahera, Auntie. I want to make sure Grandma has occupied the house as she wishes before returning. Later my sister, 2 assistants and Rodi sir will accompany grandma here."

"Lho Sister Fifa does not accompany Grandma?"

"I'll visit as often as possible, Auntie. There's a job I can't live there."

The lease and administrative matters are complete. The next day we actually moved into the house like an evicted person. Grandma was carrying only clothes, an SUV, a wheelchair, an ancient painting, and a wooden box containing ancient objects that she said were hereditary family relics. I was asked in my heart. It turned out that the last two things were very meaningful to grandmother; paintings and wooden boxes containing ancient objects. Not a luxury, Grandmother likes the classic things of her ancestors.

Grandma's move turned out to be that simple. The items he brought were just like the luggage of people who went traveling long out of town.