Mute Witness

Preserve or Return? (2)

“Nak, handing back the mine to the government is too risky.” Mr. Arif said, firmly.

“Why?” Ask Ari again.

“Recause of prison, Sir?” Ali asked casually.

“What do you mean, Ali?” Mr. Arif is confused.

Little laugh, “This is just my hypothesis Sir.” Sighs, “According to my guess, Uncle Judge was imprisoned for being bitter with his opinion to return the mine to the government.”

Mr. Arif did not comment.

“Do it mean..” Sighs, “If we agree with Uncle Judge, we will also risk imprisonment?”

“I didn't say so, Ali.” Mr. Arif hastily confirmed.

“But dad was jailed because of that, right?”

“Not Ari!” Mr. Arif firmly, “You heard the judge's verdict that time right? If your father is guilty of.”

“Because of the heinous accusations from the fake book.” Ari cuts, cynical.

“Ari! What do you mean?!” Mr. Arif is trying hard to contain the anger.

“Pak Arif must know very clearly, that the book is a fake book.” Ali replied while pointing at my replacement Great Book.

“Should I tell you how many times Ali?” Sighs, “The book is ORIGINAL!”

Non-rigid..

“One day, I will prove that the book is fake!” Ali said firmly, “If that time comes, Mr. Arif will not be able to comment anything!”

“Pak Arif just wait!” Resolutely continues.

“Son, I came to you, not to quarrel.” Exhaling slowly, “Alright, if so in your opinion, then you are free to prove it.”

Mr. Arif softened, “Do what you think is right.”

Both silent.

“But.” Mr. Arif seemed reluctant to continue, “On the next mine manager.. Please, listen to my opinion, son!”

“I mean.. Our opinion, Advisory Board.” Breathing in, “I came at their request.”

“Can't we talk about in a meeting?” Ali asked.

“I just hope, you guys can determine the attitude until the meeting later.” Shut up for a moment, “I just don't want to, meeting goes back alot.”

“What does Mr Arif want to say?” Ask Ali.

“I know.. The judge must have asked you to return the mine to the government, didn't he?”

Ari and Ali did not comment.

“I beg you, son.” Breathing in, “Restoring mines to government is too risky.”

“How big is the risk?” Ask Ali, relax.

“I heard rumors that..” Mr. Arif like reluctant to continue, “The government will hand over the mines belonging to the people to foreigners later.”

“However, if the family still expressed a willingness to keep managing, then it will not happen.” Added hurry.

“Still rumors, right?” Ari commented.

“Iyya.” Sahut Pak Arif, “But that might happen.”

“I understand.” Ali spoke up, “Fear of Mr. Arif can indeed be justified.”

“Because of that, I beg nak.” Mr. Arif is excited, “You can maintain mine management, right?”

“But it's still a rumor, Ali.” Ari protest, “Not necessarily happened, is it?”

“Fakta shows that it could have happened, Ari.” Ali replied patiently, “You yourself see, right? The government has always depended on the family in every task that is strategic.”

“Look.. Mine is run by our family. Tourism by the Rian family. Water, electricity, development and others. All of them are run by large families in this area. Government only acts as a monitor.”

Ali takes a breath, “And sometimes.. The government even silence if the family responsible for one particular task of corruption.”

“Because that's why son, I represent the Advisory Board pleading with you.” Mr. Arif is enthusiastic, “Preserve mine to remain managed by family.”

“We will consider.” Ali answered briefly.

“Good.” Mr. Arif is getting excited, “I believe, you can do your best for the people of this area.”

Ari and Ali did not comment.

“I'm saying goodbye nak.” Mr. Arif said goodbye, the intonation of his voice shows that he is very happy, “You must rest.”

Mr. Arif's footsteps were further and further away from the room.

Little laugh, “What's that like, Ari?” ask him with jokes.

“What's better.. Mine we have to defend?” Unexpectedly, Ari was serious.

“For what to maintain?” Ali's taking it seriously, “You know the evil conspiracy that's been befalling the family, right?”

“Most of the higher-ups have been fooled by it.”

“But.. We can warn them, right?” Ari said, she herself sounded less certain.

“At first, I thought it was better that way.” Ali was silent for a moment, “Your father even tried it. But look.. What happened to your father now?”

“Dad instead became a victim of conspiracy.” Ari answered slowly.

“But.. What about the people, Ali?” the question is anxious, “During this time, thanks to the results of mining, education and health are always free for them.

If the management of the mine is left to foreigners, it will be more fatal as a result. They will only seek profit for themselves.

The people as owners will most likely be neglected.”

Ali chuckled, “You did not listen well to the discussion with your father, Uncle Alan, and Mr Great Teacher, did you?”

“I listened to kok.” Ari protest.

“Listening to what?” Ali asked, defiantly.

“About the dangers of maintaining mine management on the family side. There are a lot of people from the top of the family who can fool both of us.

Although we are aware of their plans, but without the help of anyone, we can be following the scenario they made.” Ari explained with passion.

“Only that?”

“Y.. Also about inexperienced government side managing mine.” Sahut Ari, “Before, I've drawn up a plan to share family experiences with the government.

That way, we can still hand over the mine to the government to manage.

But after hearing Mr. Arif earlier, I became unsure again.”.

“Only that?”

“Father, Uncle Alan, and Mr. Great Master advise us to return the mine to the government. Because we're just the two of us, Ali.

Only the father in the family supports us. But dad's in jail. He can't do anything.”

“Only that?” Ali returned to collect.

“Come Ali!!” Ari sulks, “Can you say something else besides the sentence ‘only it’?”

Ali laughed, “You obviously didn't hear all the talk.” Breathing in, “What you said earlier was just a big part of the opening and a little bit of the closing of the talk.”

“We are both in a position that cannot be played, Ari.” Ali sounds disappointed, “You should be more serious.”

Exhaling, “You know me clearly, Ali. Whenever Mr. Great talks about economics, I'm always sleepy. For some reason, in each of his words it was always the best bedtime for me.”

Both giggle.

“If only Mr. Great was not someone who was stiff, then I have long asked him to be an economic storyteller as my bedtime every night.” Ari continued her joke.

Their laughter grew louder.

“Whatever.. What talks have I missed?” Ari asked after their laughter subsided.

“About the steps to take after handing over the mine to the government.” Ali took a breath, “Pak Arif's concerns can indeed be justified. However, it can be prevented.”

“How to?” Ari enthusiastic.

“Uncle Alan is in a position to help us. In addition to being the deputy regional leader who is very trusted by the leader, he is also an economist like Pak Agung.”

“He can ensure that, the mine management responsibility will be given to him later. If so, then he will ask our family who are experienced about the mine to help him.”

“Thus, no matter how husky the family, if it is under direct supervision by the government, he still can not do much to cheat the people.” Ari draws conclusions.

“Betul.”

“Waahh.” Ari excited, “I did not expect, it turns out that Pak Arif's fear can be eliminated as easily as that.”

“Not only scared Mr. Arif.” Ali said in a hurry.

“Who else?” Ari sounded confused.

“Your fear is also right?” Ali laughed a little.

Ari laughs justifiably.

They still tease each other until they get out of the room to rest.

I could only listen to them while smiling behind the closet door.