Princess Rajapatni

Princess Rajapatni - Rajapatni - Necklace

Princess Rajapatni - Rajapatni - Necklace

A mirah-eyed necklace greeted me from inside the box. That necklace reminds me of the sight in the Tarik Forest.

Arya Virendra threw the necklace. We're at the neck. Then he hugged me tightly. We are silent a thousand ba-hasa. Until then each of us felt tired. We parted with a faint heart.

I thought I'd never see that necklace

any more.

So as soon as I see the red of the stone, the memories

rise up, along with the estimates of how he got the necklace again. That dense and vast forest, how did Viren find it? He must have tried very hard. He searches. While I forced myself to forget what happened in that forest.

“Arya Virendra looks increasingly chaotic since she heard the news of the deaths of Ken Sakka and Nari Ratih.” Prad started telling stories. “I was a little worried about him, so I sent people to follow Virendra. I'm afraid, he'll do something bad.”

Oh, Viren's....

“My man reported, several times he saw Virendra hanging out in stalls. Act like a drunken bum. The coronation is near. The day after the ceremony, I decided to imitate you. I disguised myself as a man. Then sneak out ista-

na's. Before he got drunk, I called him. I told him to be nice. However, Kanda Prabu has intended to give the position of Rakryan Tumenggung. Arya Virendra will become a warlord. It is not good if the defense minister of the country is rude, is not it?”

I closed my eyes. Unable to pass judgment on Viren. I even just found out the burden of Viren's life. Sakka once said that Ardaraja hunted all the followers of Raden Wijaya. Sure, Viren's in one of them.

“The next day, Arya Virendra entrusted this box to my trustee.” The pradnya sat down and put his hand on his lap. He let the silence be a pause. My feelings are sinking. I don't want to hear, but I want to know the fate of my best friend.

“It turns out, the meeting at the stall was the last meeting before Virendra left from Majapahit,” Pradnya said. “I never thought, Virendra would leave without saying goodbye. He even told people to keep his departure a secret. So, when I ta-hu, Virendra is no longer in kotaraja.”

I can't make a sound. The box is on my lap. I still look at the necklace and the bunch of splinters underneath.

“I'll soon find a coachman. I ordered the coachman to drive quickly. I kept praying in my heart. Hope we can still meet.”

Then Pradnya started telling stories....

***

He stopped a few times and asked. After searching for some time, he heard that Arya Virendra was in Canggu.

Quickly, Pradnya followed there. His horse-drawn carriage stopped not far from the port. Men and women all mingle in one place. People form a line. Each waited for a boat to send them off.

Virendra was not wearing noble clothes. It was a little difficult to find him among the crowd. Pradnya look for him in the line of prospective passengers. Several times, he was wrong.

The boat came and everyone went in. That's when Pradnya saw a tall male figure with a rather light complexion. The man was carrying a bundle. He walked down the bridge that would take him to the boat.

“Arya Virendra!” Pradnya called out in a loud voice.

Virendra turned and immediately nodded. Pradnya ordered the boatman to delay departure. Pradnya immediately approached Virendra. This time, Pradnya was determined to make the man change his mind.

“Greetings to Gusti Putri.” Viren makes anjali greetings on the forehead. The pradnya panicked immediately. Viren ter-smile. Sadness and happiness blend in with that.

“Arya Virendra, why are you leaving?” Pradnya. “Dinda Gayatri hasn't been here yet. Don't you want to see him?”

Virendra. “It is precisely because of that, I will make it difficult for myself if I see Gusti Putri Gayatri in bridal clothes.”

The luster of the wound flashed in Virendra's eyes. Pradnya megang dada. His breath was puffing as a result of his pursuit.

“Gayatri will be disappointed once.” Pradnya pulling na-pas. “I know once, Gayatri does not like the atmosphere of the palace. In the past, he only had you. Now, how can he live without a best friend?”

Virendra laughed at the words. “Princess Gayatri has got the protection she needs. The strongest protection in the palace. Protection-an a king.”

Even Pradnya could hear a satirical tone in that speech. Pradnya trying to argue Virendra. But Virendra stretched out his hand. It moves as if it were freeing itself from a shackle.

“Since long ago, I aspired as a pen-decar,” he said happily. “Crossing the sorrows of the mortal world. Exploring the middle of nowhere. Across the vastness of the mudra, all those things can not be done if ham-ba is constantly in the palace.”

“But you were also instrumental in building Majapa-hit.” Pradnya still does not accept Virendra's excuse. Vi-rendra laughed out loud until her shoulders were shaken.

The pradnya wonder, very astonished. Especially because Viren-dra only replies with the sentence:

“Release, release. Then you will reach perfection.”

***

“I'm sorry. Can't help it. I know your relationship is close. Friendship ties that have existed for many years. Friendship that is almost like a brotherhood.”

“Even he won't stay as my brother, Yunda.”

Pradnya stroked my hair. My talk is starting to sound. Pradnya could only shut up and wait for me te-nang.”

“What does Virendra's answer mean, Dinda? When I asked Virendra, he said, ‘I was looking for him, whether or not I would find’, Viren then gave me the box.”

I just realized I was still holding a box containing a necklace and tossing. There are a lot of writing and pictures on the sheet. I captured the writings of Arjuna Wiwaha, Sang Hyang Kamahayanikan, as well as some sutra and dharani names. All written by Viren.

I cringed confused. Then without saying anything more, I went to dismantle the pitches. That's when I saw the Copy of the Heart Sutra. Different from

another throw, this thrower has large stitches on the left and right sides. I flipped through it in wonder, la-lu started reading. I recognize Viren's writing. This list contains only one quote:

In the character of emptiness there is no form, nor is there any feeling,

There is no inner darkness.

There is no end to the darkness. There is no old age and death.

There is no end to old age and death. Similarly, there is no suffering.

I remember reading this Heart Sutra when you were both little. At that time, we were sitting in the palace garden. We looked at the rain falling while imagining the teaching of truthfulness.

“What is that noble truth, Kakang? Why does it seem so peaceful?” I said. Virendra—, who was about six years older than me, only scratched his head.

“Maybe because it has nothing, then it will not think anything,” Viren said at the time.

I immediately pinched Viren's arm hard. “Ja-what kind of bandage is that?”

“Let go, release, then you will reach tingling-purnaan.” Viren said excitedly. “That's what I'm gonna do one day. Let go of all this, hoping to achieve true enlightenment.”

“But it's impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible. Just so we try. Yeah, right?”

“Then, is Kakang sure you can find him?”

Viren shakes. “Nothing is certain in this world. Man can only hope. Hyang Widhi decides everything.”

***

I'm still holding Viren's gift. Mind wandering. I didn't answer Pradnya's question. Instead, I say goodbye. Foolishly, I returned to my pavilion.

I'm lucky, there's nobody there. With trembling hands, I went back to reading the quote that Viren himself had written. My tears fell again. Although I know, crying a day last night was no gu-naanya. Arya Virendra has left me alone.

My hands go down that palm. Unintentionally, I pulled the thread that sewed the sides of the thrower with nails. Unexpectedly, when the stitches were open, I found other writings:

The Honoured Princess Gayatri,

When you read this letter, it means I'm no longer by your side.

I apologize for not saying goodbye. I want to start my adventure by remembering our story. No more and no less.

Your position as the King's wife is the biggest obstacle for me to take care of you. Although I try to keep my distance, our closeness will make you gossiped and give an opportunity for slander.

I don't want to put you in an uncomfortable position.

But the Princess need not feel anxious. I just feel happy. I am relieved, I do not need to see another war in the palace. It is sickening when people begin to forget the purpose of the struggle. Even on the first day, after Majapahit expelled the invaders from Mongolia it.

Princess, Prabu Kertarajasa has an incredible load of be-rats. Keep your heart warm. Don't let him fall in the middle of a palace political conflict. Remind him of the fate of the people and love him, just like the way he loves you.

I hope the Princess burns this letter after the Princess finishes reading. Again, I'm sorry. If the Princess feels lonely, there are many stories that I write. I hope it can be a little entertaining.

Don't be sad often. However, one day ki-a will all meet on the opposite shore, in immortality. I don't need recognition as a hero. All I need is one: You remember me in your heart. As a brother, or as a friend.

May the Princess always be happy. From someone who loves you, Arya Virendra.