Rinai Longs from the Sky

Srikandi Yudha Brama Jaya

"Beauty belongs to all women, but if it's cool, it's only owned by women who dare to plunge into a male-dominated world."

---

Tonight Rana is silent on the porch of her unit. He just got a call from his mother in the village. Her first sister was hospitalized with dengue fever. These days the boy has a fever. His mother thought that only an ordinary fever would heal after taking the heat-lowering pills he bought in the stall. Actuallyno. His mother did not mention money, but Rana understood very well, at this time he would need a handle just in case. Not all hospital costs will be borne by public health care providers. This is what makes Rana moody. The rest of the balance in his account was just enough to eat, and the payday was still a week away.

"Woi." The rebuke coincided with the fall of the clap on Rana's shoulder. "Tumben daydreams here." Bara took a side position.

Rana did not even turn her head, although she had been a bit jolted.

"Why?" bara asked again after discovering the irregularities on Rana's face, which tonight framed a light blue headscarf.

"My brother's in the hospital."

Hearing that answer, Bara's jail face changed concerned.

"Your mother asked for money, huh?" ask Bara carefully.

Rana shook her head, then looked up while sighing deeply. He tried to shake off the bad thoughts in his head. "Mom knows my condition here. Although it was very necessary, he must have been very heavy to say."

"If so, you use my money first."

"Eh, no, Bar. Payday's in a week, okay."

"But your mother needs it now."

"Keep, you're alone?"

"Monthly money from parents plus the honor of the writings published last month, for regular expenses I have set aside. Thank God there's still left."

"Seriously, is it okay?"

"Udah, don't think too much. For now your sister's recovery is much more important." Bara smiled cheeringly.

"Still, Bar .." said Rana.

"Together, Fairy Godmother."

"Now you peri. Kan, you're the one who nolongin," said Rana. The sadness on his face slowly diminished.

Both chuckle.

"We transfer at the ATM in front, yes."

Rana nodded in agreement.

"Yes, wait a minute, I'll take the same jacket as the wallet first."

Rana nodded back.

***

Argold, Bar ....

At dawn my mother called, she was very grateful for the money.

Thanks, yes, Bar ....

I am lucky to have a friend as good as you.

Ohya, I made a fried banana. If you want, please take it yourself in the room. Backup key in the usual place.

- Rana

After rereading, Rana slipped her memo paper in the gap under the door of the Bara unit. Because of the afternoon lecture, today he set out on his own angkot ride.

***

The morning routine after opening the store such as ensuring the cleanliness of the sales area, windshield, yard, to check the condition of the product displayed on the shelves is now busy Rana with a colleague. Usually they do all three of them, but since Helen has not come, they are forced to do it both. The process certainly took longer.

In the midst of his busy life, Rana repeatedly checked the position of the clock on his left wrist. He became worried. It's not usually Helen's late like this.

Fortunately, Bian is a grounded type of boss, does not mind jumping directly to do all things related to the smooth operation of the store. Especially for unexpected situations like now. Although with a bent face, Bian took over Rana's work sweeping the yard, then had the girl prepare a few bouquets of flower orders last night that would be taken this morning. Bian is not upset because he has to sweep the yard, but because there are employees who are not disciplined.

***

After the typical busy morning ended, Helen just came. Rana was stunned to see her appearance that was still in disarray. Plain face, absolutely no make up. Her hair has not been combed well either. He looks nervous and scared. Rana was more convinced, something was wrong with her co-worker. As a supervisor who feels responsible for the discipline of all employees in the store, Rana must find out. But not now, because Bian immediately asked Helen to enter his room.

"Sorry, I'm troubling you." Helen listened to regrets. He was ready if Rana would scold him. Although Rana never positioned herself as a superior according to her position, but Helen was quite understanding, her coworkers were given more responsibility to control all personnel in the store.

Rana sighed for a moment. "The problem is not the hassle, but your responsibility," he responded later in a light tone.

"I promise I won't repeat it again."

"Why part, anyway? How, your tumben's late?"

"I'm bad luck."

"People? Last night staying up? Why?"

Helen seemed to have trouble answering. Rana was more and more convinced, this co-worker was hiding something.

"Keep, what did Mr. Bian say?"

Helen's shoulders slumped slowly. "I'm in-SP."

Rana looked concerned. "Yes already. There, start work, before Mr. Bian comes out and sees us talking."

Helen left the cashier area.

***

Today there are only two courses. Since one of the lecturers did not enter, in fact he could go home early. But Riko—mature friend—mah dragged him into the hall. He said there was socialization from the local Fire Department related to some important things to do during a fire. This time their representatives were dominated by female personnel, who in their terms were called Srikandi Yudha Brama Jaya.

I swear, Bara is very lazy to participate in socialization like this. If he goes home and continues his writing, can get a minimum of ten pages.

"It's really important, Bar. It's life and death."

Bara understands. But, to be honest, he's very uncomfortable being here. Their language must not be far from the fire, something that most Bara avoid. Even just spelling the word ke-ba-ka-ran, able to make the feathers of Bara bristles.

Riko continued to pull Bara's hand, making sure she didn't run away. They walked between two groups of well-organized chairs and most of them were already filled.

"The name is misfortune, we never know when it will come. It's good, if we have basic knowledge. It didn't panic," Riko boasted while wailing left-right. He must find the ideal seat, in order to listen well.

Riko is like a father who finds his son playing in the river, then forced to go home. And Bara just realized, from earlier they became a spectacle of some people. The reflex bar snapped his hand to break free from Riko's grip.

"Well, we're sitting there." Riko pointed at the two empty seats in the third row.

"No. Too in front. What's try for?" Bara was tearing himself up in the empty chair that happened to be beside him. "Here it is!" said.

"If it is far away. We will not understand what they are saying. Kan, his name is a waste of time." Riko again gripped Bara's wrist, forced her to stand up, then again dragged to the seat position she wanted.

Rather than cause a commotion, Bara chose resignation.

"Well, gini, right, good." Riko looked satisfied. Good thing Bara softened, before his target seat was occupied by someone else.

The bodo time bara. For him, for this kind of socialization, sitting in front or behind was equally boring. In fact, it might be a little terrible if later they too often call the word "fire". Hopefully they don't involve projectors and show simulated fire suppression. Because if that happens, it is certain that Bara will close his eyes tightly.

Ignoring Riko who seemed increasingly enthusiastic and impatient, Bara pulled out a cell phone. He logged into Facebook, checking several pages of local and national newspapers. Of course he hoped that someone would mark him in the report of the loading of the work. Unfortunately there is not yet. As a result, Bara only congratulated the names that appeared. Believe me, this simple congratulation is a form of support from fellow litearsi warriors. Bara knows exactly what it feels like, especially when the short story is loaded for the first time. Since then Bara always took the time to put comments, congratulate even if only two or three words.

"Eh, I'm gonna start."

Riko's pat on her thigh managed to lift Bara's gaze from the mobile screen onto the stage. It appears that two burly DAMKAR personnel are arranging seats and checking microphones. Several female members then joined the center stage.

"Eh, cool, huh?" Riko elbowed Bara.

"O ... So those who make you this enthusiastic?" Seeing the row of women in blue uniforms striking up there, Bara so understand. Riko has always been obsessed with wanting to date "brave" women, as she calls women who plunge into a male-dominated world. The Srikandis of Yudha Brama Jaya are up there for example.

"I swear, they're so cool!"

Nah, right? They just stand on stage. Not doing anything that can invite admiration. Oh yeah, Riko never used the word "beautiful" to praise them, always like that, "cool".

"Good afternoon, everyone ...."

Almost the entire room answered the opening greetings from DAMKAR personnel who were standing on the edge of the stage while sowing smiles and trying to attract attention. After a few well-known opening sentences for an event like this, the muscular man introduced his team members by name. The name is called then stand up to just wave while presenting a friendly smile.

Bara squealed, then unconsciously straightened his back when he felt he recognized one of them.

"Luna ...?"

***

[Connected]