Romance In Makara Orange

The Remembered in Pokhara

At seven in the morning, Ashok drove them on foot to Kanti Path, the main road not too far from Thamel Marg. On the highway, there are already several buses that are climbed by climbers with different routes.

Ashok said later at the Pokhara bus terminal there would be a hotel party to pick him up. Also given a hotel business card with an address and phone number clearly marked with black ink.

Vira sat near the back of the glass. The bus walked slowly and picked up passengers at some point. Passing through the corners of the city of Kathmandu that looks seedy with the rest of the dust of the earthquake and unfinished construction.

Several times the bus passed through large religious temples and crowded markets. Also seen in several places, a crowd of well-dressed men and women who seemed to be waiting for an invitation to his workplace.

The journey to Pokhara is quite challenging. With narrow inter-city roads, there is only one lane for each direction and is dominated by buses and large trucks, making Vira often pray for safety. The bus he was riding was the type of bus used in Indonesia in the 90s, similar to what he saw in Bollywood films.

The bus stopped twice for meals at ten in the morning and at one in the afternoon. Food in this roadside restaurant is dominated by curry and vegetable flavors. The meat is limited to chicken and fish.

In addition, the bus stopped twice only briefly in a roadside public toilet. Intercity roads that follow large rivers and mountain paths are taken with a long time. At four in the afternoon, they arrived at Pokhara, a clean and cold city.

Arriving at the hotel, Bobby took Vira for a walk along Lake Phewa which became the city's icon. Dody was busy calling Dita. Mas Une and Mas Cokro immediately looked for a bar to drink.

Along the road that follows Bobby and Vira, there are several luxurious inns and shops selling cashmere cloth lined up across the lake. I want it to feel like Vira bought these delicate fabrics to share with her family but not yet time for shopping. Mas Une wanti-wanti later there will be a shopping session after climbing. Finally Vira just took some photos in the interesting corners of the city of Pokhara.

Actually, they wanted to go to the Mountain Museum that was in the center of the city that was already planned. But, baby, it's closed this afternoon. It seems they can only visit after the climb is over.

Night in Pokhara feels the cold more biting. It looks cooler than Bandung. He pulled out a thick blanket and started to open his social media. A few photos were taken from Kathmandu to Pokhara and the atmosphere on the lake. Photos of the scenery without him. It's a pretty short description. Want to be with you here.

Vira intentionally did not link this post to Kosa. Letting her guess who you mean makes her smile.

He opened a few curtains of his bedroom window located on the second floor. Vira peeked out from behind the curtains to see the outside atmosphere. The bar lights in front of the hotel are still lit with luminous purple and yellowish white. Mas Une and Mas Cokro were laughing while smoking on the front porch of the bar with two bottles of local beer in front of it.

The sound of the door being knocked down slowly. “Vir, have you slept?’

“Not yet. Momentary....” Reused the hijab shirt. Apparently Bobby.

“Vir, chat yuk!” take Bobby.

“Emang Mas Dody where?’ ask Vira.

“Again busy calling his wife. I was going to sleep but it wasn't good to disturb.”

“Yes, Dita is pregnant young, she wants to hear the voice of Mas Dody mulu like.”

“Pantes. I'm talking to you. Une same Cokro really doyan ngebir just as ngudung. If I join can mabok me, that bad.”

Bobby immediately went inside to lay down on the mattress and made Vira be wrong.

“Bi, chat outside aja yuk!” take Vira

There's no answer. Bobby also seemed motionless with his eyes closed.

“Bi..Obi…..Obi,” call Vira over and over again and still no answer.

There was a heavy breathing coming out of Bobby's mouth. Bobby is asleep. Vira is wrong. The look of Boby's tired face made him urgently to wake him up.

Open the room door wide. Vira hopes that Mas Une and Mas Cokro, whose room is right in front of her room, will come and she can ask for help to wake Bobby up.

Vira is confused to see Bobby sleeping, waiting for him to wake up, and does nothing.

Carefully retrieved Vira's phone located next to Bobby's body. When turned on it turns out there are many notifications, especially in the messaging application. Some chats from the group that Vira follows, from Natha who reminds her of the cashmere sweater she ordered and from Mama who reminds her not to forget to pray and eat.

The analog clock on the wall of his hotel room shows at 10 p.m. Means in western Indonesia is still nine o'clock at night less than 15 minutes.

A message for Kosa.

V: [What else is going on? Vira kangen]

Suddenly Vira's phone vibrates and is shown on her phone's screen a video call request from Kosa. Vira nervous. Immediately Vira ran out of the room towards the stairs which are located three rooms from the room Vira. Bobby's snoring voice was getting louder. Vira is afraid of Kosa thinking things out.

“Abang, Vira kangen,” he said when connected audio visual with Kosa.

The face of Kosa smiled happily. “Abang also miss Vir? You healthy? How's Nepal?”

“Sehat bang, Gimana is not healthy, from yesterday Vira tuh his job eating only. Indian food continues until mabok.”

“Starting by when?” ask Kosa

“Besok bang, managing its administration in Nayapul trus daki up to Ulleri. He said the first day was not that hard. Doain Vira strong yes bang!”

“You should get enough sleep. This clock koq is still literate?”

“Eeeh, yes bang. This was going to sleep just keingetan brother continue.”

“IIh Vira has been able to fight,” always Kosa and laugh out loud.

There are small things that are asked by both of them, just extending the duration of the conversation to let go of each other. Sharing each other's longings. Despairing each other.

“Abang kangen sama Vira. Take care of yourself Vir.” Sin ended this conversation.

Vira then looked at his room and Bobby remained asleep with a loud snoring sound. It's been almost an hour since Vira let it go until she can't take it anymore.

He called Mas Une who was still busy chatting with Mas Cokro at the hotel's front bar. There's no answer. Tried many times but still no answer.

Finally Vira knocked on Mas Dody's room.

“Mas …. Mas Dody, this is Vira.”

“Iya briefly.”

The door opened and Mas Dody was still wearing a singlet and short bokser pants. His right hand is still holding the phone with the screen plastered on the face of Dita, his cousin.

“Halo Dit, sorry ya Dit, I need your men's help. Ntar is connected again, yes Dit! Dody help Vira dong! That Bobby's in Vira's room again sleeping pules. Confused buildinnya.”

“Honey, I think the Vira again need really, notar brother call again ya hun!” say Mas Dody to Dita and then break off their conversation.

“Koq can anyway sleep in your room Vir?” ask Mas Dody.

“Iya, was ngetok room Vira said to want to chat but suddenly sleep so,” replied Vira.

“So he said he wanted to go outside, chat with Une and Cokro. Turns out this boy went to your room.”

It turns out waking up Bobby isn't as easy as one might imagine. Until finally Mas Dody was forced to drag Bobby back to their room.

“what a night,” Inner Vira let out a long sigh then smiled.