Sincere Love Former Office Girl
Departure to Jakarta
At the eastern end of a village, the morning sun began to appear. Hundreds of birds and chickens have begun to coo together. They raced to greet the horizon, as well as calling the inhabitants of this small village to wake up from his deep sleep.
Some of the residents have come down to the rice fields to start their activities as usual. While a small part of it, there are those who carry their wares on their shoulders and are ready to go around looking for sustenance.
Everything seemed to be running normally and fine, except in one of the bamboo and brick walled houses without plaster, which was located somewhat indented into the village.
"Change! Mbah!" a modestly dressed girl came out of the house in a hurry. He screamed for the grandmother who was lost somewhere. Without footwear, the girl ran to places that she would have been used to.
After a long time looking for results is still nil. The grandmother was nowhere to be seen.
Not wanting to run out of sense, Sekar immediately ran towards the only Mosque that stood firmly in the middle of the Village. The girl asked a muezzin to announce the loss of her grandmother through a mosque loudspeaker. He hopes that with the announcement, anyone can take the grandmother home when passing by him.
Although Sekar has made a necklace and bracelet containing the identity of his grandmother, he still feels worried.
"Matur nuwun, Pakde," said Sekar after the announcement was broadcast to the entire village. The girl was intending to start her search again.
"Strong!" the sound of a man calling out to him sounded from a distance. Look to the source of the voice.
A sigh of relief was immediately emanated from the beautiful face of Sekar, when he saw Dino, one of his neighbors, walking with his grandmother. The girl rushed to the two.
"Where are you, Mas?" ask Sekar with a stifled breath.
"Mbahmu chasing chicken Pak Sukri. He said it was you, " replied Dino while laughing out loud.
Sneered and said, "this is me, Mbah! I'm still this man." He brought his face closer to Mbah Bhanuwati. He did not respond to his grandson's protest. Understandably, Alzheimer's disease suffered by Mbah Bhanuwati makes himself forget about the people around, not least his family.
"Yes already then, thank you very much, Mas," Sekar took over the grandmother.
"You're going to Jakarta, Sekar?" ask Dino suddenly.
"Yes, Mas. Why the hell?" Just back to asking.
Dino looked at Sekar and Mbah Bhanuwati was concerned. "Dadn't love karo Mbah with Budemu?"
Just take his breath. This was the umpteenth question that Dino posed every time they met. Very clearly, the childless Duda is trying to block the departure of Sekar.
"You know how else, for a bite of rice." Reply Sekar pasrah.
At the age of 25, Sekar is still working odd jobs in the village. Sometimes he had to work out of the village. It was only a washing worker with a fee of ten thousand rupiah a day. Nominal not enough for their daily needs. What's more, sometimes Sekar is only paid with a bag of rice, some cassava and also corn. He was also once paid with a pile of used cardboard, which was eventually sold to the besiegers.
While budenya, Gayatri, helped Sekar to find rupiah coffers by selling rice sitting in front of their homes. But because of Mbah Bhanuwati's condition that has lately gotten worse, inevitably one of them must give in to be able to focus on keeping him.
From there, Sekar is determined to find a decent job in Jakarta. No need for a high position, he is self-conscious, as long as he can get a fixed salary every month for his grandmother and budenya, it is more than enough.
"There's been a call from some of the applications you've made?" Dino seemed to doubt. He seemed worried because Sekar only had an Junior High.
"I haven't seen it yet, Mom. I'll go to the cafe." Answer Sekar. "Yes, I'm home first, yo?"
"Come." Dino stared at Sekar until the girl disappeared behind the corner.
"Some, if you want me to, at least your life won't be this hard."
...***...
Sekar gave five thousand dull money to a teenage cafe keeper. The girl chose one of the rooms closest to the fan.
He turned on his computer, then immediately checked the answers of dozens of job application emails that he sent a few days ago.
The girl scrolled the mouse button on her computer. His eyes were watching every incoming email, until finally he was glued to one of the reply emails from Umbara Corporation, one of the best Companies in the field of Technology.
...*...
...UMBARA CORPORATION'S...
...The Stone Road of the Dragon No. 36 Tel (021) 73xxxxx...
...Djakarta....
Jakarta, xx October 2021
Number: 192/UC/010/2021
About: Interview Call
Attachment:
Yth. Sdr. Sekar Ayu Parmaditha's.
on-site
In response to the Sister's job application letter, we hereby expect the arrival of Sisters on:
Date: Thursday, xx October 2021.
Time: At 08.00 s.d finished.
Requirements: Job interview.
Venue: Building C Umbara Corporation, 13th floor.
On that occasion, we hope that Sister complements:
Original degree;
Transcript of Original value;
Dress neatly and formally.
This call was made. To my sister's attention, I thank you.
Nadia Fazrul, SE
...*...
After reading the reply email, Sekar screeched in excitement. The girl immediately ran away from the cafe towards her house.
Arriving at home, Sekar lunged at Bude Gayatri who was busy washing cassava in the kitchen, while screaming hysterically.
"Ono opo anyway, Nduk?" asked Bude Gayatri who was surprised to get a splashy treatment from Sekar.
"I got a work call, Bude!" sahut Sekar accompanied by a cheerful laugh.
"Thank God, O Allah. So you're really going to Jakarta?"
"Yes, Bude. It's for our better future!" said passionate. "I want Bude and Mbah to stay in a decent house and eat nutritious food." Sekar grasped tightly the hand of the bude.
"That should eat nutritious food is you. Bude wis tuwek, no need for nutritious food." Bude Gayatri smiled gently.
"Oh, Bude!" Sekar. "I have to make a lot of money for us! Yes, I was ready for Bude," he went from the kitchen to his room, screaming in excitement.
"Don't be noisy, Nduk, your mother just went to bed." Bude Gayatri.
"Ups," The girl clenched her mouth instantly. He stepped into his room next to his grandmother's.
Bude Gayatri shook her head. While her hands were busy stuffing cassava into the pot to boil, the middle-aged woman cried.
The house will certainly be deserted if Sekar does not exist, because what has been cheerful atmosphere is Sekar, an orphaned sweet girl who had to lose her parents at the age of 15 years due to the plague.
...***...
"Sir, Bude came in, huh?" Bude Gayatri stood in the doorway of Sekar's room. The girl was apparently setting herself on her cracked old mirror.
"Sit here" said Bude. Sekar obeyed and sat on the bed without his couch.
Bude Gayatri opened a box of biscuits that had been dented in front of Sekar, then took out five gold bracelets with two necklaces and a pair of wedding rings.
The woman placed the jewelry in the hands of Sekar.
"It's opo anyway, Bude?" ask for confusion.
"This is your mother's jewelry. That pair of rings is your mother and father's wedding ring. Sell as your capital live in Jakarta. You can't go without supplies, Nduk," said Bude Gayatri.
Sekar kontan refused. "Don't, Bude! If it is sold later the legacy of the same mother does not exist anymore."
Bude Gayatri held Sekar's hand. "This is indeed a message from him when he was sick, Nduk. Don't argue with what the parents say. Life in Jakarta is hard. You'll be left behind if you don't have any supplies at all." The middle-aged woman stared fixedly. "These decorations are indeed small in value, but Bude think, this is enough to pay for your rental room and your daily meals until the next payday."
Sekar teranguu looked at the jewels that were now in his hands now. Tears began to trickle down the girl's cheeks. Quickly, Sekar hit his bud and hugged him tightly. "Wish Sekar, will you, Bude?"
"Sure, Nduk. Get healthy there, huh? Remember, you have to take good care of yourself. Even though we are poor, we are born into a good family!" the advice of Bude Gayatri. Sekar nodded obediently.
...***...
She hugged her bud again tightly. Actually he is not willing to leave his two loved ones here, especially they are old. But Sekar had no other choice.
"Here, hurry up. Missed the bus!" Bude Gayatri tries to let go of Sekar's embrace.
"In a moment, Bude," replied Sekar Lirih.
"Later to get there, I'm going to tell Bude through Mas Dino, okay?"
"Come on, Nduk."
She turns to hugging her grandmother. "Working off, huh, Mbah? Pray for Me, Mbah?" Although the grandmother would not understand what he was talking about, Sekar still asked for his blessing.
The girl greeted the two before leaving with Dino. The man volunteered to offer a ride for Sekar to get to the Terminal.
...***...
"Still yo, Mas" said Sekar when getting off the bike.
"Together." Dino reached into his jacket pocket and took out a thick black package.
"This is for you,"
"What is this, Mom?" I intend to open the package. He thought, maybe it was food for his provisions on the road.
Dino hurriedly held him down. "Don't be here, danger! You know a lot of thugs are running around, right? Just open it when you get to your place" said Dino.
"Your money has also been kept safe yet?" ask the 37-year-old.
Sekar nodded. That afternoon the girl sold her parents' jewelry with Dino. He only sold Bracelets and Necklaces, while a pair of wedding rings his parents kept as mementos.
"Still yo, Mas. I'm taking Bude with Mbah." Sekar took Dino's hand and carried her to his forehead.
"definitely. Yeah, be careful on the road. Let me know when you arrive" the man's message said.
"Come." They rushed into the bus.
The girl sat comfortably beside the window. His eyes looked around. It seems that there are many people who will go to Jakarta to wander, seen from their bags and luggage. In fact, there are some who are busy reading a paper containing the intended address.
Ten minutes later the bus left. Sekar waved his hand at Dino who was still faithfully waiting out there.
"Be careful!" shout Dino. Sekar nodded in spirit.
The girl took a deep breath.
Hopefully, Jakarta can change the fate of him and his family.
