The Musafir

Farewell Grandma Genih

MANTLE A LITTLE hesitant. The merchant he met in the beautiful village at that time warned Mantingan not to tell others about the destination of both of them.

“I'm sorry, Granny Genih. For the good of Grandma and us together, I was forced not to tell Grandma the direction of the goal. Kindly for a thousand mercy, I have to do this.” Mantingan. Feeling regret when he had to say that.

Genih's kind-hearted grandmother had given them a ride for days, now unable to gain Mantingan's trust. That's what makes Mantingan feel sorry deeply.

The North River Angel lowered his head, he understood the current situation.

“Ah, it's okay. Don't duck like that, it makes me feel bad.” Grandma Genih told Mantingan and Angel of the North River to straighten his body again. “If indeed you go quietly and secretly, then it would be a mistake for me to force you to know where you are aiming. It's not your fault, don't behave like that.”

The smiling mantel felt the kindness and warmth of Grandma Genih. Again he expressed deep gratitude, Mantingan also beckoned the North River Angel next to him to thank him once again. More than expected, the North River Angel thanked him without making small talk.

“Grandmother, thank you for all the lessons you taught me. About the science of cooking, the science of swimming, the science of lightening the body, the science of not easily fainting, and the science of loving people. Grandma, I know Grandma is old, but try to find a partner.”

Grandma Genih showed an angry face, very clever himself concocted facial mimic. “From North River, ladies from Champa! As if you were saying to an old maid like me. You are mature, but you are not married. Careful, you can quality!”

The North River Angel, instead of being afraid or feeling guilty, laughed. Grandma also laughed. Only Mantingan did not laugh, smiling awkwardly like a person who was not invited to play.

“Quiet Grandma, I won't be a spinster like you.” The Northern River Angel shook his head many times with a small laugh.

“If you love someone you can't get, you can get stuck there.” Granny Genih chuckled.

The words of Grandma Genih made Mantingan fade her awkward smile. His heart is pounding. From the pores of his skin, he let out sweat, cold sweat.

Isn't Rara not available?

However she considers him alive, Rara is only in her head. Although a few days ago Mantingan saw Rara in a more real form, it was still a shadow that was inside her head. Not more. Rara is not available. Bittersweet? That's the truth.

Can Mantingan love another real person in his life? His age was ripe, after the Kembangmas found Kiai Guru Kedai advised Mantingan to get married immediately, or if not Mantingan could regret it someday.

Mantingan. In order to achieve perfect happiness in life, he must get married. By getting married, one's happiness will be perfect. Perfect does not mean that people who experience it will continue to feel happy. Perfect is complete, and complete does not mean that everything is good. There are all kinds of happiness, and not all of that happiness will be happy. Sometimes a person gets happiness, but he cannot feel it.

In married life, a person will feel various kinds of happiness. Kiai Guru Kedai emphasizes that if Mantingan wants to make his life more perfect, Mantingan must marry instead of seeking perfection through fighting.

That's how Grandma Genih's short speech is able to make the Mantingan immersed in a long inner war. Realizing how she can't escape from her Rara. I don't know why, but love cannot be betrayed or lied to. Mantingan loves Rara, forever so.

Suddenly Mantingan fumbles on Rara's pitcher which becomes her necklace eye. The mantle squeezes it slowly and bluffs the teeth. In his mind, he ordered himself to immediately make peace with himself as well. Rara is dead, it is a reality that must be accepted peacefully. In any case, Mantingan must still live life, that is how Rara wants.

“Manting?”

“Are you okay? Why daydream?”

The mantan quickly shook. No one needs the Northern River Angel to worry about him.

“Are you sick again, Son of Man? Don't be shy to go back to rest here.”

Once again Mantingan shook his head, now with the answer, “I'm fine, just that suddenly thought of something.”

“Thinking what?” The North River Angel asked quickly.

“Nothing to worry about.” Mantingan showed a warm smile, then he let out a long sigh, hoping that the fresh air could refresh his mind. “The better we run soon, the faster will be the better.”

The Northern River Angel looked at Mantingan stifledly before turning to Grandma Genih. “Grandmother, thank you once again for all the kindness that Grandma has given. If there's a chance, I'll come back and repay this favor properly. Grandma, I beg of you to leave.”

“Yes, be careful both of you on the road.”

The mantle nodded, presenting a warm smile before turning around and walking away. While the North River Bidadari followed later. Grandma Genih crossed her arms back, looking at the two away with a warm smile on her wrinkled face.

***

BIRDS sound soft. As gentle as the wind that day. Shade of shady trees. As soft as the face of the North River Angel and as calm as the face of Mantingan.

“Mantingan, is it possible that this world will make peace?”

The mantan that was walking in front of the Northern River Angel could only fall silent and shrug his shoulders slightly. To reconcile Javadvipa alone is hard work, how about reconciling the world?

“I like this ‘kan because of lack of peace.” The Northern River Angel said again as she jumped over the tree trunk right at the end of her foot. “If the world is at peace, surely my fellow travelers are dead. But if not, how could I possibly walk in the woods with you like this.”

Mantingan looked back for a moment and smiled, “Saudari Sungai Utara, if the world is full of peace, I will not be a swordsman.”

“You don't like being a swordsman, huh?”

The mantel smiled back. “Much to be borne by a swordsman. Like having to constantly run away in fear, and certainly obliged to engage in murder.”

The Northern River Angel frowned and scratched her non-itchy cheek. He took off his veil to enjoy the fresh air. “Isn't that a light thing?”

“Ringan?” The mantel raised its eyebrows and shook its head. “If it is said to be light, to me it is not. From the time I was a child, I was taught not to kill animals if not to eat. Now that I have to kill a human, how can I say that lightly?”