The Musafir

Night at Cikahuripan Market

Mantingan got up from the cot on his porch before walking up to the front door of Rara's rented room. He knocked on the door three times with a slight thud. The door opened shortly afterwards, displaying Rara whose eyes looked extremely puffy.

“Prepare, there will be an impromptu market tonight. You're coming with me.”

“For what?” Rara tilted her head slightly.

The thin smiling mantle. “You need a change of clothes to continue the journey to Kanoman. Likely, the trip to Kanoman will take a long and tiring time.”

“I don't bring money, and I don't want to use your money.”

“This is not my money, this is money from the kingdom. Made and issued by the government. Now is there any more reason for you that I have to refute?” Of course Mantingan was only joking about the money, but if it was enough to say that he was ready to spend any Rara.

Rara then took a deep breath. “I'll come to you later tonight. Maybe you need a break too. So take a break.”

“Tap the door later tonight, and just open the door if I don't return. I'll leave the door unlocked.”

“Thank you.” Rara smiled a glance and then closed the door.

Manten shook his head slowly before returning to his rented house, and for the first time he entered the building. Quite amazed Mantingan made. This house is small, but still looks spacious. Not many useless things, almost all useful. Even installed displays can be useful as window coverings. Mantingan entered a room where there was a bed, he lay down on it before falling asleep quickly after removing all the weight on his back and waist.

***

The mantang clearly heard a knocking sound on the front door. He immediately got up and put one of the purse bags on his waist. Carrying a bundle of supplies and the need to travel is a very unnecessary thing if only to go to the market. Quickly he went ahead and opened the door slowly. The figure of Rara is apparently much better than before. The girl looked much fresher and could be said to be much prettier, clearly having taken a shower a while ago. His head was down because he felt bad.

“We're leaving now, is there anything else that might be left behind?”

Rara shakes. After all, from the beginning, he brought nothing but clothes attached to his body. So Mantingan immediately invited him out of the inn area. At night like this, the streets look more lengthened. People worship in their own homes, before carrying out other activities.

Rara Tetiba asked a question that clearly made Mantingan surprised. “Do you not worship?”

“I seek to worship by doing good to nature and to man. Maybe I was wrong, but I felt that worship was not a form of devotion of any kind. Poetry and flattery will not please Sang Hyang.”

Rara took it slow and did not bother about it any further.

Mantingan who remembered the direction towards the market was walking with a definite step, followed by Rara who had difficulty offset her footsteps. If only Rara had a little courage, and he asked Mantingan to walk more slowly, then it was a necessity that Mantingan would fulfill the request and keep pace with the girl.

Soon, the market began to show. Although quiet, but at least the sellers have been on standby at their respective outlets. They are the ones who choose to worship at their respective outlets, so that the smell of incense smoke is clearly smelled in this area. Some visitors are also seen bargaining with the seller. This not crowded situation is what Mantingan likes, the less likely it is to happen something that he does not want.

“Now you're the one walking ahead, buy the one you want to buy.” The mantle retreated a few steps back and folded his hands back as well. Rara looked nervous, but kept moving.

They enter into the market which on the right-left side of the road are stalls. The kind of stuff they throw at. Many sell farm supplies or weapons to defend themselves. But not too many sell clothing fabrics for women. Rara found one of the shops selling the item after walking a short distance away. He turned to Mantingan with a very unconfident look.

“Is it okay if I ...”

“Buy only.” The mantan laughed softly by giving a reassuring look to Rara.

The girl finally nodded and conversed with the salesman who was peddling the clothes cloth for the woman. Mantingan chose not to listen to all those conversations, which might be about Rara's personal things that should not be known. He looked the other way, and listened to another voice.

Soon Rara calls Mantingan and shows him a blue cloth. “Can ...”

“Take it.” The forward coat facing the fabric seller. “How much does it cost, Uncle?”

Mantingan nailed his eyes and looked at the clothes in even more detail, he found that the cloth did not have a good quality. “Is there anything else similar to that fabric, but with better quality?”

“Of course I have it, but the price will be more expensive five pieces of silver.”

Mantingan took out a piece of gold and gave it to the seller. “Light grab the one Uncle mentioned it.”

“Alright, wait here a minute.”

Rara looks surprised for a while before chiming in, “I want this one only, Mantingan.”

The salesman stopped his movement, and looked at the astonished two people.

The mantan nodded towards Rara. “Alright then.” Then he turned to the seller. “I'll take both of them, Uncle.”

Rara bought an eye on Mantingan, but Mantingan did not respond too much. Two clothes and dozens of pieces of silver came from the seller's hand. Mantingan thanked him and invited Rara immediately to leave the booth.

“What else do you want to buy?”

“No more.” Rara shook her head while smiling.

“I'm not sure. You don't just need a piece of cloth, do you?”

Rara let out a long sigh before saying, “I need a rag, but the seller said that he was out of rags. After that no one will be bought again, understand?”

Smiling coat. But why would it be Rara who directs Mantingan and seems to act as an older person? Does Rara have a sense of maturity that unconsciously makes him want to direct Mantingan as his sister, or maybe it is also caused by his age which is several years older than Mantingan?

“There really wasn't?”

Rara shakes. The seller, according to his words, was running out of stockpiles of rags. Actually, Rara immediately no longer wanted to buy rags, but after seeing Mantingan did not mind one bit, then he decided to look for it again.

“Wouldn't the rag just interrupt the pace of the foot?” tanya Mantingan later, considering that they will walk more often in the future.

“It seems like there is no other option for women.”

“There actually.” Mantingan cleared his throat. “Here must have sold clothes from the Land of the Roof of the Sky ..”

“Manting!”

“What?” Surprised coat.

“You know it's expensive fabric, don't you?”

“However, the fabric is a strong fabric and is perfect for pedestrians. And it is said that these clothes are the clothes that the female warriors wear. Of course it is not a fabric to relax at home.”

“You believe about the existence of swordsman?”

“Of course, haven't they blatantly shown themselves?”