The Musafir
The Beach; Birawa House
Before long they rested in that beautiful place, a field of grass that smelled fresh and inhabited by cows and deer. They had to quickly depart and reach the north coast, because that was the safest place for now.
Now they re-entered the shady forest and found a path to the north. This road seems to be a path that is often passed by residents around to go to the beach. It was proved by the discovery of several shells along the streets.
Mantingan also smelled the smell of the sea breeze. The ocean will be visible soon. Mantingan had never gone to see the sea before, he had only heard from the stories of the villagers alone. Maybe this is the first time Mantingan will see the ocean, or maybe not because his life was hunted floating in the middle of the journey to the Birawa house.
Sometimes Mantingan think. What if he dies and his story stops there? Could it be that someone will be sad for him or consider it as something that does not need to be sad let alone mess around? Is not the Mantingan only a human figure among many humans on the island of Jawadvipa? Moreover, Mantingan has no special privileges.
Is anyone going to look for him and ask him the news after he disappears and the story ends?
He used to think about this too, until finally he decided to become a wanderer, so that he was famous and there would be mourning when he ended his story.
But in retrospect, who would end the story? Is the disease itself in old age or is it ended by a tough opponent? Is nature going to kill him? Or the poison he accidentally swallowed?
The mantang breathed a heavy sigh. Whoever ends his story will not let it end easily.
Before long they walked, the gray sand beach began to be seen in front. So is the stretch of blue sea far in front of the eyes. The waves that hit the shoreline sounded from a distance.
Rara was so enthusiastic that she ran ahead of Arkawidya and Mantingan, through the rows of trees and stepped on the sand of the beach. Rara jumps cheerfully. To him, seeing the sea in person was an opportunity that not everyone could get. Even in his former village, many people died still carrying the hope of seeing the vast ocean.
Mantingan is actually enthusiastic, but not as enthusiastic as Rara. Arkawidya has also often seen the ocean, but he remains happy because now they are in a safe area.
Until finally Mantingan steps bring himself also touch the sand of the beach and hear the pounding waves more clearly.
Maybe this is the best time to enjoy the sea view. It was the twilight moments. The sun has fallen to the west, until it becomes orange in color, as well as blue sea water that is illuminated. The sun will be drowning soon.
“Mantingan.” Arkawidya greeted Mantingan with a soft voice.
The mantle turned to his side. Arkawidya was looking at the sun whose light was so soft, with Rara who was playing small games with sea water.
“Without you, I won't be here right now watching the departure of the sun.”
The back coat smiled shyly.
***
The path to the beach that they had been through was actually not far from the main road that both headed to the beach. So with that, Arkawidya can find his grandfather's house easily.
In the vicinity of this house has been planted a masquerade siren that makes people unable to find the existence of Birawa house. Only certain people can find Birawa house, Arkawidya for example, the rest are not.
Birawa house is classified as a large house, although not terraced. When viewed from the outside, this house is almost entirely made of wood.
“My grandfather's house is rarely occupied, so do not be surprised if it is very dusty inside. Come in, don't hesitate.”
Arkawidya opened the door of his grandfather's house and entered first, Mantingan and Rara entered later.
“As expected, very dusty, this house is not well maintained.”
Arkawidya then invited Mantingan and Rara to go deeper and show the room for guests. But it was just one guest room. The mantan will occupy the room, while Rara will sleep in Arkawidya's room, because there is no room that is not used anymore.
Before they parted because it was already night, Arkawidya conveyed a message. “My grandfather can go home anytime and in unexpected ways, so I hope you guys are not surprised if he comes home while fighting some enemy warriors later. It has been a habit for a long time.”
After delivering the message, they split up.
The room that Mantingan occupy is not too dusty, but enough to make Mantingan's nose slightly clogged. There is one mattress, and one table is placed on the side of the mattress, the rest is not any items on the floor of the room.
But as Mantingan looked more in detail at the wall of his room, he found a small drawer that jutted into the wall.
I do not know what Mantingan thought at that time until he dared to pull the drawer, but he knew very well that the action was not polite.
Inside the drawer were slabs of ejection and a carving knife to write on it. But what is this for? Why is his existence hidden?
Mantingan felt sinful had acted disrespectfully to the owner of the house, so he liked or disliked to approach the Arkawidya room located in the next room.
Arkawidya opened the door as Mantingan knocked on him.
“What's up, Mantingan? Do you need anything?”
“Before I apologized from you, Arka.”
Arkawidya's forehead.
“I was very curious and opened the secret drawer in the guest room, I have also seen the contents. I've acted outside the bounds, so please forgive yourself daku.” The mantan said while looking down, but Arkawidya laughed instead.
“Not why, Mantingan. The drawer was deliberately made for my grandfather's guests who want to write, but grandfather did not want to put a small closet in the room to store the empty throwers, he said, with the reason the guest room will look narrow with the existence of a throwaway storage cabinet, therefore grandfather made a drawer that goes into the wall so as not to make the room narrow.”
The mantingan re-enforced his body and scratched his non-itchy head.
“Already, sleep there, it could be tomorrow morning my grandfather will give us a surprise. And just wear the thrower if you really need, Mantingan.”
Mantingan nodded and rushed back to the room after greeting Rara.
Now he sits on the bed staring at the empty bellows in front of him.
He had learned to read and write from two of his parents who were also learned. Of course Mantingan could horrendously shock his village with his literacy, but Mantingan's parents forbade Mantingan to show his talent in public for reasons unknown to Mantingan.
Now he muses, does he have to write the story of his journey in finding Kembangmas? So that the story will not die, so eternal, to be read by people up to hundreds or even thousands of years into the future?
