The Musafir

No Impossibilities

MANTINGAN is still sitting on his bench. Order drinks and just a snack at a small shop located on the ground floor of Barisan Bintang Lodging. While occasionally sipping bitter tea in a ceramic container from the Land of the Roof of Heaven called pottery. In Koying Town, it is easy to find items from other civilizations; it is as easy as finding strangers who seem to wander every street of Kotaraja.

And no Mantingan was about to relax in this place.

Vigilance is not lost in the least of him.

Wide-caps perched on his head, with all the Magic Throw that is able to create a dense shadow to cover the appearance of his face from the sight of people who certainly cannot be guaranteed that none of them comes from the martial well.

A wide and long black robe enveloped his body. It was as if trying to stay afloat amidst the onslaught of the cold air of Kotaraja, even though actually as a swordsman who had power in a large Mantingan absolutely did not need that.

Now he is really hard to recognize.

As usual, Mantingan chose a table in the corner of the room. It was there that he was able to monitor the entire room without reaping much attention from others.

The young man was waiting for someone, who else would it be if not Rashid? There was a bit of a lot about his travel script that he felt he had to discuss with the long-bearded man. It was only after all his affairs were completed that Mantingan would go to the city center to meet Dara; his quarantine ration was completed on this very day.

He didn't expect Chitra Anggini to come with him. Really am. In addition to the possibility that the woman will waste a lot of time arguing with Dara, she was still not awake from her sleep until now.

It is not unusual for Chitra Anggini to wake up late, if only he had not experienced something unusual before. He was drunk, and in such circumstances still forced himself to seek Mantingan to the corners of the city. We spent the whole day without rest. Implied regret in Mantingan's mind, so he was reluctant to disturb the woman's slumber.

“Sorry to keep you waiting a long time, Friend.”

Mantingan allowed a look when he heard a voice that he recognized as Rashid's voice. And sure enough, the sacrificial man seemed to be walking towards him with quick footsteps. It looked really bad on his face.

The mantel smiled before standing up to greet him. “Nothing. I haven't even finished half a cup of tea I ordered.”

Rashid smiled back widely while saying an apology one more time. After which, he pulled out one of the chairs on the table that Mantingan occupied. They sit face to face there.

“I hope you understand the reason why I came late, friend.”

The mantan nodded his head slowly. He clearly understands.

Early this morning, Mantingan went to Rashid's room which was not far from his room. Arriving there, he was surprised to see a woman who was barely wearing a piece of clothing in front of Rashid's bedroom door.

Originally, Mantingan intended to unplug as soon as possible from that place. Thought that Rashid needed “private” time with the woman who looked right as the flower. But just before turning around and walking away, Mantingan realized there was something strange.

The woman was knocking loudly, or it could be said banging on the door of Rashid's room. It was more than just a knock sign of wanting to enter peacefully, it was obvious that it was an act of coercion.

On that basis, Mantingan asked loudly to the woman of the flower. Let Rashid hear it.

The woman looked at him with a look of a very upset face. Not answering, just hissing long like a snake that felt threatened by the existence of the enemy. But fortunately, Rashid who was still able to hear the sound of Mantingan outside his room immediately said out loud.

“Oh my dear friend, do you need help from me?”

Mantingan was silent for a while, before replying, “True. I want to talk to you for a minute. Can be said, this is quite important.”

“Then you wait for me at the inn. As soon as possible I will follow you there.”

The mantle walked away with a head full of questions. When he got down below, he knew what was really going on.

“Ba how is it finally?” Now Mantingan asked about the incident, just to melt the atmosphere.

Rashid cleared his throat several times before answering, “I have to keep paying the prostitute ...”

The mantel raised his eyebrows. Somewhat surprised anyway, although he really knew that it was not good if he meddled in Rashid's affairs. Isn't it very common for a mature unmarried man to hire a prostitute?

“Ai, do not you misunderstand me, my friend. Even though I paid the damn woman, it wasn't until I put it on. I am still loyal to my beloved in the Land of the Passage who is also faithful waiting for my return. We're getting married in a minute, not until my heart lies over his loyalty. I hope that nothing will happen in this city or on the way home later that would kill me.”

The mantang nodded his head slowly. For a moment he looked around to just escape from the shadow of the North River Angel who re-entered his mind.

But the ground floor of this inn was too quiet and silent, so it was as if the shadow of the Northern River Angel could appear everywhere. The mantan was forced to draw his gaze to the surface of the table, with its reed dependents capable of being seen by an intelligent person like Rashid.

“In the Peninsula where I come from, marriage rarely occurs on the basis of love. Almost all of us were betrothed to other tribal children whom we did not recognize at all. Inevitably, pleasing not deigned, we must still accept the matchmaking, in order to keep inter-tribal relations. Every matchmaking in my tribe is worth a life.” Rashid put on a smile, which looked much brighter after he took off his pipe for the morning. “But I'm against that, man. I have true love. I also have a girl I have to marry. The defiance of precious lives, then the two of us fled from the tribal village.

“A troop of horsemen chasing us. The sabetan long lemongrass accompanies, which if it reaches the breath then it is lost life. In a state of helplessness, we can only hold great confidence and hope that a flower of love can grow in the dry desert.

“We both survived, my friend. That squad of flickering soldiers was far behind our backs. Their horses were exhausted, yet to be given as much water as possible before being pushed hard to catch us. Unlike the two of our horses that have been fed and drank as much as possible, because we have all made plans. Until we meet a tribe of travelers who do not mind accepting both of us.”

The mantle still shook, but his eyes straightened forward. Looking for the meaning of Rashid's story. While the person he looked at was widening a smile.

“Friends, fighting the precious match of life in the barbarian tribe will surely seem an impossibility, as impossible as a flower of love that grows in the dry desert, but impossibilities can be bargained with expectations combined with a series of careful planning. As the wise say, nothing is impossible, for the impossibilities can always be explained, so that nothing is impossible.”

The mantel took a deep breath. Could it be that Rashid has found out that he put all his love to the North River Angel? When did Rashid find out that she was the daughter of King Champa who had been betrothed to the crown prince of King Funan, who if opposed to the match would not only cost one or two lives but thousands of lives due to the war?