The Neglected Pearl

Part 11 News

“His fifth is currently in school, the oldest is in college, tuh ! Neng Ranita who helped him with his tuition fee.”

“Aah Mamang ! Don't take Doong's word ! I'll be embarrassed in front of Niko ?”

“Why should be ashamed of Neng, it's the outward charity Neng Ranita who should be Mamang grateful.”

“Yes, but don't say dong ! I heard Niko !”

“Nothing, I didn't tell anyone !” answer Niko slowly.

“Really ? You shut up ?”

“Iya !” niko answered, raising her two fingers.

“Agar Neng Ranita know, that the money that Neng loved that day, is still available.”

“What ? still remaining ?”

“Iya Neng, the money is only Mamang use for additional school children only.”

“Wow, Mamang sparingly also turned out. But does Mamang know my purpose in coming here ?”

“Kagak Neng, indeed the purpose of Neng Ranita came here why ?”

“This is Mang, I brought a little money for Mamang, for additional tuition fees Alhuda. Thank you Mang, do not reject !” ranita said while thrusting the envelope in her hand, in front of Mang Ojo.

“Waduh, Neng ! Mamang so embarrassed ama Neng Ranita, always aja nyusahin.”

“Ngak Mang, I am even happy to be able to help people who are in need of help from me.”

“But, it looks like this heavy Neng !”

“Only ten million, Mang !”

“What ! Ten million ?” mang Ojo replied in shock.

“Money ten million is nothing to me Mang when compared to the knowledge I got from Mamang so far. This is all my money, Mang ! Don't worry.”

“Yeah Neng, why Neng Ranita so considerate ama Mamang, even though Mamang never do anything for Neng Ranita ?” Mang Ojo said while bowed. Mamang so ngerepotin y'all.”

“Mamang tau no ? in the life of the Mamang family, I discovered the true meaning of life, which I never got from my own home.”

“Thanks Neng.” said Mang Ojo moved.

“Sama-sama Mang's. Well if so, I'll go home first.”

“Iya Neng carefully on the road !”

“Iya Mang !” ranita replied while leaving Mang Ojo's house.

After Ranita's departure the atmosphere seemed silent, all were being moved and washed away by their respective feelings. Following Niko's resignation, he left Mang Ojo's residence.

While Mang Ojo was still sitting on the floor of his house, as if he could not believe the envelope he was holding.

Slowly the envelope was opened, sure enough after counting the money it turned out to be ten million rupiah.

Then, with the approval of his wife and five children, the money was used as capital to open a trading business.

It just so happens that Fatma Mang Ojo's wife is very good at cooking. So Mang Ojo and Fatma no longer need to sell boiled beans and work as scavengers. Money from trading can be saved for the school fees of his five children.

The next day, Fatma and her family began to work together, opening a rice stall, initially, Fatma only cooked for a few servings.

But for the next days Fatma's rice stalls increasingly rame visitors, so Fatma and family are overwhelmed to serve customers.

Until finally Mang Ojo looking for new employees to help his wife in selling.

Every day the buyers come and go, in addition to Mang Ojo's rice stall, there is a sembako kiosk whose contents are so complete that the residents of the slum do not need to shop far.

As usual, that morning Mang Ojo went shopping to the market, because it had become a routine task Mang Ojo every day.

While busy choosing vegetables, Mang Ojo saw someone reading the newspaper, sometimes the man looked at Mang Ojo and read the newspaper again.

Not long after that man came to approach Mang Ojo.

“Isn't this the face of Father ?” asked the man while demonstrating the newspaper he was holding.

“Ya, That's my face, but why is it in the newspaper ?” asked Mang Ojo in surprise. “Who wrote it, yes ?”

“Then you can read it yourself !”

“Can I borrow the paper?” Ask Mang Ojo.

“No need to borrow, you can take kok,” said the man.

Then Mang Ojo read the writing in the newspaper.

”Travel traders protest the rise of BBM” and then continue until it runs out.

“Sorry Son ? Is this newspaper still being read ? “Ask Mang Ojo as he held the newspaper sheet in his hand at the man.

“If you want to take aja” said the man.

“Thanks ya Nak !”

“Ya equally.” Answer the man later.

Mang Ojo then passed from that place, and he rushed home. Once at home, the newspaper was reopened and he repeated the reading once more.

“Any, who wrote all this huh ? Feeling, I never met a reporter, did Neng Ranita ? Ah no way, or maybe Den Niko ? Well, I think it must have been Niko, but nothing once in a while let the voice of the little people be heard by the government.” Mang Ojo said to himself.

Meanwhile in the elite housing area, Ranita was busy watching television, then he saw a demonstration of the workers in front of the state palace.

In the protest, Ranita saw Niko with Mang Ojo talking, it looks like the journalist was using a hidden camera. And the words of Mang Ojo who criticized the rise of BBM, it makes sense.

How not, if it is true that the salaries of state officials who are tens of millions are cut a little per person, it will also be cut the salaries of thousands of state officials ranging from middle-level employees to high-level state officials, including all its leaders.

Surely BBM does not need to go up and beggars can live simply. The loss of poverty resulted in fatalities because they did not eat or could not seek treatment.

“Great, great ! Mang Ojo is great, I salute him.” Ranita told himself.

A few days after the news in the newspaper, in magazines and even on television was broadcast to various regions, ranging from rural to urban, urban, so indirectly entered the news into the state palace.

The news came, through the narrow gap of the high and magnificent palace walls.

Mang Ojo also became the center of attention among ordinary people, state officials, and even palace residents.

Mang Ojo, a man who sells boiled beans with the wife of a scavenger and a former rice collector, has three sons and two daughters. Indirectly has criticized the country with soft but sharp words.

A private reporter came to see Mang Ojo in the slums of a place that was once shunned and avoided by high-ranking state officials who have now become the center of attention and news. Which is very surprising.

How not, unexpectedly everyone turned out in the slums, there were piles of treasures that were never touched by important people.

When they entered Mang Ojo's house further inside, like a dream, the narrow room was very unique, difficult to describe with words.

So many awards are hidden in it. What is even more surprising is that the residents are graduates of economics who even once devoted themselves as directors of a bank abroad, which they and their families have been consuming rice aking.

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