The River House

XXXII. Village Midwives

The village boundary gate, standing among the lush acacia wood. Tarji's car moved more slowly avoiding some of the mounds of land that were mountainous in the middle of the road. The rural air still feels cold, even though the sunlight looks very hot.

Adi kept the copy in a bag. He had just finished following Friday prayers at the mosque around the 'spill' market where Tarji bought flowers for the purposes of nyekar. Several times Adi yawned, feeling the drowsiness that tousled his eyelids.

"The village tomb is not not far from this gate?" Tarji asked while remembering.

"Yes, right the way if not wrong. It's been a long time since we've been here" replied Adi hesitantly.

Not even a minute talked about, there is a black iron gate with paint on the right of the road. Large, pale-looking cambodian and cempaka trees swinging crazily in the wind. A cluster of white tombstones lined up on the reddish clay.

Several people were seen coming out of the tomb. As Tarji said, Friday pahing is a common time used by people for nyekar. Tarji slowly pulled his car over.

"Duh, I kind of forgot the location of Fadlan's tomb with Wignyo," Tarji scratched his head.

"They're next to each other's grave. Somewhat in the middle as I remember," continued Adi while opening the car door. Adi was about to step foot across the street, but Tarji arrived just patted Adi's shoulder a little rough.

"What is Tarji Bin Sumarji?" Adi looked over with an irritated face.

"Pole shoes first. Remember adab when going to the tomb of Diii," said Tarji reminded.

"Ah yes. You're right," Adi said, hurriedly taking off his shoes. Adi smiled, in his heart he praised Tarji who always prioritizes adab, customs, and good habits that have existed since the past. Adi is indeed smarter and smarter than Tarji, but Tarji also has a noble personality, according to his symbolic teachings who is a village elder. The two people are a single two that fit and complement each other.

Adi and Tarji enter the black-painted tomb gate with some of the pieces peeled off as they age. It seems like quite a number of people have come to the tomb for nyekar. The fragrance of the fragrant flowers smelled from all directions.

In the middle, there are two fathers who are sitting while sprinkling some types of flowers on a navel. The look of sadness was clearly reflected in the wrinkles of his face that began to look old. Gray hair, blackish lips, with my eyes glaring at the red earth in front of him.

"Fadlan and Wignyo, his father" Adi whispered to Tarji. He recognized two men who I was praying on the tombstone of his son.

Adi and Tarji stood waiting, until the father who was compact wearing batik clothes was finished praying. After a while of waiting, finally the parents of Fadlan and Wignyo stood up and turned to Adi and Tarji. They seem to remember when they met with eyes on two police officers who had not met for a long time.

"Sir how are you?" Adi reached out his hand to greet Fadlan and Wignyo's parents.

"Good news Mr. police" replied Fadlan's parents.

"If I, yes like this, the police officer still often dreams of being met by Wignyo," replied Wignyo's parents with a slow sigh.

"Ggeh sampun, our monggo first. Later if you want to please shine Mr. police," said Fadlan's parents quickly. He seemed to avoid the chatter in order to not be reminded of the tragic death of his son anymore.

"Yes sir" Adi replied briefly. He was confused as to what to answer. What a stiff and awkward meeting. While Tarji just silently looked down.

"I can't stand Fadlan and Wignyo's parents" Tarji said after Fadlan and Wignyo's parents left.

"In the depths of my heart I still feel that we are failing Di," Tarji continued staring at the two gravestones before him.

Finished praying and sowing flowers, Adi and Tarji went back on their way. The two police officers looked more moody and just quiet after the tomb. They do not intend to start a conversation and just enjoy the steepness of the village road which is composed of rocks.

Tarji's car finally arrived in front of the village hall. A large place with a large fart seemed quiet and deserted. Next to the village hall building, stands Polindes who look more colorful. New wall paint, as well as a neatly arranged flower pot lined in the yard.

Tarji parked his car right in front of Polindes. Adi immediately went down, as if impatient to ask a lot of things to the village midwife who used to give him the maroon red book.

"Good day, kulonuwun," Adi said his greetings, standing in the doorway of the Polindes. Tarji followed behind him.

"Yes, good day" replied a woman who walked in a row from the Polindes room.

"What do you need?" ask the mother who wears a yellow batik shirt. Special uniforms for midwives.

"Ah Yes Buk, we want to meet the village midwife," Adi smiled kindly.

"I'm the midwife of Mas village. I am Bu Anggi" replied the mother's mother, Anggi.

Adi and Tarji exchanged looks. From the look on his face, Adi looks confused. Not even a year they did not visit the village, apparently the midwife who served in polindes has changed people.

"Sorry, where is the village midwife named Mbak Nurma?" ask Adi curious.

"Mbak Nurma yes, oh njenenengan both of his acquaintances Mbak Nurma?" Bu Anggi mangosteen mangosteen.

"Ah yes. We are from the police who used to handle a case in the forest of this village. We had a chance to meet and get acquainted with Mbak Nurma," Adi explained.

"That riverside house case huh? The house of the Rich Man, which makes a national news splash, right?" Bu Anggi looks enthusiastic.

"Yes Ma'am," Adi nodded meng yes.

The midwife Anggi kept silent, observing Adi and Tarji from head to toe. I don't know what the four-headed woman was thinking.

"Doesn't mom believe we're police acquaintances of Midwife Nurma?" tanya Tarji was a little irritated.

"Ah, that's not it. I am a bit confused, confused. If Mas Mas really his friend Nurma midwife, cook do not know anyway?" Bu Anggi glanced at Tarji at a glance, then went back to observing Adi.

Tarji was impatient to hear the words of Anggi's midwife who continued to twist. He reached into the wallet in his pocket, and took the identity card of a police officer. Tarji thrust it at Bu Anggi.

"Ah, look at it, Mas Mas Policeman please come in first. Not calling her parents Mbak Nurma yes, so it's better later on," Bu Anggi looks a bit wrong, then immediately walk away leaving Tarji who is still holding his police card.

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