TUMBAL SEVENTH

A Piece of News About Tirta

Late at night, these eyes refuse to close. After trying various positions, but not also able to sleep, I chose to sit leaning on the headboard. My mind branched, thinking of the existence of Tirta who had yet to find a bright spot. Also think about how to neutralize the negative aura in Dad's cassava factory.

I turned towards Mela, she was already asleep in a dream. I decided to go to the kitchen and make some warm milk. Who knows after drinking warm milk so relax and can sleep later.

After the milk is ready to be shredded, I take it to the living room. I put it on the table to wait for a little less steam heat. I chose to stand by the window. I opened a curtain blocking my view to look out the window. After the curtains opened, I could look into the side courtyard of this house. Out there are many roses and jasmine that began to wilt, and there are also still buds.

The wind came beating itself. The sound of a wild animal is like a canticle that breaks silence. Typical of the rural atmosphere at night. Chilly. I scissored to ward off the increasingly cold air. My eyes are still monitoring the side pages. There was a figure standing in the corner of the courtyard. The dim place made my eyes have trouble detecting what figure it was.

Puk!

My eyes rounded for a moment as I felt someone pat this shoulder all of a sudden. The next second my eyes glanced left and right, but the tail of my eyes did not catch any figure. However, his hand still felt stuck to this shoulder.

“Ran, you why?”

I heaved a sigh of relief after hearing Mela's voice. Then turn around to face him. I rubbed my chest. “Huh, Mel, ngagetin aja!”

“Ya, sorry! You are not called out. Focus on looking out. What the hell, anyway?” cerocos Mela looked out the window. I saw that figure was no longer there.

“Nothing, Mel. I can't sleep. Hence make that warm milk.” I pointed at the milk on the table, and Mela turned to follow my lead. The next moment he was ooh.

“I want too, ah!” he said then rushed to the kitchen.

I closed the curtains and sat down to enjoy the warmed milk. Before long Mela came with a glass of milk and sat across the table from me.

“You can't sleep because you're bullied, because you think of Tirta?” ask Mela kepo.

“My feeling is not yet calm if you do not know how Tirta, Mel.” Mela nodded, then continued blowing milk and sipping it.

“You still love, yes, same Tirta that?” I just smiled a little.

“Ciyeee, even a smile. Fiks, this is it, old love has not been around.”

“Paan, hell!” sahutku upset.

“Btw, he's as handsome as anyone, anyway?” cecar Mela keponya again acute like.

“She looks like artist Azof Rangga,”.

“The sinetron player?” I nodded in confirming. “Pantesan aja, elo hard move-on,” he continued.

I'm sipping milk, even with Mela. The atmosphere became quiet for a while.

Put milk on the table. Then I looked at me intensely. “Oh yes, why don't you try asking your classmate first. Who knows they know where Tirta.” is

Immediately my memory was fixed on Dian and Bayu. Why did I forget about them both. “What do you say, Mel. Back in High School, I had a playmate. Her names are Bayu and Dian. Yeah, I think they know, and they're the only ones I can ask for help. Tomorrow, you want, ‘kan, help find them!”

Mela nodded. “Each 86!” he said it later with respect.

“Yes already, now we sleep first, yuk! It's so malem.”

“Yuk!” sahutku. We went to the room to sleep. When I reached the doorway, I heard a whisper asking for help.

“Ran, hunt close the door! Cold tauk!”

“Iya, Mel.” I chose to ignore the whisper, and closed the door and went to sleep.

***

“Where?” asked Mela after I got back in the car after asking the residents where Dian lives now.

“Saying the man, now Dian lives in the next village with her husband.”

“Ya already, we just look to the next village!” sahut Mela enthusiastically.

I nodded in agreement. “Giamana, Mang? Mamang ready, ‘kan, take us to the next village?”

Mang Ule nodded then gave her one thumb. “Always ready, Non. Let alone to the next village, to the next city also hayuk!”

“Ya already, Mang road!” tell Mela.

“Ready!” mang Ule answered and drove his car.

Arriving in the next village called Karangasem Village. Finally we got the info about where Dian's house will be after asking around. He even got lost several times and spent almost half a day.

“Huh! Efforts do not betray results,” Mela said when we were standing on the terrace of Dian's house.

Then I hit the door with a worn brown feel. Soon he moved and pulled a man from behind the door.

“Sorry, can I help you?” ask the man who is standing before me.

“I Rania, her friend Dian during High School. Is this Dian's house?”

“Iya, right. I'm Evan her husband.” Evan's? I think Dian is married to Bayu. Not that Dian deketnya the same Bayu, huh?

I woke up from the daydream when Mela poked my arm. Then look towards him.

“It was the same Mas Evan. Even dumbfounded!” said Mela.

“Eum, sorry, Mas. How?” I asked Evan.

“Ke here to find Dian?” I nodded at the question asked by Evan.

“You just sit down first!” Evan pointed to the cots made of bamboo located on this terrace. Me, Mela and Mang Ule nodded. Then sit.

“Wait, yes, I picked up Dian first,” Evan continued.

My forehead winches. “Thyp? Where else is Dian, Mas?”

“Ke stall,” replied Evan. Then start the bike and go.

Shortly after, Evan arrives to piggyback Dian. After getting off the bike, Dian immediately ran towards me while shouting my name. We stood looking at each other for a few seconds before finally hugging each other to let go of the shackling longing.

“Yes, Ran. You are now very different the same first.”

“How different? Getting older, huh?” sahutku.

“Not, now it looks more elegant kayak it.”

“You can do it, Di. You also still look young,” reply me.

“Oh yes, who are they?” dian asked while pointing at Mela and Mang Ule.

“Known, this is Mela, my best friend. If this is Mang Ule, my driver.” Dian nodded.

“Come, please sit down again!” dian's word after shaking hands with Mela and Mang Ule.

“Before a while, yes, I'll just go in first!” pamit Dian's. I nodded in favor. After a few minutes, Dian came out with a few cups of warm drinks and snacks. Then present in front of us.

“Shouldn't bother, Di.”

“Thank you, Sister Dian,” Mela said. While Mang Ule only nodded awkwardly.

“Eh, don't call, mbak. Just call a name. ‘Kan, we're the same age,” pinta Dian on Mela. “Iya, ‘kan, Ran?” dian continued while looking at me. I just nod.

“Oh yes, you live in this house the same who?” my many.

“Just my husband and in-laws, but my in-laws are back in the fields,” Dian explained.

“How long have you been married?”

“Two years I married Evan.”

“Eh, let's eat this fried food!” dian's word while sliding a plate of fried food in front of Mang Ule, another plate was shifted in front of me and Mela who was sitting side by side.

“Iya, thank you, Di,” replied Mela. While Mang Ule directly took and devoured the fry in front of him.

“Udah have children?” ask Mela.

Dian took a deep breath, then shook his head. “Not yet,” the answer is lethargic.

“Oh, not yet wanted or ...” Mela stopped her sentence.

“From the beginning of marriage my husband and I did not use contraception at all, but do not know why it has not been given. Though already check to the doctor and the results we both are fine,” explained Dian.

“Sabar,” sayku and Mela compact.

“Later also if it's time you must have,” continued Mela. “Sorry yes, I so asked this that,”.

“Nothing,” replied Dian. “Oh yes, what if you guys? Already married or not?” Dian asked back.

Me and Mela looked at each other and then compactly shook their heads.

“We're still in college, Di,”. Dian nodded.

“I also used to want to go to college, but it is prohibited from my parents ...”

“Why banned?” sela.

“Say my parents went to college and just spent money. Free high school end married and become a housewife. That's the village people's thinking here.”

“The thinking is not yet advanced, yes?” suhut Mela's.

Dian nodded. “Ya, there you go.”

We then compactly sipped the tea served and ate the snacks as well. Fried sweet potato. Sweet and savory, a delicious blend of flavors. The more delicious when warm tea or coffee complement.

I brought my face closer to Dian who was sitting in front of me. “I think you married Bayu?” I whispered so as not to be heard by Evan who was in the house there.

“Bay ...” Dian stopped his words as Evan suddenly came out and brought fishing gear.

“Dek, mas want to fish first, yes!” the answer to Dian.

“Iya, Mas.”

“Oh yes, excuse me for fishing. You guys please continue chatting!” pamit Evan to me and Mela to Mang Ule.

“Iya, please, Mas!” suhut Mela's. Me and Mang Ule nodded.

“Bayu chose to withdraw Ran, when he found out I was betrothed to Evan. He is very cemen.” Dian continued the sentence that had paused after Evan left. There was a disappointed look on Dian's face.

“Continue, now Bayu where?”

“Sentence, Ran. I have not cared about her since she decided to let me marry Evan.”

“Contact ... Tirta?” I'm a little risky. Afraid that Dian's reaction is the same as most people.

Dian took a deep breath and then looked down bitterly. “Tirta .. her fate is tragic, Ran. Day ....”

Again Dian's speech paused when there was a middle-aged woman coming and put on a sour expression.

“Are you cooking? Beresan already? How come you even huddle like this?” ketus the middle-aged woman, who I believe she is Dian's mother-in-law.

“Bu, this is my friend from the city. Recognize this is my mother-in-law,” explained Dian.

As I went to shake my head, the middle-aged woman went into the house and continued to grumble. I feel uncomfortable.

“Sorry yes, Di. Because of our arrival, you get into trouble like this,”, I said unkindly.

“Eh, I should be the one apologizing. Because of my mother-in-law's attitude, you guys must be uncomfortable, huh? Sorry, yes! My mother-in-law is so.” Dian looks more unwell.

“Iya, On. It's okay, kok.” I continued to rub his shoulders. “If you want to cook, we better say goodbye first. Sometimes the chatter is connected again,” continued me.

Dian continued to apologize on behalf of her mother-in-law. I understand that.

“Let's give me your phone number, Ran. Let's have the same communication Dian,” advice Mela.

“Unfortunately, I do not have a mobile phone, Ran,” Dian said.

“Hah?!” exclaim Mela. “Seriously? In modern times, you don't have a mobile phone?” he continued not believing.

“Yes, my mother-in-law doesn't allow me to have a cell phone. He said things that are not so useful do not need to be owned. All families and relatives are in the village here and the next village, so if you want to please just go to their homes.” Mela nodded in understanding.

“Keep how dong, if we want to continue the chat about Tirta ..”

“Ssth! Don't bother to mention the name Tirta,” sela Dian.

Mela shut her mouth. “Sorry, why is it?” continued.

“My mother-in-law will be angry if she hears.”

“What the hell happened to Tirta, Di?” my boy is impatient.

“Eum, gini aja deh, tomorrow afternoon ba'da Asar we meet at the lake where we used to gather first. You remember, ‘kan?” I nodded.

“Yes already, if so I say goodbye first, yes!” my saying was getting uncomfortable when I heard Dian's mother-in-law nagging getting louder while slamming the kitchen furniture.

So that there was a very noisy voice in the greeting there.

“Sorry, yes!” said Dian again.

“I'm sorry, because I chatted, your homework became neglected and ...”

“Come, Ran, go!” sidelines Mela while pulling my arm. “I go first, yes, Di. Thank you for the banquet,” concluded Mela. Dian nodded while apologizing to Mela.

After hugging Dian, I caught up with Mela and Mang Ule who had already gotten into the car.

“If only her mother-in-law Dian did not come to disturb, surely now we already know the news about Tirta, yes, Ran?” I just glanced at Mela and looked out the car window. My mind was getting messed up when Dian said, that Tirta's fate is now tragic. Tragic how does that mean?