by. @orin.jani| steemit.com
NOT DEPENDING whether it is midday or late afternoon, the old and hunchback man always visits the city park. His eyes kept puffing up at the flowers, the weeds, the little boys playing, or whatever was in front of him. Sometimes the eyes are like wanting to destroy everything that is in front of him as he remembers his past. Sometimes the eyes are empty and do not move on.
The eyes of the skinny man in addition to the swollen are also so sunken. Probably because she cried too much. His body increasingly day shrinking, slouchy, and dirty. No one dared to reprimand him or just say hello. Smile they are afraid. They may think he is a madman.
When walking the park, he always chooses the same seat; in the corner. Ten meters after entering the garden fence, turn left slightly, there is a half-meter incline resembling the face of the hand. Once in a while there is another figure who chooses the seat, still the puffy eyes will not choose another place. He will wait while standing or squatting if his legs are sore.
The seat was like his final resting place after he walked very far. Sneaked onto a stone bench with a breath up and down. That was his habit.
The man always shoots the view into the crowd. Maybe that's why he chose a stone chair in the corner, do not want anywhere else. From there his eyes could easily roam wildly in all directions. As he started to shoot his eyes, the cheeks fluttered again for some time. Ever been half an hour.
I do not know why he will cry every day. His cry was not sobbing, nor roaring, much less screaming. Only the warm water came out of the sunken eyeball. Even some people also curious, like me. They tried to question him always answered with a shake. I do not know what the reason that makes the Grandpa always sad.
One day, I tried to get close to the man. I wish I could help the white-haired man. I'm pretty sure he's a sane man. I was very curious. Why he always cried. Besides that I am indeed trying to research every visitor park. My college research assignments. Asking what makes them feel good when they are in the park, how long they are in a week, usually what they do when they are in the garden, and still more questions I have designed. It's been a week I observed the surroundings, it seems that Grandpa the respondent who made me really curious. In addition to every day he visited garden, then each of his tears also fall. Maybe with his tears he can also clear the fish moss pool that was beside me at the time.
I take the liberty. Preparing mentally when out of, scolding, insults, or even profanity from her mouth because I was wrong to speak, or whatever. I prepared a confidence in my heart, otherwise nothing would happen. I approach Grandpa while chanting greetings.
"Assalammualaikum grandpa."
He did not answer. I repeat a few times, crying more and more. No sound. Only the tears I caught. I'm getting worried. Maybe my arrival bothered him. But I do not ignore it. For my coming to Grandpa did not just ask about her, her condition, but something else. Maybe he knows my intentions. So the crying becomes. I immediately threw my ass beside the chair grandfather. No reaction. Fifteen minutes already I'm waiting. I'm getting worse. The smell of his body is very stinging. It's not good at all. She never took a shower I thought. Every visitor who walked in front of me glanced at us. A five-hundred count was thrown at me. I'm more embarrassed. But Grandfather was sobbing. I'm surprised. He should be silent when there is a cash change. Or he's upset because the coin is too little. I pull out my wallet, and greet my grandfather with twenty thousand rupiah, because it's the single biggest money sheet in my wallet. I went straight to go home. I think my intention has to be canceled. But Grandpa instead left my money on the chair. Without a word he left the park. I was more and more dazed. I intend to leave, why Grandpa who even left me.
With great haste I followed the old man. The way is limp'. I think because the body is getting older, the bones are also porous. He turned toward the mosque. Take ablution. I also followed his movements. Drain water to some organs that must be washed. Ashar pray echoed. Finished the old man's prayer remembers very long. I'm annoyed to wait for him. I keep waiting. Less than an hour, Grandpa stepped out of the mosque. I follow the pace of the pace. This time I dared to ask.
"grandpa, why do you always cry? Forgive me if these words offend Grandpa. "
"You're still a kid. Go home, do not follow me. One day you will know how life is not as beautiful as we can imagine. Not as good as we feel. Cruelly the world is always scratching the nil. And keep dropping my tears. why all the changes so quickly passed from my face. I never imagined it could be this fast. "His eyes began to tear up followed by an increasingly raucous noise.
foto by. Viatlembata.blogspot.com
CONTINUED
######TIDAK TERGANTUNG apakah tengah hari atau menjelang petang, lelaki tua dan bungkuk itu selalu mengunjungi taman kota. Matanya terus sembab memandang bunga, rumput liar, anak kecil bermain, atau apa saja yang ada di hadapannya. Adakalanya mata itu seperti ingin menghancurkan semua yang ada di hadapannya saat dia teringat masa lalunya. Adakalanya mata itu menerawang kosong dan tidak bergerak sedikit pun.
Mata lelaki kurus itu selain sembab juga begitu cekung. Mungkin karena dia terlalu sering menangis. Badannya kian hari meringsut susut, bungkuk, dan kotor. Tidak ada satu pun yang berani menegurnya atau hanya sekadar menyapa. Tersenyum saja mereka takut. Mereka mungkin menganggap dia adalah orang gila.
######Saat menapaki taman, dia selalu memilih tempat duduk yang sama; di sudut. Sepuluh meter setelah memasuki pagar taman, berbelok ke kiri sedikit, ada tanjakan setengah meter menyerupai telungkup tangan. Sesekali sudah ada sosok lain yang memilih tempat duduk itu, tetap saja mata sembab itu tidak akan memilih tempat yang lain. Dia akan menunggu sambil berdiri atau jongkok jika kakinya sudah pegal.
######Tempat duduk itu seperti tempat peristirahatan terakhirnya setelah dia berjalan sangat jauh. Menghempaskan badan ke atas bangku batu dengan nafas naik turun. Itulah kebiasaan si Kakek.
Lelaki itu selalu memanah pandangan ke arah keramaian. Mungkin karena itu pula dia memilih kursi batu di sudut, tidak mau di tempat lain. Dari sana matanya bisa dengan mudah menjelajah liar ke segala arah. Saat dia mulai menembakkan matanya, pipi itu kembali berair untuk beberapa waktu. Pernah setengah jam lamanya.
######Aku tidak tahu kenapa dia mau menangis saban hari. Tangisnya tidak terisak, tidak juga meraung, apalagi menjerit. Hanya air hangat yang keluar dari bola mata cekung itu. Bahkan beberapa orang juga ikut penasaran, seperti Aku. Mereka mencoba menanyainya selalu dijawab dengan gelengan. Entah apa alasan yang membuat si Kakek selalu bersedih.
Suatu hari, aku mencoba untuk mendekati lelaki itu. Aku berharap bisa membantu lelaki berambut putih itu. Aku sangat yakin, dia adalah lelaki waras. Aku memang sangat penasaran. Kenapa dia selalu menangis. Selain itu Aku memang sedang mencoba untuk meneliti setiap pengunjung taman. Tugas penelitian kampusku. Menanyakan apa yang membuat mereka merasa nyaman saat berada di taman, berapa lama dalam seminggu mereka ketaman, biasanya hal apa saja yang dilakukan saat ditaman, dan masih benyak lagi pertanyaan yang sudah Aku rancang. Sudah satu minggu Aku mengobservasi keadaan sekeliling, tampaknya Kakeklah responden yang buat aku benar-benar penasaran. Selain setiap hari dia berkunjung ketaman, maka setiap itu pula air matanya berjatuhan. Mungkin dengan airmatanya pula dia bisa menjernihkan kolam ikan berlumut yang ada disampingku saat itu.
######Aku memberanikan diri. Menyiapkan mental apabila keluar ceumarot, cacian, makian, atau sumpah serapah sekalipun dari mulutnya karena Aku salah bicara, atau apapun itu. Aku menyiapkan keyakinan dalam hatiku, kalau tidak akan terjadi apapun. Kudekati Kakek sambil melantunkan salam.
“Assalammualaikum Kek.”
######Dia tidak menjawab. Ku ulangi beberapa kali, tangisnya semakin menjadi-jadi. Tidak ada suara. Hanya derasnya airmata yang aku tangkap. Aku semakin khawatir. Mungkin kedatanganku mengganggunya. Tapi itu tidak Aku hiraukan. Sebab kedatanganku pada Kakek tidak hanya menanyakan kabarnya, kondisinya, tapi ada maksud lain. Jangan-jangan dia mengetahui niatku. Makanya tangisnya semakin menjadi. Aku langsung menghempaskan pantat Ku disamping kursi kakek. Tidak ada reaksi. Lima belas menit sudah Aku menanti. Aku semakin risih. Bau badannya sangat menyengat. Sama sekali tidak enak. Dia tidak pernah mandi Aku pikir. Setiap pengunjung yang berjalan didepanku melirik kami. Recehan lima ratus dilempar kearahku. Aku semakin malu. Tapi Kakek semakin terisak. Aku heran. Seharusnya dia diam saat ada recehan yang dikasi. Atau dia kesal karena recehan itu terlalu sedikit. Aku mengeluarkan dompet, dan menyalami Kakek dengan uang Dua Puluh Ribu Rupiah, karena itu satu-satunya lembaran uang paling besar didalam dompetku. Aku langsung melangkah untuk pulang. Aku rasa niatku harus dibatalkan. Tapi Kakek malah meninggalkan uangku diatas kursi. Tanpa sepatah katapun dia pergi meninggalkan taman. Aku semakin bengong. Aku yang berniat pergi, kenapa Kakek yang malah meninggalkan Aku.
######Dengan sangat tergesa-gesa Aku mengikuti lelaki tua itu. Jalannya capi’. Aku rasa karena tubuh semakin menua, maka tulang juga ikut keropos. Dia berbelok kearah mesjid. Mengambil wudhu. Aku juga mengikuti gerakannya. Mengalirkan air kebeberapa organ yang wajib dibasuh. Azan Ashar menggema. Selesai solat lelaki tua itu berzikir sangat lama. Aku kesal menunggunya. Aku tetap menunggu. Kurang dari satu jam, Kakek melangkah untuk keluar mesjid. Aku ikuti irama langkahnya. Kali ini Aku memberanikan diri untuk bertanya.
“Kek, kenapa Kakek selalu menangis? Maafkan Aku jika kata-kata ini menyinggung perasaan Kakek.”
“Kau masih kecil. Pulanglah kerumah mu, jangan terus mengikuti Aku. Suatu hari nanti kau akan tahu betapa kehidupan tidak seindah yang kita bayangkan. Tidak sebaik yang kita rasakan. Kejamnya dunia ini selalu menggores sembilu. Dan terus menjatuhkan air mataku. Kenapa semua perubahan begitu cepat berlalu dari hadapanku. Aku tidak pernah membayangkannya bisa secepat ini. ” Matanya mulai berkaca-kaca diikuti ringkihan suara yang semakin parau.
BERSAMBUNG
foto by: tribunews.com
hy @tmitinen, @mynewlife, @naegling11,@purusottama,@wuhotan, @donkeypong, @exyle, @adsactly, @dlive, @slowwalker, @acidyo@bahtiarlangsa, @levycore,@ayijufridar, @abduhawab,@alfarisi, @faizarfatria, @pojan, @musyawirwaspada.
I have a short story. this is part one. i hope you are happy.