HE NEVER RETURNED
I went back home, walking very slowly. Because I kept wondering what exactly Grandpa had in mind. Every now and then a rickshaw driver calls me, I wave my hand, to make sure I'm not in the
mood for a ride.
For the next days, we meet more often. I invite him to coffee around Lhokseumawe. Every now and then we sit at D'Royal Coffee or at Ulee Kareng where grandfather's subscriptions. Never once did I go back to his past. I'm worried he's angry.
Grandfather was great. He is a Cultural observer, only his diploma reached the First Madrasah Tsanawiyah, or the equivalent of Junior High School . When Aceh was in great turmoil, He stepped into the neighboring country, Malaysia. There he is greatly appreciated, proud of. On the idea of Aceh village in Malaysia was formed. The Acehnese who went there must come to his house in Yan Keudah. They will be in Peusijuk, and are prayed to become the famous, successful, and faithful and Islamic people to be always guarded by God. Grandfather always succeeded in generating the Acehnese customs there. Everyone volunteered to follow his moves, in order to raise up the spirit of selfhood in the country of people. Suddenly my grandfather's tears began to wet his cheeks, followed by a rather large cry of cries. I was startled, terrified, and began to feel uncomfortable with this difficult situation. Everyone started to see me.
"My girl is gone now," he suddenly whispered to me. "
"I'm ashamed to hear it. Apparently the old taro, "I muttered to myself while holding back laughter. I can only guess, maybe in her old lonely days she has fallen in love with a young girl, may not really intend to love her. The girl may be like a friend, or as a child, just to accompany the rest of her old days, that's my thought.
Then he told of a girl who began to disappear gradually eaten by the times. I do not deny a bit of Grandpa's story, although the story is a bit confusing to me. I follow the plot. Later I got better. As he begins to point out how today Aceh is dominated by people who are greedy and eat much of their own people's wealth. In every gampong people's lives are becoming more and more nafsi-nafsi. Meunasah increasingly quiet. Not knowing each other. Unlike the life in Malaysia where the passion of Aceh is very thick. Indigenous Aceh itself is increasingly forgotten.
"I never even saw the tradition of sale after giving birth to Acehnese women here. The Acehnese traditional houses turned into solid stone buildings, the fence towering sky high, and the people who were very arrogant and did not greet each other again. "Added Grandpa with tears that increasingly explains this is the pain that is felt Grandpa now.
Just as I nodded in agreement, I saw this old body change on the floor of Ulee Kareng's kiosk stall. I ask for help from everyone who is drinking there. Instantly everyone was huddled around this old body. One of them called for help, then the old man was taken to the hospital by Avanza car one of the visitors to this coffee shop.
"Looks like he fainted," someone said as he lifted the body into the car.
Upon arrival at the hospital, the nurse requested the KK (family card), KTP,(identity card) and BPJS (healty card) of the patient, for each in photocopy of ten sheets. I wish I could find what I need in my grandfather's wallet. It turns out that the Grandfather Identity Card is now a Malaysian citizen. I cursed my stupidity.
Never once did I ask where Grandpa lived now, or the condition of his family. Due to our subsequent meetings, Grandpa was too talkative. I like listeners wise story. When I want to drive her home with my old motorcycle, she always refuses. He prefers rickshaws, he says.
In deep stiffness, I resigned myself to the situation, when one of the nurses called me, "Mr, his grandfather is dead. It looks like on the way your grandfather was already breathing his last. "
My lips are gone, I can not get my voice out. My tears broke. I'm confused about where my grandfather was, and how to take care of Grandpa's body. Because in this city I just stop by for a while to study at the University of Malikussaleh. What should I bring to my village in the interior of Aceh Tamiang. Or grandfather's body should be preserved with formalin to be returned to his home country. How unfortunate grandfather was. My breath is getting congested. Never imagined that his life ended with me.
END
UNDER THE SKY Panton Labu, 7 februari 2018
DIA YANG TAK PERNAH KEMBALI
Aku kembali pulang kerumah, dengan berjalan sangat lambat. Sebab Aku terus membayangkan apa sebenarnya yang ada dipikiran Kakek. Sesekali tukang becak memanggilku, Ku lambaikan tangan, untuk menjeaskan bahwa Aku sedang tidak ingin menumpang.
Untuk hari-hari selanjutnya, kami semakin sering bertemu. Aku ajak dia untuk ngopi di seputaran Lhokseumawe. Sesekali kami duduk di D’Royal Coffee atau di Ulee Kareng tempat langganan kakek. Tidak pernah sedikitpun Aku kembali mengulik masa lalunya. Aku khawatir Dia marah.
Kakek ternyata sangat hebat. Dia pengamat Budaya, hanya saja ijazahnya sampai di Madrasah Tsanawiyah Pertama, atau setara SMP (Sekolah Menengah Pertama). Saat Aceh bergejolak hebat, Dia melangkahkan kakinya ke negeri tetangga, Malaysia. Disana dia sangat dihargai, dibanggakan. Atas idenya kampong Aceh di Malaysia terbentuk. Orang Aceh yang berangkat kesana harus datang ke rumahnya di Yan Keudah. Mereka akan di Peusijuk, dan di doakan agar menjadi orang termasyhur, sukses, serta keimanan dan keislaman agar selalu dijaga oleh Allah. Kakek selalu berhasil membangkitkan adat istiadat Aceh disana. Semua orang dengan suka rela mau mengikuti gerak langkahnya, demi membangkitkan semangat keacehan di negeri orang. Tiba-tiba air mata Kakek mulai membasahi pipi, diikuti ringkihan tangisan yang agak besar. Aku terhenyak, takut, dan mulai risih dengan situasi berat ini. Semua orang mulai melihatku.
“Saat ini gadisku telah hilang,” tiba-tiba saja dia berbisik kalimat itu padaku.”
“Aku malu mendengarnya. Ternyata tua-tua keladi,” Gumamku dalam hati sambil menahan tawa. Aku hanya bisa menebak-nebak, mungkin di hari tuanya yang kesepian ini dia telah jatuh hati pada seorang gadis belia, mungkin bukan benar-benar bermaksud untuk mencintainya. Gadis itu mungkin seumpama teman, atau sebagaimana layaknya anak, hanya untuk sekedar menemani sisa hari tuanya, itu pikir Ku.
Lantas dia menceritakan tentang seorang gadis yang mulai lenyap sedikit demi sedikit dimakan zaman. Aku tidak membantah sedikitpun cerita Kakek, walaupun ceritanya agak membingungkan Ku. Ku ikuti alur ceritanya. Belakangan Aku semakin paham. Saat dia mulai menunjuk bagaimana hari ini Aceh dikuasai oleh orang-orang yang serakah dan memakan banyak harta rakyatnya sendiri. Di setiap gampong kehidupan masyarakat semakin nafsi-nafsi. Meunasah yang semakin sepi. Tidak saling mengenal. Berbeda dengan kehidupan di Malaysa yang mana gairah Aceh sangat kental. Dinegeri sendiri Adat Aceh semakin dilupakan.
“Aku bahkan tidak pernah melihat lagi tradisi sale setelah melahirkan untuk perempuan Aceh disini. Rumah-rumah adat Aceh berubah menjadi bangunan kokoh dari batu, yang pagarnya menjulang tinggi kelangit, serta penduduknya yang sangat sombong dan tidak saling menyapa lagi” Tambah Kakek dengan air mata yang semakin menjelaskan inilah kepedihan yang dirasakan Kakek sekarang.
Baru saja aku mengangguk setuju, aku melihat tubuh renta ini reubah di lantai warung kupi Ulee Kareng. Aku meminta tolong pada semua orang yang sedang ngopi disitu. Sekejap saja semua orang mengerumuni tubuh renta ini. Salah seorang di antaranya memanggil bantuan, lalu orang tua itu dibawa ke rumah sakit dengan mobil Avanza salah seorang pengunjung kedai kopi ini.
“Sepertinya dia pingsan,” seseorang berucap sambil mengangkat tubuh itu kedalam mobil.
Saat sampai ke rumah sakit, perawat meminta KK, KTP, dan kartu BPJS pasien, untuk masing-masing di fotocopi sepuluh lembar. Aku berharap semoga Aku bisa menjumpai hal yang Aku butuhkan di dompet kakek. Ternyata Kartu Tanda Penduduk kakek saat ini sudah menjadi warganegara Malaysia. Aku menyumpahi kebodohan Ku. Tak pernah sedikipun Aku bertanya dimana Kakek tinggal sekarang, atau kondisi keluarganya. Karena pertemuan-pertemuan kami selanjutnya, Kakek terlalu benyak ngomong. Aku seperti pendengar budiman ceritanya. Saat Aku ingin mengantarnya pulang kerumah dengan motor butut Ku, dia selalu menolak. Dia lebih suka naik becak, katanya.
Didalam kekakuan yang mendalam, Aku pasrah oleh keadaan, saat salah seorang perawat memanggilku, “Dek, Kakeknya sudah meninggal. Sepertinya diperjalanan tadi Kakek kamu sudah menghembuskan nafas terakhirnya.”
Bibirku kelu, suaraku tak bisa Aku keluarkan. Air mata Ku pecah. Aku bingung akan Ku bawa kemana Kakek, dan bagaimana cara mengurus jenazah Kakek. Karena dikota ini Aku cuma singgah sebentar untuk belajar di Universitas Malikussaleh. Apa harus Ku bawa ke kampung Ku di pedalaman Aceh Tamiang. Atau tubuh kakek harus diawetkan dengan formalin untuk di antar kembali ke negeri asalnya. Betapa malangnya nasib Kakek. Nafasku semakin sesak. Tak pernah terbayangkan bahwa nyawanya berakhir saat bersama Ku.
TAMAT
*DI BAWAH LANGIT Panton Labu, 7 Feb 2018