Every morning, along the main road in this village, life begins to beat with a distinctive rhythm. The sky is still pale blue, the cool air touches the face, and the sun is just peeking out from behind the rows of coconut trees. From a distance, the rumble of an engine approaches, and then a brightly colored minibus, painted in bright blue and red, appears. The driver looks focused, his right hand gripping the steering wheel, while his left hand occasionally honks the horn to attract potential passengers.
On the side of the road, several people are already standing waiting. There are children in school uniforms with large backpacks, office workers in neat attire, and even housewives on their way to the market. Everyone is waiting for the public transportation that sustains their daily lives. The minibus slowly stops in front of a simple coffee shop called Warung Rahmat Kota Bandung. The driver leans out the window and shouts loudly, "Kota! Kota!", a signature gesture to attract passengers heading to the city center.
That morning atmosphere reflects the harmony of life in a small community. Everyone has a purpose, each step leads in a different direction, but they all start from the same point: the passion to earn a living and move on. The minibus driver, affectionately known as Bang Ujang by his regular customers, starts his job at dawn. He relies on his vehicle to support his family. In a single day, he can travel between the village and the city more than five times, carrying passengers from various backgrounds.
Bang Ujang is more than just a driver; he is also a devoted listener to his passengers' stories. Sometimes he hears stories from high school students about difficult exams, from office workers about nagging bosses, or even from vendors about rising prices. Each story becomes a small part of his long journey on the highway. He smiles, nods, and chimes in with light jokes to lighten the mood. His car feels like a small social space on wheels, where people share short stories during the journey.
Inside the minibus, the morning atmosphere is warm. Slow dangdut music plays from the old radio on the dashboard, mingling with the roar of the engine and the sounds of casual conversation. Schoolchildren chuckled, employees were busy with their phones, while a woman gazed out the window, admiring the view of rice fields and coconut trees neatly lined up along the roadside. The morning sun shone through the windshield, reflecting off the metal surface of the vehicle that had been washed the night before.
Meanwhile, outside the vehicle, the road was starting to get busy. Motorcycles sped by, private cars lined up, and occasionally, large trucks passed by carrying loads of garden produce. Roadside stalls began to open their doors, and the aroma of coffee and fried foods wafted through the air. There was a life so simple, yet so real.
Bang Ujang glanced at his rearview mirror and smiled faintly. He knew that beneath this tiring routine, there were small joys that couldn't be measured in money. Every time a passenger got off with a relieved expression on their face, having arrived safely, he felt a sense of pride. Every time a schoolchild paid the exact amount and said, "Thank you, Bang," his heart warmed.
He knew that his job might not make him rich, but he played an important role. Without minibuses like his, many people would have difficulty getting to work, school, or the market. He was part of the pulse of life in the community, connecting the village and the city, between home and dreams.
As midday approached, the sun began to rise. The minibus began to move again, leaving a fine dust on the road. Through the glass, the faces of the passengers could be seen, ready to start their day. In the back seat, a small child stared out the window, his eyes sparkling at the expanse of green rice fields and the vast blue sky. He might not yet know what hard work means, but he witnessed a concrete example every morning of a simple driver who tirelessly lived life with enthusiasm.
When evening arrived, the minibus would return along the same route. However, the atmosphere was different; the sun was beginning to fade, and the passengers now looked tired after a long day of work. However, as they climbed into Bang Ujang's car, their fatigue eased slightly due to the familiar atmosphere inside the small vehicle. At the end of the day, after the final journey was over and the engine was turned off, Bang Ujang sat for a moment in the driver's seat, gazing out at the gradually deserted road. He took a deep breath, grateful for another safe and meaningful day.
In the morning, the minibus was in action, seeking customers. But more than that, each morning was also a testament to perseverance, hard work, and the undying spirit of life that never fades in the hearts of humans. The highway becomes the stage of life, and every vehicle that passes is a story that continues to move forward towards new hopes.
Setiap pagi di pinggiran jalan utama desa ini, kehidupan mulai berdenyut dengan ritme yang khas. Langit masih biru pucat, udara sejuk menyapa wajah, dan sinar matahari baru saja muncul dari balik deretan pohon kelapa. Dari kejauhan terdengar deru mesin yang semakin mendekat, lalu muncullah sebuah minibus berwarna cerah dengan corak biru dan merah menyala. Sopirnya tampak fokus, tangan kanan menggenggam kemudi, sementara tangan kirinya sesekali menekan klakson untuk menarik perhatian calon penumpang.
Di pinggir jalan, beberapa orang sudah berdiri menunggu. Ada anak-anak berseragam sekolah dengan tas besar di punggung, ada pegawai kantor dengan pakaian rapi, dan juga ibu rumah tangga yang hendak ke pasar. Semua menunggu kendaraan umum yang menjadi penyambung hidup mereka setiap hari. Minibus itu berhenti perlahan di depan sebuah warung kopi sederhana bernama Warung Rahmat Kota Bandung. Sopir mencondongkan tubuh ke luar jendela dan berteriak lantang, “Kota! Kota!” tanda khas untuk menarik penumpang yang hendak pergi ke pusat kota.
Suasana pagi itu menggambarkan harmoni kehidupan masyarakat kecil. Setiap orang memiliki tujuan, setiap langkah menuju arah berbeda, namun semuanya berangkat dari titik yang sama semangat untuk mencari nafkah dan melanjutkan hidup. Sopir minibus, yang akrab disapa Bang Ujang oleh para pelanggan tetapnya, telah memulai pekerjaannya sejak subuh. Ia mengandalkan kendaraan itu untuk menafkahi keluarganya. Dalam satu hari, ia bisa bolak-balik antara desa dan kota lebih dari lima kali, membawa penumpang dengan berbagai latar belakang.
Bang Ujang bukan sekadar sopir, ia juga pendengar setia kisah para penumpangnya. Kadang ia mendengar cerita dari siswa SMA tentang ujian yang sulit, dari pegawai kantor tentang bos yang cerewet, bahkan dari pedagang tentang harga barang yang naik. Setiap cerita menjadi bagian kecil dari perjalanan panjangnya di jalan raya. Ia tersenyum, mengangguk, dan menimpali dengan candaan ringan untuk mencairkan suasana. Mobilnya seolah menjadi ruang sosial kecil di atas roda, tempat orang saling berbagi cerita singkat di sela perjalanan.
Di dalam minibus, suasana pagi terasa hangat. Musik dangdut pelan mengalun dari radio tua di dashboard, bercampur dengan deru mesin dan suara obrolan ringan. Anak-anak sekolah tertawa kecil, pegawai sibuk dengan ponsel mereka, sementara seorang ibu menatap keluar jendela menikmati pemandangan sawah dan pohon kelapa yang berjejer rapi di pinggir jalan. Cahaya matahari pagi menembus kaca depan, memantul di permukaan logam kendaraan yang baru dicuci semalam.
Sementara itu, di luar kendaraan, jalan mulai ramai. Sepeda motor melaju cepat, mobil pribadi beriringan, dan sesekali truk besar lewat membawa muatan hasil kebun. Warung di pinggir jalan mulai membuka pintu, aroma kopi dan gorengan merebak ke udara. Ada kehidupan yang begitu sederhana, namun begitu nyata.
Bang Ujang melirik spion dan tersenyum tipis. Ia tahu, di balik rutinitas yang melelahkan ini, ada kebahagiaan kecil yang tak bisa diukur dengan uang. Setiap kali penumpang turun dengan wajah lega karena sampai tujuan dengan selamat, ia merasa bangga. Setiap kali anak sekolah membayar ongkos dengan uang pas sambil mengucap “terima kasih, Bang”, hatinya hangat.
Ia tahu, mungkin pekerjaannya tak membuatnya kaya, tapi ia punya peran penting. Tanpa minibus seperti miliknya, banyak orang akan kesulitan pergi bekerja, sekolah, atau ke pasar. Ia adalah bagian dari denyut kehidupan masyarakat penghubung antara desa dan kota, antara rumah dan mimpi.
Menjelang siang, matahari mulai tinggi. Minibus itu kembali melaju, meninggalkan debu halus di jalanan. Dari balik kaca, tampak raut wajah-wajah penumpang yang siap memulai hari mereka. Di kursi belakang, seorang anak kecil menatap keluar jendela, matanya berbinar melihat hamparan sawah yang hijau dan langit biru yang luas. Ia mungkin belum tahu apa arti kerja keras, tapi ia menyaksikan contoh nyata setiap pagi dari seorang sopir sederhana yang tak pernah lelah menjalani hidup dengan penuh semangat.
Ketika sore tiba nanti, minibus itu akan kembali melewati jalan yang sama. Namun suasananya berbeda sinar matahari mulai meredup, dan para penumpang kini tampak lelah setelah seharian bekerja. Namun begitu mereka naik ke mobil Bang Ujang, rasa lelah sedikit berkurang karena suasana akrab di dalam kendaraan kecil itu. Di akhir hari, setelah perjalanan terakhir selesai dan mesin dimatikan, Bang Ujang duduk sejenak di kursi kemudi, memandang jalan yang mulai sepi. Ia menarik napas panjang, bersyukur telah menjalani satu hari lagi dengan selamat dan penuh arti.
Pagi hari, minibus beraksi mencari pelanggan. Tapi lebih dari itu, setiap pagi juga menjadi saksi tentang ketekunan, kerja keras, dan semangat hidup yang tak pernah padam di hati manusia. Jalan raya menjadi panggung kehidupan, dan setiap kendaraan yang melintas adalah kisah yang terus bergerak maju menuju harapan baru.
| Photographer | Smartphone used | Location |
|---|---|---|
 | Realme C53 | Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam |
