This is the first and last chance. She must succeed in leaving this great house to end all the suffering that has been experienced so far. Four times the feast she asked for permission to go home, four times also failed. When converted in time, then the four times of the holiday is equivalent to four years!
And this is the fifth Lebaran. The fifth year. About five years ago, she came to this big house just the day before Eid. Tuti who took him. Her fellow villagers stuffed hers with sweet stories. "Madam Fica is a good Boss. Not stingy. I do not like to ... "
She answered it with a nod.
"If Eid, you must be bought new clothes. If it's been a long time, when Eid can be additional one month salary. "
She nodded again. Imagine a month's salary money that can be sent for Mother in the village. Can buy clothes brother-sister. The rest is for school and daily meals.
"I never got that kind of Madam..."
"If Mrs Fica is good, why do not you feel at home?"
It was a question that should have slid out of his lips. But do not ask questions like that, crossed her mind never. She believes when Tuti says she will not work at Mrs Fica's house again because she will work in Saudi Arabia. And after taking her to Mrs Fica's house the day before Eid, she never met Tuti again. According to the news she heard, her friend was already working in Saudi Arabia after Eid. She once went home and brought a lot of money. But since she had not been allowed to go home for four years, she had never heard of Tuti. In fact, she wanted to meet with Tuti and tell all that happened. She wanted to dispute all Tuti's stories about Mrs Fica's kindness.
She's a bad woman. For six years working at his home, she was always beaten, cursed, and treated like a slave. In the early months of the first year, her salary was paid well. But after that always given incomplete. "For your savings!" Mrs. Fica answered every time. Sometimes Mrs. Fica's answer was a mere blow, especially when her relationship with her husband was deteriorating.
For four years, she has always been the target of anyone's anger in this house. Mrs. Fica is noisy with her husband, she is the one who gets dumped. Renny and Rasya, two of Mrs Fica's daughters, also often scolded her when they were noisy with their friends. Only the Jacko is not barking at her. That was because he was diligent in preparing food. The black dog did treat him much better than all the humans in this house.
She once thought of running away. The idea almost occurred to her every time she got ill treatment from housemates, especially Mrs Fica. However, the idea is only limited to the idea because of two obstacles. First, she never knew Jakarta. Bus terminals, railway stations, or airports are unknown where it is and how to get there. And second, all the money is in Mrs Fica. Let alone for the cost of returning home, to buy sanitary pads sometimes he is often difficult. And if he holds the money, the first obstacle is no longer a barrier.
However, this time all the suffering will end. She has an idea and will do it. This year, she did not ask permission to go home. In fact, the offending hometown was not. Let Mrs Fica think she does not remember her hometown anymore, and she will make people at home startled.
This is the first and last chance.
Two days ago when re-arrange the layout of clothes in a closet, Madam Fica saw a box of gold jewelry with the following letter. So much of the jewelry missing when two or three pieces, Mrs Fica will certainly not aware of it.
Actually, Mrs Fica also was in the room. Same her own husband just did not believe, let alone the same maid. However, the screams of the mobile phone haves brought him out of the room. Either who contacted him that he didn't want anyone else to hear, even though he was only a maid like that afflicted often appear to pass.
She just took the two pieces from the pile of the jewelry and put it in the pocket of the dress. The idea was to appear suddenly. She did not know whether it was a whispering Angel on the right and a whisper of the devil on the left. However, this is the first of the crime committed, and also the last. It's his promise!
Sweat spots briefly soaks her temple. And he feels his heart beating like running. However, Mrs Fica too excited to not see a change in her self. Even after closing the phone, she seems in a hurry.
"Nur, later when the Sir of the telephone, told the mother to House Tante Dina. HP not taken due again in charge!" her orders when it went back to the room.
She just nodded. Her hands still finish work left, but Mrs Fica already referred him to the outside. She felt regardless of load weight and attempting to seek tranquility with plunked her body on top of the mattress. Her ears still hear the cries of Mrs. Fica who told her to shut the door of the fence and garage. After that, the sound of a car engine sounds away.
Today, two pieces of gold jewelry she has been uangkan. She absolutely does not want to think whether the amount was equivalent to her salary saved Mrs Fica. She didn't want to think about profit and loss. Origin already had enough money for a taxi and train ticket, it is enough already. She just wants to go home, and will never come back to Jakarta!
Every day, she heard about the long line in front of the train window. She doesn't need followup line, anyway after the Idul Fitri holiday, a week or a fortnight, the ticket from Jakarta to the area could be obtained easily because of ongoing feedback.
The four years she's been seeing. That is the cab, he need only refer to the goal. No need to bargain like a taxi ride in his community because there's already a calculating machine. She was already a few times see the machine in front of the driver, including when cashing two pieces of gold jewelry the other day.
Still in the period of the leave together, all the residents go either to where. Mrs Fica only said they would go when she is iron the clothes. She just nodded dutifully, as usual. But once the sound of the car away, she hurriedly replaces a negligee. Only a few clothes which she brought in a handbag. There should be no large bags brought him aroused suspicion.
The woman had been in a taxi now. She tried to see that two-story house for the last time. How many bad memories left in the House. Scorn the most painful everyday meals ready-made. So also with the punch and slap. Even the Jacko won't ever get treatment so bad. But now all of that he will leave. Imagine how she surprised the same House when people realize she is no longer there.
When a blue taxi that moves, smoke appeared from inside the House. The farther the taxi runs, getting big puff of smoke filled the room. Initially only the ironing room, then extends to another room. And when it started to get taxi Gambir, a puff of smoke that's been turned into a fire that initially allowed his small stature.
An hour later came to the roar of the fire department siren. However, she did not hear it because the sound of the locomotive is much harder. In the train started to move slowly, she smiled her self. Everything goes according to plan, except when she forgot to unplug the iron. []
Lhokseumawe, October 4, 2007
INILAH kesempatan pertama dan terakhir. Dia harus berhasil meninggalkan rumah besar ini untuk mengakhiri semua penderitaan yang dialami selama ini. Empat kali hari raya ia minta izin pulang, empat kali pula gagal. Bila dikonversikan dalam waktu, maka empat kali hari raya itu sama artinya dengan empat tahun!
Dan ini lebaran kelima. Tahun yang kelima. Sekitar lima tahun lalu, ia datang ke rumah besar ini tepat sehari sebelum lebaran. Tuti yang membawanya. Teman sekampungnya itu menjejalinya dengan cerita-cerita manis. “Nyonya Fica itu orang baik. Enggak pelit. Enggak suka mukul…”
Dia menjawab dengan anggukan.
“Kalau lebaran, kamu pasti dibeliin baju baru. Kalau sudah kerja lama, saat lebaran dapat tambahan gaji satu bulan.”
Dia mengangguk lagi. Membayangkan uang satu bulan gaji yang bisa dikirim buat Emak di kampung. Bisa beli baju adik-adik. Sisanya untuk sekolah dan makan sehari-hari.
“Aku ndak pernah dapat nyonya sebaik itu…”
“Kalau memang Nyonya Fica baik, kenapa kamu tidak betah?”
Itu pertanyaan yang seharusnya meluncur dari bibirnya. Tapi jangankan bertanya seperti itu, terlintas di pikirannya saja tidak pernah. Dia percaya saja ketika Tuti mengatakan tidak akan bekerja di rumah Nyonya Fica lagi karena ia akan bekerja di Saudi Arabia. Dan setelah mengantarnya ke rumah Nyonya Fica sehari sebelum lebaran, ia tidak pernah berjumpa dengan Tuti lagi. Menurut kabar yang ia dengar, temannya itu memang sudah bekerja di Saudi Arabia seusai lebaran. Dia pernah pulang satu kali dan membawa uang banyak. Tapi karena dia tidak pernah diizinkan pulang selama empat tahun, ia tidak pernah mendapat kabar tentang Tuti. Padahal, ia ingin sekali berjumpa dengan Tuti dan menceritakan semua yang dialaminya. Ia ingin membantah semua cerita Tuti tentang kebaikan Nyonya Fica.
Dia seorang perempuan jahat. Selama enam tahun bekerja di rumahnya, ia selalu dipukuli, dimaki, dan diperlakukan seperti budak. Bulan-bulan awal tahun pertama, gajinya memang dibayar lancar. Tapi setelah itu selalu diberikan tak utuh. “Untuk tabungan kamu!” begitu jawaban Nyonya Fica setiap ditanya. Kadang, jawaban Nyonya Fica hanya berupa pukulan belaka, terutama ketika hubungan dengan suaminya memburuk.
Selama empat tahun, dia memang selalu menjadi sasaran kemarahan siapa pun di rumah ini. Nyonya Fica ribut dengan suaminya, dia yang kena damprat. Renny dan Rasya, dua anak Nyonya Fica, juga sering memarahinya jika mereka ribut dengan pacar masing-masing. Hanya si Jacko yang tidak ikut-ikutan menggonggongnya. Itu pun karena ia rajin menyiapkan makanan. Anjing hitam itu memang memperlakukannya jauh lebih baik dibandingkan semua manusia yang ada di rumah ini.
Dia pernah berpikir untuk kabur. Gagasan itu hampir setiap kali timbul di benaknya ketika mendapatkan perlakuan buruk dari orang-orang serumah, terutama Nyonya Fica. Namun, gagasan itu hanya sebatas gagasan karena dua hambatan. Pertama, dia tidak pernah tahu Jakarta. Terminal bus, stasiun kereta api, atau bandar udara, tidak diketahui letaknya di mana dan bagaimana mencapai ke sana. Dan kedua, seluruh uangnya ada pada Nyonya Fica. Jangankan untuk ongkos pulang kampung, untuk membeli pembalut pun kadang ia sering susah. Padahal kalau ia pegang uang, hambatan pertama bukan lagi menjadi hambatan.
Namun, kali ini semua penderitaan itu akan berakhir. Dia punya gagasan dan akan melaksanakannya. Tahun ini, dia tidak minta izin pulang. Bahkan, menyinggung kampung halaman pun tidak. Biarlah Nyonya Fica berpikir dia tidak ingat kampung halaman lagi, dan ia akan membuat orang serumah tersentak kaget.
Inilah kesempatan pertama dan terakhir.
Dua hari lalu saat menata kembali letak pakaian Nyonya Fica dalam lemari, ia melihat sekotak perhiasan emas berikut dengan suratnya. Begitu banyak perhiasan tersebut hingga bila hilang dua atau tiga potong, Nyonya Fica pasti tidak menyadarinya.
Sebenarnya, Nyonya Fica juga berada di dalam kamarnya. Sama suaminya sendiri saja ia tidak pernah percaya, apalagi sama pembantu. Namun, jeritan telepon selular telah membawanya ke luar kamar. Entah siapa yang menghubunginya hingga ia tidak ingin ada orang lain yang mendengar, meski ia hanya seorang pembantu dungu seperti yang kerap disebutkannya.
Dia hanya mengambil dua potong saja dari tumpukan perhiasan tersebut dan memasukkannya ke dalam saku daster. Ide itu muncul secara mendadak. Ia tidak tahu apakah itu bisikan malaikat di sebelah kanan dan bisikan iblis di sebelah kiri. Namun yang jelas, inilah kejahatannya yang pertama dilakukan, dan juga yang terakhir. Itu janjinya!
Bintik-bintik keringat sempat membasahi keningnya. Dan ia rasakan degup jantungnya seperti berlari. Namun, Nyonya Fica terlalu gembira hingga tidak melihat perubahan atas dirinya. Bahkan setelah menutup handphone, ia terlihat terburu-buru.
“Nur, nanti kalau Bapak telepon, bilang Ibu ke rumah Tante Dina. HP nggak dibawa karena lagi di-charge!” perintahnya ketika masuk kembali ke kamar.
Ia hanya mengangguk. Tangannya masih menyelesaikan pekerjaan yang tersisa, tapi Nyonya Fica sudah menyuruhnya ke luar. Ia merasa terlepas dari beban berat dan berupaya mencari ketenangan dengan mengempaskan tubuhnya di atas kasur. Telinganya masih sempat mendengar teriakan Nyonya Fica yang menyuruhnya menutup pintu pagar dan garasi. Setelah itu, suara mesin mobil terdengar menjauh.
Hari ini, dua keping perhiasan emas tersebut sudah ia uangkan. Ia sama sekali tak mau berpikir apakah jumlahnya setara dengan gajinya yang disimpan Nyonya Fica. Dia tidak mau berpikir tentang untung rugi. Asal sudah punya cukup uang untuk taksi dan tiket kereta api, cukuplah sudah. Dia hanya ingin pulang, dan tidak akan pernah kembali lagi ke Jakarta!
Setiap hari, ia mendengar tentang antrean panjang di depan loket kereta api. Dia tidak perlu ikutan antre, toh seusai Lebaran, sepekan atau dua pekan, tiket dari Jakarta ke daerah bisa diperoleh dengan mudah karena sedang terjadi arus balik.
Empat tahun ia sudah melihat. Bahwa di dalam taksi, ia hanya perlu menyebut tujuannya. Tidak perlu tawar-menawar seperti naik ojek di kampungnya karena sudah ada mesin yang mengitung. Dia sudah beberapa kali melihat mesin itu di depan supir, termasuk ketika menguangkan dua keping perhiasan emas tempo hari.
Masih dalam masa cuti bersama, seluruh penghuni rumah pergi entah ke mana. Nyonya Fica hanya bilang mereka akan pergi ketika ia sedang menyeterika baju. Ia hanya mengangguk patuh, seperti biasanya. Tapi begitu suara mobil menjauh, ia buru-buru mengganti daster. Hanya sedikit baju yang ia bawa dalam sebuah tas tangan. Tidak boleh ada yang melihatnya membawa tas besar hingga menimbulkan kecurigaan.
Perempuan itu sudah berada dalam taksi kini. Ia mencoba melihat rumah berlantai dua itu untuk terakhir kalinya. Betapa banyak kenangan buruk yang tersisa di rumah itu. Caci maki yang paling menyakitkan sudah jadi santapan sehari-hari. Begitu juga dengan pukulan dan tamparan. Bahkan si Jacko pun tidak pernah mendapatkan perlakuan begitu buruk. Tapi kini semua itu akan ia tinggalkan. Ia bayangkan betapa kagetnya orang serumah ketika menyadari ia sudah tidak ada lagi.
Ketika taksi biru itu bergerak, asap muncul dari dalam rumah. Semakin jauh taksi berjalan, semakin besar kepulan asap memenuhi ruangan. Mulanya hanya ruangan tempat penyeterikaan pakaian, lantas meluas ke ruangan lain. Dan tatkala taksi itu mulai masuk Gambir, kepulan asap itu sudah berubah menjadi api yang mulanya kecil lantas membesar.
Satu jam kemudian terdengar raungan sirine pemadam kebakaran. Namun, ia tidak mendengarnya karena suara lokomotif jauh lebih keras. Dalam kereta api yang mulai bergerak perlahan, ia tersenyum sendiri. Semuanya berjalan sesuai rencana, kecuali saat ia lupa mencabut kabel setrikaan.[]
Lhokseumawe, 4 Oktober 2007
