foto by star2.com
Astuti returns again to Gayo Luwes. Calling public transport to the village. The car just stopped at the big road lips, did not want to go inside. The village face changed drastically. With a rush of three pounds between the General road to his old house, Astuti saw no sign of life there again. His house was just a foundation. Like burning. Minah house and some villagers are also conditioned the same. Burned. There are only a few people who dare to live there, with the condition of makeshift house. But no one he knows. It seems that new people, or other villagers who want to settle here.
Fearless, Astuti asked about Minah's residence now and his son Rani, with the villagers. Their answers are sad. No one is familiar with Minah, let alone his son. Astuti finally asked to stay in one of the houses, until he finished making a tent from tarpaulins and woods on the top of his house that was burned.
After a few days, Astuti decided to go to town to sell vegetables that live wild in the forest and not used by the people around. Like kangkung, cassava leaves, eggplant, and a little cayenne pepper. After three pounds walk, then Astuti get sudako to get on the ride. Astuti chose to sit in the left corner of sudako's door, because the seat is more loose, there are only four female passengers, and two men.
One of the men in front of him was staring at Astuti. They stole a glance. "It seems that the man is really a bad guy, when there are wives and two children beside, still staring at other women," murmured Astuti. Strangely the gaze repeatedly. Make Astuti furious. Astuti turned his mind back on the merchandise, and ignored the man's glance. In the middle of the road, the man raised his right hand, and pressed the bell on the head of Astuti. The man's underarm smell stung sharply. Like the smell of vinegar. Astuti getting sick. Sudako stopped abruptly. Astuti caught a glimpse as the man whispered to the woman next to him, who looked like his wife.
"You're moving on this path, and I'm ahead again. We split up. "
The woman is carrying a baby who appears to be one year old. In his left hand was a little girl guiding the middle-aged woman's way. He looks blind. But Astuti did not really believe it. Because in this country, they often lie for personal purposes, pretending to be blind. Just to beg, for them to be pitied. It was clearly visible, the middle-aged woman, consciously seeing the view of the road, as if counting how many vehicles had been missed. Normal eyes. Once realized Astuti notice, instantly it also closed his eyelids, which looks just white eyes only. Is not that bad?
Not how long, all the passengers descended in their respective destinations. Of course this situation is very sinister for Astuti. At the back only Astuti and the man who continued to look at him without any shame again. Astuti became increasingly uncomfortable, but she tried to calm her feelings, if the location she was headed was not far away.
"Astuti, you still know me?" Asked the man.
Astuti must have been shocked, the man knew his name. Astuti getting scared. Astuti thinks, whether this man is a resident of the next village who once had a quarrel with his deceased husband. Astuti feels his life will end this day. He assumes that someone knows him as Mukhlis's wife first and wants to spill to kill him on sudako.
Astuti just stared at him. Sudako continued to race with the wind that roared loudly through the window. Astuti's face was getting pale. His breath was severed. With forced Astuti say yes. The man approached. Sit right next to her. Immediately Astuti's eyes bulged with his mouth open-mouthed almost shouting loudly. The man's hand closed her mouth "Do not yell, I want to talk to you," he said in a whisper.
"Actually I'm your husband, Mukhlis dear. It's up to you to believe it or not. Or indeed you have forgotten me. Whatever, I do not care. But I still know you Tut. I accidentally hit the hair on my face, and I added my weight too. So now I'm almost similar to genduruwo. May you remember the birthmark beneath my armpits, "Mukhlis raised his hand and tried to reveal the birthmark to Astuti. The odor of body acid was reoccurring in the narrow sudako space.
Mukhlis continued his conversation with Astuti whispering over sudako that was about to land at the market terminal. "When our village was destroyed by the next village, I was kidnapped, but I tried to escape. You see the codet on my forehead, it's because of a fistfight with them. My right hand is totally paralyzed, because they shocked me with electricity. The shudder affects my eyes. One of my eyes was blind. I've been looking for you for a long time. Last I heard you were Crazy, and was treated at Zainal Abidin Mental Hospital, Banda Aceh. I did not dare visit you. I'm afraid there's still someone who's stalking me.
But my longing is getting bigger. Even every night I'm always haunted by guilt for letting you get in there. I think I'll take care of you under any circumstances. Three years after I hid, I returned to this land again. I tried to see you, but the doctor did not give permission. Because the police statement explained, there should be no one who membesukmu even just see it. Because someone ever tried to kill you in the hospital.
Astuti spilled her cries all the time. Letting her tears flow, without being dabbed at all by her. "If indeed in front of me now is my husband, where is our child?" Astuti asked in a defiant voice.
"You see that little girl, she is Rani, our son. I told her to take care of Rani as I hid in the forest. I also married the woman. Now I can not keep myself perfectly, and work normally again after I'm physically paralyzed. This is our livelihood now. Beg. So also Rani, I invite him to help us. In order to meet the needs of life. Occasionally Rani accompanied Sa'diah, to guide him.
"How cruel you are, Mukhlis. Fixed the situation. I see clearly that Sa'diah is not really blind. "Astuti challenged.
"Forgive me Astuti, only with this we can survive" continued Mukhlis.
With tears that continue to roar dense, Astuti ask for a permohan with Mukhlis "I want Rani to live with me. I promise not to hire Rani to beg. I will do my best to finance Rani's life, so that she can feel a better life, and not work as a beggar again. Even to be washing laborers are also ready to run. As long as Rani can live with me. "
"No. Rani my asset for now. "Mukhlis Timpal.
After the sudako car stopped at the crossroads, Mukhlis came out and strolled towards the driver to pay for the rental car, and Astuti followed up begging for tears to make his request granted by Mukhlis.
"Mukhlis, Rani also my son, I have the right to care for him" Astuti shouted loudly. Astuti sobbed sadly. Mukhlis goes farther away from Astuti. Astuti kept on chasing her, thinking she wanted to end her life or go back to the way she used to be, crazy. Astuti never imagined his life could happen this bit.
THE END
foto by star2.com
Astuti kembali lagi ke Gayo Luwes. Memanggil angkutan umum ke arah kampungnya. Mobil hanya berhenti di bibir jalan besar, tidak mau masuk ke dalam. Wajah kampung berubah drastis. Dengan jalan tergesa yang jauhnya tiga kilo antara jalan Umum ke rumahnya dulu, Astuti tidak melihat ada tanda-tanda kehidupan lagi di sana. Rumahnya dulu Hanya tinggal pondasi. Seperti hangus terbakar. Rumah mbok Minah dan beberapa penduduk kampung juga berkondisikan sama. Hangus terbakar. Hanya tinggal beberapa orang saja yang berani tinggal di situ, dengan kondisi rumah seadanya. Namun tidak seorangpun yang dia kenal. Nampaknya orang baru, atau penduduk kampung lain yang ingin menetap di sini.
Dengan perasaan takut, Astuti bertanya tentang kediaman Mbok Minah sekarang dan anaknya yang bernama Rani, dengan penduduk kampung ini. Jawaban mereka miris. Tidak satupun yang kenal dengan Mbok Minah, apalagi anaknya. Astuti akhirnya meminta menginap di salah satu rumah, sampai dia selesai membuat tenda dari terpal dan kayu hutan di atas rumahnya dulu yang hangus terbakar.
Selang beberapa hari, Astuti memutuskan pergi ke kota untuk menjual sayuran yang hidup liar di hutan dan tidak dimanfaatkan oleh penduduk sekitar. Seperti kangkung, daun singkong, terong, dan sedikit cabai rawit. Setelah berjalan tiga kilo lamanya, barulah Astuti mendapatkan sudako untuk bisa di tumpangi. Astuti memilih duduk di pojok kiri pintu sudako, karena tempat duduk lebih longgar, hanya ada empat penumpang wanita, dan dua pria.
Salah seorang pria yang ada di hadapannya itu menatap lekat Astuti. Mereka bercuri pandang. “Nampaknya lelaki itu betul-betul pria nakal, padahal sudah ada istri dan dua orang anak di sebalahnya, masih saja menatap wanita lain,” gumam Astuti. Anehnya tatapan itu berulang kali. Membuat Astuti geram. Astuti kembali memfokuskan pikirannya kedagangan, dan mengabaikan lirikan lelaki itu. Di pertengah jalan, lelaki itu mengangkat tangan kanannya, dan menekan bel yang ada di atas kepala Astuti. Bau ketiak lelaki itu menyengat tajam. Seperti aroma asam cuka. Astuti semakin mual. Sudako berhenti mendadak. Astuti mendengar sekilas saat lelaki itu berbisik dengan wanita disebelahnya, yang kelihatan seperti istrinya.
“ Kau bergerak di jalan ini, dan Aku kedepan lagi. Kita berpencar.”
Wanita itu menggendong bayi yang nampaknya sudah berusia satu tahun. Di tangan kirinya tampak gadis kecil menuntun jalan wanita paruh baya itu. Dia kelihatan buta. Tapi Astuti tidak terlalu percaya. Sebab di negeri ini, mereka sering berbohong demi tujuan pribadi, berpura-pura buta. Hanya untuk mengemis, agar mereka dikasihani. Tadi jelas sekali terlihat, wanita paruh baya itu, dengan sadar melihat pemandangan ke badan jalan, seakan menghitung berapa banyak kendaraan yang sudah terlewati. Matanya normal. Setelah tersadar Astuti perhatikan, seketika itu pula kelopak matanya ditutup kembali, yang tampak hanya mata putihnya saja. Sungguh culas bukan ?
Tidak berapa lama, semua penumpang turun di daerah tujuan masing-masing. Tentu situasi ini sangat menyeramkan bagi Astuti. Di bagian belakang hanya tinggal Astuti dan lelaki yang terus menatapnya tanpa ada rasa malu lagi. Astuti semakin risih, namun dia mencoba menenangkan perasaannya, kalau lokasi yang dia tuju tidak jauh lagi.
“Astuti, kau masih mengenalku?” tanya lelaki itu.
Astuti tentu sangat terkejut, lelaki itu mengetahui namanya. Astuti semakin ketakutan. Astuti berfikir, apakah pria ini penduduk kampung sebelah yang dulu pernah bersengkata dengan almarhum suaminya. Astuti merasa hidupnya akan berakhir dihari ini. Dia menganggap bahwa ada yang mengenalnya sebagai istri Mukhlis dulu dan ingin menumpahkan hajat untuk membunuhnya di atas sudako.
Astuti hanya menatap tajam lelaki itu. Sudako terus melaju kencang dengan angin yang menderu keras masuk lewat jendela. Wajah Astuti semakin pucat pasi. Nafasnya tersenggal-senggal. Dengan terpaksa Astuti mengatakan iya. Lelaki itu mendekat. Langsung duduk di sebelahnya. Seketika itu pula mata Astuti melotot dengan mulut ternganga hampir berteriak keras. Tangan Lelaki itu menutup mulut Astuti “ Jangan berteriak, Aku ingin berbicara dengan mu,” ucap pria itu sambil berbisik.
“Sebenarnya Aku ini suami mu, Mukhlis sayang. Terserah kamu mau percaya atau tidak. Atau memang kau sudah lupa dengan Ku. Terserah, Aku tidak peduli. Tapi aku masih mengenalmu Tut. Aku sengaja menumbukhan rambut di wajahku, dan Aku menambahkan berat badanku pula. Makanya sekarang aku hampir mirip dengan genduruwo. Semoga kau masih ingat tanda lahir di bawah ketiakku ini,” Mukhlis mengangkat tangan baju dan berusaha menampakkan tanda lahir itu pada Astuti. Bau Asam tubuh itu kembali merebak di ruang sudako yang sempit.
Mukhlis melanjutkan bincangannya dengan Astuti sambil berbisik di atas sudako yang sebentar lagi akan mendarat di terminal pasar. “Waktu kampung kita luluh lantak dihajar kampung sebelah, Aku memang diculik, tapi Aku berusaha meloloskan diri. Kau lihat codet di dahiku, ini karena baku hantam dengan mereka. Tangan kanan ku lumpuh total, karena mereka menyetrum Ku dengan listrik. Setruman itu berpengaruh terhadap mataku. Sebelah mataku sudah buta. Aku sudah lama mencarimu. Terakhir ku dengar kau Gila, dan dirawat di Rumah Sakit Jiwa Zainal Abidin, Banda Aceh. Aku tidak berani menjengukmu. Aku khawatir masih ada yang mengintai Ku.
Namun rinduku semakin membuncah. Bahkan setiap malam Aku selalu dihantui perasaan bersalah karena membiarkan Mu kesakitan didalam sana. Rasa-rasanya Aku berfikir biarlah Aku yang akan merawatmu dengan kondisi apapun. Tiga tahun setelah Aku bersembunyi, Aku kembali lagi ke tanah ini. Aku berusaha menjengukmu, tapi dokter tidak memberi izin. Karena surat keterangan polisi menjelaskan, tidak boleh ada satupun yang membesukmu walaupun sekedar melihat saja. Sebab pernah ada yang berusaha membunuhmu di Rumah Sakit.
Astuti menumpahkan tangisan sejadi-jadinya. Membiarkan air matanya mengalir, tanpa sedikitpun diseka olehnya. “Kalau memang di hadapanku sekarang adalah suami ku, di mana anak kita?” Tanya Astuti dengan suara menantang.
“Kau lihat gadis kecil tadi, dialah Rani, anak kita. Aku menyuruh wanita itu untuk merawat Rani saat aku bersembunyi di hutan. Aku juga telah menikahi perempuan itu. Sekarang aku tidak bisa menafkahi lahiriah secara sempurna, dan bekerja normal lagi setelah fisikku lumpuh. Inilah mata pencarian kami sekarang. Mengemis. Begitu juga Rani, ku ajak dia untuk membantu kami. Agar kebutuhan hidup teratasi. Sesekali Rani mendampingi Sa’diah, untuk menuntunnya.
“Betapa kejamnya kau, Mukhlis. Memperalat keadaan. Ku lihat dengan jelas, bahwa Sa’diah tidak benar-benar buta.” Astuti menantang.
“Maafkan aku Astuti, hanya dengan ini kami bisa bertahan hidup” lanjut Mukhlis.
Dengan air mata yang terus menderu lebat, Astuti meminta satu permohan dengan Mukhlis “Aku ingin agar Rani hidup bersama Ku. Aku berjanji tidak akan mempekerjakan Rani untuk mengemis. Aku akan berusaha sekuat tenaga untuk membiayai kehidupan Rani, agar dia bisa merasakan hidup yang lebih layak, dan tidak bekerja menjadi pengemis lagi. Bahkan untuk jadi Buruh cuci juga siap aku jalankan. Asalkan Rani bisa hidup bersamaku.”
“Tidak. Rani asetku untuk saat ini.” Timpal Mukhlis.
Setelah mobil sudako berhenti dipersimpangan jalan, Mukhlis keluar dan berjalan kencang kearah sopir untuk membayar sewa mobil, dan disusul Astuti mengemis haru menahan air mata agar permintaannya dikabulkan Mukhlis.
“Mukhlis, Rani juga anak Ku, Aku punya hak untuk merawatnya” Astuti berteriak lantang. Astuti terisak pilu. Mukhlis semakin jauh berlalu menghindari Astuti. Astuti terus mengejarnya, sambil berfikir ingin mengakhiri hidupnya atau kembali seperti dulu saja, gila. Astuti tak pernah membayangkan kehidupannya bisa terjadi sepahit ini.
TAMAT
Salam untuk penulis Top Aceh 
dan untuk komunitas steemit indonesa 
n all my friend 
