45 Minutes at KA Cepat Jakarta - Bandung
A Boring Routine

The train drove smoothly through the city of Jakarta which was full of sparkling lights. Rama, Maya, Ahmad, and Siti sit together in their seats, staring at a small screen that displays a map of the fast train journey. But their conversation is no longer about that. They were immersed in the chatter about their daily lives.

Rama, with his slightly messy hair and tired-looking eyes, shook his head. "My work hours are getting longer every day. I haven't even had time to pursue a hobby."

Maya, who was wearing a beautiful art dress, nodded in agreement. "I feel the same, Rama. My art exhibition is just around the corner, and I feel like I'm stuck in a cycle of preparation and promotion. It makes me lose my passion."

Ahmad, who sat across from them with his laptop open, voiced his feelings, "Of course, writing is a job I love, but the pressure of tight deadlines makes me feel stuck in a routine."

Siti, in her neat doctor uniform, told them about her life in the hospital, "You know for yourself, as a doctor, I always have to be ready whenever needed. That means no time for yourself."

They all feel stuck in the same routine. A fast train drove across the outskirts of the city, and Rama stared out the window with a blank look, trying to forget his heaped work.

"Is this all that we have in our lives?" Rama asked in a low tone.

Maya shook her head. "I miss a time when art was about expression, not about selling it."

Ahmad looked over from his laptop screen and concluded, "Maybe we all need a break from this routine."

Siti nodded. "I agree. Sometimes, our work can be the cause of excessive stress."

The four of them fell silent for a moment, digesting their own words. As the train passes through the dense forest, they feel connected to the nature out there, which is so far from the boring routine of the city.

Ahmad suddenly closed his laptop and placed it on the side. "How about we try something different during this trip? Something that entertains and distracts from our routine."

Maya smiles. "That's a good idea, Ahmad. I feel like we need entertainment."

Rama agreed. "What do you want to do?"

Ahmad smiled mysteriously. "We're going to play a card game."

Maya, Rama, and Siti looked at each other with smiles. "Why not?" Maya says.

They all laughed as Ahmad took out a deck of cards from inside his bag. The cards look to have been in use for quite a while, with slightly worn corners, but still in good condition. They gather on a small table between their seats, and the game begins.

During the game, they tease each other, joke, and laugh. They forget their problems for a moment and enjoy the moment. In playing cards, they rediscover the joy and togetherness they have long left behind.

As the sun began to set behind the mountains, they were still engrossed in their card games, but this time with a bigger smile on their faces. They feel a little lighter, a little more alive, and a little closer to each other.

Outside the window, a beautiful natural landscape with towering mountains and meandering rivers flowing gives them a different perspective on life. They know that card games are the beginning of something that changes in their journey.

Siti opened her bag and shakily pulled out an old deck of cards that had started to turn yellow. Even though the cards are a bit outdated, they look quite decent to play. Siti smiled brightly as she placed the cards on the small table between them.

"How about we play cards to get rid of boredom?" Siti asked with a smile, eyes that previously looked serious now sparkled.

Rama, Maya, and Ahmad looked at the cards with enthusiasm. They agreed almost simultaneously.

"Why not? It would be fun" Ahmad said, taking a seat around a small table.

Siti deftly distributed the cards to them, and soon the game began. When the cards are first seen by the players, a spontaneous loose laugh is heard. They play card games like Poker, but with the rules they create themselves, and as with each round, the level of competition and excitement increases.

Siti, who initially only observes, quickly becomes a brave participant in the game. He presents his cards with surprising intelligence and playing ability. When he won the big pot with three aces, everyone put down their cards with a stunned smile.

But the most important thing is the atmosphere created. The fast train that previously felt so ordinary was now filled with laughter and jokes. The other passengers sitting around them were even smiling at this group who seemed to have an amazing time having fun in the train.

As the night begins to fall, the train lights gently light up, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. Outside the windows, a beautiful natural landscape with green trees and a wide carriage road through the forests adds to the peaceful feel.

Every time someone won, they all shouted cheerfully and cheered. When one loses, his laughter becomes entertainment for the other. They completely forget their routines and life pressures. This moment was an escape from everything they faced everyday.

As the card game progresses, the conversation between them continues. They tell stories of hilarious memories from childhood, their unrealized dreams, and the adventures they wish to experience in the future.

The train continues to ride through the deepening night, and despite the increasingly fierce card games, they know that tonight was a special one. This is the night when they find happiness in being together, forget boring routines, and feel how precious these simple moments in their lives are.

That night, on a speed train heading for a destination they had not known, they felt a kind of freedom they rarely experienced in their daily lives. This is the beginning of the change, and they realize that several times, you just need to play cards with new friends to revive your spirit.

Siti sat in her chair with a bright smile that adorned her face. This simple card game seems to have presented a completely different side of a doctor who is always serious in the hospital. He seemed to really enjoy every moment of the game.

Rama looked at Siti in surprise. "Siti, I didn't know that you were so cheerful. Usually in the hospital, you look very serious."

Siti laughed amusedly. "Yes, I have to be serious in the hospital, but that doesn't mean I can't have fun out there. This is my short vacation from the medical world."

Maya, who had just won one hand with a proud expression, smiled. "It's fun, Siti. You really liven up the atmosphere here."

Ahmad agrees. "I think we all need some kind of escape from our routine. And this card game seems to be the perfect choice."

Siti nodded in agreement as she held her cards in an agitation. "When we get lost in our daily routine, we often forget how to have fun. It's a moment that reminds us of the other side of life."

Outside the window, the natural scenery is getting more beautiful along with the fast train journey that continues. The shady green forests and tranquil rivers provide a contrast to the busy city life they usually encounter.

Siti laughed again as she showed her cards to the others. "Alright, I have this great card. Who would bet against me?"

Maya, who has always loved challenges, smiles and puts a number of chips in the middle of the table. "I'm brave, Siti."

They bet seriously, but there is cheerfulness in the atmosphere. Each of them seems to have found an escape from their routine in this card game, and they enjoy it wholeheartedly.

As the game progresses, Siti continues to be the center of attention. He agilely set up a strategy, sometimes doing a bluff that made everyone laugh. His movements were full of vigor, and his eyes flashed every time he won. There was no sign of a serious doctor always dealing with life and death in the hospital.

Rama notices the way Siti looks at her cards seriously before making her next move. "Siti, you really are an expert in this game. I've never seen you so enthusiastic."

Siti smiling. "When we do something we enjoy, we can always find another side of ourselves that may be hidden all along."

As the night deepened, and the fast train continued to accelerate at an astonishing speed, they all felt like they had been on an incredible adventure. This card game is not just entertainment; it is a way to break away from the clinging to routine and rediscover the happiness sometimes lost in everyday life.

Siti won a few rounds of the game, but in the end, all of them felt like winners. They had rediscovered the joy together and faced the night with laughter and smiles.

As the speed train drove through the silent night forest, they felt that the night was the beginning of a change. Perhaps the happiness and togetherness they experience in this train will lead them on a bigger adventure out there, move away from the boring routine and into a world filled with surprise and excitement.