Asti Girl Carrying the Curse
Chapters 267. Back To Home
Their journey home through by using the toll road to Surabaya. Mr. Sugeng just stopped at a rest area for Maghrib prayer break. It seems that the Inova car that drove Mr. Jan is no longer visible..Maybe the car took a right turn road earlier that there was a large sign that said to go to the city of Surabaya.
They began to look for stalls or stalls that were next to the mushola by forming the U leter, for dinner. There are many stalls with various types of sales sold. Of course also with various types of cuisine that they can choose according to their individual tastes.
Ninuk, invite Akbar and Putri to one of the fast food outlets that are quite popular for children today. With the typical food stall painted in red and white at the same time there is a picture of the old grandfather who found the fried chicken recipe, which turned out to be worldwide.
There they chose a rice package, with fried chicken, and soft drinks as the choice. Ninuk also bought Qani chicken nuggets and french fries.
Other family members choose the menu of fried rice or fried noodles. Except Leon and Pak Cakra who want to try Padang cuisine sold at other stalls. They all ate at one big table, together. Because the system is messaging and instantly paid for. Sometimes there are also servants from the stall or stall later who will bring their orders to the big table.
It turns out that Qani wants to eat nuggets and fries that the aunt bought. Asti lets the baby sit in the stroller, while the ART can eat undisturbed. After eating, they took turns to the toilet to wash their face and brush their teeth. Even Bulek Ratih changed clothes with t-shirts and pants pajama model more comfortable to wear during the trip home.
In the Elf car, Mr. Sugeng and Mas Aji will take turns carrying the mobi on the next trip. Likewise in Pajero's car, later Joko will take him, because Pak Cakra is also tired.
" Continue, Mr. Sugeng... Mas Aji?" ask Lek No. They had intended to rest at an inn in a small town that they would pass by later. But Mr. Sugeng suspended. Because on the way home, they have often passed the road without obstacles.
" Easy - hopefully Fajr we have reached the provincial border!" Said Mr. Sugeng convinced them.
The Elf car moves first leaving the rest area. It seems that a few kilometers away, their vehicle will come out of the highway. The road they will use later is a highway that is usually called Pantura road or road on the North Coast.
It is said that this road was built in the Dutch colonial period, with the Forced Labor system. The Governor of the Dutch East Indies at that time, namely Herman William Daendels who ordered the manufacture of the Road, in order to facilitate communication on the island of Java. In addition to increasing progress, also so that they can move faster to other areas when attacked by enemies.
Pantura Road was stretched from Anyer at the western end of Java Island, which is now included in the province of Banten. Up to Panarukan at the eastern end, which includes the province of East Java.
Mas Aji is certainly more focused on the traffic condition that is quite crowded smoothly in front of him. At most are trucks - fully loaded trucks in the rear tub with various kinds of their luggage. There are also one or two inter-city and inter-provincial buses that begin to decorate the historic and suffering road. Because many people were killed when they were hired for the making. Most of those workers died from not getting enough decent food. Some are affected by outbreaks of diseases such as malaria or cholera. There are also people who resist and get very inhumane punishment.
Asti used to love history lessons a lot, when she was in high school at Junior High School. But the history or genealogical roots of his family are rather difficult to obtain because there is no record of him or written evidence.
Mbah Harjo Winangun said, if the grandfather of his great-grandfather was one of the confidants of the Prince of Java. He also helped the Prince's struggle during the Dutch occupation of the palace... As a warlord as well as a confidant, the job of Pak Harjo Winangun's great-grandfather was highly classified.
Even the land in the village of Sendang Mulyo was once a firecracker or place where the Prince of Java rested after a major war in the Palace in a power struggle with his relatives who assisted the Dutch army.
Be that firecracker opened into several villages today. While the wooden hut where the Javanese Prince rested and recovered from injuries in the battle, it was used as the Joglo house where the Asti family lived.
Om Ardi was deliberately included in Pajero's car with Leon and two assistants, as well as Mas Typhoon. Because even though both Asti children are not too fussy on the long journey. Almost everyone inside the Elves would be busy helping to take care of Qani and Akbar. Especially if the child is thirsty or asks for food. So that the excitement was afraid to disturb him who had just entered and knew their families.
Lek No moved to a back seat with his wife, after Mr. Sugeng fell asleep on the front bench. There were sholawat chants reverberating from the car radio set slowly, accompanying their journey home. Lek No was still sitting in the position behind the driver to accompany Mas Aji to chat, so that the driver would not get sleepy. They talk about anything, from fun, silly and funny things.
Akbar was lying on a chair beside Asti, using two empty seats for the boy to lie down. Qani is behind in the car seat, guarded by Ninuk. While in the back seat, there are Bu Jum, Putri and Mbak Ning who have fallen asleep. The seat was comfortable because there were 4 soft benches connected to each other. So that they can sit there.
" You didn't sleep Asti ?" tegur Lek No when he saw Asti who was still awake.
" Not yet, Lek! What time is it, huh?"
The man looked at the digital clock on the dashboard of the car. Almost 23:30. The road divider between the two directions in the path of Pantura is only a sidewalk that is not too wide. So that various lights of large car floodlights from the opposite direction slightly disturb the view of Mas Aji. It was precisely that circumstance that made the young man more careful and vigilant driving the car.
Especially if they pass a large bridge with a wide river below, Asti always reads prayers for salvation in his heart. Now his heart is so airy and full of gratitude... There is a strong bond that has been established...He still has relatives not only in Surabaya. Also in a village on the border of Banjarmasin city... That's where the Jaffar family's origins lie. His maternal grandparents who broadcast the teachings of Islam from one village to another.They were still using boats or canoes through the largest river in the province. A boundless and selfless devotion.
Pakde Muin instead told Lek No when he and his wife were forced to return to Purwokerto. There are families who are sick and need help from them. In fact, one of Mbah Sanjaya's sons followed them to Purwokerto City.
Right in a mosque on the outskirts of the big road they rested after hearing the chants of the holy verses of the Qur'an before the morning dawn. Lek No had slipped a pillow doll on Asti's head that was leaning on the glass window because he was asleep.
That's how the man might be the same age as Asti's deceased father. He always treated Asti like his own son, worthy of only his eldest daughter. He, his wife and Mr. Harjo Winangun together to nurture Asti from a red baby until he grew up as he is today.
Asti's children are also their grandchildren. But the couple is still patient waiting, if Joko is still busy arranging his career first. Because it is not an easy matter to live in their village that some parents still think simple and a little conservative.
Joko's efforts to advance by opening fried rice stalls and the like, is not an ideal picture for the young man as the prospective son-in-law of choice for some parents in their village. Anyway the ideal son-in-law for them is PNS... Or people of rank such as ABRI members and police. So Joko finally joined Leon's office by utilizing the knowledge he learned in his college bench, accounting.
Passengers from both cars got off. Especially Om Ardi who immediately went into the bathroom, and the mosque for morning prayers congregated. They enjoy the cool but refreshing morning air in the courtyard of the mosque away from the residential area.
Qani awakens and is immediately carried by Bu Jum. While Madam Ning was quick to prepare milk for the baby. From a distance Asti came with Ninuk and Bulek Ratih while carrying their prayer mats, mukena and sling bags.
" Thank God, we have arrived in Ngawi!" whisik Lek No. But Mas Aji still insisted on taking the car to Asti's house later. It may take another one to two hours to reach a distance of less than 50 km from this border city.