Dul
158. Conversation Before a Dish
“Wait a minute, Sir. I'm picking up grandpa into.” Dul got out of the taxi and pushed the fence with an unexpected force. It should be just a little bit so that his body can waltz in. In fact, the fence was wide open. “Acung …. Akung ...”
“Not come in and scream outside. Why come here again? Not a day plane? Taxis want to go inside?” Ms. Yanti stood in the doorway with her hair completely bleached and reading glasses perched on her nose.
At first Dul did not understand what Bu Yanti meant about the taxi that went inside, but when he looked back he just realized the open fence was like letting the taxi in. Dul. “Sorry..sorry.” Dul re-shifted the fence. “I want to pick up Akung for ngeteh afternoon. Sorry this time Uti has to be at home. Akung and I go together.”
“Bogs …. What business is it?” Bu Yanti was a little amused by the behavior of Mr. Wirya who became very excited just by an invitation to the cafe.
“Urusan men. Women will have a hard time understanding it.” Mr. Wirya appeared and answered his wife's question while chuckling.
Bu Yanti sneered. “You hang out everywhere remember that you can't eat carelessly. Don't forget, Dul. Do not preoccupy chatting until his Akung can order at will.”
“Faith. Uti trust me.” Dul immediately took Mr. Wirya to get out of the fence.
“If Heru doesn't come, it can be trusted.” Bu Yanti muttered the two backs that were leaving her. His hand then returned a wave of Dul's hand before entering the taxi.
“Jadi ... This is Annisa's business?” Mr. Wirya widened his brilliant eyes at Dul.
Dul glanced at the taxi driver behind the wheel. Grimacing he said, “Can I have a chat later? I'm ashamed, Kung.” His voice was almost a whisper.
Mr. Wirya chuckled and patted Dul on the knee. “Still a bad boy. Always think about what others think. Hope the cafe is not far away. Akung worried that the distance of your chatting tastes even reduced.”
“Not going to decrease and the cafe is not far.”
“It should be home, right? Plane noon?”
“The keys are up but I can buy another plane ticket. Simplest. Talk to someone who can't wait. Sorry I've been too busy lately. Rarely do Akung and Uti travel.”
“Cut also can't be long, right? A year is twelve days. Right so?”
Dul nodded. “In that way. But still I should have plenty of time for family. Though I miss Akung and Uti.” Dul massaged Mr. Wirya's shoulder with affection.
Mr. Wirta smiled shadyly looking at Dul. His wrinkled hands swapped on his eldest grandson's shoulder. “Learn to fill your youth as well as possible. Enjoy the best adventures in your mind. Celebrate the things you should celebrate while you are young. In order later ... if you get to old age, you do not easily fool young people. Let you be satisfied and not late to perform on your stage. Hows it? Akung is still cool, isn't it?”
The taxi stops in front of the cafe, which from the front looks like a luxury European-style house.
“This cafe? The hangout place is now cool-cool ya.” Mr. Wirya looks serious with his words. His head looked up to see a row of small windows that contained a balcony which was the accent of the building.
“This is a cafe with Italian specialties. His dessert is not very good. So, Akung do not have to feel the loss if not taste it. And ... since it's a weekday, this cafe shouldn't be too crowded.” Dul took Pak Wirya through a high door accompanied by the sound of bells clanking.
“Normally sits where? Women usually like to sit in front of the window. They like to wash their eyes while commenting on everyone passing.” Mr. Wirya spread his gaze to every corner of the cafe on the first floor.
“Sitting in front of that window over there.” Dul looked at Mr. Wirya with an affectionate look. His weapon had indeed arrived and no daylight could be played for him. Even so, nothing has escaped the sharpness of his mind. “I think I've followed the advice about enjoying youth. I feel happy, really. We sit here yes. I wouldn't lie if I used to sit here with Annisa. And the rich I said just now. Annisa likes to comment on everyone passing by.” Dul brings a smile that is always very expensive in the eyes of women. He is indeed not a man who easily laughs widely and brings smiles everywhere.
“Because it's an Italian restaurant, Akung wants to try the paste. Hope it feels as luxurious as this place. For his drink Akung asked for mineral water only. Usually Akung can eat dessert dishes if the drink is not sweet-sweet.”
The new waiter arrived to offer the menu, but Mr. Wirya had already finished mentioning the order. Dul was happy and compassionate to the old man. “Siap,” says Dul. “I order the most delicious Aglio Olio creamy mushroom paste for Akung. Keep drinking mineral water and dessert I allow a piece of tiramisu. Report received?” ask Dul.
“Create,” welcome Mr. Wirya, look happy with all Dul proposals.
“I order a cup of espresso and mineral water.” Dul again thrust the menu at the male waiter who memorized their order very succinctly.
Mr. Wirya still looked at the back of the waiter who left when he said, “Akung is happy to see you look to enjoy life. As a young man, he was busy achieving his dreams, and doing many useful things. You're lucky, Dul. You are lucky because you have achieved your own dream. It is not a parent's dream that is not achieved and asks his child to continue his dream. Your father is also lucky,” said Mr. Wirya half-awicked.
“Daddy is lucky to have a father like Akung. And I'm the luckiest to have a father like Dad. Having a grandfather like Akung. Wise people who let me pursue dreams without frills should be like this and that.”
Wirya looked at Dul. Not expecting that the figure of a little boy who came to his house twenty years ago in a state of complete chaos is now able to speak such clever words. “You are already an adult man,” he said.
“Still, Kung. It's true what Akung once said. To make someone's future better we don't need to know how someone was born but how someone was educated and raised.”
“And you managed to prove it very perfectly," said Mr. Wirya with teary eyes. Old age makes it easy to get overwhelmed.
To be continued