BRIDE & BRIDEGROOM

anugerahadiwarta.org

By Putu Wijaya

A man greets Amin at the road side.

“Fellow Amin, you seemed to be in trouble !”
Amin startled. He did not imagine to be admonished. Moreover, by someone he does not even know. Amin kept silent. The person who greets him repeated his call while getting closer.

“I understand why you are sad.”

Amin stupefied. He looked at the person astonishingly.
“Me ?”
“Yes, you are fellow Amin, aren’t you ?”

The man held out his hand. Amin did not welcomed directly. The man grasped Amin’s hand and shook it cordially.

“You are fellow Amin, aren’t you?”
“Right.”
“I don’t know, what made you in trouble, fellow.”
Amin got confused.
“In trouble ? I am not in trouble.”
“You don’ need to hide it, fellow, we are brothers. We have to help each other. I am not willing to see you who used to be so diligent, have affection for the family, willing to help people, How come, on the contrary you are not paid attention to?”

“Paid attention to ?”
“Yes, never mind, fellow, I understand. A man like you fellow, refrain from asking for help. However, I feel it as an obligation. Here you are, don’t looked at the amount, but my readiness.”
The man handed an envelope. Amin became more confused.
“What do you mean, Sir ?”
“For you. fellow ?”
“For me ?”
“Yes !”
“What is this all about ?”
The man smiled and grasped Amin’s hand again.
“Please, accept it !”

The envelope was put into Amin’s hand, and he quickly turned around.
“Don’t open it now, do it at home !”

Amin was captivated. The man got fast into a waiting taxi and went away. Amin was perplexed. He moved the envelope up and down. When he opened it later on at home, he was not surprised looking at the money inside. The shape was known already beforehand. What is surprising is the total amount.
“Five million ? Exactly as what is needed,” said Amin while showing the cash to his wife.

“But we need six million.”
Amin took his salary envelope from his pocket.
“One million is from my salary, I just received it, it is considered as loan and will be deducted from my salary.”
“It is an exact amount to pay the (house) contract and motorcycle installments.”
“Yes, but how did he happen to know what we needed ?”
Amin’s wife bowed. Amin began to be suspicious.
“Do you know that man ?”
“No.”
“How did he know that we needed six million?”
“I don’t know.”
Amin took a long breath.
“Strange. There are no good people nowadays. Let alone five million, it is very difficult to borrow one million with motorcycle documents as guarantee. Thus if someone gives you five million but does not know you at all, I doubt. Something is behind that money gift, we are not allowed to make use of it !”
Amin’s wife apparently does not agree with that “But he was just asking you to take that painting to Room Number 1818 !” Amin was shocked.
“What painting ?!”
Amin’s wife pointed toward a painting package near the dining table. As if As if Amin’s heart beating stopped. His blood mounted. He could not react for some minutes, he did not believe what he saw. But after that he caught the hands of his wife rapidly and dragged her outside the house while screaming loudly:
“Booooooooooom !!!”
Amin’s wife fell down due to that strong pull, but Amin kept dragging her while shouting, The investigation finished not long afterwards and the package was declared safely.
“It is just a common painting, there is no bomb !”
The citizens did not believe it.
“All of you stay calm ! It is not a bomb, I is just common painting!”
The officials showed them a painting figure of Nyi Roro Kidul.
“Yes, but don’t leave it here, Sir. Take it along !”
The painting was then taken along. But Amin and his wife get also included. They have to be accounted for the disturbance. He has been considered as to cause terror which disturbed stability in this area.
“Luckily for him if he got only beaten black and blue, by the time he is coming home there is only half left !”, said a very irritated neighbour, “let him feel it, don’t play fun too far!”

But unexpectedly on that very night, Amin and his wife were brought home, together with the painting. There were no signs, that they were beaten up by the Police. The neighbours were rushing again. They got angry why Amin has been joking outrageously. Amin swore that he did not play by no means. He truly suspected that there was a bomb inside the painting package. However, no one believed him.
“Thus, what to do now, are you going to deliver that painting to Room 1818 ?:, asked Amin’s wife the following day.
“Yes, it has to be done, the instruction was like that at the post yesterday, isn’t it?”

Amin’s wife seemed not to agree with that statement. But she cannot do anything about it for the commitment was like that.

The painting was delivered to the hotel then after being wrapped again neatly as it was beforehand. The hotel staff invited Amin to take the painting along directly to Room 1818. Amin’s heart beat became stronger. Moreover when he has to start knocking the room door.

“Come in, it is not locked.”
Amin pushed the door and entered.
“Close it again!”
Amin closed it and turned back.
“Thank you, fellow!”
Amin was really shocked and fainted. Because the man in front of him was the one who gave him yesterday five million.
“Please sit down. Are you surprised ?”

Starting to feel that something was not in order, Amin has no choice but to take a seat. The man just laughed at him when looking at Amin’s nervousness.
“Are you confused ?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I am confused too, that you fellow Amin would just follow my orders. What about if the content was a bomb ? Please, when you are going back home, help to carry along this bag to the lobby. Just wait for a moment somebody will take it up, it has been promised. I have to receive an important phone call first. Go ahead, fellow Amin.”
The man pointed at an attaché case on the table. Amin was terrified.

“Please, fellow Amin,” said the man shile giving a signal to take the phone, “Hello, fine, just a moment …, Fellow Amin please just wait in the lobby, don’t go by the lift, it’s dangerous, go via the stairs!”
Amin was forces to stand up. He took the briefcase while shivering. Without saying anything he brought the case carefully to the lobby, while praying.

“Oh, Lord please forgive your humble servant. Don’t let this bomb explode……..” As soon as he entered the lobby, a staff in charge is ready waiting and took directly the case. He checked it carefully, Apparently the contents were only empty papers and a letter reading : “YOU ARE A FAILED BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM CANDIDATE !”

The briefcase was thrown down to the floor, and they broke into room 1818. But there was time enough for the room occupier to run away.

Source: Arti Magazine 19th edition