MOTORBIKE
Nang Dadag’s daughter has given him headache since she started her study at senior high school. After paying the school admission, which is quite lot, now she asks his father to buy her a mobile phone. She says she feels embarrassed if she doesn’t bring a mobile to school. Therefore Nang Dadag has to borrow from the village bank.
“When I was young, I was already happy when I was just able to go to school. The shirt and trousers I worn even have holes. It was like you were looking at the beautiful moon. But now, what happens to our children. They need many things,” he says to himself.
Not until one month, another problem comes. His daughter, Luh Kladi, decline to go to school at the public school. Every morning, tears drop from her eyes. It makes her parents confused. They think that somebody has hurt their daughter with black magic. She is their only daughter. Luh Kladi is very beautiful, her face is like an Indonesian cinetron star, Bunga Citra Lestari; she has nice body and sweet smile. That’s what make them think that somebody has sent he black magic.
“It’s quite difficult to have beautiful daughter. There must be a lot of young boys want her. If she refuses them, they might go to balian (healer) to hurt them. Someone might have hurt my daughter, that why she doesn’t want to go to school anymore and always cry. I think we should go to see a healer and ask for advice,” says Men Dagdag.
“I’m also confused. There has been two weeks like this. She never says the reason why she is like that. I still owe the village bank (LPD) to pay the school fee and her Blackberry. But what does she really want next?” Nang Dadag is really confused.
While cooking, Men Dadag tells her husband about some powerful healers. She mentions about one in Timpag Village and the other one in Jumpayah. But Pan Dadag is not really interested to them. He prefers the nearest one to where their village, Kukuh. Adeng, Senapahan and Koripan Villages are where he wants to go. He then decides to go the one in Bedil Village.
They both go to the village. The healer’s place is located in a BTN (real estate complex). When they arrive at the balian, he has another customer. Nang Dadag brings some coffee powder, tobacco, fried bananas, betel nut and tobacco. He knows that every time he goes to a healer, his ancestor will ask betel nut and tobacco.
The healer asks them to his house temple. He lit some incenses. The smoke from the incenses makes Nang Dadag has a coughing spell. The healer starts his mantras. He calls gods from all temples in Bali, Besakih, Lempuyang, Batukaru, etc. He also calls the gods in Mecca, Moscow and Africa. And a voice from the healer comes:
My children, what happens? Why did you call me your grandpa? You know I’m serving the gods in Dalem Temple. You must have some problems, otherwise you won’t come to me. Before I talk more to you, I want to ask you something? Did you bring some coffee, betel nut and tobacco? I haven’t smoked for such a long time, so give a cigarette too, says the ‘soul’ of Nang Dadag’s late grandfather through the healer’s mouth.
He hands the coffee, betel nut and tobacco to the healer. After that, the ‘soul’ asks a cigarette. What a ‘crazy’ soul, he thinks. After coffee and cigarette, he asks for Rp. 2 million so that he can gamble in heaven (suarga loka).
“You call me, but you hesitate to give me two million Rupiahs. Don’t you know that we also have food stalls (warung) in heaven. I owe one of them a lot of money. So just give me two millions Rupiahs. So, once you arrive home from here, you will sell your land. So, I just want my share,” says the soul (atman).
“So, what happens to my daughter?” asks Nang Dadag.
“Your daughter is not sick. It is just something that she really likes to have. Her heart is just kepingit (stuck) somewhere.”
“So what should I do?” asks he again.
“What you should do is go to a motorbike shop and buy her a motorbike. Once you buy her a motorbike, she will be okay again”
“My God, where can I find the money. I’ve already borrowed money from LPD for her school admission and her Blackberry!”
“I just told you……you must sell the lands so there will be no problem. Then you give me my share, two million. I know that my grandchildren have a lot of money from selling lands. You must know that I bought the lands. So just give me my share.”
Nang Dadag and Men Dadag do not buy what the balian says. It sounds crazy. They can’t understand how come he says that Luh Kladi is being ‘captivated’ by the gods of motorbike shops. And the solution is a ‘motorbike’, something that they can not afford. How they can buy a motorbike when they don’t have money that much, even when they have to pay by instalments. Selling their lands is the only way. That’s why they don’t buy the healer’s words.
When they arrive home, they find their daughter crying loudly and it seems she will never stop. They are getting more nervous.
“My dear, what does really happen? I’ve sent you to favourite school, matter that I have bribed the school. You asked for a mobile phone, I bought one for you. Just let me know, what happens to you?” ask Nang Dadag to his daughter.
Luh Kladi is quiet. She doesn’t give a response. His father keeps asking her. Men Dadag then brings an offering to the house temple and pray.
“Luh, let me know. Is there a boy who really likes you at school? Have you eaten any unhealthy food. Just let us know. We might be able to help. “
“Father,… “Luh Kladi starts to speak.
“Okay, go on…..no matter how bad it is…..just let us know! We will try to do our best.”
“Father, just buy me a motorbike (Mio), so I will be more confident at school.”
“Well, the balian is right. My daughter wants a motorbike.”
