writingholic

July, 2002

She was Gung Ayu. Anak Agung, her first name was from Brahman caste. It means that she comes from highest caste in Bali social culture. Who were comes from Brahman caste, will must be respected with all people who come from lowest castes. The resections given to them who come from this caste. But it was almost false for Gung Ayu. She felt that it was hard to be a person from highest caste. All of her live must on culture rule and norm.

“No!!! You can’t!!!! You can’t marry with him!”

“Why ajik? I love him. And I know he loves me too. “

Gung Ayu spoke almost screamed.

“I believe, that we are love each other and I believe that he can make my live happy!!”

“But you must remember. Our family is come from Brahman Caste! His caste is sudra! It means that, you cannot marry with him!!!”

“You can choose the other men to become your husband. Dewa Gung or Gung Ngurah. You can choose one of them!”

“No, I don’t love Dewa Gung or Gung Ngurah!! So, why? Why I can’t marry with him? It only because Bli Gede is Sudra? I can’t believe it!! It is anlogicable!! I love him, only him!!! And he loves me too. It is enough for me!!!.”

Gung Ayu ran to her room, and cry. Her Biang spoke less. She knew what her daughter feeling. But her husband was right. Her family was Brahman Caste. And Gung Ayu was the only one of her daughter. And she did not have the other daughter or son to continue the Dewa Agung Ngurah clan, her husband clan. It means that Gung Ayu must continue the family clan, if not, Sanggah Merajan will be not has any heir and Dewa Agung Ngurah clan will be cepung. She must married with one man who are same caste with her and be ready to nyentana

Biang Ayu entered Gung Ayu room. She looked her daughter cried on the bed. Slowly she sat on the bed, and caresses her daughter’s hair.

“Look at me my princes, I know your feeling”

“No!! You don’t!! You don’t understand what I feel. It is not fair if I can’t marry with bli Gede if only because caste problem. I love him, Biang… I really love him…”

“I know dear, you really love him. I can look at your face. But, don’t you think about our family? How about our sanggah? Who will continue our clan if you still on your convictions?”

Gung ayu was still crying. Spoke less.

“I know dear, it is hard for you. But you can’t leave your responsible. You are the only one of our expectation in family” said Biang Ayu while left her daughter.

****

Gede Arya Wisnutama was Gung Ayu boyfriend since she was in Senior High School. He was the first boyfriend until now. Gung Ayu really loved him. Gede Arya was her price that nobody can change. He was so handsome, really care with her. And he was a faithful man. Every hour, every minutes was a sweet moment with him. And Gung Ayu known, really know that the family rule banned her relationship with Gede Arya. The caste rule and culture limited her choice. But Gung Ayu decided to stand with her expectation. She believes that Siti Nurbaya era was over. She would take every consequence that she has. She believes that!!!

“Gung Ayu, exactly I won’t to choose a false choice. I really love you. My love is stronger than everything in the world. I want live with you. But, can you are mine if Ajik and Biang still don’t agree with our relationship?” said Gede Arya

“No Bli Gede!! I don’t care with them. I really love you. Whatever their word, I still loving you! And I believe with you. You will keep my heart. Always!!

“I love you too my dearly love. And if you believe with me, I will keep you with all my power. Trust me!!” Whispered Gede Arya although his heart still worries.

Gung Ayu smiled. This night was the most great ever her lives. And star shined so bright, as bright as her heart.

****

October, 2002

The star shined brightly in the dark sky, decorated the lonely moon in the rainbow veil. A little bat dancing in the giant coconut leaf. It was October, the summer month. Every human could prepare what he or she want. But everything could not happen as we expected. It is God power that makes everything happen.

Three month passed so fast. It was summer, but it was different day. Rain fell in the midday. Gung Ayu still keeps her convictions. She wants to marry with Gede Arya, although her parent, expecialy her father still banned her relationship with Gede Arya. She really believes that Gede Arya was the right man for her live.

Three month passed so fast, there was no any reason, why. Gede Arya never came to Gung Ayu home. No any reason, no any news why Gede Arya never came. Gung Ayu did not understand about it. His phone was not active.

“Does he not love Gung Ayu anymore? Or is he so hopeless with his relationship? Or is he….”

No, Gung Ayu didn’t want to think about that. She know that Gede Arya really love her. She still remembered his promise that his love is stronger than everything in the world. But, three month passed without any reason why Gede Arya disappeared. Gung Ayu was getting restless

Gung Ajik, Gung Ayu’ Father was sick. Day after day his condition deteriorated. He was an old man, 76 years old. Too old to survive with all problems in his live. Until one day, he passed away. Before Gung Ajik passed away, his testament said that Gung Ayu must get married with Agung Ngurah, and continue the family clan.It makes Gung Ayu fell in the deep sadness. She felt lost all of her lives.

Gung Ayu felt it was not fair but, no any choice more. She must marry with Gung Ngurah, although she never loved him. Gede Arya Wisnutama, was disappear, took her love and her heart, without any reason. Everything gone, everything was useless, everything was over. Her hearts, her lives.

****

February 2003

Honey moon is a big happiness moment for many couple. It must be a special moment to celebrate our love, and celebrate our new life with our lovely person. But that was not happened with Gung Ayu. Her wedding party was over. Her honey moon spent in Legian, one of romantics place in Bali. But it was not a romantic moment for Gung Ayu. Although she was married with a handsome and rich man, she still felt that her heart was poor, without any love. A half year was passed. It was not made Gung Ayu can erase her love to Gede Arya. Her love is only for Gede Arya, only for him.

Gung Ngurah, her Husband still took the picture in the Legian Bomb Bali Monument. It was a place where the Bomb Tragedy happened in October 2001, where many people, tourist, also local boy became the victim of terrorist brutality. That was a black moment in Bali. But now, there was a beautiful place with a monument which decorated with small garden. In this monument there was written the name of this tragedy victims. Gung Ayu looked at the monument and slowly read one by one the name which was written in this monument. Suddenly her eyes could not believe what was written. Between Hundred names, there were written a name “Gede Arya Wisnutama”.. She did not believe it. So, it was the reason why Gede Arya left her without any reason. So it was the reason why Gede Arya…. It because…. Oh no…

Her vision was dark……

****

October, 2005

Every human could prepare what he or she want. But everything could not happen as we expected. There is God power that makes everything happen. He knows when the true time to give happiness or sadness, but whatever is that, Love is the biggest power that human has. And true love is never end although the God choose the sadness to given to us.

A lady with a red rose came to the Bali Bomb Monument in Legian. Carefully she smiled, and put his red rose in front of the monument. Warm from the afternoon sun was not too stinging her smooth skin. She still looked at the monument, his tears creep down on her cheek. Slowly she whispered

“My love is never end for you, bli Gede Arya”

Author notes:

Sudra : the lowest caste in Bali social culture

Bli : name for older brother or someone who older than us in Bali

Anak Agung : one of high Caste in Bali

Ajik : Father

Biang : Mother

Sanggah Merajan : a holy place for Balinese

Cepung : un continued generation

Nyentana : a man who lives together with his wives family and continued his wives clan

JRO BALIAN SIDHI MANTRA

The sun was felt to the west when the lady entered the graveyard. She looked around, felt a sudden anxiety that hidden eyes watched her. It was cold afternoon when the kepah and rangdu tree made a sorrow shadow and owl singing the night song.

“Kuuk….kuuk… kuuk…”

Kajeng kliwon night was not made her fear to walk between the headstone and undulated ground. She looked more carefully now and in the late afternoon sunlight caught part of a weathered inscription. Slowly she sat on the ground under sanggah cucuk. The smell of the smoke from incense covered around graveyard. Slowly she whispered mantra, and her body were changed..

******

Kampung rangdu was a traditional village on the hillside of mount Batur. The area is on the side of Batur Lake. Most of rangdu people were farmer. There were many vegetable growths in Kampung Rangdu. The atmosphere in kampung Rangdu is quiet and friendly. The people seem very poor, the streets and houses are small and colorful. There had no hospital or medical staff in this place. It made the balian, or a traditional medicine man had a special jobs and important role in this place.

One day, when the full moon went over the sky, when the jackal yowled in the side of mount batur. Kampung Rangdu atmosphere turned to be dreadful. The rainbow moved fast, wind screamed on the rangdu trees.

It called soma pemacekan agung day, the day of evil. Kampung Rangdu becomes sorrow. The jackal walked around the village. The body was black, with white spot. The eyes was red, with long fang on it mouth. Jackal yowled, with face looked to the sky. It was not a common jackal.

Every night the jackal walked around the village. And start from that, all of Rangdu people became ill. The jackal brought disease in Kampung Rangdu.

The diseases was rampant everywhere, everyday. All of rangdu people became suffered. Death was a common view there.

All kinds of caru were made to drive out the disease. Caru panca sata, guru piduka, but all of it were useless. The terror was never ending. All of rangdu people were hopeless. They did not know what to do.

Men bekung, also became the victim. She tried to find the balian. Her son was ill. And she came to the Jro Balian’ house.

“Jro balian, please help me. My son is sick. I don know, what wrong with my son…”

She cried with her son in her back. The son was five years old, with a black skin and thin body. His face looked pale. His body likes a corps, silent and motionless.

Jro balian wisely smile, and slowly sat down at sekepat.

“Don’t worry Men Bekung. Now, can I see your son’s stomach?”

Jro Balian looked at son’s stomach. Slowly touched him body, and whispered a mantra at his ear. Magically, the son woke up and he looked fine like nothing happened something wrong before. Men bekung smiled, she looked happy with this miracle. Her son was fine without any lack.

“It was a supernatural pale. If you late to bring your son to me, you will lost your son. Now, you can back home. Don’t worry, your son now saved”

“Thank you Jro Balian” said men Bekung happily.

After that time, Jro Balian Sidhi became a famous balian in the Kampung Rangdu. Many people could be fine with her mantra, without any media, just only her mantra. Her ability to curing people was amazing. Every day her house was crowded by people who need her help. Of course, it was not free for getting her medicine. They must pay some money for it. But, strangely the disease in Kampung rangdu was never ending, although Jro balian sidhi mantra was curring the people of Kampung Rangdu. Strangely, they could be fine only for several days. In three or four day, the disease was back again. No body could curing this illness, accepts Jro Balian Sidhi Mantra. It made Jro Balian Sidhi Mantra became richer.

*****

The sun was felt to the west when Jro Balian Sidhi Mantra entered the graveyard. She looked around, felt a sudden anxiety that hidden eyes watched her. It was cold afternoon when the kepah and rangdu tree made a sorrow shadow and owl singing the night song.

“Kuuk….kuuk… kuuk…”

Kajeng kliwon night was not made her fear to walk between the headstone and undulated ground. She looked more carefully now and in the late afternoon sunlight caught part of a weathered inscription. Slowly she sat on the ground under sanggah cucuk. The smell of the smoke from incense covered around graveyard. Slowly she whispered mantra, and her body was changed. Become a jackal. Which it eyes was red, with long fang on it mouth.

Jackal yowled, with face looked to the sky.

It was not a common jackal.

**The End**

* Author’s note

Kepah : name of tree, commonly grow in the graveyard

Rangdu : name of tree

Kajeng kliwon : name of day in Bali

Sanggah cucuk : ceremony equipment in Bali

Balian : traditional medicine man

Men : lady or miss

Sekepat : a small traditional building in Bali

MY CYCLE BRINGS ME TO THE BLUE BEACH

I make the final preparation on my black cycle. All of the gears are already wet by the oil. The black tall cycle’s body also looks clean with out any dust. I wipe the brown saddle with a smooth yellow towel, to make it more perfect and make my more confidence to ride it. I am now ready to ride my cycle

Slowly I ride my cycle in the quiet street. I put my headset on my ears, and turn on my mp3 player. The Steven and the coconut trees’ song buzzing smoothly in my ears, give me the power to ride my cycle to the beach. Warm from the afternoon sun is not too stinging my skin. The winds add my spirit to ride my cycle faster and faster, bring me to the beach.

The sun shines friendly with the red gold light in the west. I look the ocean with the smile in my lips. The waves from the shore crash one another, give a fun melody in my heart. The little rainbow rise when the waves crash and spray in the stone, make the situation more amazing. The glitter sand is wet covered with foam and bubble from the waves. I can taste the salt in the air. It gives the peaceful fill in my heart. I think, it is the most perfect thing that I see in my life.

I feel unsatisfied if only look it from my cycle saddle. I put my cycle under the big shady coconut tree. I sit down in the wet glitter sand and let the waves tickling my foot. The warm waves foam relaxing my tired along my adventure with my cycle. My power back again when the fresh sea wind caress my sweaty body.

I take a little stone beside me, and throw it to the water as far as I can. Stone jump into water and left little ripples in the waves. To my surprise, I look out and see smooth gray hump wit a dorsal fin surface about one-half meters in the crest of waves. It is a dolphin! I find the other dolphin and join the first dolphin. They are swimming in front of me, playing in the surf like dancing a swings dance. It’s a wonderful experience!

About an hour, the sky moves to dark. The dolphins are gone. The sun starts to fall down to the blue ocean. I feel the waves more calm than before. The white birds soar in the sky, move down into the water, and fly again with the little fish in his claw. I stand up with a smile, and said for my self, it is time to go home. I ride my cycle back home and promise to back again in the other time.