Gita Dusk Geetruida
New Family

"Well, we've arrived. Come on up," said Agastya who first stood up and jumped onto the wooden dock, then stretched out his hand to make it easier for Aya to move to the small port.

"Change, come back to my house first, yeah. We're magriban, we're having dinner together" Zain asked his father.

"All right," replied Ruslan. The four of them walked towards Zain's residence not far from the riverbank.

***

"Assalamuaikum," Zain said his greetings while on the porch of his house.

"Yei ... come home, you go home," Alif and Amar greeted Zain.

"Eh, say hello first, son."

"Waalikumsalam," said the two little men compactly. "Wah there is kai (in Banjar : grandfather) as well," the two children greeted and kissed his hands alternately.

"Uncle Aga ... Who is this?" Alif asked when he saw a woman who was with Agastya.

"Oh this is acil (in Banjar language: aunt, aunt) Aya, son," Aga replied with a smile as Alif also crucified his hand.

"Hai acil Aya, greetings to know (in Banjar :ku) Alif and this is a ulun (in Banjar :my sister) Amar," Alif introduced himself.

Aya smiled, her heart warmed as the two boys alternately shook hands and kissed her hands in reverence.

"Waalaikumsalam," Zain's wife walked over to greet his guests and crucified them one by one.

"Hi, Aga's wife huh? I'm Alif's mama" she introduced herself.

"Yes, I am Aya, brother," said Aya.

"Beautiful fast, Aga willingly waited a long time. Let's go in," mama Alif graciously invited her guests.

"Please stay home, Aya" said Zain.

"Please rest first while alternately cleaning yourself, ding Aya."

"Yes, brother."

"Eh, where's your stuff?" Ask Mama Alif was surprised when he saw Aya only carrying a small package.

"Ehm, no brother. Just this," Aya showed the package to Alif's mother.

"Oh, come with me," Alif's mom pulled Aya's hand.

"Well, this is the room where Aga would stay in our house" Mama Alif opened the door and let Aya in.

"You must have been sultry and wanted to take a shower, I'll get you something for a while" he said before leaving Aya.

"Aren't you cleaning up, honey?" Aga went into the room, saw his wife sitting on the couch.

"For a while, I'm waiting for Mama Alif to take something for me."

"Oh. Em, you didn't bring a change of clothes?"

"Bring, here," Aya took out her clothes from the package.

"This one, right, the clothes you wear when you go to college first, where are your other clothes, baby?"

"I live in a guesthouse, mas. I intentionally didn't take it"

"Ah, I understand. I agree with your thinking. Tomorrow ask for help with Mama Alif to buy your needs in the market," Agastya said.

"Sorry to interrupt" Mama Alif stood in front of the room door.

"Just go in, Mama Alif. I want to take a shower of ablution," Agastya said as she stepped out.

"It's okay, brother. Sorry for the trouble."

"Ah, yes no hassle. In fact I'm glad you're willing to hitchhike in our humble home."

Aya opened one by one the pile of cloth that Mama Alif brought for her, there was a towel, a long-sleeved negligee, a mukena, a pouch (a type of sheath, a type of scabbard, especially for women) and new underwear because the brand has not been released.

"Well, thank you very much, brother. It's complete."

"Yes, equally. Fortunately, our body size does not differ much, only your body is taller, so it can fit. Oh yeah, this is all for you. Don't return it" said Mama Alif.

"really?"

"Yes, as a greeting, hehe."

"Okay, brother, thanks again. Um, tomorrow you can take me to the market to buy my gear?"

"Of course ding, with pleasure. I'll stay, yes, you please clean up."

***

"Well," muttered Aya when she was in the bathroom and saw a red spot on the triangular fabric, the cover of the bottom.

"Sorry brother, em .. Does your sister have a cloth or a small towel?" Aya approached Mama Alif who was concocting their dinner.

"Hm ... for what, ding?"

"Eh that, anu kak .. I came by the moon," said Aya shyly.

"Oh, another hitch? Wait a minute, I'll get you a new cloth." The pregnant woman moved swiftly into her room.

Aya also waited while continuing the work of Mama Alif earlier.

"Eeh, are guests even cooking?" Tegur mama Alif's.

"It's okay, brother, if I don't say anything, it's not good for me."

"Aish, just relax. Oh yes, thank goodness I have some small towels that you can make pads, quickly installed."

Aya nodded, "Thank you, brother. Brother please if you want maghrib-an, later this let me sort it out."

"Alright, ding. I'll stay, yeah."

After performing prayers, the Zain family which usually only consists of 4 people is now felt more crowded over the existence of Mr. Ruslan, Aga and Aya. They sat in a circle on a mat of purun which was in the title of Zain. Aga and Aya help Mama Alif bring dishes, rice drinking water and some side dishes and put him in the middle of the mat.

"If Aga is familiar, maybe Ding Aya is a little foreign to our menu tonight. Well please try, enjoy," said mama alif after they prayed.

"Em .. if the fish is fried saluang and sambal acan (terasi), I have often eaten it, sak. But these two menus have never been," Aya said as she spooned the side dish to her plate.

"Oh, if the milk is called gangan humbut. This hump comes from the buds of the coconut tree and this one is called oseng mandai," mama Alif spooned the side dish to his plate.

"Mark, what's this vegetable, brother?" Aya was astonished to see the menu that was foreign to her.

"Skeel, ding."

"Oh, that kind of jackfruit, yeah. It turns out that it can be made into a side dish," murmured Aya and then tasted the new menu. "Hm, good brother, good-natured that."

Eating with family is like making Aya remember when she was still together with her family in Magelang. The menu is different, but the atmosphere .. ah, it's been a long time Aya did not feel a warm togetherness like this. So want to feel again the cuisine of his mother who has no rival. But ah, not only his mother, now Aya also misses the papi Adolf Vooren, brother Clay, Gerry and the youngest Aldert. 'God knows where they are now?' Take care and protect my family, O Allah.' Inner Aya.

"Honey, if you eat not while daydreaming," Agastya elbowed Aya.

"Eh .. ma-sorry, mas. The atmosphere of eating like this, I became reminded while still living in Magelang," Aya stopped her mouthful and wiped away the tears on her cheeks.

"Don't worry if Allah wills, you will meet later, but if you don't .. be grateful now you have us, as your new family," comforted Mr. Ruslan.