4. Connecting Friendship

Maung Karuhun College is a very famous martial arts college in the Cikaret Village area. Even famous to other villages. Many young people, both from Cikaret village and other villages studied at the college. However, because Jaka Someh is a clumsy person, he does not know about the College.

Mang engkos then told Jaka someh, about Ki Jaya Kusuma who had a big tall stature and had extraordinary inner strength. It is said that he has very strong fingers, which were obtained from special training in the famous tiger claw technique. His eyes are also very sharp like the eyes of an angry tiger. Make other people reluctant to deal with him. Hearing Mang Engkos' explanation, Jaka Someh became increasingly determined to study with Ki Jaya Kusuma.

The next day, Jaka Someh prepared to go to Maung Karuhun college. His determination was so strong to learn silat from Ki Jaya Kusuma. He wants to be a great warrior who is feared by his enemies. Jaka Someh imagines that one day he will become a powerful warrior. He will avenge the evil deeds of Ki Marta and his friends who have wronged him.

Actually, Maung Karuhun college is still in the same village as Jaka Someh's hut, but the journey to reach the college turns out to take up to half a day.

Because he did not have a penny, Jaka someh prepared provisions that he made himself. In the form of lead rice, which is rice wrapped in banana leaves, added with makeshift side dishes, such as pepes peda and chili sauce. Food supplies and a pair of clean clothes were already stored in his shabby sheath. After everything was ready, Jaka Someh then immediately left his simple hut. 

More than an hour, Jaka Someh was already walking. He had passed through rice fields and wooded forests that had dried up. He walked on a path, on a hill flanked by two small ravines. Even though the streets looked deserted, Jaka Someh enjoyed the trip. The green and beautiful scenery really spoils his eyes.

It didn't feel like he had been walking for four hours, Jaka Someh began to enter the coffee and clove plantations owned by residents. After that, he started to enter the resident's quarters. 

There are lots of houses on stilts owned by residents. A house with bamboo walls. Seen there are some residents who are drying the rice grains that have just been harvested. They dry on media made of woven coconut leaf mats.

Some people are sitting relaxed in their homes, while being accompanied by coffee and fried banana snacks or rengginang cakes. Some children are seen playing with their friends. They were busy with their own activities, not caring about Jaka Someh who was walking leisurely to the west of their village.

But without Jaka Someh realizing it, there was a pair of eyes that had been watching his movements. His middle age made him a little forgetful, but his eyes felt familiar with Jaka Someh's face and way of walking, it reminded him of one of his best friends when he was young. He is Pak Rohadi, the jaro in the village. Jaro is a title for the village head. Overcoming his curiosity, he finally called Jaka Someh, who had just passed the bale-bale in front of his house. 

"Wait, my son..!"

Call Mr. Rohadi, his voice is already a little heavy because he has aged. Jaka Someh's head quickly turned towards the source of the sound.

"You called me?"

Ask Jaka Someh politely.

"Yeah, here first!"

Pak Rohadi's hand gave a signal for Jaka Someh to approach him. With a feeling of doubt Jaka Someh approached the person who called him.

"You live on the slopes of Mount Halimun, don't you?" Ask Mr. Rohadi

"Yes sir, how do you know?" Jaka Someh replied.

There was also a feeling of wonder in his heart, how could this person know where he lived.

"You're the son of the late Sabarudin, aren't you?"

Hearing such questions, Jaka Someh became even more surprised, his eyes glanced at Mr. Rohadi with a slight squint. He examined Mr. Rohadi from top to bottom.

"Do you know my father?"

Jaka Someh asked Mr. Rohadi back. But instead of answering, Pak Rohadi embraced Jaka Someh's stout body.

"Really, you are a child of patience?"

Mr. Rohadi's voice was a little hoarse, there was a hint of emotion in his chest to be able to meet his close friend's son.

"I'm Mr. Rohadi, your father's friend from childhood, we used to study religion together at the Kiai Hasan boarding school in Sukabumi...let's stop here first... Enter my house...!"

Jaka Someh smiled at the father earlier, then he entered the yard of Mr. Rohadi's house. Jaka Someh began to vaguely remember that his father had once invited him to visit this house. He also began to remember Pak Rohadi, his father's best friend. Jaka Someh smiled at Mr. Rohadi, then said greetings

"Assalamu alaikum Mr. Rohadi, how are you, sir?"

Mr. Rohadi replied

"Wa alaikum salam, alhamdulillah good, come on up...let's go inside...!"

Jaka Someh climbed the short stairs under the door of Mr. Rohadi's stilt house. He was greeted warmly by Mr. Rohadi

"How are you Jang Someh? I haven't seen you in a long time... the last time you were a child when your father invited you to play at your father's house, your face resembled the late Sabarudin... that's why you've been watching it, it feels like I know... eh, it turns out that Someh is Sabarudin's son , what a coincidence …”   

Mr. Rohadi said while standing on the stairs of his house.

After being invited in, Jaka Someh entered Pak Rohadi's house.

The house is quite spacious, but only consists of 3 rooms, namely one living room and two bedrooms. In the living room, Jaka Someh sat on pottery that had been placed on the floor in the form of bamboo bales. Pak Rohadi then busied himself by serving hot coffee and chip cookies made from cassava. After pleasantly asking how things were, they then chatted for a long time about Jaka Someh's life after the death of his father and mother. Jaka Someh himself forgot about the original purpose of his journey to study at Kijaya Kusuma. He just remembered this, after suddenly Pak Rohadi asked about the purpose of his trip

" Jang Someh where are you really going...? How come you have to walk all the way here?”

Hearing this question, Jaka Someh also told his intention to study with Ki Jaya Kusuma. He also told about the incidents of persecution that were experienced by Ki Marta and his friends. Pak Rohadi was silent without any comment when he heard Jaka Someh's story. After sighing, Mr. Rohadi finally said to Jaka Someh

"Jang Someh... you are concerned... with the calamity that has befallen you and your family... But be patient... don't have the intention of taking revenge on Ki Marta and his friends... It's better to be patient... let Allah take revenge their actions...God is just...all events must have a lesson...we often don't understand it...God willing, I'm sure, your father died a martyr, died in a state of khusnul khotimah...because he died in a state of defending the truth...".

Jaka Someh could only be silent listening to Mr. Rohadi's advice. No accept and also did not deny it. Mr. Rohadi then continued his speech

"Father doesn't forbid you to learn silat...especially to Ki Jaya Kusuma...I know him...even though he is known as a great champion, but he is humble and not arrogant...if you are successful in mastering martial arts from Ki Jaya Kusuma. ..then use that knowledge in the right way...to help people who are weak and persecuted...don't use it for arrogance or arrogance, if you use that intelligence in the way of truth...God willing, everything will be blessed...congratulations …the world and the hereafter…”. 

Hearing the advice of Mr. Rohadi, Jaka Someh bowed even more while occasionally nodding his head, as if he was obedient to the words of his late father's best friend. Pak Rohadi then continued his speech again.

"I hope that after you finish studying, you will stay here in this father's house...rather than living alone on the hillside... far from human civilization…”

Jaka Someh was silent for a moment, then he said politely to Mr. Rohadi

"Thank you very much sir, for the offer... but I still find it hard to leave the hut left by my parents..."

Mr Rohadi said

"Yes, yes ... I also understand that you must be hard to let go of all the memories with your parents. It's just that you feel I have an obligation to take care of you… the son of My own best friend who I consider as a brother… I really accept YOU with open arms”.   

When Jaka Someh and Pak Rohadi were chatting, suddenly a voice came, apparently that person was Asih, Pak Rohadi's only daughter. He was already at the door of the ru, accompanied by two eccentric-looking young men. Two men she had just met while watching a wayang golek show a week ago. The youths were named Panji and Udan. Panji, who has a handsome face and is good at saying rags, easily cradles Asih's heart. Only two days after meeting, they had already tied the knot of romance. Asih said spoiled to Panji

"Come on, kang Panji let first into my house, I wants to introduce you to my father."

Panji answered slowly with a small smile

“Later, my love… next time…! I'm in a hurry right now... I have something to do today..."

Asih looks disappointed with Panji's refusal. He immediately held Panji's hand affectionately, as if he didn't want to part with his idol

"What do you need, Kang...? How come you're in such a hurry...let's go inside, darling... just a minute...please...!" 

Asih persuades Panji to come into his house. Panji smiled, shaking his head, he said softly to Asih

"Later, my love... another time I will play at your house... That's right... my dear... I promise... next time I will stop by your house, meet your father... now I will say goodbye...". 

Even though Asih was frowning, he couldn't stop Panji from leaving. After Panji and his friends were out of sight, Asih went up the stairs to his house. Mr. Rohadi, who saw Asih's arrival, immediately smiled and said:

“Eh my girl… are you home…? Did you with whom ... why not invite first entry into the house ...? "   

Asih answered her father's question with a smile

“Earlier, Kang Panji… Daddy… he is my Friends… Incidentally, Kang Panji was in a hurry… he said he still had important things to do, so he couldn't enter the house…”. 

Mr. Rohadi nodded his head while saying softly

"Yes, my daughter…it's okay maybe next time you can introduce her to me… Eh, coincidentally, I want to introduce you to Someh, Pak Sabarudin's son, my best friend when you were little….”      

Asih glanced at Jaka Someh who was looking at him. Asih smiled for a moment, nodding her head once. Her dimples look so cute.

Getting a sweet smile from Asih, Jaka Someh felt that his soul was about to be squeezed. Her heart trembled. Never in his life had he felt such a strange vibration. Whether it was because he had never seen a girl or because he was amazed at Asih's beauty, his heart kept beating wildly. There is a feeling of amazement to see Asih's distinctive face. Beautiful and fresh. Maybe this is what is called love at first sight. Jaka Someh just experienced it. 

But fortunately Jaka Someh is a young man who has been educated with ethics and norms of decency. Even though he was fascinated by Asih, he was able to restrain himself from indulgence in his lust.

Jaka Someh smiled respectfully at Asih. But this time, Asih only replied with a slightly forced smile. He looked at Jaka Someh's clothes, which looked shabby. After that Asih turned her face away. His attitude seemed to underestimate Jaka Someh. Deg, Jaka Someh's heart ached, it felt like he was being sliced ​​by a sharp knife because he was being treated lightly from Asih. For some reason, his heart felt so sad. 

Without saying anything, Asih went straight into her room. Mr. Rohadi's face looked displeased to see his son's impolite attitude towards his guests. Mr. Rohadi said to Jaka Someh

"I'm sorry for my daughter's attitude, Jang Someh, Asih is a bit spoiled by her child..."

Jaka Someh smiled as he said

"It's all right, sir..."

Not long after that, Jaka Someh said goodbye to Mr. Rohadi to continue his journey.

Continue to Chapter 5. https://storicerita.blogspot.com/2022/05/5-ki-jaya-kusuma.html