Ballad Inmates
Ballad Inmates (Part 33)

By Dalem Tehang

AFTER the morning apple, Gustav stood in front of the bars. He beckoned to Edi who was back to sleep. Asnawi wakes Edi up.

“Annumber of residents soon. From room 7. Pepen. Lakalantas case,” says Gustav. 

Edi nodded his head. And went back to sleep.

When I finished taking a shower, I saw Adit tamping open the cell door. Carrying two large plastic bags. 

“Delivery from home, om. Who nganter directly back because in the post again there is provos,” said Adit while looking at me.

“O. Thank you, Adit,”. 

Actually, I want to see Rayhan. Ask me why my wife didn't come yesterday afternoon. But conditions are not possible.

Ijal received a delivery of food for breakfast from Adit's hands. There's a book and a pen inside. As I ordered.

“Bangunin all, Jal. We have breakfast first,” I said to Ijal. That morning, we had breakfast rice delivered by my wife. Delights. 

Suddenly Adit stood behind bars. He conveyed the message of the officer who had been peddling breakfast for prisoners, so that we occupants of room 10 buy food.

“Buy breakfast if not already, Adit. If it is there, do not buy it,” said Edi. While continuing to enjoy the rice sitting in front of him.

“The officer said it has been almost 20 days this room 10 never again buy breakfast selling him, even if only a pack of it. So today it is mandatory to buy. Minimum of three packs, he said. Whatever you want,” said Adit. Conveying messages. 

“If we don't buy continue kayak where?” aris sela. 

Adit just shrugged and left our room.

After we had finished breakfast, a guard stood in front of the room. From between the bars he put three packs of food.

“What is it, Dan?” ask Edi. He still cleaned his mouth after breakfast. 

“Yellow rice. Cepetan pay. Cepek aja,” said the officer as his hand held up. Waiting for the payment.

There's no choice. Edi looked at Iyos. The chamber treasurer took the money from the folds of his little book. Edi handed it to the officer. Who immediately left after the yellow rice payment, in his hands.

“Waggep-anggep yellow rice is for a thanksgiving yes, will Joko at noon want to devolve,” said Edi. There was a wry smile on his lips. 

Ijal put two packs of yellow rice into the bucket where the food is stored. The one he gave to Joko.

“Why be given to me, Jal?” ask Joko.

“Make provisions later devolvement. Kan does not know how long in the prosecutor's office and the entrance is not laper,” said Ijal. 

Joko nodded her head. Understand all the possibilities that occur.  

I was overwhelmed by the togetherness that had awakened so strongly. Born thanks to the exfoliated compulsion to live in one cell. Which refracted all previous humanitarian status. 

Joko asked him to be the Dhuhur prayer priest. We are all becoming makmum with kecusu’an. Realizing that we will be separated soon. A natural cycle. And will meet again in a different place, even though they are still prisoners. 

A guard officer opened the cell door. Delivering a letter. Joko accepted. Devolvement notice letter.

“It's ready,” said the guard. Joko nodded.

We all hugged and hugged Joko. There is such a deep novelty. Not noticeably, water expands in the corner of the eye. 

The mere togetherness of that moment, it turns out, was so deep it settled in the recesses of the soul. Togetherness wrapped in fate on a beam of life.

“O that is it, yes you have it, Kap. Where else to look. The important thing is not that my head is cut,” said Joko. Still got to joke. A little melt the atmosphere.

Joko exited the room while carrying a plastic bag. Contains clothes and toiletries. Also a pack of yellow rice as a stock. 

We could only look at his steps through the iron bars. And no longer looks his figure when turning towards the guard post.

Just now that Aris put his stuff next to me in place of Joko, the cell door was reopened. Gustav who came with a man aged about 35 years. 

“This is Pepen coming in here. Please set the place,” said Gustav while looking at Edi who was opening his crossword puzzle book.

“At the very end there ya you,” said Edi. 

Pointing the most corner spot at the bottom near the bucket-buckle. Just a few feet from the bathroom that has no door.

Pepen headed for the spot Edi had appointed. It was carrying his little bag. Then he moved, to greet us one by one, while introducing himself.

“Let's have those greetings. Here there is a tradition of its own for new ones to enter, no matter how long it has been in this prison complex,” said Edi, suddenly.

Pepen stopped his steps. He stands. Sculpting. Don't know what to do. Ijal gestured for Pepen to sit in the place that Edi had determined. 

We're all quiet. Waiting for what Edi the head of the next room ordered. However, Edi seemed to be getting busy filling out crossword puzzles. A hobby that often makes him not care about his environment. 

Without being told, we all seem to just understand. Getting a glimmer of happiness in a cell is very difficult. That's why, when someone is happy with their activities, no one wants to interfere.

Like Tomy and Irfan who like to play chess for hours. Their mouths are silent, but the brain is moving. Noiseless but continues to hone the brain to maintain balance and awareness of the human side.

Arya, who has activities to make handicrafts from cigarette wrapper fragments, seemed very happy when what she dreamed realized. Sometimes he just unconsciously screams. Be gleeful. Which surprises around. 

That afternoon, the sun was stinging. Plus there is not the slightest bit of breeze. Make the cell floor warm. 

All the room residents were not wearing clothes. Busty. That sweat is still pouring out. 

I forced her to put her body. Warm floors due to sunburn from outside the room, making it less comfortable. But it doesn't beat the turmoil of thinking about my wife for whom there's no news. 

Without feeling it, I slept in my sleep. Until suddenly the cell door was pounded with a fast.

“Mana ris. Out now. Someone wants to meet,” a loud voice sounded along with the opening of the cell room door.

Aris put a book containing prayers and procedures of the sunnah prayer that he was reading. He got up and went to the door wearing his shirt. Gontai's steps. It was as if his bony body was no longer.

I tried to close my eyes again. Though the mind continues to drift. Looking for my wife, Laksmi. Trying to find an answer to his absence yesterday evening.               

“Babe, please meet me,” a voice greets me. Aris's Voice. I opened my eyes. Aris stood in front of the iron bars.

“What's wrong?” askaku while approaching the iron bars. 

“The one who came was my wife's lawyer. He asked me to sign the divorce settlement. Like where this is,” said Aris. His voice was full of confusion. Baffled. 

“Say you ask for a moment first. Two three days goods. Let them come back later. Same thing you want to ask for another,” I said. Trying to give advice, even if impromptu. 

“I mean I ask the others what, Be?” aris sela. For a moment I thought.

“Begging your kids to meet you first time, Ris. So before you sign, there is also approval from your children,” I said later.

“No way the kids can meet me, Be. They are being kept away from me right now. Please Babe come out first, I told my wife's lawyer,” Aris said again. Hopeful.

“Where do you want to get out if the door is locked? If I can get out of the condition of kayak gini, fuss later this prison,” I said, joking. (connect)