Monday, August 21, 2006

Sorrow In The Hollow Of The Bridge

Sorrow In The Hollow Of The Bridge
By: Gatot Aryo

The hollow of the bridge where Ato was sitting in a box spreaded odor of trash, dogshit, water ditch, and released hot vapour stinging like being fried in a frying pan..The dusty and dirty singlet Anto wore had blackened tightly. His body odor was like dead mouse’s odor as he didn’t took a bath for some weeks.

He woke up with blurry face like a Mummy or resurrecting dead. His eyes stared wildly at uncomfortable looking of sorrounding. A bulk of garbage mountained, dirty and muddy field streamed by a small river which had brownish black water mixed with sewage, fragranting sting odor. Those were scenery he ever knew as to day.

The seven years boy fully didn’t understand who his father and mother were. He just knew his foster mother, Ma Eroh. He was found by her in the hollow of the bridge when he was still a red infant with uncutting filament. Ma Eroh said that he was considered having died till she touched him and the baby cried . And since that Ma eroh looked after him and brought him up till she died. May be that’s the last information he got from Ma eroh before her dying. For the time being , to keep his life he became a beggar. If he could’t make money, compulsorily, he ate any remain of trash and drank water ditch.

The little boy was living in a terrifying civilization. Noise came from lighting iron machines over the bridge.

That day Ato was sitting wealkly on the sand contained cork box. His pupil looked at the landscape of the city. The sky craver building looked like mocking him every morning. Sorrounding Jakarta city didn’t care at all with his sorrow.

Police officers with brown uniform always became enemy for him. The hit of the city police officers’ stick gave deep impression to him. More over, village gangsters whose job were stealing and robbing became a threat for him every day. Even one of his friend was sodomed by them. The social and natural sorrounding he lived had made him fierce and cruel. He had no respect to anyone, except to Ma Eroh who had died.

Ato’s highest wish was to have a guitar with which he could “ngamen” along street. But the wish was just like a dream, all his dream had ruined.His stomach hadn’t been filled for three days. Last day he just drank ditch water. He didn’t find anything when he looked something to eat in the garbage. His body was weaker, even just to walk he couldn’t. So he just was sitting on the box.

A little far from him a boy in same age with him appeared. His face was bakened brown by sunlight. He wore a blue torn levis and a dusty black T shirt. He was Aji, Ato’s best friend.The thin, short, bald headed boy was coming on Ato’s place. But Ato pretended to ignore him.

“ Eh, stupid, where have you been for three days?” asked Aji.

Ato just stared at Aji without being able to say something.

“ Why do you keep silent To, Are you angry with me?”

“ I have been three days without food”

“ So we are the same , I also haven’t eaten. I guessed you to have much food, so I came here. I have looked for food in the bulk of trash, but no food was there,” Aji sighed.

“ All this day I just drank stream water,” Ato lamented.

“ Eh, To you will die fasten if you too often drink stream water. It was told by your foster mother. So what will you do now?,” asked Aji.

“ I don’t know, my body chilled out.”

“ You had better be willing to be sodomed by Anton Gedek. You will get some food . I am sure your stomach will be full enough,” Aji offered his idea with holding Ato’s soulder.

Ato untighted Aji’s grip from his shoulder, shaking his head.

“ It is better for me to die.”

“ Well, if you wouldn’t, where could you find some food?”

Ato’s face became pale . One part of his body was getting pain, but he had to look for some food.

“ Ji, carry me on on your back, I would like to begging “ Ato answered

“ Is it that you can’t walk alone?”

“ I can’t wake up Ji, I have been sitting here fot two days.”

Aji put Ato on his back. He brought him up to the bridge. Aji succeded in leaning Ato against concrete fence of the bridge. Sunlight baked skin. Metromini, Mikrolet, motor, cars, go passing away crossing the bridge one another. Feet with sandals or shoes passed away in front of Ato’s body which was lying down weakly. Sunlight touched Ato’s redden black face. The empty plastic glass he put was scattered on the trotoar. Aji took a rest sitting beside Ato.

“ To, are you still stand for living like this?”

“ I don’t know, Ji But I remembered Ma Eroh’s message before she died. She said I must follow life whatever like it is patiently and willingly,” Ato said.

“ Well, it is like that, I never see you stealing”.

“ Yeah, though I don’t understand I must admit my destiny,” His face rather brightened.

“ You are right Ato, so may be tonight later I will come back again, binging you some food if I could, “ Aji said, leaving Ato lonely.

Sunlight sting had faded away. Its slap was weaker. Some coins of chance were fallen into the plastic glass. Ato’s face was happy to see some coins given by passing people. Some people felt forced to give because Ato urged them. But some others gave because of pity for the boy.

But it can’t be understood why are there still many people around him thought that being a beggar was a kind of making fool or pulling someone’s leg, lazy people and not willing to work. Ato did such as that really because nothing to do to make money except stealing.

And this is not a kind of making fool as Ato was already a fool boy. He never got education , even he had no ablity to read and write. One thing he thought was how he could eat everyday. Politics, economy, culture, law, and security, he didn’t care at all.

So, it was wrong if he was considered as garbage or rubbish of civilization because actually, for Ato, being a beggar was also embarrasing. How pitiful it was to imagine a little boy like him holding his hand, degradating his self esteem and honour just to get some food to shift his colon. Is this a foolishness or people are fool to be misery to allocate some money to give badly needing person. This is the most civilized and sophisticated civilization that must be faced by the little boy, like Ato!.

Till dusk, ten coins of chance were collected. Ato was rather calm because a few later he could eat. The thick yellow sunlight warmed his body which lying down over the bridge . But in the evening two gangsters came on Ato. Their eyes googled like lightening knife. Their hair were untidy. Their neck and hand were covered with metal. They stared at presenting fierce face like angry cat.

“ Hei dog, why do you beg here, disturbing my pass, don’t you know I am the ruler of this area”, said one of them.

“ I am just a hollow boy, I am thriving to get some food”, Ato replied.

“ No care whoever you are. You looked for food in my area you must give your contribution to me”, said one of them , slapping Ato’s head.

“ Where are your gain? I’ll take all”, the other gangster said plundering coins in the plastic glass.

“ No, don’t take it, I haven’t eaten”, Ato defended his last treasure.

“ It is not my bussiness!” said the gangster plundering Ato’s wealth.

With his last strength Ato tried to get back his possesion, but a big strike slapped on his face.

Feel my fist!”,said the gangster leaving the pity and weak boy.

“ You bastard”, said another gangster kicking Ato who was lying up in the trotoar.

Ato just cried and screamed in heart. His eyes redden, salty tears flowed over his black and blurry cheeks. His hearth was pain and dissapointed . He felt treated dishonestly and opressed by treatment like that. He screamed again to the world and wild civilization sorround him.

“ AAAAAAKKKHH”, Ato screamed trembling civilization sky.

He was angry to all beings on earth, whether the fate like this should be received. Do all people not care about his sorrow?

His stomach got ache like being trusted by knife. His head felt weighted like burdened by big stone. His chest trembled unabled to endure this sorow. He groaned to God. He also wanted to blast himself with a bomb or nuclear. So all people realized that he was the most sorrowest people on earth.

Ato’s stomach got pain, not only hungry but also like many animals gnawing in his stomach. His body was just skeleton, his face paled, his breath was in rush, his head was puzzling. He tried to defend from his pain. Some people passing the place as if ignoring his sorrow. They just passed as if hoping him to die fast. Dying like a dog, They thought if he was dead , his corpse was thrown in to river, flowed in to sea.

Ato’s eyes stared at sky starting to redden. White cloud moved togetherly without stoping. His hearth was desperate. If he should die he has been willing. Nothing he would do except keeping silent and enjoying his last minutes of his life.

An old Woman approached him. The woman was wearing dirty and bad smelling clothe, with thick curly hair and black skin. She was standing beside Ato. Her hand was holding a plastic full of remnants. Her black eyes looked at Ato sharply.

“ What happened to you?’ she asked.

“ I am hungry, no food,” Ato replied smoothly.

Then the old lady took out something from her plastic. She threw a piece of rotten and tindery cake to Ato. He caught it like getting fallen durians, with his remain strength he ate the food fiercely, like a tiger preying a deer. Without long consideration, Ato eat the food in rush. He put in a piece of cak into her mouth, without tasting how bitter and rotten it was. While the old lady went away from Ato. In a few seconds all the cake had been in his stomach.

His stomach was rather full enough. Though his body was still weak and his stomach still got ache. But he still could be relax and made day dreaming. He got enlightment that to get happiess in life, what to do is by not seeing other people with their luxury and wealth they have. But by enjoying our life without caring to other people’s life. Like this evening , when sun started to set, its light made his heart and mind peacefully. The wing blowed cool. The birds flew over the sky. For a few moment he smiled to world….?!

But after that his head and his stomach got terrific ache. His mouth released out a liquid mixed with blood. His body trembled being poisoned by the cake. His eyes googled…, his mouth opened ad released foams. His soul was separated from his body, and his soul flew to paradise a ceompanied by angles!.

Bogor, Indonesian 2006

The End

Posted by at No comments:

Cerpen Surga Di Kolong Jembatan!

Surga Di Kolong Jembatan

Kolong jembatan tempat Ato terduduk di atas kardus menebarkan bau sampah, kotoran anjing, air comberan, dan hawa panas menyengat seperti dipanggang di atas penggorengan. Kaos oblong bercampur debu dan tanah melekat di atas kulit Ato yang hitam pekat. Bau tubuh Ato seperti bangkai tikus karena selama berminggu-minggu tak pernah menyentuh air bersih.

Ia terbangun dengan wajah kusam, mirip Mumi atau mayat yang bangkit kembali. Matanya menatap alam liar yang sama sekali tidak indah untuk di pandang. Tumpukan sampah berwarna-warni. Hamparan tanah kotor dan becek di hiasi aliran kali berwarna coklat kehitam-hitaman bercampur buangan sampah yang menyebarkan aroma tidak sedap. Itulah atap rumah yang ia tau selama hidupnya.

Anak tujuh tahun itu sama sekali tidak tau siapa Ayah dan Ibunya. Yang ia tau dari Ibu asuhnya Ma eroh, Ia di temukan di kolong jembatan saat masih merah penuh darah bersama tali puser yang belum terpotong. Ma Eroh bilang Ia sangka dia sudah mati, tapi aneh nya ketika Ia menyentuh tubuhnya. Si Ato yang masih bayi mengeluarkan tangisan, dan seterusnya Ma Eroh lah yang membesarkannya dengan susah payah. Mungkin itu informasi terakhir yang ia tau sebelum Ma Eroh menghembuskan nafas terakhir karena usianya sudah terlalu tua. Dan yang selama ini Ato tau untuk bertahan hidup hanya dengan cara meminta-minta. Kalau gak dapet terpaksa dia harus makan sampah dan minum air comberan.

Bocah kecil itu hidup di sebuah peradaban yang mencekam. Terdengar suara bising dari besi-besi mengkilat di atas jembatan. Siang ini Ato masih terduduk lemah di atas kardus coklat muda bercampur pasir. Bola matanya menatap ke ujung kota. Terlihat di sana pohon-pohon pencakar langit berjejer rapi. Kemegahan pohon kaca itu seolah-olah menertawakan dirinya setiap pagi. Belantara kota Jakarta memang tidak pernah perduli pada nasib dirinya.

Harimau coklat aparat selalu menjadi musuhnya setiap hari. Pukulan pentungan petugas PoolPP menjadi kenangan sendiri setiap minggu. Di tambah lagi Srigala-srigala kampung yang kerjanya menodong dan mencuri menjadi ancaman baginya setiap hari. Malah ada temannya yang pernah di sodomi oleh mereka. Alam kehidupan ini membuat dirinya harus bersikap keras dan garang. Sebab tak ada seorang pun yang dapat ia percaya selain Ma Eroh yang sudah meninggal.

Cita-cita Ato yang paling tinggi ingin mempunyai sebuah gitar kopong, agar bisa mencari makan dengan ngamen di jalan. Tapi semua itu hanya mimpi baginya, semua harapan hidupnya saat ini telah hancur. Sudah dua hari isi lambungnya belum di isi oleh apapun dan satu hari terakhir isi perutnya hanya di isi oleh air kali. Mencari sampah yang bisa di makan pun tak ada. Badannya semakin lemah, untuk berjalan pun tak mampu. Karena itu Ia hanya bisa terduduk di atas kardus.

Dari kejauhan muncul seorang anak kecil seumuran dengannya. Wajahnya coklat kusam terpanggang matahari. Dia memakai celana Levis biru robek-robek dan kaosnya berwarna hitam penuh debu. Rupanya anak itu Aji teman dekat Ato. Anak kurus, pendek, berkepala botak itu mampir ke tempat si Ato. Tapi Ato menatap Aji acuh tak acuh.

“Eh tolol, kemana aja lo tiga hari gak keliatan!,” ucap Aji.

Ato menatap Aji tanpa suara. Mulutnya tak mampu mengeluarkan kata-kata.

“Kenapa To diem aja, marah lo sama gua!.”

“Gua dua hari belum makan!,” ucap Ato berusaha bersuara.

“Kalo gitu sama, gua seharian ini juga belum makan. Gua kira lo punya makanan makanya gua kesini. Gua ngorek-ngorek tempat sampah di ujung sana tapi gak ada yang bisa di makan!,” ucap Aji mengeluh.

“Gua seharian ini cuma minum air kali!,” ucap Ato.

“Eh To kata Emak gua, kalo lo keseringan minum air kali bisa cepet mati!.”

“Trus sekarang lo mau ngapain?,” tanya Aji.

“Gak tau badan gua dingin Ji!.”

“Mending mo dikerjain aja sama Anton gedek. Lumayan kan buat makan, di jamin dah perut lo kenyang!,” tawar Aji sambil memegang bahu Ato.

Ato melepaskan pegangan bahu aji sambil menggelengkan kepalanya.

“Lebih baik gua mati!.”

“Ya udah kalo gak mau, sekarang lo mau nyari makan di mana?.”

Muka Ato pucat. Satu sisi badannya lagi sakit, tapi dia harus nyari makan.

“Ji, gendong gua keatas. Gua mau ngemis!,” jawab Ato.

“Emangnya lo gak bisa jalan sendiri!.”

“Gua gak bisa jalan sendiri!.”

“Gua gak bisa bangun Ji, udah dua hari gua duduk di sini!.”

Kemudian Aji menggendong Ato yang lemas tak berdaya. Dia membawa Ato ke atas Jembatan. Dengan susah payah akhirnya Aji berhasil menyadarkan Ato di pinggir pagar beton jembatan. Panas Matahari menyengat membakar kulit. Metromini, mikrolet, motor, dan mobil berhalu-lalang melewati jembatan bergantian. Puluhan sendal dan sepatu bergerak bebas melewati tubuh Ato yang tersungkur. Cahaya kuning menampar muka Ato yang hitam merah terbakar. Gelas plastik kosong Ia taruh di antara kakinya yang terdampar di atas trotoar. Aji masih beristirahat di samping Ato.

“To lo masih tahan hidup seperti ini!.”

“Gak tau Ji, tapi pesan Ma Eroh sebelum meninggal. Katanya gua harus ngejalanin hidup ini dengan sabar dan ikhlas!,” ucap Ato.

“Oh gitu, pantesan gua gak pernah ngeliat lo nyolong!.”

“Yah walaupun gua gak ngerti. tapi artinya gua harus menerima jalan nasib yang gua lalui!,” ucap Ato pelan. Mukanya sedikit bersemangat.

“Bener juga omongan lo To, kalo gitu entar malem gua kesini lagi ya. kalo bisa gua bawain lo makanan!,” ucap Aji sebari ngeloyor meninggalkan Ato sendirian.

Sengatan matahari mulai menghilang. Tamparannya semakin lama semakin redup. Beberapa koin cepean mulai berjatuhan di atas gelas plastik. Wajah Ato mulai gembira melihat buturan-butiran koin yang keluar dari orang-orang yang lewat. Ada yang memberinya terpaksa karena Ato mendesak. Tapi ada yang memberinya terpaksa karena Ato mendesak. Tapi ada juga yang memberikan karena simpati melihat penderitaan anak itu.

Tapi ada yang tidak habis di mengerti, kenapa masih ada orang-orang di sekitar dia yang berfikiran mengemis merupakan pembodohan yang membuat orang malas dan tidak mau bekerja. Sebab si Ato berbuat seperti itu bukan karena Ia malas. Ia berbuat seperti itu disebabkan tak ada lagi usaha yang dapat dia lakukan untuk mendapatkan uang selain mencuri.

Dan itu bukan pembodohan, sebab Ato memang orang bodoh. Dia gak pernah sekolah bahkan untuk baca dan menulis pun anak itu tak mampu. Yang dia pikirkan cuma satu bagaimana hari ini ia bisa makan?. Selebihnya urusan sosial, politik, ekonomi, budaya, hukum dan keamanan boro-boro Ia pikirin.

Karena itu salah apabila peradaban mencap Ia sebagai sampah masyarakat. Bagi Ato mengemis merupakan pekerjaan paling berat dan memalukan. Bayangkan seorang anak manusia harus menengadahkan tangannya, mempecundangi harga diri dan kehormatannya hanya untuk sesuap nasi pengganjal lambung. Apakah itu sebuah pembodohan, atau mereka yang bodoh karena pelit dan malas menyisihkan sedikit uang untuk orang-orang susah yang amat sangat membutuhkan pertolongan. Inilah peradaban modern yang amat sangat beradab dan canggih, yang harus di hadapi oleh anak kecil seperti Ato.

Hingga sore hari sepuluh koin cepean telah terkumpul. Bathin Ato sedikit tenang sebab beberapa saat lagi Ia bisa makan ala kadarnya. Sinar mentari berwarna kuning tua menghangatkan tubuh Ato yang mencoba bertahan hidup di atas jembatan. Tapi sore ini Ato di datangi oleh dua orang Serigala jahanam yang kelaparan. Matanya melotot tajam seperti pisau. Rambutnya gondrong tak beraturan kayak Iblis. Leher dan tangannya di kalungi logam-logam mengkilat. Tapi dia tetap memasang wajah garang seperti kucing.

“Hei Anjing, ngapain lo ngemis disini. Ngeganggu gua lewat aja. Lo gak tau gua penguasa daerah sini!,” ucap salah seorang dari mereka.

“Gua anak kolong, gua nyari makan!,” jawab Ato pada Preman itu.

“Gak perduli anak kolong atau siapa pun. Kalo elo nyari makan di daerah sini, elo harus setoran kegua!,” ucap Preman mengeplang kepala Ato pake tangannya.

“Sekarang mana penghasilan lo. Gua sita semua!,” ucap Preman lainnya sambil merampas duit recehan di dalam gelas plastik.

“Jangan Bang gua belum makan dari kemarin!,” ucap Ato mempertahankan harta terakhirnya.

“Alah bodo amat!,” ucap Preman merampas seluruh kekayaan Ato.

Dengan kekuatan terakhirnya Ato mencoba merebut kembali uang miliknya. Tetapi sebuah pukulan mentah mendarat pas di wajahnya. “Makan tuh pukulan gua!,” ucap si Preman sebari pergi meninggalkan Ato yang lemah tak berdaya.

“Kurang ajar lo!,” ucap Preman satu lagi sebari menendang tubuh Ato yang terkapar di atas trotoar.

Ato hanya bisa menangis dan menjerit di dalam hati. Matanya merah berair, dari sana keluar air asin yang mengalir di pipi hitam dan kusam. Hatinya dongkol dan sakit. Ia merasa tidak adil dan di tindas dengan perlakuan seperti ini. Ia menjerit sekali kepada Dunia dan peradaban liar di sekelilingnya.

”Aaaaaaaaaaakkkkhhhhhh!,”teriak Ato sekuat tenaga menggetarkan langit peradaban.

Ia marah pada semua makhluk di Bumi ini. Apakah nasib seperti ini layak Ia terima. Apakah semua manusia benar-benar tidak perduli dengan penderitaan yang Ia alami.

Lambungnya sakit seperti di tusuk-tusuk pisau. Pikirannya berat seperti di timpa batu besar. Dadanya bergetar tak kuasa lagi menahan penderitaan ini. Ia meratap pada yang maha kuasa. Rasanya ingin meledakkan dirinya dengan granat atau nuklir. Biar semua manusia menyadari bahwa dia adalah manusia paling sengsara di atas muka Bumi ini.

Perut Ato mulai sakit. Bukan hanya lapar, tapi sepertinya ada binatang yang sedang menggerogoti hidup-hidup di dalam perut. Badannya tinggal tulang, matanya pucat pasi, nafasnya tersengal-sengal, kepalanya pusing tujuh keliling. Ia berusaha bertahan dari kesakitan yang Ia derita. Beberapa orang yang melewati tempat itu seolah-olah tak perduli dengan penderitaannya. Mereka lewat begitu saja seolah-olah mendoakan agar cepat mati. Mampus seperti bangkai Anjing. Paling-paling kalau dia mati mayatnya di buang di kali begitu saja, biar di bawa arus menuju laut lepas.

Mata Ato menatap langit yang mulai memerah. Awan putih bergerak beriringan tanpa henti. Jiwanya sudah pasrah dengan apa yang kan terjadi. Seandainya ia harus mati pun ia sudah terima. Tak ada yang bisa ia lakukan lagi kecuali diam dan menikmati menit-menit terakhir dalam hidupnya.

Seorang nenek tua berjalan menghampirinya. Bajunya lusuh dan bau, rambutnya gimbal dan kulitnya hitam. Ia terdiam berdiri di samping Ato. Tangannya memegang plastik berisi sampah-sampah bekas. Mata hitamnya menatap Ato dengan tajam.

“Kenape lo?,”tanyanya.

“Lapar! Belum makan!,” ucap Ato pelan.

Kemudian nenek tua itu mengambil sesuatu dalam plastiknya. Lalu melemparkan sepotong roti busuk yang penuh dengan jamur. Ato menerima itu bagaikan kejatuhan Durian, dengan sisa-sisa tenaga terakhirnya ia mengambil makanan itu dengan garang. Seperti Harimau lapar memangsa seekor anak Rusa. Tanpa pikir panjang Ato langsung memakan tanpa nafas. Ia memasukkan sepotong roti ke dalam mulutnya dengan cepat, tanpa merasakan pahit atau busuknya roti tersebut. Sedangkan nenek tua itu pergi jauh meninggalkan si Ato. Dan dalam beberapa detik roti tersebut masuk ke dalam lambungnya.

Perutnya sedikit terganjal dari rasa lapar. Walaupun tubuhnya masih lemah dan perutnya masih sakit. Tetapi Ia masih bisa bersantai dan merenung. Dia menemukan suatu pencerahan bahwa untuk mencari kebahagiaan dalam hidup yang harus di lakukan bukan melihat orang lain dengan segala kemewahan dan kekayaan yang mereka miliki. Tetapi dengan menikmati kehidupan yang kita jalani tanpa harus perduli sedikit pun dengan kehidupan orang lain. Seperti sore ini matahari mulai tenggelam, sinarnya menyejukkan hati dan jiwanya. Angin berhembus begitu sejuk. Burung-burung terbang di atas langit. Sesaat Ato tersenyum pada DUNIA...?!.

Tetapi setelah itu perut dan kepalanya di dera sakit tujuh keliling. Mulutnya mengeluarkan cairan roti bercampur darah. Badannya gemetar terkena racun dalam roti. Matanya membelak..., mulutnya menganga mengeluarkan busa. Dan Roh Ato Pun Terbang Ke Surga. Bersama Malaikat dan Bidadari jiwa Ato melayang menuju langit ke tujuh.

TAMAT (“ Bogor Indonesian 2006” )

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)