"Nana thinks Uncle is bad, he looks good. Thank you, Uncle."
The curve of Arjuna's lips was clearly visible. It wasn't hard to get along with the kids, or rather in this case, to Nana. Being called Uncle wasn't bad either. Although actually more suitable to be addressed: Mas or Bang.
"Nana!"
The sound, made Nana who was still in front of the mosque, startled. Including Arjuna himself. A woman around the age of thirty called Nana, she gently grabbed the 7 year old's hand.
"Mother!" Nana said happily.
"Come on, go home, kid!" Her mother reached out.
Nana took her mother's outstretched hand, said goodbye to Arjuna. They both smiled at each other.
After Nana's departure, Arjuna chose to stop for a while at the Mie Pangsit shop around the mosque. He's been there a long time. Order food and drinks.
Arjuna was reminded of Agnimaya, the older sister who used to visit him every holiday or vice versa. It's been a month now with no news. Arjuna guessed that Agnimaya no longer wanted to have anything to do with a delinquent like him. Guessing whether Agnimaya had known about his delinquency to the point that he didn't want to admit that he was a younger brother.
"Maria!!!!"
The thunderous voice startled everyone present, including Arjuna who was in a state of dismay. A woman around the age of 40 called a girl of Nana's age, she roughly grabbed the hand of the child who was standing not far from where Arjuna was sitting.
"Buddha!" The girl named Maria spoke timidly.
"You're good, right! Coming home from the Koran is not going straight home, instead wandering, wandering! What do you want to be, huh?! Children don't know how to profit! It's still good that my sister wants to pay for your life!"
Mary looked down. Her heart hurts. He wanted to cry, but he was already embarrassed enough. The ears were covered by the headscarf, pulled by the woman. Along the way her ear was pulled and the poor little girl was constantly scolded.
Arjuna felt his blood boil. Such a small child was treated so harshly that even he himself did not know where the fatal mistake was. Arjuna had almost come to Maria if only someone had not pulled his hand.
"Bang Bayu!"
***
Hearing Bayu's story about Maria made Arjuna feel sorry for him. Maria is an orphan who was abandoned by her father since she was in the womb. His father and mother divorced because the father did not recognize Maria as his son. Then three years ago, when Maria was 5 years old, her mother married a widower with two children. Male and female. She is older than Maria.
Her stepfather's family did not like Maria very much. It was obvious. His mother often cried silently because of the fate of her child who was so unfortunate. But what's the power, husband is everything, right? It has become law.
"His mother is stupid!"
"You're jumping to conclusions too quickly. Everyone has their reasons, Jun."
Arjuna was silent. Right. Just like him. He also has reasons for his mischief. Why be so judgmental of others? After all, he didn't want to discuss the unknown little girl with Bayu.
"I broke up with Aisha."
"Good."
Arjuna smirked. "I'm after the prima donna at school."
Bayu laughed. Arjuna smiled sarcastically.
"Insane!"
It was Arjuna's turn to laugh.
"Eh, I have court tomorrow. Do you want to come?"
"Afternoon?"
"Evening is fine."
"What are your plans after graduating in another year, Jun? You're in second grade now, right?"
"Don't know. I haven't thought about it yet."
"Think about it,"
"Later. After successfully conquering the prima donna, and showing it off to Adrian ... I just thought about it."
"Don't be mean to girls, ah."
Arjuna just smiled. Remembering the treatment of one woman who almost made her body humiliated by the cursed, Syafitri.
To be continued....