HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN
The electric alarm was calling out for credit. Hira had bought tokens twice via her mobile banking but was unable to enter the row of numbers into her electricity meter.
"It looks like the digits are missing, teh*)," A Jay said, "Let me get the receipt for the purchase the previous month." A Jay went into his room.
"That's right, the digit shouldn't be less than 20" he continued while showing the receipt to Hira.
Hira looked at the receipt that A Jay showed in his hand. But it wasn't the numbers that caught her attention. It was the name on the top line of the receipt:
Alexander Billy Dharmawan.
"Hmm... " Hira hissed softly. The name was immediately saved in her memory.
And she looked again at the row of token numbers on her cellphone. It turned out that there was indeed a lack of digits. 4 digits were hidden because the characters were too long, everything was immediately visible as soon as she copied it and put it in a new document.
The alarm sound immediately disappeared after Hira managed to enter the numbers in the electricity meter. "Thank you, A" She said then.
His name is Wijaya, usually called A*) Jay, is Mrs. Yulia's assistant who doubles as Security.
Everything related to this boarding house is his responsibility, all matters relating to the host must go through him.
Only once did Mrs. Yulia get off her throne.
Including the scope of his work, mopping the corridor of the boarding room, draining the fish pond of the main house, maintaining the garden, and taking care of the Hydroponic garden on the 3rd floor, he does everything from 8 am to 5 pm.
A Jay doesn't talk much, his work is neat with a standard operating procedure he made himself. He is also a typical ideal husband, occasionally helping his wife cook and bathe their only child.
His wife, Viny, is a smart woman from Garut. Although she only graduated from junior high school she looks highly educated, her mind is sharp and sensitive. She is also skillful and very confident. They are truly an ideal couple, complementing each other.
Their only child is 4 years old and her name is Winda.
Just like the mother, Winda is an adorable child. She is very expressive. One minute she was crying, the next she was laughing. The sound of her crying and laughing was so loud that if she wasn't there, the place was as quiet as if there were no occupants.
They occupied the room at the far end of the house. The room with 'Guests Please Report' written on it was their room.
In the past, said Viny, the room was actually made for a shop that provided daily necessities and supplies for the boarders. But the plan was canceled because many neighbors had opened similar stalls and Mrs. Yulia wanted to share her fortune with them.
The most favorite place in the house is the 3rd floor where the Hydrophonic garden is located.
A variety of vegetables such as pokcay, chesim, kale, red lettuce, pagoda, thrive on the water-fed pipe holes below. The cool air of Malangbong's mountain slopes is perfect for the growth of these vegetables.
A Jay used to make this garden, starting from installing the water channel, assembling the paralon* pipes, keeping the garden and equipment clean, planting seeds, harvesting, weighing to packaging to selling the harvest, everything was left to A Jay.
Mrs. Yulia just accepted when it turn become money.
The western part is for clothespins. This clothesline is also again A Jay who made it, not sold in stores. The sturdy, long iron looks very comfortable for the clothesline of all residents.
Anyway, the name A Jay has no death in this place.
And Hira met Bibi*) who was drying the laundry. Bibi has been working as Mrs. Yulia's domestic assistant for two years, she lives in the main house with her employer. Bibi has a daughter and granddaughter who live in separate places.
According to Viny's, Bibi has spent a lot of money including selling rice fields in the village to pay for her daughter, Tris's tuition. Unfortunately, during her last semester, Tris dropped out of college because she got pregnant outside of marriage. Now she has to take care of her 3-year-old daughter because her boyfriend refuses to take responsibility.
So, Bibi literally works to support her child and grandchild.
"A lot of laundries, Bi.?" Hira greeted.
"Yes, when Bapak is at home there's a lot of laundry." She replied as she took them one by one and hung them on the clothesline. "It's not just the clothes, the towels also change daily," continued Bibi half complaining.
Hira saw towels lined up with the inscription of a high-ranking military position. Then there was a sparkling clean white hem shirt with that title on the sleeve as well. It looked very authoritative.
"Bapak used to serve in Papua, Marine Police," Bibi said as if to answer Hira's thoughts. "Then he moved to Jakarta living in the official residence there. He returned to Bandung once a week, bringing dirty laundry... Look at this, this much laundry."
"Good thing it's only once a week, Bi..." Hira commented with a smile, then left Bibi and returned to the balcony of the eastern garden.
The view on the 3rd floor was truly beautiful, unobstructed from all directions. The cool morning air ... the rising sun ... the white clouds ... all to be enjoyed to the fullest, freely ...
One word that truly reflects the atmosphere in this place, is Abundance.
This house is the perfect embodiment of her dream home.
Hira called this house, the House of The Rising Sun.
It has nothing to do with the song title.
Just sounds beautiful.
***
*)A stand from AA, Sundanese means Brother
*)Paralon pipe or commonly known as PVC pipe is a type of pipe made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material. Paralon shifted the iron pipe because it was considered more economical. In addition, paralon pipes are also anti-rust and anti-acid, and alkali.
*)Bibi, aunty
*)Bapak, Mr.