ADJOINING REALM
CANTALOUPE

"Yet... I saw my mother when Darto was born. It's Mom, right? who wears the same black clothes that you now use?" darto said after watching for a long time the woman who was feeding the water that afternoon.

Hearing the question from Darto, the woman immediately looked into Darto's eyes with an astonished expression. He was really surprised at what he had just heard, so he unconsciously daydreamed immediately considering all the events he experienced when Darto was born.

"You remember? Even if it's a memory of the first day you saw the world?" Said the woman after waking up from the daydream. He even dropped the spoon in his hand, then held slowly the shoulders of Darto who was still lying.

"Yes, I remember everything, and the Mbah once said that if you were my mother's friend, why did you help me?" Darto replied slightly hesitantly, considering how many times he had been betrayed by the creature next door.

"Call me The Mbok. I really think of my beloved son as my own. Later Si Mbok will tell everything, better now you give news to your family. They must be very anxious because you've been lying down for a week" said the woman, wistfully, while continuing to stroke Darto's head.

"Good M.. Mops. But how do I tell the Mbah? and where is this actually?" darto replied a little kagok, because he had to call the woman with the nickname Si Mbok.

"God... You can travel around our world, but you can't visit your family? Here let Si Mbok teach," said the woman then sat quietly while holding Darto's hand on the couch.

"Just close your eyes, let's go to the border" said the woman, closing her eyes.

Hearing the orders of the woman called Si Mbok, Darto immediately obeyed without hesitation. Then not long ago Darto and the woman entered the dark room, they had stopped to just talk in there.

"Imagine your house, the Mbah or whoever is there. Then make a wish to meet them, Nang," continued the woman while looking at Darto who looked confused.

Hearing that, Darto immediately closed his eyes, then imagined the home of the kakung, as well as the faces of all his friends. When a white light appeared in front of Darto, there was a picture of Kakung and Mbah Turahmin sitting together in the middle. After seeing that, the woman beside Darto immediately pulled Darto into the light.

"Darto's? Kanti's? Thank God. You're fine, aren't you, Le?" Si Mbah cried seeing the arrival of the two of us in front of him. He was relieved to still be able to see his granddaughter, after so long waiting for the news to come.

"He's with me, Ki, you guys just calm down for now. Yesterday Darto was injured, but now everything has passed. I ask for your approval to guide Darto, Ki. Because there are still a few things I have to do for my son," said the woman who turns out to have the name Kanti, and seems to have known Si Mbah Turahmin very well.

"If it's you, I can rest easy leaving my granddaughter. Please take care of him as you take care of his mother first," replied Si Mbah sad, while wiping the tears that had begun to stop pouring from his eyes

"Darto apologizes, Mbah, Kung. Darto has not been able to defeat Gending" said Darto bowed. He felt guilty to the two old men in front of him, because the trust they had given him had to be restrained because of the limitations that Darto had.

"It's okay, Dar. If you're okay, we can try again next time" said Kakung who had been silent. He was still hard to believe, after witnessing his granddaughter coming only in soul form.

Both of Darto's grandfathers were really relieved after knowing his grandson was fine. After Darto and Kanti left, Si Mbah explained many things to Kakung. He told about the figure called Kanti by him, and got a good response also from his interlocutor. Shortly thereafter the two old men immediately relayed the news about his grandson, to his friend and future wife. Eventually the turmoil they felt managed to unravel, leaving a hope to meet again soon, although it is not clear when the time comes.

While on the other hand Darto had managed to get back to the room he was wearing. He was still a little confused, but his heart already felt much more relieved than before. Before Mbok began the conversation, he had to go out of the room and return with fruits that he carried on a plate. He felt that Darto had to eat enough before he explained all the situations that Darto was going through.

"Nang, you have to eat first, after that I will teach you how to relieve your wounds," said Kanti while offering fruits du beside Darto, then help Darto to sit leaning against the wall, and let Darto eat the fruit that he treats.

"Thank you, Mbok," said Darto briefly while grimacing, feeling his stomach is still so painful. But even so he immediately cut down the food that Kanti offered without hesitation.

"Slowly, Nang. Your stomach is empty, so it must be a little sore when swallowing," said Kanti slightly chuckled, seeing Darto who was so greedy eating the fruit he gave.

Darto only laughed when the woman reminded him, the hunger he felt was beyond the usual limits. How not? It's been a week he hasn't eaten anything in his stings, "He he he, sorry, Mbok. Darto's really hungry."

hearing Darto's words, Kanti again chuckled. He continued to smile while focusing on seeing Darto's face without blinking, and occasionally shook his head to see the behavior of his best friend's son first.

"If Asih is still alive, maybe he will continue to show off the good looks of his son," said Kanti slowly while daydreaming after a long time watching Darto.

"What Mbok? I'm sorry I didn't hear" replied Darto as he looked at Kanti with a curious face.

"Tidan's nothing, Nang. Spend the food first there will be someone who wants Si Mbok to teach you," continued Kanti a little embarrassed, because he unconsciously said something that should be said in his heart only.

Hearing the words of Si Mbok Kanti, Darto only frowned while tilting his head. But not long after that he immediately continued the food, until all the fruit on the toilet plate left the skin alone.

After seeing the fruit on the plate run out, Kanti immediately invited Darto to recover the wound on his stomach by saying "Let's start, Nang."

Be connected,-

Ts/n: "Nang" is a quote from "son of lanang"

A call that parents commonly mention when calling boys in some areas, in Java.