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Tembang Dan Perang (Bab 3)

Award-winning author, Junaedi Setiyono, has taught in the English Language Education Department of his alma mater, the Muhammadiyah University in Purworejo, Central Java, since 1997.

Setiyono is drawn to historical fiction related to the Java War (1825-1830). His first novel, Glonggong (Serambi 2007), won the 2006 Jakarta Arts Council Novel Writing Competition and was one of the finalists of the 2008 Khatulistiwa Literary Award. His second novel, Arumdalu (Serambi, 2010), was nominated for the 2010 Khatulistiwa Literary Award. In 2010, the manuscript of his third novel, Dasamuka (Ombak 2017) won the Jakarta Arts Council Novel Writing Competition.

Through his writing, Setiyono hopes to share his belief that man should not be separated by ethnic, religious, racial, or intergroup relations. He also believes that literature can unite human beings around the world.

Aside from working on his next historical novel, which is set in a twelfth century Javanese kingdom, Setiyono is currently doing research on how English teaching can be a catalyst to promote Indonesian teaching in Indonesia.

Setiyono can be contacted via his email address: junaedi.setiyono@yahoo.co.id

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Bab 3

Baginda Raja Janggala sedang duduk berhadap-hadapan dengan Rara Suci di ruang dalam istana. Mereka tengah membicarakan perihal kawinnya sang putra mahkota dengan anak perempuan Patih Kudanawarsa — perkawinan yang menuai persoalan berat bagi istana.

“Benarkah Panji tidak mau beristri lagi sesudah kawin dengan Angreni?” tanya Baginda Raja dengan wajah tidak percaya.

“Tidak salah, Dinda. Memang itulah yang saya dengar dengan kedua telinga saya dari mulut Panji sendiri,” jelas Rara Suci.

Baginda Raja menggeleng-geleng tidak percaya, “Bukankah Angreni dikawini hanya untuk menjadi selir bagi Panji?”

Rara Suci tidak langsung menjawab pertanyaan adindanya. Dia malah memalingkan wajahnya ke arah sangkar burung perkutut yang bergoyang diembus angin.

“Bukankah Angreni hanya selir bagi Panji?” tanya Baginda Raja sekali lagi.

“Bukan hanya seorang selir. Lebih dari itu,” jawab Rara Suci sambil tetap memalingkan wajahnya.

“Angreni hanyalah selir bagi Panji. Tidak lebih daripada itu,” kata Baginda Raja. Kata-kata yang seolah ditujukan kepada dirinya sendiri. “Kandaku di Kadiri kuharap juga berpikir seperti itu: Angreni bukanlah istri resmi Panji, apalagi permaisurinya.”

Sudah menjadi rahasia umum bahwa seorang putra mahkota layak untuk memiliki perempuan-perempuan yang diharapkan dapat mendewasakannya. Kedewasaan itu, terutama dalam berolah asmara, diharapkan menjadi bekal nanti pada saat harus membahagiakan istri atau permaisurinya di ranjang. Kepuasan sang permaisuri sangat erat kaitannya dengan kesentosaan putra atau putri yang akan dilahirkan dari rahimnya. Kemampuan untuk memberikan kepuasan itulah yang menjadikan seorang putra mahkota dipersilakan untuk belajar tidak hanya melalui tulisan-tulisan bernas tentang asmaragama dari lontar, tetapi juga dari tubuh-tubuh hangat dalam hubungan naluriah dengan perempuan.

Ucapan tandas Baginda Raja seolah titah yang pantang dibantah. Kemudian kesenyapan merajalela di ruangan dalam keraton itu.

Harumnya ruangan yang berasal dari asap setanggi, yang biasanya menyegarkan, dirasakan menyesakkan bagi Rara Suci.

Sore itu, ruangan dalam keraton memang sepi. Rara Suci diam-diam membandingkan terang hangatnya suasana di rumah Panji yang baru saja dikunjunginya dengan redup dinginnya suasana ruang tengah istana yang sekarang seolah mengurungnya.

“Saya tidak mampu melunakkan hati Panji. Dia tetap tidak mau melangsungkan perkawinan dengan Sekartaji,” kata Rara Suci dengan suara yang dalam tertelan dan gugup terputus-putus; kedalaman yang menunjukkan kesungguhan pada ucapannya, kegugupan yang menunjukkan kekhawatiran pada bencana yang akan diakibatkannya.

“Yunda tidak mengatakan bahwa Panji menolak kawin dengan Sekartaji, bukan?”

“Memang itulah yang saya katakan, Dinda.”

Roman muka Baginda Raja memerah. Wajahnya menegang. Duduknya ditegakkan.

Dengan suara bergetar dia berkata, “Saya memohon perkenan Yunda untuk segera memanggil Panji seorang diri ke kediaman Yunda di Pucangan. Seorang diri.”

“Kapan itu, Dinda? Sepekan lagi? Bagaimana kalau sepurnama lagi? Baru tadi aku berbincang dengannya. Waktu sepurnama merupakan waktu yang tepat untuk mengundangnya karena kangen.”

“Sepekan, Yunda!” Baginda Raja berkata seolah berteriak. “Sepekan lagi dia akan saya panggil menghadap dan saya katakan bahwa dia ditunggu bibinya di Pucangan.”

“Baik, saya tunggu kedatangan Panji di Pucangan sepekan lagi,” kata Rara Suci datar bergetar menahan kenyerian dadanya dibentak adiknya. Dia tidak menutup-nutupi ketidaksenangannya diminta untuk memanggil Panji ke kediamannya. Dia tidak bertanya maksud Baginda Raja memintanya memanggil Panji. Tebakannya atas alasan dia diutus memanggil Panji membuat hati sang pertapa berdesir. Tanpa berpamitan, dia melangkah pergi begitu saja. Baginda Raja yang sedang terbakar hatinya tidak menggubris kepergiannya.

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Cuplikan ini ditampilkan dengan izin khusus dari penulis.

Untuk membaca cerita ini secara lengkap silakan membeli bukunya melalui: https://toko.kanisiusmedia.co.id/product/tembang-dan-perang/

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Panji’s Quest (Chapter 3)

Despite his technical background, Oni Suryaman is driven by literature. In his spare time, he writes essays, book reviews, and fiction. He also worked as a part-time translator for Indonesian publisher Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia and Kanisius Publishing House. He has recently published a picture book titled I Belog, a retelling of a famous Balinese folklore, an adaptation of which was performed at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) Singapore 2017.

Read some of his essays and book reviews at: http://onisur.wordpress.com and http://semuareview.wordpress.com

Oni Suryaman: oni.suryaman@gmail.com.

Chapter 3

In the palace hall, King Amiluhur of Janggala, and his sister, Rara Suci, discussed the marriage of crown prince Panji to Angreni, the daughter of Patih Kudanawarsa — a marriage that was creating serious problems for the court.

“Is it true that Panji doesn’t want to take another wife after marrying Angreni?” King Amiluhur asked, skeptically.

“You are correct, my dear brother,” said Rara Suci. “That is what Panji told me himself.”
The king shook his head in disbelief. “Didn’t Panji marry Angreni to be his concubine?”

Rara Suci did not answer her brother’s question. Instead, she turned to the turtledove’s cage swaying in the wind.

“Isn’t Angreni only Panji’s concubine?” King Amiluhur repeated his question.

“No, she’s not just a concubine.” Rara Suci avoided the king’s eyes. “She is more than that to him.”

“No, Angreni is Panji’s concubine, nothing more than that,” King Amiluhur grumbled as if speaking to convince himself. “I hope that my brother in Kadiri doesn’t think that Angreni is Panji’s official wife, let alone his queen.”

That afternoon, the palace hall was quiet indeed. The king’s words were commandments that could not be refuted.

The usually refreshing scent of incense now suffocated Rara Suci. She silently compared the warm atmosphere of Panji’s residence with the chilly atmosphere of the palace hall now surrounding her.

“I was unable to weaken Panji’s resolve.” Rara Suci’s voice faltered. “He still doesn’t want to marry Sekartaji.” Rara Suci was gravely concerned about the disaster this might cause.

“You’re not saying that he refuses to marry Sekartaji, are you?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

Amiluhur’s face turned red, and his body stiffened. He straightened his back. With a voice trembling with rage he said, “I ask you to summon Panji to your residence in Pucangan. Alone.”

“When?”

“Next week.”

“Next week? How about in a month? I just talked to him. The next full moon would be a perfect time to send for him. It would make sense, then, when I tell him that I miss him.”

“Next week!” Amiluhur shouted. “Next week I will summon him and say that his aunt is waiting for him in Pucangan.”

“As you wish. I will expect Panji to visit me at Pucangan in a week.” Rara Suci trembled as she tried to hold back the pain her younger brother’s tone of voice had caused. She didn’t hide her resentment for being expected to summon Panji to her residence. Nor did she ask why she needed to — her guess of the reason made the hermitess cringe. She left without saying goodbye.

Amiluhur, still furious, paid no attention to Rara Suci’s leaving.

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