Derai-derai Cinta

Intro

Jadi ceritanya bokap gue baru mencetak tulisannya ke bentuk buku. Karena beliau tau gue punya hobi membaca gara-gara terpengaruh Yasmin, langsung deh dua dari tiga bukunya dijadikan hadiah; "Anak Manusia Korban Politik" dan (eng ing eng) "Derai-derai Cinta." (Ea!)

Tanpa tedeng aling-aling, begitu melihat dua buku tadi di meja kerjanya, Yasmin langsung komentar panjang lebar, "wiwiwi, ni cerita cinta bapak lo yak? Lo malu-malu gak bacanya? Belum baca lo ya yang ini? Deg-degan yakkk?"

Wongedian.

Regardless, Yasmin had a point. Even a novelist once testified, "nothing worse than reading a love scene written by your father."

So I thought.

But, man, I was wrong.

..

Derai-derai Cinta adalah kisah perjalanan hidup seorang pemuda yang lahir dan besar di kampung di Sumatera Barat. Jelas diceritakan bagaimana Imran--nama pemuda ini--berasal dari keluarga yang kental dengan nilai Islam. Kehidupannya, terutama dari segi ekonomi, dijelaskan tidak terlalu istimewa, alias sangat pas-pasan. Jika ada yang teristimewa di hidup Imran, sudah tentu tidak lain adalah karakternya. Kehilangan sosok ayah di usia yang sangat muda, menjadikan Imran terbiasa untuk berhati-hati dan terlatih untuk bertanggung jawab dalam mengambil tindakan. Kisah Imran di buku ini berakhir dengan keputusannya dalam meminang seorang perempuan untuk menjadi pasangan hidup.

Anyhow, daripada membocorkan cerita, I think it'll be better if I write what I found interesting about the book.

Pertama-tama, buku ini sangat ringan dibaca. Alurnya mudah dicerna, bahasa percakapannya tidak mengada-ada, dan sangat mudah membayangkan kejadian-kejadian yang diceritakan di dalamnya. Sedikit catatan, ada beberapa kata dan frasa yang diungkapkan dalam bahasa Minang, yang tidak umum (tentunya bagi yang tidak terbiasa dengan bahasa Minang), akan tetapi cukup mudah ditebak maknanya melalui konteks cerita.

Hal lain yang menyenangkan dari buku ini adalah kuatnya nilai-nilai kekeluargaan (which I can so much relate). Beberapa bagian mengharuskan persediaan tisu (Galodo, OMG!!!) dan sebagian lainnya cukup menghangatkan hati.

Not to mention, karakter Imran dengan gaya hidupnya yang sederhana selalu diceritakan dengan bahasa yang menarik dan mengena. Seperti ketika Imran diundang makan di restoran Homan, western style:

Dimulai dengan salad. Sayur-sayuran hijau yang disiram dengan "dressing." Diikuti sup asparagus. Setelah itu baru menu utama. Sirloin steak dengan kentang pure. Minumannya ice lemon tea. Namanya keren, ternyata maksudnya teh es pakai jeruk. 

(Errr... Iya sik, ice lemon tea itu teh es pakai jeruk.. Tapi... Gak usah di-point out juga kaleee! Lol. )

For me personally, hanya ada satu hal yang mengganggu. Sebenarnya tidak 'mengganggu' juga sih. Susah juga menjelaskannya. Anyhow, I believe my following chat with Yasmin explains better.

Nadya Saib: Gue lagi baca buku bapak gue yang Derai-Derai Cinta  

Nadya Saib: Aaaaakkkk  

Floresiana Yasmin: apa tu maksudnya aaaak?  

Nadya Saib: Gue deg2an kalau udah bagian "cinta2annya"  

Nadya Saib: Wkwkwkwk  

Floresiana Yasmin: wkwkwk  

Floresiana Yasmin: kenapa deg2an?  

Floresiana Yasmin: apakah karena seru atau karena lo merasa... eewwwh?  

Nadya Saib: Ada yang seru  

Nadya Saib: Ada yang gue menebak2, SIAPA INIIII?  

Nadya Saib: Ada yang, adohhh gua malu mengetahui bapak gue paham begini2an  

Nadya Saib: *dikira bapak gua begitu lahir langsung beranak 3  

Floresiana Yasmin: hahahahahaha  

Floresiana Yasmin: semua yg lo tau, Bapak lo lebih tau 

And there I (and Yasmin) said it.

All in all, it's a very enjoyable reading with beautiful messages, especially for young men and women. Moral of the story sih.., jodoh di tangan Tuhan. Tenang aja. Nggak akan kemana!

#Tsah #NgomongSamaKaca

Nevertheless, how I wish I read this earlier in life. (And how I also wish that there are still plenty of Imrans left out there.)

#TeamImran #SemuaBilangAmen

..

On a side note.. 

Baru beberapa hari yang lalu gue mengobrol dengan beberapa teman, bagaimana kreatifnya anak SD dalam hal meledek. Gue pun dulu sering jadi sasaran ledekan dengan cara dipanggil 'Saib' (yang padahal memang nama belakang gue, yang diturunkan dari bokap, yang sebelumnya juga diturunkan dari kakek). Tapi entah kenapa dulu kalau ada yang manggil "Ib.. Ib.. Saiiiib" rasanya pingin gue makan.

Again, I was wrong.

Today, I cannot begin to tell you how being called "Saib" has become one of the most beautiful reminders of how I should be grateful in life; that I have been raised by a man of decency, whose rationale and eloquence have inspired me, who has shown me how to live this life with a high level of integrity, and above all, who smartly chose a strong, caring, compassionate, and beautiful woman to become my mom.

#MendadakMellow #SalahinImran

..

Congrats, Papa! 
You write so beautifully. 

I love you! x

Your proud daughter, 
N. F. Saib

Pulang Kampuang

It has been 15 years since the last time I visited West Sumatra. I could barely recall the interactions I had with most of my relatives there at the time somehow, but I still do have some vivid memories about some places; like how the neighborhood looked like, where I used to go fishing, or where my cousins and I usually bought snacks. Good times, as far as I can remember.

Therefore, when my parents asked whether I would like to join them Pulang Kampuang1--road-trip, mind you--the answer was no-brainer.

Finally back just few days ago, I believe it's safe to say that it was the most unforgettable trip for many reasons. At least, there are three.

..

First and foremost, THE FOOD!

Most of Indonesians know too well about a West Sumatra traditional song that describes our feelings towards our beautiful homeland which is far-far away (Kampung nan Jauah di Mato2), and, not to mention, the infamous one about one's grieve of losing chicken (Ayam Den Lapeh3)--I, too, wonder why. Even so, the two make a big hit somehow.

And yet what most of us (I, myself, included) didn't know is that there are actually dozens of our songs that talk about our food; Bareh Solok, Salalauak, Katupek Gulai Paku, Lompong Sagu, Kue Mangkuak, Karupuak Sanjai, Kue Sarabi, Sate Piaman, and many others.

Clearly, there's a reason why.

Serving food, Minang way

My favorite Salalauk at Garegeh

It's not because of the quality nor the variety of the food per se that makes the people of West Sumatra very proud of their cuisine. Actually, the culture itself also allows the food to play a central role in the social interaction. A good example to illustrate that is what my dad commented about the people in his village back in the day; that it is embarrassing for them if they cannot serve their guest with a full proper meal, especially if it is a close relative.

Though some people no longer hold on to the tradition nowadays, nevertheless I still observe it from the families which my parents and I visited. Of course, nobody was disappointed. If you know what I mean.

On this point of food, I remember a good friend who, one day, made an interesting point, "each and everyone of us has a currency. Yours, allegedly, is food!"

Being a Minang by blood, I agreed. Assuredly.

THE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE..

It is undeniably spectacular as it is varied. Eyes are pleased, while photos can never do it justice.

I tried anyway..

Jam Gadang, Bukittinggi

Bukit Barisan, Bukittinggi

Gunung Merapi, Bukittinggi

Batu Limbak, Danau Singkarak

Istana Basa Pagaruyuang, Batusangkar

Puncak Lawang, Kabupaten Agam

Lembah Harau, Nagari Harau

Tarusan Kamang, Nagari Kamang Mudiak

And, on a more serious note, THE LESSONS.

Some places we go for the food, some others for the scenery. Having both reasons in one destination is something, and yet to share that experience with our loved ones gives a whole new meaning.

On being appreciative, particularly towards parents..

The decision to road-trip was the paramount factor why the trip was special. It took us three days and two nights to get to West Sumatra, which gave us plenty of time to talk through many things; about how things worked back in the day, how it influenced my parents' childhood experiences (my most favorite part), and even some hopes we have in this life in the future.

I discovered a lot of new things about my parents through their stories and even through the way they share them. I found that there is much food for thought in understanding of who my parents (and even grandparents) were and are.

Above all, realizing that the decisions they have ever made actually pretty much shapes me and my perspective, helps me to be more appreciative about what I have in life.

May God reward our parents, and may He make us all among the grateful.

"Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return."

It was Saturday and there were six of us--my uncle, my aunt, my cousin, my mom, my dad, and myself--who were just about to have a breakfast together. We were all smiles that morning, and yet in a matter of hours, forget about smiling, there wasn't even a dry eye in the house. My uncle had a cardiac arrest and passed away.

Just a bit about my uncle, Om Wawoh, he was very beloved to the whole family and will surely be missed. May God grant him paradise and reunite us all there.

Looking back, I think the lessons I've learned in the past few years has been constant; that no individual is in full control of all things, and that the time that each and every one of us has is limited. I feel like I knew that full well. Apparently, that doesn't change the fact that the death of our beloved one is a hard pill to swallow.

Obviously, the trip ended in a way that was no where near my expectations, still I found that it was one of the best reminders I have ever had. Witnessing someone--not to mention, one who is near and dear--breathed his last breathe instantaneously just shook me to the core. It was, by all means, impossible to be forgotten.

Lastly, may God make it easy for us to be more appreciative to what we have.


Footnotes
1. (literally) Pulang: go (back) home; Kampuang: hometown
2. I found that this link translates the whole lyric pretty well.
3. Read the full lyric here. It is one of the most interesting and (to me) intriguing song there is. I even asked my parents whether Minang people--probably back in the days, who knows--have so much love for chicken. My mom responded with laughter, while my dad answered with a joke. I suppose it remains a mystery. 

Miracle

Last year, in the last week of the month of Ramadan, my father was hospitalized for chronic kidney disease. The doctor said that his one and only kidney left (as he'd had nephrectomy couple of years before) somehow stopped functioning properly, to the extent that he needed dialysis.

Simply put, while most people have kidney(s) to filter and remove waste products from the blood (thus producing urine), the function of my father's kidney was extremely bad that the filtering had to be done artificially. Not just once, but continously and regularly. "Twice a week," the doctor said.

On the other side, on the first day when my father got into the hospital, my sister and her family had to move to Pau. At the time, she was 7 months pregnant. I remember one thing my father kept saying on that day was his plan, together with my mom, to visit my sister and her family in France sometime soon, especially to see his would-be first granddaughter. Of course, that was before we knew about the kidney failure.

When the doctor said that regular dialysis was the only option my father had, my parents asked loads of questions. But nothing broke my heart more than this one, "what about traveling?"

I might not be able to fully understand what my parents felt at the time, but I know for sure, even I was crushed.

Long story short, my father went on dialysis for two weeks. Somehow after the fifth one, miracle happened, and his kidney started to work properly. Even the doctor couldn't give the clear explanation how it happened. All we know is that he's never had dialysis ever since.

Fast forward to today, my sister sent me these pictures.

Well, I may not be able to fully understand what my parents are feeling right now, but I know for sure, even I am overjoyed.

P.S. For those of you who have to go through some medical treatments, or have family member who does, I pray that God gives you and your loved ones the miracle He gave to my father. And above all, I sincerely pray that He gives you and your loved ones the strength and patience to carry you through the difficult time.