In the sky the clouds open up, and the moon reappears. Layers of clouds come up, moving, then scatter, increasingly making the sky vibrant. And the Jatisrana hermitage becomes bright when Begawan Swandagni tells his journey to Dewi Sokawati.
“I didn't know where to look for the golden banana. Apparently it was only the love for you, Sokawati, which guided my path until I reached Mount Taranggana Sekar and met Dewi Luhwati, who gave me the golden banana you desire," said Begawan Swandagni.
Dewi Sokawati hears all the stories with great gratitude.
“Begawan, I myself don't even know whether the golden banana exists or not. I'm sorry for asking you to go to find my desire that doesn't necessarily exist. But your love for me turns out to have made what doesn't exist to materialize, Begawan," said Dewi Sokawati, hugging her husband affectionately.
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"Sokawati, please go to sleep. It is late. Calm yourself. Tomorrow is the time for you to have a ceremony for the seventh month of your pregnancy. Prepare yourselves and ask the gods that you and your womb will be blessed with safety and happiness," said Begawan Swandagni, leading his wife to the bed.
As soon as she picks it, suddenly the kurinjem flower changes into a thunderous lightning. The lightning enters her body, awakening Dewi Sokawati from her sleep.
The sky has not yet darkened, when Dewi Sokawati closes her eyes. The light of the full moon has penetrated the gaps of her bedroom window, caressing Dewi Sokawati in her sleep. In the midst of her deep sleep, Dewi Sokawati has a dream in which the sky turns into a flower garden. Nagapuspa flowers bloom beautifully. The flowers form circles that connect one another to form a kind of necklaces. Dewi Sokawati feels like walking between the necklaces, where she suddenly sees a very beautiful kurinjem flower. The bud sticks out like a kris. Dewi Sokawati cannot stop herself from picking this beautiful flower. As soon as she picks it, suddenly the kurinjem flower changes into a thunderous lightning. The lightning enters her body, awakening Dewi Sokawati from her sleep.
"What happens, Sokawati? Why do you look pale and worried?” asks Begawan Swandgani, stroking his wife's shoulder.
“I had a sweet dream. I was in the middle of the nagapuspa flower garden where the flowers were arranged like necklaces. I saw a kurinjem flower. I wanted to pluck it, but as soon as I picked it up, the flower turned into a bolt of lightning that penetrated into my body. Begawan, what will happen to my womb?" says Dewi Sokawati in a frightened state.
"Sokawati, your pregnancy has entered its seventh month. The closer your hopes, the greater your worries will be, whether you and your womb will be safe, when you give birth later. Calm your heart, Sokawati, worries will always come as a temptation, when you are dreaming about happiness. That is why we have to hold a ceremony for the commemoration of your seventh month of pregnancy. We ask the gods to grant safety to your womb, Sokawati," explained Begawan Swandagni again.
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Dewi Sokawati nods, and bows in agreement to her husband's words. However, in her heart she gets increasingly restless. She is worried. But she does not know what the worries are about. Because on the one hand, she feels that the worries have plunged her into a terrifying ocean. Confusion and bewilderment are like waves that plunge her into uncertainty and doubt. But on the other hand, she feels that worry even takes her to the sky, where she can reach for the stars. There she sees how the golden banana she wants glows with gleams. The golden-yellow kepodang birds surround her, trying to scramble to peck the fruit, but then give up, feeling pity if the golden banana is torn from its beauty.
And the birds that have been happy to peek at her taking a bath, join in the chirping; indeed all of it is not a dream.
Dewi Sokawati is happy seeing the golden banana so beautiful in its wholeness. Is the golden banana a star that makes the sky glow because of its light? Or is the golden banana the hope that will dispel all the worries and darkness of her life? Dewi Sokawati thinks it is impossible to disclose all of this to her husband. She herself does not even know what it all means. But she feels certain, only she alone is able and bear all these feelings. She bows and when she opens her eyes, the morning is bright with the sun. She gets up, then takes a bath in the bamboo shower in the garden behind the Jatisrana Hermitage. The freshness of the morning water startles her, as if what she is experiencing is just a dream. No, she says to herself, it is not a dream. And the birds that have been happy to peek at her taking a bath, join in the chirping; indeed all of it is not a dream.
"Sokawati, prepare yourself. Get rid of all your fears. Trust yourself to the gods, and ask for safety for yourself and your womb. Through the birth of your child, a new hope will emerge for both of us. Not even just for us, but for the world that will be inhabited later. Look, how beautiful the Jatisrana courtyard is when this morning the kananga flowers bloom. Dip your hopes into their beauty, Sokawati," said Begawan Swandagni breaking the silence of those who were preparing for the ceremony.
(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).
