Sukrosono arrives back at Jatisrana in the morning, when it is warm and sunny. The sun's rays tear apart the clouds, flashing reddish light. Birds are chirping merrily on the stalks of majestic trees. Dawn still leaves the wind blowing weakly, hitting the bamboo trees to expose themselves to be crept by the vines of jangga trees which are blooming their flowers. The fragrance of the jangga flowers spreads, giving a delicate scent to him, who has waited for a long time to return. Sukrosono laughs, waving his pleasure at the paddy swaying to and fro to welcome his arrival. The Jatisrana surroundings jointly give free expression to its longing. The longing of kenanga (ylang-ylang) trees, their flower petals bathe in sunlight, turning to golden yellow strands, in the morning where there is no longer anxiety because there is nothing to be awaited.
In the puddles of rice fields, cranes play happily, looking for fish with their long beaks. Their shadows are immersed in the deep water. The birds are like flying in the water sky. Sukrosono remembers his journey when he met cranes in a pond like a lake, when he left the Jatirasa forest. He feels again how easy it was to fly, if he could understand the secret of the legs of the flying cranes. Jatisrana hermitage has been at the threshold of the eyes, his steps become light, as though he is floating without leaving a trace. And he feels, the longing turns out to be without footprints.
Durian, guava, langsat and jambolan trees bear fruits, inviting Sukrosono to pick them up. The coconut trees do not want to lose, ready to drop their fruits, so that Sukrosono will drink the water to reduce the thirst of his longing. Everyone wants to welcome he who has just arrived. And behold, banana trees of various colors, pisang raja (plantains), jackfruit bananas, kepok bananas and golden bananas compete to show their fruits. Why don't you pick them up? Sukrosono is fascinated by observing the various banana trees. He feels to be a part of them. Didn't the bananas also help to support him when in the womb? When he was on Mount Taranggana Sekar, he did not see a single banana. Now, back to Jatisrana, the banana trees welcome him with a lot of fruits. Those trees encourage him to pick up the fruits.
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> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (57)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (56)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (55)
Sukrosono just realizes, when a banana tree gives its fruits, not just one, but all of them. Different from other trees, it will be useless to pick up just one banana. One bunch, two, or three bunches, all of them must be picked up. After that the tree dies so that it can sprout again soon, with the intention that later it will live and bear fruit again. The banana tree will not die before the fruits are picked up. And only by dying can it live to give its fruits again. Sukrosono is surprised, the banana trees suddenly awaken him to realize what is meant by sincerity he has received from Semar in Taranggana Sekar.
On that mountain he wanted to enjoy bananas. But there was not a single banana in sight. Here in Jatisrana, bananas are available in abundance. He does not hold back his desire, he picks a golden banana up. He eats it, and he feels what Semar taught him to become real. The banana makes him realize, sincerity is not just vague. But at the same time he is reminded, you have eaten bananas, but the road to sincerity is still very long. Even, at the end of the road you are asked: Can you die like a banana tree, so that your life will sprout with moonlight in the midst of darkness? He has not yet had the chance to answer this question in his heart, while his feet have already set foot on the door of the Jatisrana hermitage. He forgets everything. Only Sumantri, his beloved older brother, is the one he remembers.
"You have arrived back my son. How relieved my heart is," says Begawan Swandagni, hugging his son tightly. He feels that his son has extraordinary power, which he never has. Maybe he has obtained something on Mount Taranggana Sekar. He is confident about it, but does not want to ask. Because he knows, his son is too honest and simple to feel there is something special in him. He just deeply feels the power of his son, while Sukrosono allows himself to stay in his arms.
"Have you met your mother in the golden banana mountain?"
"Mother was not present there. I was there just to keep my promise to my mother. And I know, father, that promise will not necessarily lead me to meet mother," replies Sukrosono. Apparently he feels there is no need to tell any further because there is something more urgent that he needs to know. So without further ado, he immediately asks, "Father, where is my older brother?"
This is the question that Begawan Swandagni has feared the most, since the departure of Sumantri. However, he realizes that the question will come as soon as Sukrosono comes back. He has never been ready to face this question, even though he has always tried to find the answer.
Also read:
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (54)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (53)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (52)
"Sukrosono, why don't you take a rest first after returning from a long trip?" Finally, those are the words that come out of his mouth. Who knows, that invitation might turn away his son’s question for a moment.
"No father, why won't you answer my question? Where is my older brother?” Sukrosono begins to suspect that his father is hiding something.
"Your older brother has gone away, son," replies Begawan Swandagni, stuttering.
"Where does he go, father? When will he be back?” Sukrosono insisted impatiently.
Begawan Swandagni increasingly does not know how he should immediately answer that question.
Father, why don't you want to tell the truth? Where does my older brother really go?
"Perhaps he wants to meditate, son. I don't know when he'll be back." Begawan Swandagni hopes that Sukrosono can accept that answer. Because, he once said, before Sukrosono returned to Jatisrana, Sumantri liked to go to the forest to be alone and meditate. Sumantri himself also used to tell the same thing.
But, as he has also thought, Sukrosono doubts it, "Really, my older brother goes to meditate, father?"
Begawan Swandagni is silent, as if being at a loss for words.
“Father, why don't you want to tell the truth? Where does my older brother really go?” Sukrosono insists further.
This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.
