In the evening, Sumantri goes out of his place of accommodation and walks outside the walls of Taman Sari. The crescent moon appears in the sky. Its light spreads into laces on the edges of the clouds which in their height become steep ravines. The twigs of the nagasari trees move because of the wind that is blowing slowly. Sumantri walks in the courtyard, which is dim under the moonlight, and sees the pandan leaves falling into strands of questions. Will he really be able to fulfill Dewi Citrawati's demand to find the domas girls? For a moment he feels his desperation in the fallen pandan leaves, while the silence of the night rings out the sorrowful sound of the cucur birds.
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While he feels the commotion in his heart, all of a sudden a weak voice greets him, "Raden (call for royal descent), may I help you?" Sumantri turns his head, and he sees a woman nearby.
"Who are you?" asks Sumantri in indecision.
"I am Darmawati, the younger sister of Prabu Darmawasesa," the woman introduces herself.
Sumantri was stunned, how can she suddenly face the younger sister of an opponent who has recently died in front of him.
“After my older brother died, I don't want to go back to Widarba. I follow you, along with the remainder of my older brother's army which is now under your control." Darmawati, the younger sister of the King of Darmawasesa, hastily explains herself, so that Sumantri will not be confused by her presence.
Sumantri is a charm for women. And his charm shines even more when he is on the battlefield of Magada. The news about his good looks also reaches the ears of the women of Widarba country. When Darmawati met her older brother, Prabu Darmawasesa, before his death, she also could not help but want to see by herself Maespati's warlord, who was said to be very charming. After Widarba's troops surrendered, she really saw Sumantri. She could not hide her feelings, that she was really fascinated by the warlord who conquered his older brother. Actually Darmawati was able to return to Widarba. But since then she has not been shy about admitting that for an unknown reason she does not want to be away from Sumantri. So she invited the four wives of Prabu Darmawasesa to follow Sumantri. She realizes, it does not necessarily mean that Sumantri wants to know about her. She also does not know the way, how she can meet her ideal knight. That day, news about what has happened in the Magada palace royal hall spreads all over the place. Darmawati also hears it. She feels, maybe that is the way she is able to approach Sumantri. So on the dim night with the light of a half moon, she looks for Sumantri and encourages her to greet him. "Raden, allow me to help you find the eight hundred domas girls," says Darmawati.
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"You don't know me yet, why do you suddenly want to offer me help?" Sumantri replies, not understanding.
"I do not have the heart to see you, Raden. You're a man, I imagine, how difficult it will be for you to find such a large number of beautiful girls. In reality you have agreed to fulfill your duties as a warlord. If I can help you, why should I keep quiet and not tell you?”
So it seems, the beauty of Dewi Citrawati is still demanding, while for Darmawati, the beauty has given up and just wants to give. If he wants to, Sumantri can rest on her with a feeling of relief.
Darmawati's words flow, along with a breezy wind. Sumantri cannot deny, those words are the weaving of the heart of someone who sincerely wanted to offer her help. Even more than that, the words are the language of the heart to truly give herself. Sumantri feels, in those words, there is a sweetness dripping like moonlight. He looks at Darmawati and it turns that she is also a beautiful princess. On her face, the budding of a sarasija flower seems to appear, because her heart is as clear as a lake, when the moon wants to make a reflection of her like in the mirror. Indeed Sumantri does not really know many women. But his heart says, Darmawati has a charm that is not owned by the well-known beautiful Princess of Magada. Under the dim moonlight, Darmawati's charm even shines brightly. Maybe, because the charm flows from the honesty of her deep heart. In Darmawati, this beauty appears simple, unlike the beauty of Dewi Citrawati who is decorated with elegance. If he wants to, Sumantri can easily touch Darmawati's beauty. Meanwhile, he imagines how the beauty of Dewi Citrawati is far beyond his reach. In Sumantri's eyes, Darmawati's beauty seems to have stopped looking, while for Dewi Citrawati, that beauty is still wandering and searching. So it seems, the beauty of Dewi Citrawati is still demanding, while for Darmawati, the beauty has given up and just wants to give. If he wants to, Sumantri can rest on her with a feeling of relief.
"Doesn’t your older brother, Prabu Darmawasesa, die because of me?" Sumantri breaks his daydream, wondering, how can it be possible that this death will not leave a feeling of resentment in Darmawati's heart?
"I'm certainly sad to remember my older brother's death, but I'm also sad if I can't help you, Raden?" answers Darmawati. Sumantri feels that Darmawati wants to say more than her answer. Indeed, if she can do it orally, Darmawati will say, "Don't you feel that I have secretly fallen in love with you?" Imagining those words, Darmawati's face turns red. And Sumantri glances at the shy face with the help of the moonlight. How honest is that face, as honest as the hanging tendrils of the gadung plants that spreads fragrance. Sumantri is surprised, the honesty that is just the way it is makes Darmawati's face more beautiful and attractive.
(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)
