Will he lose his way again? It could be that Darmawati's advice is right, that it is time for him to leave this path of chivalry and go back to being an ordinary human being.
This advice has given him shade, making his heart feel light again. He feels that he has been freed from his various burdens. His mind recalls the peaceful life in the countryside and at the Jatisrana Hermitage. There, he will be free from all the desires that have tormented him. He can be carefree in the green fields, in the fresh rice fields, in the clear flowing river with his younger brother Sukrosono, without being burdened by shame. His life will be full of peace, let alone when he imagines that he is accompanied there by Darmawati, who has poured out her sincere and faithful love to him.
How gentle this all is, as gentle as Darmawati's heart that makes the night fragrant with the scent of jasmine flowers.
Isn't Darmawati standing before him now? There, it would be impossible for the honest Princess of Widarba to leave him again. He looks at Darmawati and amazement engulfs his heart. He sees the Princess of Widarba wearing the Kaustubha, the divine jewels, gleaming in the dim glow of the moon. The gems flash, just as they did when the gods discovered them in the ocean of milk, while they were on a quest to find the water of life.
That water now flows between Darmawati's breasts, splashing freshness. Sumantri wants to bury his head in that beautiful chest so he can satisfy his thirst with that freshness. He embraces Darmawati, and he feels as though he is embracing the moon. The dark clouds in his heart disappear as the warmth of Darmawati's body seeps into his, and he hears whispers of love and honesty in his ears. A ray of light shines from Darmawati's face, giving him hope that he will soon escape the paths that have only led him astray into meaninglessness. Her face is so calm, peaceful and still. Sumantri kisses Darmawati's lips, how soft the touch of those lips that send him to the moon, where he can enjoy what it feels like to be an ordinary human being again. How gentle this all is, as gentle as Darmawati's heart that makes the night fragrant with the scent of jasmine flowers.
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> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (105)
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The moon glows more brightly, lighting the way for Sumantri to sink deeper into the night full of jasmine flowers. But the light is too pure to reveal what still lies hidden in Sumantri's heart. In his heart still stands a barrier that even Darmawati's tenderness cannot break through. Only he knows about this obstruction, and strangely enough, he will not tell anyone about it. He will continue to hide it, no one knows how long. Even though it will continue to torment him, he will not let it go, even in this night that has thrilled him to flee beyond the obstacle.
Even though Darmawati's body and heart have touched him, it seems as if he and Darmawati are kept separate because of this obstacle. Therefore, it is impossible for him and Darmawati to pluck that night on a zither as a song that expresses their love for each other. The more honestly and sincerely Darmawati sings her song of love, the more it makes Sumantri run and hide from the truth of his heart. Darmawati does not know this, and even if she does, she can only guess. However, Darmawati's honesty and sincerity force Sumantri to secretly admit, what has actually confused and darkened his heart is not that his ideals of chivalry were wrong, but that he had slipped on the path of chivalry.
Darmawati remains silent about his error, but her silence actually has words. It is Dewi Citrawati who has taken the place in Sumantri's heart, until he brashly promised to move Sriwedari Garden.
On that night, when everything seems to be full of jasmine flowers, Sumantri feels as though he has been stripped naked. Sumantri is ashamed, because he feels that Darmawati knows what is in his heart. This feeling of shame makes him want to run away from Darmawati immediately, and in running away from Darmawati, he will become increasingly entangled with Dewi Citrawati.
In the bottom of his heart, he doesn’t really know who Dewi Citrawati is, whereas he knows and has experienced Darmawati as the fragrance of jasmine flowers, a fragrance that has penetrated through the cracks in the window of his heart, even though he has shut the window tightly.
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> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (102)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (101)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (100)
“Why do you leave that genuine love, while you trap yourself in another love that is just a dream? Why do you sadden that genuine love, while you are tormented by the shadow of a love that remains unclear?” That is the moon’s warning for Sumantri, delivered on the night of the jasmine flowers. The moon seems furious, so its light remains in gloom. And Sumantri sinks into the darkness. And it is this darkness that commands and blinds him, so he continues to walk the alley of dreams.
“Darmawati, I will not give up until I move Sriwedari Garden. For me, it is a matter of self-esteem,” says Sumantri, releasing his arms from around Darmawati's body. Sumantri realizes the pain his words cause Darmawati. Darmawati can only stay silent in her sorrow. This sorrow greets Sumantri, prompting him to promise, "Darmawati, wait for me in Maespati until I move Sriwedari Garden." Upon hearing these words, Darmawati is startled into hope, but she soon finds out on that very night that her hope has been in vain.
They part. Darmawati walks, guided by the moon, which still offers light to sadness, even though its glow has faded. Meanwhile, Sumantri walks into the night, groping around in the dark.
This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.
