Break a Tradition for Dream

“You break our family tradition!”

“Religion is not tradition, Dad,” that tall girl increased her voice by half an octave. Her tears croocked in her mother’s arms who also shed the tears without can do anything. “Religion is a belief. I want to become a dancer, and it doesn’t mean I am out of religion.”

Since she heard a song danced by Gambyong’s dancer in Yogyakarta Palace 5 years ago, she believes that her dream is to become a dancer.

“Dad, it’s my concern. Let me to become myself.” Ayu cried again. Her breath was gasped, she wouldn’t snapped the man in front of her. However, he is her dad. “I wanna be a dancer.”

“Unlucky you! You are embarrasing your family like girls out there!”

At that time, a girl with long hair and covered by black veil, carried her bag and out of her home by forced. She walked stumbled in blank eyes. She walks alone in the dark of the night. 

Ayu’s gaze is dreamy remembered an incident that will never forget in a lifetime. Ayu looks her little family picture in her sad eyes. A breeze came in through the space of window that opened beside Ayu’s sitting.

“Ayu,” a voice called her softly, scrattered her daydream. She was looking for source of the voice. “It’s time to your exercise.” Rika continued reminding and giving a smile. 

The smile contagious to Ayu. She stoods up and walks towards Rika. Then they both walk side by side to locatian where they will practice.

“You look pale, are you sick?” Rika looked at Ayu worried. They stopped in front of warehouse. “Do you need to rest today?”

“I’m okay, Rika. Thanks for worrying me.”

“Is it true?” one of Rika’s eyebrows raised indisbelief, although Ayu sured her with a big smile.

“Yes, right.” Ayu ensured Rika.

All women are the same. When they are asked what is wrong with them they always reply with okay, eventhough actually it is the opposite. There is something happened in their life. As like as Ayu now, she looks fine but we don’t know what is actually.

 Ayu and Rika are bussy with their thought. No one open their mouth. Ayu looked down, many things are going through her mind. 

Six months after she was expelled from her comfort home, with warmth that always enveloped her since she was child. Yes, before an incident she caught dancing in her room by her dad. There was feeling what missing somewhere. Like her heart hole since the incident.

Ayu miss her mom, mom’s hug, mom’s cook, mom’s soft voice that can be as clear as army if she made a mistake, she misses all. However, did her dad miss her?

How is her dad now? Is he still angry with her? Disappointed? Has her father already forgive her mistake?

Suddenly Ayu stopped. Fortunately she stopped in right way, in front of the dance studio door so that Rita was not asked. Am I wrong? Ayu muttered in the heart. Did she fault if she was born from religious family and her dream is become a dancer?

Right, Ayu’s dad is a one of big religious family in her village. He always been respected by other people. His speech always been heard accurate and followed well. Ayu’s dad was very religious and also a generation of a mufti. But, unfortunate fate, her daughter is totally against all principles and his traditions of their family that he was always kept.

And once again, is it wrong if she wants to be a dancer?

Ayu’s appearences was polite, she also close her aurat. However, her dad’s mind is already thinking negatively about what if her daughter become a dancer and dancing with open clothes and dancing with a boy who are not her mahram.

“Ay,” Bimo nudged her arms, that girl realize out her daydream.

“Why, Bim?”

“What are you daydreaming about? Come on, why are you at the door like that?”

All people in the studio laughed Ayu’s silliness. Makes she scratching her head what doesn’t itch.

“Well, all have grathered,” Bimo said louder. The tall man stared one by one people in the studio. “Today is the last exercise in this studio, tomorrow we will go to Semarang in morning.”

Bimo is a dance coach that graduated from arts university in the capital and his ability is also good. He is responsible with competition that will be held in Semarang next two days. A competition that will take them to a level of success as an artist.

A very beautiful day looked into their enthusiastic eyes and their optimistic. Bimo smiled, he prays in his heart, hopes his students can do their best. Bimo claps his hand twice, signal to start the exercise. Five girls in their early twenty age put themselves soon. They are Rika, Mona, Jullie, Elisa, and Ayu as a center. Ayu stands up in the middle formation and the other sit on the floor.

Gong blowed and sound of gending was heard, followed by others gamelan. Ayu and friends started moved their body following the rhythm.

 In the other side, Ana quicked came in to Mr. Baroto home. Ayu's cousin who is so religious and for the first time, she looks so mess and runs so fast, it looks like she will be chased by a devil. Ayu's mom realized Ana's attendance immediately told her to sit down and take some water.

“Ayu, Mrs. Baroto, Ayu,” Ana said and still with shortness of breath. The woman directly taking place beside Ana.

“What’s wrong with Ayu?” Ayu’s mom asked full of worry.

“She will go to Semarang,”

“Semarang? Over here?”

“Yes, Mrs. Baroto. Next two days, a dance national competition that will be held on the campus. Ayu is one of the participant.”

How happy Mrs. Baroto is going to meet her daughter after separated in a long time. Tears fall to her cheek. Worried tone changed a sobs louder more and more. Ana shifted her body closer to Ayu’s mother, she stroked her back softly to calm that woman.

Night is coming. After Dad finished his recite, Mom makes him a cup of tea. Dad sits on sofa at family room, enjoying sip of tea that still puffing. Mom sits beside him. She doubts aim initially. But what can she does?

“Dad,” Dad cleared her throat and closing him eyes. “Dad, can you accompany me to visiting campus beside village tomorrow?”

Dad opened his eyes. “What is going on?”

“There is culture festival out there, Dad. A festival whole this land, I wanna enjoy a event like that occasionally,” Mom answered lower, afraid if she said wrong and makes her husband angry.

Dad stared Mom sharply makes her looked down awkwardly. “If you—“

“I can and I want,” Dad answered steady. “I know Ayu join the festival.”

Mom’s heart was slipped after heard Dad’s said. Dad stared Mom straight, “Maybe I was so far to Ayu untill hurt your heart, I was separated child with her mom. Dad wants to meet Ayu, Ayu will return to us.”

Realize or not, sentences what Dad said success make mom’s eyes sparkling happiness. Also a smile that overcast in a long time now already very bright. Mom has been thankful to Dad with tears flowed.

A day awaited everyone is coming. Campus yard was full of people, whether they are committee of event, participants, or visitor moreover the students. Ayu and the other sitting in front of auditorium acccording to Bimo’s instructions which is currently holding a meeting with other participants.

Ayu’s heart is beating realized where she is. She wants to out from this campus and go home. So close her body with her home but her soul and her heart won’t compromised.

She is still doubt. She is afraid. So, does her mother know if Ayu is in Semarang now?

“Ayu!”

The girl with black veil seen running into her. Ayu’s eyes squinting. She stands up from sitting afte knowing who is coming. “Ana!”

“Ayu, I miss you so much. How are you?”

Ana holding Ayu’s hand so close. Her eyes twinkled full of missing that had been hidden. How not? Since they were little always together not separated although by ocean wave.

They continued talking when Bimo comes and tells her that their dance group get number 15 of 23 groups. The event is just begin and number 1 showing their best performances.

“Our shift still so long,” Elisa said with two of her hand were fanning her face that started sweating.

Rika replied, “Number 15 is not long, who knows while we chatting like this suddenly they called us. That’s right?”

 All agree with Rika said and Elisa defeated badly without can argue back. They back to each activity.

Rika’s right, when they were chatting for a while, their group had called by MC. Bimo, who was lost somewhere, he appear now from backstage. That man waving his hand and told them to hurry up.

“Ayu, some surprise are waiting for you. I hope you can do your best.” Ana said lower in her ears, then go to lined of viewers.

“What is the surprise?” Ayu asking in the heart.

Five of they composed be a circle and pray together then up to stage one by one. They greeting and croocked their back and don’t forget to smile. Not expressly Ayu’s eyes find a figure that she missed all this time. Mom is watching. And a man who wear a black hat and sit beside her Mom. He is her Dad. Is that a surprise like Ana said?

Evenmore, Dad smile towards her. Is it a dream? God, if it’s just a dream, please don’t wake me up. Ayu’s heart is blooming, she feels thankful to God, she can dance without heavy mind now.

Gong beaten, they immediately go to each formation. Sound of gending start heard and they moved their body gracefully following the gamelan beaten by wiyaga.

Mungguh karsa sinarate

Kang kinayom tatag ingkang laku

Hayu rahayu rahayuwo

Hayu rahayu rahayuwo

Tan ana ruh beda tabih sambi kala

Nenggih rasa, nunggal cipta