The sun is shining brightly today, stinging to the point of burning when exposed. The wind blew so hard that it obscured the scorching heat of the sun, and a gust of wind sent the waves crashing into a white pier that stood firm on the Musi River's banks. This story will be the end on this white pier.
A tall young woman wearing a white hijab was standing on the corner of the pier. She had been standing in the same spot for an hour, because the scenery was breathtaking. The woman's eyes looked right at the Ampera Bridge, which was in the distance. From where she stood, the Ampera Bridge looked stunning, with the cool wind and small ships passing by, making the scene even more epic. However, it appears that the woman's eyes are blank, she appears to be looking at the Ampera Bridge, but her mind does not appear to be there. Is she heartbroken? Is the money running out and the debt mounting? So the smile on her face just wasn't there, even after seeing such an epic sight. The woman then advanced step by step towards the guardrail that was at the height of her waist. Does she want to jump? Then, she takes off her white shoes, and her feet just wanted to step over the guardrail. Until just as the woman wanted to jump, a voice sounded
Plop! Like the sound of bubbles popping and suddenly a man's voice.
"Weak, that's how you solve problems? Even if you jump from there, you won't die, you'll just get wet or maybe if you don't know how to swim you'll just drift away, and the people will be find you to stuck on a public bathing bridge. What a shame!"
The woman was silent, but her feet stopped to step over the guardrail. The man continued his sentence again.
"If you really have the guts and intend to kill yourself, you should jump from the Ampera Bridge there. The height might make you choke on water when you jump from there, but then you can't swim and drown forever. But, do you think your problem will be solved? Haha, no, my child, only your body is finished, but your problem is not. Maybe it will even get more complicated and your spirit that is not accepted by the earth will be a witness to how complicated the problem you left behind is. "
"You don't know anything. Don't be smart by trying to advise me." The woman answered the old man who had suddenly come to advise her.
The old man had gray hair, sharp eyes, and wore faded black clothes. Hearing the woman's words, the man was silent for a moment, then he continued.
"With your beautiful face and your shady eyes like that, the other will be amazed to see you, my child. Don't waste your life just because of one man who doesn't respect you. You better go home and help your mother cook for your father. Maybe your father will be fall in love with your cooking and will set you up with a handsome and wealthy friend's son. "
"My life is not that easy. I don't have any advantages that will make people love me. There's nothing left for me, not even self-respect. My life is shattered and colorless. So why I should live any longer? Before death comes to take me, I'll go to it first."
The old man then approached the woman, smiling at her, and asked,
"What's your name, sweetheart?"
"Nur," the woman replied quickly and flatly.
"Light, your mother gave your name Nur so that you can shine a light on the lives of everyone who is with you sweetheart. If you can illuminate everyone's life, how you can't use that light to illuminate your own life. If you're willing, come with me, maybe there's a little story you want to tell to this ugly old man."
With firm steps, the old man then boarded one of the small boats parked on the wharf and started the engine.
"Come on up!" exclaimed the man.
"Where?" asked the woman, who had been standing in the same spot.
"Throw away your troubles, come on up, this ship's oil isn't enough to heat it up for too long".
Nur looked at the hesitant to step onto the ship. She didn't know who this old man was that she had just met 15 minutes ago. Is he a good man? Or do he want to take advantage of it? Plus, whether this ship belongs to him or not, Nur doesn't care. She thinks that her life is meaningless, so even if this man wants to kill her and use her, it doesn't matter. Then Nur got on the boat that the man had prepared and they started to go.
On the Musi River by boat, it feels very calming. Even though the waves hit a small boat in the middle of this river, it still feels calming. The scenery on the left and right from the top of this small boat is very interesting, the neatly arranged houses of the residents, the joy of children bathing in the river, and the towering buildings are all very pleasing to the beholder's eye. This small ship was going fast. The wind made the white veil that Nur was wearing fly, but Nur didn't seem to mind it, she even enjoyed it. The speed of the ship began to decrease. The small ship would soon arrive at its destination. Kemaro Island, the island where Nur's ship docked. This island is located in the middle of the Musi River, the island which consists of a tall pagoda and a place of worship for Buddhists has become one of the most famous icons in the city of Palembang. Nur sat under one of the trees by the river, the fragrant wind blew the white hijab she was wearing, the old man stepped closer to Nur after hooking his small boat on the island's pier.
Breaking the silence between them Nur started a conversation.
"What would you do if your life had a gloomy past, a tense present, and a future that was sure to fall apart?"
The old man replied.
"You're not God, how do you know someone's future can be sure it will fall apart?"
Nur added,
"The future is already reflected in what you have done in the past and present, isn't it? So how hard is it to know that?"
"Not so, my sweetheart, every event on this planet has been written down 40,000 years before God created the world, and everything in it, even a fallen leaf, has been written before."
The man picked up a leaf that had fallen from the tree by which they were passing.
"Look at this leaf, falling, dry, and it will die, then disappear from the face of the earth, forever. However, do you think all will suffer the same fate? Of course, what if it was a miracle leaf that fell? They will have one more life. So do you, my sweetheart. Your past fall may destroy you in the present, but not necessarily in the future, perhaps because the strength within you will create a new life in the future. Who knows, right?" Nur smiled slightly, hearing the old man's words. Then continue,
"It's better to vent to people we don't know at all; they'll think more about solutions to problems instead of commenting on our mistakes."
"Then, what makes you think your future is sure to fall apart, my sweetheart?" Nur looked at the old man's face, as if wondering whether this old man really meant to cheer her up, or if there was another purpose in all of this.
Seeing Nur looking at him, the old man seemed to know what Nur was thinking and returned his gaze with a smile and said
"God sent me here just to hear your story, my sweetheart, so let's share your sadness with this old man, if you want; if you can't share all of it, a quarter is fine." Nur answered with a big smile at the old man.
"Actually, there are three reasons for me to commit suicide, but I can't tell you all of them. However, I believe it would be easier for me to share one of them. Is it okay if it's just one of them?" Nur smiled broadly at the old man and the man replied with a wide smile as well.
"This problem started when I was too young to understand everything, but I wonder why God gave such a big thing to such a small child?"
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A Reason for Being Life English Version
Romantizmwhat would you do if your life has a gloomy past, a present tense, and a future that will sure to a fall apart? that's what happened to Nur. a 19 years old girl who attempt suicide to escape from all pf the darkness in her life. Does Nur prefer to g...