Salam!
Happy Sunday dear my friends. Now I am going to translate one of my sad stories from Indonesian to English. It is about a fire accident that happened to my family in 2020. Please send me any feedback if you find some parts I need to improve. Thank you!
Pertengahan Juni 2020
Seharian itu, saya kewalahan menghadapi anak-anak. Putera pertama saya tak henti merajuk, sedang putera bungsu saya terus saja menangis. Ia tidak mau minum ASI, digendong pun berontak. Keadaan ini terus berlangsung hingga malam hari, sampai pada akhirnya ponsel saya terus berdering. Ada apa ini?
Saya hiraukan panggilan itu selama beberapa menit, sebab khawatir adik bayi yang sedang digendong terbangun. Namun saat ada pesan dari ibu, saya tahu ada sesuatu yang tidak beres.
“Teh, rumah kebakaran…”
Seketika itu, lutut saya lemas. Saya kemudian jatuh dan tak kuat lagi menggendong adik bayi yang tangisannya semakin nyaring. Oh Allah, apakah karena kebakaran ini yang membuat anak-anak gelisah seharian?
“Baba, tolooong…”
Suami terbangun dan langsung menggendong adik bayi. Dengan matanya yang setengah terbuka, ia bertanya ada apa. Saya menjawabnya dengan suara pilu sembari membuat panggilan video call kepada ibu dengan tangan bergetar.
“Maafin ibu teh, semuanya habis…”
Saya terpejam dan tak mampu berkata apa-apa. Masih dengan terisak-isak, ibu terus meminta maaf. Ibu tidak salah, jawab saya. Andai saya ada di sisi ibu, saya ingin memeluk dan menenangkannya. Namun apa daya, jarak Yokohama-Bandung ini terasa amat mengiris hati.
Adik saya lantas mengarahkan kamera ke arah luapan api. Seketika itu tangisan saya pecah. Rumah masa kecil, tempat dimana saya dibesarkan, telah musnah dilalap api. Rumah yang dibangun tahun 1938 dengan susunan kayu, tembok dan bilik itu, kini hanya menyisakan debu dan puing-puing. Teriris hati saya mengingat semua kenangan yg saya semai di dalamnya. Canda, tawa, sedih, kecewa. Rumah itu menyaksikan segalanya. Delapan puluh dua tahun, ia tetap kokoh adanya.
Rumah penuh sejarah, penuh kenangan.
Meski segalanya telah rata dengan tanah, saya sangat bersyukur bahwa ibu dan adik-adik saya selamat. Tak hanya itu, musibah kebakaran ini jadi bukti kuasa Allah yang nyata. Mushaf Al-Qur’an yang biasa ibu baca, juga mushaf lainnya, tetap utuh meski dikelilingi api. Pun begitu dengan kaligrafi yang tergantung di dinding bilik, serta album foto yang agaknya api enggan melahapnya.
“Kita di sini mulai dari nol lagi, teh.”
Adik saya, yang kini menjadi penanggung jawab keluarga, bekerja keras untuk membuat kondisi keluarga menjadi normal kembali. Dari mulai mengurus berkas, perlengkapan sekolah, pakaian, hingga tempat tinggal.
Hidup pasca kebakaran
Meski terasa menyedihkan, musibah kebakaran ini menyadarkan saya pada jaring kebaikan dari teman, saudara dan juga kerabat. Dukungan berupa materi dan psikis begitu terasa bahkan hingga hari ini. Tak hanya di Indonesia, sumbangan berupa materi pun digalang oleh teman-teman di Jepang. Masyaallah.
Selama sebulan pasca kebakaran, ibu dan adik-adik tinggal di rumah saudara. Selama itu pula, ibu mengurus berkas-berkas, juga mencari rumah untuk tempat tinggal. Sebab tidak mungkin bagi ibu dan adik-adik untuk terus menumpang di rumah saudara.
Sejatinya, saya dulu pernah berinvestasi rumah di kota Bandung. Jika saja rumah itu tidak dijual, ibu dan adik-adik bisa tinggal di sana. Namun karena berhenti bekerja, saya harus menjual aset tersebut sebab biaya angsurannya yang menguras kantong.
Membangun kembali rumah pasca kebakaran adalah opsi yang tidak mungkin saat ini. Biaya pembangunan pasti mahal sekali, belum dengan jangka waktu pembuatannya yang lama. Efek trauma jangan ketinggalan, itu pasti tetap ada. Untuk itulah adik saya terus mencari rumah murah untuk keluarga.
Ternyata, mencari rumah dengan budget minimal bukanlah perkara mudah. Ada yang murah, namun letaknya di dalam gang, jauh dari kerumunan, area langganan banjir, atau lembab karena tidak terkena sinar matahari. Demi kesehatan ibu, adik saya terus mencari rumah yang murah dan sehat, yakni rumah yang bagus sirkulasi udara, sinar matahari dan airnya. Setelah pencarian kurang lebih 2 minggu, pencarian itu membuahkan hasil.
“Teh, ada rumah teman ade yang dijual. Rumahnya rumah subsidi, jadi pas dengan budget kita sekarang.”
Fabi ayyi aalaaa i rabbikumaa tukadzibaan! Allah telah mempermudah urusan kami. Seperti janji-Nya yang termaktub dalam surah Al-Insyirah bahwa setelah kesulitan pasti ada kemudahan. Dengan nominal uang yang ibu miliki saat ini, ibu bisa membeli rumah subsidi di kawasan yang strategis.
Beruntungnya ibu dan adik-adik, di masa-masa sulit ini bisa menemukan rumah yang nyaman dan ramah di kantong. Alhamdulillah.
Akhirnya, Inilah Rumah Impian Itu
Meski mungil, rumah baru ibu memiliki banyak kelebihan dibanding rumah lama. Cahaya matahari, sirkulasi udara, juga lingkungan yang jauh dari polusi, menjadi kebaikan yang ibu rasakan setiap hari. Tak hanya itu, lingkungan perumahan yang hangat membuat ibu sering disapa oleh tetangga. Saya jadi tidak khawatir bila ibu sendirian di rumah, sebab banyak tetangga yang insyaallah memperhatikan ibu.
Kesehatan fisik dan mental ibu, itulah yang utama. Di rumah ini, insyaallah ibu lebih sehat. Maka jelas sudah, inilah rumah impian ibu, tempat ibu berkegiatan, beristirahat dan bermain dengan cucu. Tak sabar rasanya ingin segera pulang ke Indonesia dan merawat rumah ibu
Melalui tulisan ini, saya mewakili keluarga berterima kasih pada seluruh keluarga dan sahabat yang telah membantu ibu bangkit dari musibah. Pun begitu kepada pemerintah, dalam hal ini Kementrian PUPR, yang telah mencanangkan program stimulus bagi MBR, kaum milenial, juga masyarakat yang tertimpa musibah seperti kami. Adalah kuasa Allah yang memudahkan ibu mendapatkan rumah murah di masa-masa sulit seperti ini. Semoga program positif ini terus berjalan dan menyentuh warga yang betul-betul membutuhkan hunian yang layak.
Fire and The Wisdom Behind
Mid June 2020
That day, I was overwhelmed with the children. My first son kept sulking, while my youngest son crying. He did not want to drink breast milk, even being carried. The hectic situation continued until night. And finally, my cell phone kept ringing. What is this?
I ignored the call for a few minutes, worried that my baby who was being carried would wake up. But when I got a message from my mom, I knew something wasn’t right.
“Teh, our house is on fire…”
Suddenly, my whole body was broken. I fell down and couldn’t carry my crying baby anymore. Oh Allah, is it because of this fire that my kids were restless all day long?
“Baba, please…”
My husband woke up and immediately carried my baby. With his half-open gaze, he asked what was wrong. I answered with a pitiful voice and directly made a video call to my mother with shaking hands.
“Teh, sorry… All things burned…”
I closed my eyes and couldn’t say anything. My mother kept apologizing and sobbing. You’re not wrong, I replied. If I was by her side, I wanted to hug and comfort her. In fact, I couldn’t do that. The distance between Yokohama and Bandung is too far.
My brother then pointed the camera at the fire. Immediately, I burst into tears. The home of my childhood and the place where I grew up was destroyed by fire. The house, which was built in 1938 with an arrangement of wood, walls, and cubicles, is now only dust and rubble. It broke my heart to remember all the memories that I sowed in it. Jokes, laughter, sadness, disappointment. The house saw everything. Eighty-two years, it was still strong and sturdy.
A house full of history, full of memories.
Even though everything has been razed to the ground, I am very grateful that my mother and brothers are safe. Not only that, the fire accident proved the real power of God. The manuscripts of the Qur’an that my mother used to read, as well as other Qur’ans, remained intact even though they were surrounded by fire. Even so with the calligraphy hanging on the bamboo walls, as well as photo albums that fire seemed reluctant to devour it.
“We’re here starting from zero again, teh…”
My brother, who is now in charge of the family, worked very hard to make the family’s condition back to normal. Starting from taking care of files, and school supplies, to clothes and housing.
Life after fire
Even though it was a sad story, the fire accident made me realize the pure kindness from friends, family, and relatives. The material and psychological support are felt even today. Not only in Indonesia, but donations in the form of materials were also collected by friends in Japan. Masha Allah.
A month after the fire, my mother and brothers lived in my cousin’s house. During that time, my mother took care of the files, and also looked for a house to live in. Because it is impossible for the mother and brothers to continue staying there.
Actually, I used to invest in a house in Bandung. If only the house was not sold, my mother and brothers could live there. However, I decided to sell the asset because the installment costs were draining my pocket while I was not working anymore.
Rebuilding a house after the fire is an impossible option too. The cost of construction must be very expensive, also its long period of manufacture. The trauma effect was definitely there too. That’s why my brother decided to keep searching for a cheap house.
Apparently, finding a house with a minimal budget is not easy. It may be cheap but located in an alley and far away from the crowds. It may also build in flood-prone or damp areas because the house is not exposed to sunlight. For the sake of my mother’s health, my brother continued to look for a cheap but healthy house, namely a house with good air circulation, sunlight, and water. After a search of approximately 2 weeks, he finally found it.
“Teh, my friend wants to sale his house. It’s a subsidized house, so it fits our current budget.”
Fabi ayyi aalaaa i rabbikumaa tukadzibaan! Allah has made things easy. Like His promise contained in Surah Al-Insyirah that after hardship there must be ease. With the nominal amount of money that we currently have, we can buy a subsidized house in a strategic area.
Luckily for them, in these difficult times, they were able to find a comfortable and affordable house. Alhamdulillah.
Finally, this is our dream house
Although it is small, our new house has many advantages over the old one. Sunlight, air circulation, as well as an environment that is far from pollution, are good for them. Not only that, the warm residential environment makes my mother often greeted by neighbors. It makes me less worried if my mother is alone at home because there are many people ready to help.
My mother’s physical and mental health is the main thing. In this house, I hope she is healthier. It is proving that this is my mother’s dream house, where she can be active, rests peacefully, and play with her grandchildren. I can’t wait to go back to Indonesia and take care of my mother’s house.
Through this writing, I represent the family by thanking all family and friends who have helped my family. I also thank the government, in this case, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), which has launched a stimulus program for low-income people, millennials, as well as people affected by disasters like us. It is the power of God that makes it easy to find an affordable house in difficult times. Hopefully, this positive program will continue to run and touch people who really need decent housing.
Baca juga: ENG-IND : Article Japan Tourism From Food Diversity #TranslationSpot
