"What is the request, Sis? Just tell me," said Princess Bintari. Knowing that Arya Dipa would often visit her home, the girl was delighted. She thought she would fulfill all his other requests.
"Yes, Prince. You name it. We will prepare your needs," added Physician Gentala. Clearly, as a parent who pampered his child, he would always support Princess Bintari.
"Not much, Uncle. I just want a small room for me to teach healer Nalini to read. Actually, she is too old to learn from scratch. That's why I want to teach her quickly." Arya Dipa expressed his wish. A reasonable and not strange request.
Without suspicion, Princess Bintari immediately agreed. "Don't worry about that, sister. Next to the medicine room there is a restroom that my younger siblings usually use to study. Just use that place."
Arya Dipa thanked her again. He smiled kindly at Princess Bintari, making her heart grow fonder.
Soon, four servants came in and brought a variety of food. They arranged them neatly on the table.
"Please, sir. The meal is ready," said a servant. She cupped her hands in front of her chest, her face downcast.
Wordlessly, Healer Gentala sent them away with a gesture of his hand. The four then staggered back and returned to the kitchen.
"Please, Prince. Let's eat first," invited Tabib Gentala as he offered a clay plate covered with banana leaves.
Arya Dipa accepted it but did not immediately spoon the food. Instead, he invited Physician Gentala and Princess Bintari to take the food first.
"Thank you, Uncle. The host leads, I just follow," said Arya in a joking tone.
Seeing that Arya did not take the food, Physician Gentala was forced to start taking the food. Princess Bintari followed suit.
Arya Dipa then followed scooping rice along with the side dishes. It was exactly like what Tabib Gentala had taken. White rice, long bean curry and chicken stew.
The three of them then ate with gusto interspersed with conversations about problems in the palace.
After eating, Arya Dipa immediately said goodbye. It was getting late in the day. He had to go to the king's palace and report.
The servants came again and intended to clean up the leftovers.
Arya Dipa remembered Nalini. He thought, she must not have eaten before leaving this morning.
"Bintari, can I have some sapodilla?" asked Arya Dipa shamelessly. Indeed, since childhood he had been accustomed to being in that house. He even considered Bintari as his own sister.
"Do you want sapodilla? I'll get it," said Bintari happily. The ovoid-faced girl told the attendant to wrap up some of the ripest and sweetest sapodilla.
"Here, brother, take it." Princess Bintari held out the fruit in her hand. Her smile was bright and eager.
Arya Dipa accepted with joy. He also returned Bintari's smile sincerely. "I take my leave first. Thank you, Uncle. Thank you, Bintari."
"I will take you to the gate," said Bintari. She seemed unwilling for the young man to leave her house.
However, Arya hurriedly refused. "No need, Bintari. I'll take my horse in the backyard first. No need to come, I know you don't like to go to a smelly stable," Arya prevented.
The young man understood very well. Bintari was very against going to dirty and smelly places. One of them was a horse stable.
Bintari frowned a bit when she heard that. She wanted to say more but Arya Dipa played with her words to comfort her. "Tomorrow I'll be here again. Don't worry."
Instantly Princess Bintari's face lit up. She imagined that the young man of her dreams would come to her house again tomorrow. There was a desire to dress up as beautifully as possible when welcoming him later.
Arya Dipa then left the Joglo house (Javanese traditional house). Sure enough, he did not walk across the courtyard, but turned to the row of buildings on the left.
The stables were at the back. Arya Dipa had to cross all the buildings there to get to her horse's place. While walking, the young man looked around for someone.
Arriving at the far end of the building, Arya Dipa found Nalini busy drying turmeric slices on a bamboo rack.
Arya Dipa's smile grew. Both hands hid the mustard fruit behind his back. "Nalini!" he called out.
Nalini was startled and quickly turned to Arya. She hurriedly offered her obeisances and bowed.
Arya Dipa sighed in exasperation. He really wanted her to treat him like an ordinary person.
"Can't you just be normal with me. No need to be so formal, I don't like it," Arya said curtly. His face, which had been cheerful, turned sour.
"Mercy, Prince. You can't do that. The rules here are the same as in the palace of Kaputren. I must worship the nobles," Nalini replied smoothly. Her face was still downcast, refusing to look up.
Arya Dipa snorted in annoyance. "Never mind. Never mind. Whatever you want. Here, take it."
Nalini raised her head and saw Arya holding out the sapodilla fruit. The sweet fruit was placed in a small basket made of cut bamboo slats.
"What is it, Prince? For me?" asked Nalini as if in disbelief. She still didn't understand Arya's change in demeanor, which always seemed strange to her.
"Yes, for you. Is there anyone else here?" said Arya as he kept brandishing the sapodilla fruit.
Nalini accepted it hesitantly. Her heart was both happy to receive Arya's attention and scared by her own strange feelings.
"I know you haven't eaten. I brought you fruit so you won't go hungry," Arya said. His face became friendly again and his voice softened. The smile returned.
"Thank you, Prince. I haven't eaten yet," Nalini said softly and shyly. The girl looked down again and hid her smile.
Arya Dipa looked at the scene happily. He felt like a useful man when he could give Nalini what she needed. Arya was stunned for a moment. It turned out to be that deep.
"Nalini, be good in this place. I'll be back tomorrow," Arya Dipa said a moment later. In his heart he was reluctant to leave Nalini but the task was waiting for him.
"Yes, Prince. Thank you. Goodbye," said Nalini as she waved goodbye. Her soft smile was beautiful.
Arya Dipa's heart felt like it was about to burst at the sight of such a sweet smile. His head looked up. He saw the sky above them turning colorful. It was so beautiful.
The curly-haired young man struggled to contain his feelings.
Arya Dipa then turned around while leading his horse. "I think I like you," he murmured after some distance.
Nalini still heard Arya Dipa muttering faintly, she thought it was for her. "Why, Prince?" Nalini asked Arya who was already at the gate of the regol.
Arya Dipa looked back. "The sapodilla fruit is sweet, you will like it."
Nalini smiled at that. She tightly grasped the fruit given by Arya Dipa. The village girl said softly. "I will wait for you tomorrow ...."