A group of simply dressed middle-aged women passed Nalini. Knowing Radmila was with her, they bowed and greeted the grand physician's sister respectfully.
Radmila hurriedly raised her hand and told them to leave. However, as if remembering something she called them back.
"Mum, come here for a moment!" Radmila shouted loudly. Her hands waved, her eyes humourously commanding the servants.
The five women stumbled closer again. They wondered what had made her act out of character.
"Yes, Princess Mila. What's the matter with calling us again?" asked one of the courtiers who draped a shawl over her shoulder.
"This is my friend Nalini. She wants to learn to be a 'smart person', do you want to learn today too?" asked Radmila in a cheerful tone. She invited Nalini to stand up and approach them.
Nalini complied and greeted the women. Looking at them, Nalini remembered her mother. Her heart suddenly felt warm and energised.
"Yes, Princess Mila. Today we want to learn how to check pregnancy," replied a woman wearing a lurik kebaya. She nodded kindly to Nalini.
Radmila took Nalini by the hand and led her to them. "Nalini, these are the shamans who work around the township. You can learn from them," Radmila said. Her face looked relieved. She had now found a way to protect the new healer from the nosy maids of Bintari's men.
Nalini's eyes widened at this. She was delighted and hurriedly greeted the five middle-aged women one by one as she introduced herself. They welcomed her with joy.
"Do you really want to join us?" asked the woman wearing the carved wooden konde. Her forehead was wrinkled, but her light brown eyes shone brightly.
"Yes, mum. My mum is like you, she's a healer but is often asked to help women in labour." Nalini told me a little about her mother.
"All right, child. Come with us, today there is practice and teaching from the great healer, we specially came and gathered today." The woman took Nalini's hand in a friendly manner.
"Mums, please take care of her. She's new here, doesn't know many people and doesn't understand the situation." Radmila blinked her eyes, a gesture she would only know the meaning of after she had been there for a while.
The birth attendants looked at each other and spoke through their eyes. One of them then spoke. "Yes, princess Mila. If anything happens we will report immediately."
Radmila raised her thumb, indicating her agreement. She then waved her hand at Nalini. "We will see each other often, if you need me, look for me at my hut."
Nalini cupped her hands and thanked her helper profusely. "Thank you, Sis."
Radmila narrowed her eyes at Nalini's 'princess' greeting. She smiled and held up both thumbs simply. She realised that her new friend was smart enough to play tactics with.
Radmila went back into the main house while Nalini followed the baby shamans into the teaching room in the second row.
Inside the room, dozens of women had gathered to perform their duties as traditional birth attendants. Most of them were middle-aged or elderly. Nalini saw only two young women in their midst.
Nalini took a seat near the two young women. Both of them welcomed her while observing her stomach. The innocent village girl felt there was nothing wrong with her stomach. She confidently smiled in a friendly manner. One of them asked, "Jeng, how many months?" Her delicate hand stroked her own belly.
"Me? What's how many months?" Nalini repeated her clueless question. Her hand reflexively rubbed her stomach.
The other young woman patted Nalini's hand. "Fill up, miss. You're pregnant too, aren't you? How many months pregnant?" A question that made Nalini's cheeks flush with embarrassment.
"I-I'm not pregnant, I'm a healer," she said, biting her lip. Why did people get the wrong impression of her?
The two young women took turns observing Nalini. "You want to be a traditional birth attendant this young?" she asked as if in disbelief.
"My family are healers. My grandfather and mother worked to heal people, so why shouldn't I follow their path?" Nalini asked. The girl straightened her head, trying to build her confidence.
The two women in front of Nalini no longer asked many questions. They elbowed each other and told her to shut up. The girl in front of them didn't seem to be the type to be bullied easily.
Nalini's eyes swept over the people in the room. It was true what the two pregnant women said, those who came here were mostly middle-aged or elderly. Only she herself was young.
People fell silent as a fat man entered the room. His crisp white beskap shirt stood out with rows of gold buttons. Nalini did not blink at the sight of him.
Yes, he was the Great Physician Gentala. He smiled a small smile as he answered the respectful greetings of the healers and his subordinates. He sat on a carved chair specially provided for him.
"You, come forward. I will show you how to check the pulse of a pregnant woman." Great Physician Gentala gave orders to one of the easy women wearing studs.
The woman slowly came forward while holding her belly as if the pregnancy was already big, even though it was not visible at all. Only her body looked fatter and fuller.
Great Physician Gentala took the woman's hand and checked her pulse.
"Her pulse sounds faster and more than ordinary people, that is the characteristic of a woman who is young pregnant," he said. He then added his explanation of the physical characteristics and other visible signs.
The healers listened intently. Some were nodding their heads.
"Now each of you practice on these three young women, measure their pulse and estimate their gestational age." Healer Gentala gave the order.
The people then went to the two young women and Nalini. They again mistook Nalini for part of their experiment that day.
"Sorry, gentlemen. I am not one of those to be examined, I am also a healer." Nalini raised her voice and objected. She had repeatedly explained to the healers who she was but they still got the wrong idea.
Hearing Nalini's rather loud words, Tabib Gentala heard her. He turned towards the direction of the voice and his eyes squinted at the girl.
"Who are you, new here?" asked the bald-headed man.
Nalini put her palms together in front of her chest and bowed respectfully.
"Mercy, Great Physician. I am Nalini. I just arrived here from Ndalem Kaputren," the girl replied clearly.
"Oh, so you came with Prince Arya?" Great Physician Gentala remembered his guests this morning. They had come with a message and a messenger from the Queen's residence.
Nalini nodded and returned the salute. "Yes, Great Physician. Please forgive my impudence."
Great Physician Gentala rubbed his chin. "You are so young, I thought you were middle-aged like the others."
The great healer's eyes continued to fixate on Nalini. The girl shivered slightly at that gaze that seemed to want to devour her.
"What do you want to learn from me?" asked Healer Gentala. His tone of voice sounded soft.
Nalini ventured to raise her head and replied politely. "I want to learn and explore all areas of medicine. Especially those that can overcome the current outbreak."
Great Physician Gentala slightly gasped at Nalini's answer. Unlike the other healers who came to learn in search of wealth and popularity, the young woman in front of him had come to find a cure for the plague. Who is she? Is she a messenger deliberately infiltrated by King Lokapala?