In national television news in Indonesia, poor people have been highlighted several times who live under bridges because they cannot afford adequate housing. A very significant social gap indeed. In fact, not only in Jakarta. It seems that in all cities, even in other countries around the world, there are social disparities like this in different places. One of them is the city of Manado, Indonesia. The city which often becomes a tourist destination because of the beauty of its coral reefs in Bunaken cannot be separated from this kind of social inequality. Even though it's not as bad as in Jakarta-- no, maybe because it's not as bad as in Jakarta, that's why many people don't realize about this. In statistics, data is too different from the distribution of existing data, whether it is the most perfect or the worst, usually the data is getting ignored. Maybe it's the same for them. They are so poor that they are also neglected. Haha, damn it.
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Rahardian is one of those overlooked people. For years he lived as a homeless person. Sleep on cardboard and cover with newspapers. The bone-chilling cold of the night wind is nothing to himāhe already used to it. The only items he had were the clothes that were attached to his body. Every day he scavenges through rubbish to earn a little money just to buy a cigarette. Maybe he can only eat enough during Ramadan or Christmas, when people give boxes of rice or basic necessities to the poor as thanksgiving for religious holidays.Ā
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Rahardian couldn't avoid it. He accepted his fate. More precisely, he couldn't escape this fate. He realized that all of this happened because of his own fault, so that he could be in the condition he is in now. Rahardian was actually not born into a poor family. In fact, you could say it's an established family. The name Rahardian given by his mother means prosperous. His mother once said, a name is a prayer. She hopes that, in the future, Rahardian can be as successful as themāheh! Very contrast to his current life.
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As an only child, Rahardian lives as a child who is "above the law". Of course, not all rich people are scum like Rahardian, but it cannot be denied that only rich people have a possibility of becoming like that with the help of their wealth, position or connections they have. How can you do that if you're poor, right? You know what I mean.
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Who would have thought that his father would really have the heart to throw him away, especially on his 17th birthday. If the term usually used for the 17th birthday is "sweet seventeen", then for Rahardian it is actually "bitter seventeen". His life began to experience misfortune, but it was not enough to make him aware because of the presence of his mother who was still secretly helping him behind his father's back.
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Rahardian began to experience the hardships of life when his mother died. But still, Rahardian has not changed. With the same lifestyle even though he had no income at all, he was in debt with interest that continued to multiply. He still hopes for the inheritance from his father. He even tried to kill his father for it but failed. This is what made his father's determination to prefer donating all his wealth to charity rather than giving it to his son.
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With no way to pay the debt, Rahardian ran away. Taking public transportation, hitching a ride in a car, even infiltrating trains or ships. While on the run, Rahardian did not stay too long in one place. Well, he can't even he wants to. Besides he is in the run from the debt collectors, he doesn't have any skills for proper work, and also can't stand works that requires too much energy. What can a child who is used to living in luxury do? Long story short, he arrived at his current situation.
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After about 10 years being a homeless man, at least he didn't have to worry about debt collectors anymore because even if they met, he was sure they wouldn't recognize him anymore. Even without plastic surgery, his appearance is so ugly that his parents won't even recognize him anymore--if only they still alive though. Long hair and beard covering almost half of his face, with a body full of dirt, really doesn't reflect the young master he used to be. He was far from his place of origin, and here, he was not known by anyone. People now call him "Brewok" meaning beard, because his face is covered by a thick beard.