Mak Inah's house was located on the banks of a small, quiet river. Her house was simple, but the front yard was full of wild flowers growing freely. Arlan knocked carefully on the wooden door.
"The door is open," a hoarse voice came from inside.
Arlan stepped inside, finding an old woman sitting on a rattan chair. Her hair had turned white, but her eyes were still sharp, as if she could see more than just the real world.
"Mak Inah?" Arlan asked softly.
Mak Inah nodded. "Who are you, and what brings you here?"
Arlan handed over Salsabila's photo without saying anything. Mak Inah's eyes widened when she saw the photo, and for a moment she was silent.
"This is... Salsabila," she finally muttered. Her voice trembled, like someone who had found a long-lost treasure.
"I am the son of a sailor," Arlan said slowly. "My father once met Salsabila here, many years ago. I came to find out about her, and about their story."
Mak Inah stared at Arlan deeply, as if trying to recognize something in him. Then she took a deep breath. "Salsabila is my best friend. We grew up together in this village. She is the most beautiful, the most cheerful, and... the most loyal girl."
Arlan waited patiently as Mak Inah began to tell her story. She described Salsabila as a girl who had big dreams, but never left the village because of a promise she made to a sailor.
"She loved your father," Mak Inah continued. "She always believed that he would return. For years she waited at the pier, every dusk, looking out to sea. But the ship never returned."
Mak Inah paused for a moment, looking at the photo in her hand. "She died carrying those memories. Even in her last moments, she still held the hope of meeting the sailor again."
Mak Inah's words pierced Arlan's heart. He felt, for the first time, truly understand the weight of the love carried by his father and Salsabila. However, he knew this story was not over.
"Is there something that Salsabila left behind?" asked Arlan.
Mak Inah nodded slowly. "Yes. A small box that she asked me to keep for her. Maybe it's time for me to give it to you."