The Name that Returned

The sound of knocking at the door stirred Sagara from his sleep. He had fallen asleep on the prayer mat, overcome by exhaustion and drowsiness shortly after performing the Fajr prayer.

The door handle turned, and the door swung open.

Nyi Rukmini stood in the doorway, carrying a tray. Two bowls sat on it, still releasing thin wisps of steam.

Behind her, a woman carried another tray containing a teapot and two cups. Warm steam curled gently from them as well.

Sagara quickly got to his feet. He folded the prayer mat he had just used and draped it over the back of a chair.

He had no idea what the two women had brought, but he stepped aside to let them in.

"I brought you some porridge and warm jasmine tea."

As if sensing the curiosity on Sagara's face, Nyi Rukmini immediately explained what was on her tray.

She walked toward a drawer cabinet in the corner of the room, right beside the window overlooking the outside of the house. The cabinet appeared to serve multiple purposes, with several drawers and storage shelves for various belongings.

Nyi Rukmini placed her tray on top of it, then gestured for the woman accompanying her to do the same.

"This is Mrs. Aisyah. She'll be helping you with your needs while you're staying here. If there's anything you need, just ask her for help. But she only works until five in the afternoon."

Mrs. Aisyah bowed slightly toward Sagara, a warm smile spreading across her face. Her manner was polite and respectful, almost as though she were greeting the young master of the house.

Sagara remembered hearing from Aunt Shanty that a woman had been helping their grandmother take care of the house all this time. However, he had forgotten her name.

Perhaps this was the very woman his aunt had mentioned.

"Just call us Saga and Kala, Mrs. Aisyah."

"Of course, Den."

Nyi Rukmini and Mrs. Aisyah then excused themselves. They left the room, and the door closed behind them.

Sagara rubbed his eyes briefly before walking toward the window. He drew the curtains aside, allowing a little morning sunlight to enter the room. However, he left the sheer curtains in place, keeping the view from outside obscured.

After he switched off the lights, the room grew brighter under the natural morning light.

Niskala opened his eyes and blinked several times against the brightness. He tried to sit up, calling out to his older brother.

"Bang ..."

Sagara turned around and saw his younger brother struggling to lean against the headboard.

He hurried over and helped Niskala settle into a comfortable sitting position. Then he returned to the table to pick up a bowl of chicken porridge.

"Let me feed you."

Sagara was about to scoop up a spoonful and bring it to his brother's mouth when Niskala quickly shook his head. He reached for the bowl in Sagara's hand.

"I can do it, Bang."

Niskala began eating slowly.

The aroma of spices and savory broth filled the room, carrying a warm, appetizing fragrance.

Niskala paused for a moment.

He recognized that taste.

Back when they were little, their grandmother had often made porridge for them.

"It still tastes the same."

Niskala's gaze drifted into the distance. His thoughts wandered back to the childhood memories he had left behind. Back then, he had once had a childhood friend in this hamlet.

Euis.

He wondered how she was doing now.

Sagara smiled, relieved to see that his younger brother still had an appetite. At least Niskala seemed to be doing much better. It reminded him of how he himself always struggled to eat whenever he fell ill.

The young man returned to the table and picked up a cup of jasmine tea.

Niskala immediately turned toward him.

"Jasmine tea, Bang?"

Sagara nodded.

But Niskala quickly shook his head.

"I don't want the same jasmine tea as yesterday."

Sagara lifted the cup and took a sniff.

"This one smells different, I think. Try it first."

With some hesitation, Niskala accepted the cup from his brother. He took a small sip.

"Yeah. It's different."

Satisfied with the taste, Niskala drank the rest of the tea.

His fever had started to subside around dawn and was now gradually disappearing. However, his body still felt terribly weak. He needed plenty of rest before he could fully recover.

"Where are you going today?"

Sagara glanced at him.

"I'm coming with you, Bang."

Niskala had just begun to climb out of bed when Sagara shook his head and quickly stopped him. He gently guided his younger brother back against the headboard.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Really, Bang?"

Sagara nodded firmly.

He still remembered their mother's words clearly: to take good care of Niskala. Whatever happened, he would make sure his younger brother remained safe and within his watchful eye.

"Oh, right, Bang. I heard Grandma's voice earlier. Did she come here?"

Niskala glanced toward the door. A faint hope flickered in his eyes, as though he wished their grandmother would return for another visit.

"Yes, she came with Mrs. Aisyah. Mrs. Aisyah will be helping us with whatever we need while we're staying here."

"Mrs. Aisyah?"

Niskala repeated the name. Something about it sounded familiar.

"Yes. I think she's the one who's been helping Grandma all this time. She might also be the one preparing our breakfast and meals. I hardly ever see Grandma busy in the kitchen whenever we're here."

Niskala fell silent.

His mind began searching through the fragments of memories buried deep within it.

"I don't think that name is unfamiliar, Bang."

Sagara frowned slightly.

"You know her?"

"If I'm not mistaken, Mrs. Aisyah is Euis's mother. She was my childhood friend."

The smile on Niskala's face gradually faded into a wistful expression.

"I wonder how she's doing now."

Sagara studied his younger brother for a moment.

"Do you know where Mrs. Aisyah lives?"

Niskala shook his head.

"Euis and I only used to play around the hamlet, Bang. I never went to her house. I just often heard her talk about her mother."

Sagara nodded thoughtfully.

"All right, then. Get some rest. I think I need to check on the storage shed again."

Sagara stood up and left the room.

Meanwhile, Niskala remained seated against the headboard. His gaze slowly shifted toward the window.

Beyond the sheer curtains, the morning light grew brighter.

Yet his thoughts wandered further and further away.

Memories of the past slowly began to resurface in his mind.

And without realizing it, a name that had lain buried in his memory for years finally emerged once more.

Euis.