Arrow's Heart

The night in which the mind of Anindya's is filled with boredom, she always fantasized about getting out of the white-patterned room with typical Javanese carvings. Anindya does not want to do things like her mother used to do until the end of her mother's life, her mother cannot be free from activities that Anindya considers stupid. 

All her life, she always be watched by bodyguards and making her very uncomfortable and doing things that are very unusual from most women, she must maintain her dignity for the sake of her family name. Suddenly she came back to her senses after imagining when there was a knock on her white-patterned door.

"Come in" And two maids came into her room with a letter.

"Princess, tomorrow is your schedule for taking traditional dance class". She knew she hate that also her mother.

"All right, thank you" taking the letter that her two maids were holding, the two maids smiled and bowed then walked out of the room, while she just wondering to run from her life right now. Anindya opened the letter, and it was written that she had to come, of course that was an order from her father. One of the kings on the Island of Java at this time, she could do nothing but obey her father orders otherwise Anindya would surely have the same fate as her sister. Yes, her sister has been locked up for about 2 years for not obeying her father's orders. and if you ask does anyone outside of the palace know? 

The answer is of course no, because this family really cares for the name of the palace. Then then surprisingly her sister died by hanging herself, Anindya did not know what her sister had violated. All of that incident made her mother suffer very badly and fall ill until finally her mother took her last breath too, now only she lives in this palace house, so spacious that Anindya's heart feels lonely.

And the time had come, in the morning she was already in the dance room filled with statues and typical Javanese patterns, there were lots of women of blue blood lineage attending this class. Anindya took this class with a lot of laziness, until the time when her eyes caught a handsome man, his height was almost the same as a pole, and when he smiled it was very sweet. 

Anindya swallowed her saliva and her heart pounding, really Anindya never felt this before. And suddenly the man disappeared from her sight, Anindya had to meet the man then she asked permission to go to the bathroom for a while and asked her guards not to follow her. At first, she doubted that her guards would obey her but unexpectedly her guards would follow her orders. She was looking around to find the guy and accidentally bumped into someone's shoulder, when she saw his face Anindya said from her heart "I found you".

"I am sorry miss, did I hurt you?" The man said with eyes filled with worry while holding Anindya's shoulder. She did not answer, she had already entered into the man's gaze, and she again felt her heart about to burst out. Then again, the man recalled her; "Miss, are you okay?"

Now his soft voice made Anindya realize, with a very confused face she said "Sorry, what did you say earlier?". The man's face which was worried at first now changed, his upper lip rose, and his eyes narrowed. This man seems to feel that Anindya's confused face is really cute and Anindya was again confused as to why this man was smiling.

"I said. Are you okay and did I hurt you, miss?" The man still smiling and looked at Anindya so deeply like the man went to her heart. "Yeah, I am okay, and you did not hurt me at all" Anindya looks so nervously, and her eyes did not dare to look at the man.

The man now only looks at Anindya and smiles again, he feels so curious about one thing "Glad to know that. I feel I always see you here every Saturday morning, what is your name?" Now she dared to look into the man's eyes, she felt very excited "Anindya, my name is Anindya Rahayu Dirgantara" she said her whole name without her realizing it, the man's smile faded, and the man realized, he said in his heart "I should have known a woman as beautiful as she, are from a descendant of blue blood." And because there was no answer from the man, Anindya took the initiative to ask, "What is yours?" with smile on her face.

"Nabastala" She was so shocked, now her heart felt like it was going to explode again. A man's name is so beautiful that Anindya's eyes lit up when she heard the man say his name.

"I am sorry, Anindya. It is time to me to go" Nabastala looked in a hurry, he seemed to be avoiding something and Anindya felt astonished and finally nodded with a smile that she still spread on her beautiful lips.

Then Nabastala left Anindya who was still wondering why suddenly he act like that. He returned to his horse-drawn carriage which was used to deliver food to the dancers and people in the dance room, inside Nabastala's heart was very happy that he finally knew the name of the woman he had admired since she came. 

However, on the other hand. Nabastala's heart was troubled because he knew that the woman, he admired was a descendant of the palace, where he knew that their social class was completely different. After struggling with his thoughts, Nabastala reached his house. then he came back to his senses when he saw his house, where there were no fancy carvings like Anindya's house, no gates or towering pillars, only a piece of wood arranged in such a way as to form a house.

Nabastala is just a food delivery man, he is not a descendant of blue blood or a child of the palace. Then, he remembered the incident again and made her smile, he still did not expect to be able to speak even knowing the woman's name. Anindya, the most beautiful woman he has ever seen after his mother and now he can only wish to see her again without having to think about his social position.

In another time, Anindya is jumping for joy in her white-patterned room. she still remembers Nabastala's face when he smiles, she still remembers how his soft voice made her heart beating so fast. She wants to meet Nabastala again, at the same time she wonders if he has been at the dance hall for a long time but why has Anindya never seen him or because all this time Anindya has only focused on herself. It does not matter anymore, now she just wants to meet him next week. She wants to sleep now, and she hopes she can meet Nabastala in her dreams, so she does not have to wait too long just to see him again.

And the day has returned, on Saturday. Where she was going to meet Nabastala, she could not wait to see him and talk to him. But apparently the plan failed just like that, now Anindya is with her father, King Dirgantara. She knew when she was with her father, no one dared to approach her or talk to her. And she really hates it when her father watches her especially when Anindya dances, she feels pressured. Now she has to find a way to get away from her father's sight for a while and of course by asking permission to go to the bathroom. 

A first, her father ordered three guards to follow Anindya, but because of her begging to let her go alone and finally her father allowed her. Anindya feels relieved after escapes from her father's tutelage for a while. She searched for Nabastala's whereabouts, she also came back to the place where she hit Nabastala's shoulder, but she could not find him and while looking she was looking into the storage room, suddenly her hand was pulled by someone, and her mouth was covered by a hand that smelled of spices.

"Anindya, why are you here? what are you doing?" Anindya's eyes sparkled again, finally she found Nabastala and she grabs the hand that Nabastala had used to cover her mouth, she holding his hand makes him red.

"I am looking for you. I know, we only met last week but it seems I have fallen in love with you, Nabastala." She spoke in one breath; she did not expect to express her feelings so quickly and she felt a bit embarrassed. "It sounds crazy, right?" Anindya sighed after saying those words and let go of Nabastala's hand which from earlier could only stare at Anindya with a look that was very difficult for her to guess, then suddenly Nabastala hugged her and made Anindya surprised. She does not know what the hug means until he said.

"I love you, Anindya. If you think that all this is insane then let it be, let our love drive us crazy. Now I do not care what the consequences are. I only want you, Anindya." He said it with tears running down the corners of his eyes and she did too, they celebrated their happiness with a hug so tight. But without them knowing, there's been a pair of eyes looking at them with anger and because he felt his patience had run out, he approached the two lovebirds.

"ANINDYA!" They were surprised and let go of their embrace, they looked at the figure of an old man who was very neatly dressed with a blankon on his head. That was Anindya's father, King Dirgantara. "What the hell it is, Anindya?!" "And YOU, BELLBOY!!! What are you said to my daughter?! LOVE? Look at yourself. You are just a small and poor people who have nothing. How dare you hug and express your feelings to the princess of the palace who is descended from blue blood!!" Anindya's father's eyes were full of hatred and pulled Anindya's hand by force to leave the place, then the guards came because they heard her father shouted and the guards took Nabastala away.

"Father!" Anindya was crying and she tried to break free from her father's grip, she did not expect that will happen. She knew his father was tough, but he did not know that his father could be this cruel to other people. "SILENCE, WE LEAVE THIS PLACE AND YOU ANINDYA, YOU WILL BE PUNISHED" and now Anindya realized, what her sister did to be locked up for about 2 years and ended tragically. Her sister fell in love with someone of a different social class, it was really unfair. And she does not want to end up the same as her sister, she has to run. 

This is the moment she is been waiting for, to get away from her father from where she lives. Then a crazy thought came to her, she bit her father's hand and when he was caught off guard, Anindya ran with all her might. She had to find Nabastaka, he would definitely be killed, and she did not want that to happen. Anindya ran so fast, she looked around to make sure where Nabastala was, she did not want to go alone this time and she had to be with Nabastala. Suddenly a hand pulled Anindya's arm which surprised her, again and again she found Nabastala, when she thought back it was Nabastala who always found her.

"Come on, follow me" Anindya followed him, she did not care where she goes, the most important thing right now she was with Nabastala and her hand was held by him. Then we stop at a farm, he looks around and feels this place is safe because there are no people. "Anindya, you remember what I said that I do not care what the consequences? So, here I am. Holding your hand and stare at you, I...was stunned at first sight when you first came and...first saw your face, and first time when you danced with your straight face.

I wanted to greet you first and ask what your name was...but I was too scared because I realized what your father said earlier was true, our social classes are different, there is a social gap between me and you. however, you came and asked my name. I feel very happy, Anindya. You gave me hope and now I am not letting you go; I want to be with you."

With panting breath, Nabastala said it all with sincerity in it. And Anindya could only be silent, she was speechless. She was very surprised what Nabastala said, she had never heard of such a nice thing in her life. Anindya is now holding his cheeks and then takes a breath before saying something that she never had time to say, "I love you too, Nabastala." He looks deep into Anindya and smiles.

"Come on, we have to move. They will find us if we stay longer" Anindya nodded and now they run again towards a field which is so beautiful and there is a small and hidden hut, this seems to be a familiar place for Nabastala

"Wow! How do you know this place, Nabastala?" Anindya is still hypnotized by the beauty of the fields and occasionally inhaling the cool air that she has never felt before, she feels very free there. She feels at home, really a home where she feels comfortable and above all she is with Nabastala now.

"My father told me, he said this was where he lived and this is where he met my mother. Eventually they fell in love and moved to the countryside."

"That was so romantic, how does he express his feelings? Is he the same as you?"

"No, my mother was the one who confessed her feelings first. Just like you, Anindya. My mother is a brave and very beautiful as beautiful as you. So I want to keep you, forever"

Again and again, Anindya blushed. It seems he is really good at making her fall in love with him continuously, until now Nabastala still looks at Anindya so deeply as if there is no tomorrow and he smiles sweetly. Suddenly Anindya's stomach made a sound which made the atmosphere melt and Nabastala chuckled making her shy.

"Come inside, I will make you food."

After she went inside followed by Nabastala in tow, it looked cramped but the things were neatly arranged. and this place is very different from Anindya's house. If you look at the place, it is only half of Anindya's room. The height of this hut almost hit Nabastala's head, she saw Nabastala who was preparing a fire for cooking and followed by Anindya behind who was preparing the food ingredients. Nabastala looks surprised to see her preparing everything.

"Anin, let me cook. You can just sit there." She refused and shook her head,

"Together?" And then he smiled, what can he do if his darling says like that.

"Yeah, together."

Finally they cooked together while joking and laughing happily, when they ate together, they told each other about themselves and laughing together again until they did not realize that the sun had gone down and had been replaced by the moon shining on them both. In Anindya's mind she wants to feel this forever, no matter what kind of place is the most important thing she can be with Nabastala, it is enough for her. On Nabastala's side too, he had never laughed and been this happy before. He is very grateful to have met Anindya, he always wants to be with her, no matter what happened in the future.

"Good night, Anindya." He kissed her forehead, then tucked her in. he does not sleep together with her because he is still a man who respects women so he chooses to sleep downstairs with a warm enough mat. Anindya smiled warmly and closed her eyes, she felt safe and calm. For the first time, Anindya felt calm inside her head.

When the sun appeared to replace the moon's task, Nabastala got up first and prepared breakfast for Anindya who was still sleeping. After the food was ready, he woke Anindya by tapping her shoulder lightly and with a soft tone. "Sweetheart, wake up." For the first time Nabastala calls Anindya not by her name but with a affectionate call, now Anindya opens her eyes and sees Nabastala smiling at her. It was the most beautiful thing Anindya had ever experienced, waking up in the morning and seeing someone she loved. 

"Let's have breakfast." After they ate together, then Anindya decided to go out to breathe fresh air and also enjoy the beautiful view of the field and followed by the arrival of Nabastala, then Nabastala hugs Anindya from behind and they enjoy their time together.

They were so happy until the moment where people's voices started to be heard, they were both shocked and panicked because they know who's coming. Then finally they immediately ran fast holding hand, but it was too latethe horses and soldiers of his father surrounded them everywhere, they could run nowhere else. And now Anindya could see her father coming on his brown horse.

"Surrender, bellboy! Anindya, get in the horse carriage now!"

"No, Father. I will stay here with Nabastala."

"How dare you disobey my orders, Anindya!"

"Father, social disparities and differences are not important!!"

"You know nothing, Anindya. That is very important, social class is self-respect and dignity! I command you one more time, Anindya. Get on that horse carriage, now!"

"NO!" "No matter what you said, I will stay with Nabastala!"

Anindya's father looked at them with burning fire "All right then, kill them both!"

There is fear and sadness on Anindya's face, she does not know her father will kill her where she is the only child that her father has now. Nabastala, who saw Anindya, held her hand to calm her down and smiled at her. "Together?" she looks at him then smiled too and she nodded.

"Yeah, together."

Now the soldiers of King Dirgatara's soldiers prepare their arrows to kill Anindya and Nabastala while waiting for the signal from the king. When the arrows were ready to be fired, now Anindya's father ordered them. "Arrows them! Where right in their heart." And Nabastala looked at Anindya as if to say that everything would be fine, at least they were together. 

Then when the arrow was about to be launched, the two of them closed their eyes while clasping hands tightly. Anindya is grateful that she died not in vain like her sister because Anindya is now in Nabastala's arms with their bloodstained chests, not hanging alone like her sister. and yeah, at least Anindya and Nabastala are together even though they do not live in this world.