Whispers of Rumah Gadang

Putri's eyes widened with realization. "I've heard of such stories," he said. "But, for us the Minangkabau land's treasures are not material wealth. They are the stories, the memories, and the bonds forged within these walls."

Maryam approached the young man with a comforting smile. "You are not the first to be lured by tales of treasure," she said. "But the true treasure of Minangkabau land lies in the connections we make and the beauty we create together."

Moved by their words, the young man's demeanor softened. "I see now," he said, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "I was searching for something external to fix what's broken within. But true wealth is found in moments like this, in the kindness of strangers and the wisdom of friends."

As the night deepened and stars adorned the sky like diamonds, the veranda of Rumah Gadang witnessed a transformation. The conflict of misplaced priorities gave way to a climax of realization and acceptance. The resolution came not in finding material riches but in discovering the true treasures of friendship, creativity, and shared experiences.

And so, under the watchful gaze of the veranda of time, the siblings and the young man forged a bond that transcended wealth and echoed the eternal beauty of Rumah Gadang.

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*Firstly Written in Leni Marlina's Collection  on July, 20th, 2020 in Padang. This story was written down based on her Indonesian poem "Serambi Waktu" and her English poem entitled "The Veranda of Time" which was published earlier on the website of Kompasiana.

*The member of the Indonesian writers association SatuPena Sumbar- Indonesia and the Victorian Writers, Australia.