The Forgotten Village - The Old Bridge

It was too dark when three boys passed an old bridge. They were on their way back home after walking barefoot the whole day. The bridge was built a year after Japanese troops arrived. 

Riki's grandpa knows what had been happening on that bridge. Hundreds of villagers were shot dead and a few of them were forced to jump into the river. It was a memory from 1930s when Riki's grandpa turned 15.

Riki and his friends have to walk barefoot approximately 20 kilometers to reach an old house. They struggle every single day and never want to look back anytime they pass the bridge. 

Everyone living in the village has never gone further than these three boys. That little house has a special purpose for them. It's a place where light appears. At least for these strong-willed boys who see things differently.

The story of the troops prevails in the heart of almost every soul. Especially how the river turned red the day after the tragedy under the old bridge. Sticking hard, just like a rusty nail. Nobody forgets and the story has always been passed to the next generation. No matter how hard they tried to ged rid of it.

"are we close enough"? asked Abdul to the other two.

The small road they were passing is the only way to get home. Day and night are no difference. Both sides of the road are covered by branches of old trees. At night, the boys rely on the moon to carefully move their feet. 

Riki whispers "I am not so sure, but we are almost there".

The journey has never been easier for them. They hardly ever hope to carry on the traditions, for the majority depend on farming to live. The small house they head off every single day promises a future that is invisible to the others, but not for them.

"okey, let's speed up before the light vanishes" says Ghani while leading the way.

Life was remarkable before the 1930s. When two trucks full of troops hit the road, everything changed. The Japanese troops took over the village and ruled the community.