Jakarta: City of Hope

A decent looking teenager sit beside me while I was waiting for a  taxi at Plaza Senayan. He blurted, “Sister, do you have a job for me?”

I winked at him for a second, still playing with the iPhone. This is Jakarta. Where you could meet all kind of people that will do anything to get into your pocket. I’m just as skeptical as 99% of Jakarta people. So I asked him almost with zero interest, ”What kind of job do you need?”

“Anything,” He said almost instantly.

“Where are you from?” I asked him, while updating my status on Twitter.

“I came from Bogor… I go to Jakarta, to get a job….” He said. His eyes look tired and sad.

“What did you do for a living in Bogor?”

“I worked on printing company… Engkoh back to Java and close his business…,” his eyes wandering.

I nodded. Thinking hard. Analyzing.

“Astaghfirullah, it’s dark already…,” he smiles bitterly. “It’s my second day in Jakarta, sister. Yesterday I stayed in a mosque. I must get Rp 175.000 for my parents in Bogor.”

“What for?”

He mumbles stuff, bills related, that I can’t understand. I decided to stay quiet.

“I went to Palmerah market to get a job. Helping people carry their stuff. I got a client and he paid Rp 3.000. But somebody came and grabbed me by my shirt collar. He wanted me to go away.” He told me his story with very expressive way.

“Oh no, you can’t just go to Jakarta and jumped in the traditional market. Premans are everywhere!” I said to him with concern.

“Yes… premans are truly there, sister. I thought they only in movies.” He said, almost chuckle. Laughing his own pain.

I sit still, drowning in my own thought. Thinking. Try to decide. Is he for real? Should I help him?

“Sister… people in the taxi line… it must be easy for them to get Rp 175.000 right?” He said, almost wondering.

“Of course, they’re rich people.” We watched as Alphards, Ferraris, Mini Cooper, Volvo, BMW, etc come and go picking their owners.

“How did you get here from Palmerah?” I asked him after minutes of silence.

“I walked,” he smiles and touching his torn shoes spontaneously.

Silent sigh in my part. I have decided to help him. But how much? All that he said he needs? Or part of it? Or…

“Sister, I must go now…,” he said, smiling. He didn’t know where to go for sure.

“Wait! Are you gonna go home?”  Stupid question.

“Of course sister, after I get that Rp 175.000. I still have Rp 7.000 in my pocket. I can go back by train once I collected the money…,” then he excused himself once again.

“Wait! Come here!”

I put my iPhone and grab my purse. I decided to help him, all that he needs. I don’t want to regret my entire life for not helping him.

“Take care of yourself. And go home as soon as possible! It’s very dangerous outside.”

He’s  not a street kid. He’s risking his life for Rp 175.000 because his family need it so badly.

He gasps and whisper, “Alhamdulillah… thank you very much sister….”

I nodded quickly. Refused to see his eyes. Then he walked away.

I let out a heavy sigh. If he’s telling the truth, then he just one out of thousands people trying to find fortune in Jakarta. Some made it, some lost in the way.

As the taxi drove us away, I asked to Jakarta: how many dreams can you made come true tonight?

18 Responsesto “Jakarta: City of Hope”

1. didut says:

   November 7, 2009 at 1:30 am

   Amin ..kita hanya bisa berdoa semoga membawa kebaikan

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2. eva says:

   November 7, 2009 at 1:36 am

   so many similar stories, but every time you hear it still make you feel very “lucky”. *sigh*

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3. Richard Fang @ Jurus Grafis says:

   November 7, 2009 at 1:47 am

   jakarta kota sejuta impian.. sejuta kesenjangan, kenapa sih harus jakarta? ga bisa ngomong apa2 nih abis baca..

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4. zam.web.id says:

   November 7, 2009 at 1:52 am

   if we become like him

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5. Setyagus Sucipto says:

   November 7, 2009 at 2:02 am

   Bukan hanya di jakarta saja, banyak kok kota-kota lain yang kejam. Dan juga banyak orang yang jujur dan tidak jujur walaupun kata kuncinya ikhlas.

   Gw ingat sebuah pepatah beri mereka umpan dan ajarin mereka memancing lebih baik daripada memberi mereka sebuah ikan.

   *masih memikirkan gimana bisa menulis lepas lugas dan bebas seperti ollie

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6. unwinged.anang says:

   November 7, 2009 at 2:13 am

   semoga si adek tadi dimudahkan segala urusannya. amin.

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7. defi says:

   November 7, 2009 at 5:38 am

   Very inspiring story, Ollie…

   [Reply]
8. iyra says:

   November 7, 2009 at 9:14 am

   huhuhu..ga bisa ngomong apa-apa nih… hiks. Semoga rezeki olie dan si adek lancar ya..

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9. Albert says:

   November 7, 2009 at 9:21 am

   Speechless..

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10. Udut says:

    November 7, 2009 at 9:52 am

    Saya jg pernah mengalami ini, bukan di Jakarta memang, tapi situasi dimana kita punya kesempatan untuk berbuat baik dan di lain sisi, perasaan was-was bahwa orang tersebut ternyata hanya satu dari sekian banyak penipu. Pilihannya kemudian adalah membantunya dan berharap bahwa ia berkata jujur.

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11. Angels says:

    November 7, 2009 at 11:25 am

    nice story. semoga dia berkata jujur & keberuntungan akan berpihak padanya

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12. deVina says:

    November 8, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    thank you for sharing you story here. it is so inspiring

    [Reply]
13. hanik says:

    November 12, 2009 at 9:13 am

    Inspiring. Terharu banget baca ceritanya. Izin share ya mba Ollie…

    [Reply]
14. Ollie says:

    November 12, 2009 at 9:15 am

    Makasih teman-teman, silahkan di-share dengan menyebutkan sumber ^^

    [Reply]
15. dondo says:

    November 12, 2009 at 1:11 pm

    godbless you sist

    [Reply]
16. ekSi says:

    November 14, 2009 at 8:37 am

    I cried reading this post :’(

    [Reply]
17. Nda says:

    November 21, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    saya ngerti knapa rezeki nya Mba’ Ollie lancar.. karna slalu memudahkan rejeki org lain..:)
    Really adore u!

    [Reply]
18. Aria Rajasa says:

    March 21, 2010 at 4:20 am

    Gw juga pernah kayak gitu, bikin itu keliatan jadi kayak MO. Di Plaza senayan jg…

    [Reply]