Ten years

This trip really feels hard for a young man named Benjamin. It has been several years since he left the Dutch East Indies, now he must return there to cover his childhood country. When the Dutch East Indies was still standing, Benjamin's father was a successful tea businessman in the Buitenzorg and Lembang regions, he who was a British citizen was forced to return to his home country after the financial crisis in 1930. Ben's nickname Benjamin had spent his childhood in the region , there he had many friends who came from indigenous children even though he himself belonged to Europeans.

Along the way to the Indies or now Indonesia, Ben always thought about the fate of his friends during his childhood after Japan ruled Indonesia. Because he heard that Japanese forces were merciless in torturing prisoners and ordinary citizens, even Ben's friend, whose army had heard that the torture of Japanese troops was far more severe than Nazi forces in Europe. Since then hundreds of letters have been sent to Ben's friends in Indonesia, but none of the replies he got.

While attending school, Ben had a romance with one of his childhood friends named Noer, he was a very beautiful native girl. In addition to his charming physique, his heart is very good, and there is one attitude that makes him different from the others, namely his courageous attitude. The girl did not hesitate to protest to Ben's parents immediately if his father who worked in the garden Ben's father got inappropriate behavior from the field foreman.

Ben and Noer have a romance for four years, but the romance must end because of a misunderstanding between the two. After a few years later in 1936, Ben continued his studies in the Netherlands. There, Ben got news from his friends in Indonesia, that Noer was also living in the Netherlands to continue his education.

Even though they are in the same city and country, both of them are never destined to meet. But in 1940, Ben left the country and he hoped for the same for Noer, because the Nazi troops had set foot in the Land of Windmills. Then in 1946, Ben, who had become a journalist, got the assignment from a news agency in England to cover the British royal forces in the country of the former Dutch East Indies.

On that day Ben rushed to leave England and boarded a ship bound for the Dutch East Indies. "Mainland-land" shouted one of the passengers of the ship. "Finally we arrived at Djakarta" said another passenger. Not long ago a well-built man stood up and shouted "To the masters and ladies and gentlemen, please prepare their luggage and our ship has arrived in Djakarta," said the crew who advised all passengers. Moments later Ben's boat was docked at Sunda Kelapa Harbor Djakarta. "It's very different, right now, Djakarta with what I know first," Ben said to himself. Without further ado he immediately aimed the camera towards the crowd of people at the port.

"Good afternoon Mr. Ben", call a man dressed in white. "What's wrong?" Said Ben. "I am Tomo, a representative from the British Embassy who will accompany you while in Indonesia". "It was the first time I saw an Indonesian native working for the United Kingdom," Ben said to himself. "Today, the master is scheduled to rest first in Djakarta, then the next day he will continue his journey to Bandung by train," Tomo said while helping to carry Ben's belongings.

The two of them then started walking towards the car, but suddenly "bruuukuk ...", as soon as the luggage that Ben was holding fell all to the ground. There was a young man who ran to hit Ben's shoulder, "Hey, be careful, man, if he walked" Tomo shouted to the young man. "I'm sorry, sir, that has troubled you, I'm in a hurry," said the young man who looked scared. "It's okay," Ben said, patting the young man's back. But Ben suddenly looked at the young man's face while saying, "Are you Syarif, his son, Pak Djoko, from the Lembang tea plantation?" This is me, Ben, your friend first, who you call the Company ". "Ben? Benjamin isn't it? the child is the owner of the tea garden? "asked the young man. "Yeah right, how are our friends there? what have they all become now? "asked Ben. "Wow, when it comes to that, it's sad because most of them have been caught by the Japanese and don't know how they are doing, but if Noer knows, he said he was married to one of the conglomerates in Bandung," Suep answered. Hearing the news Ben's heart was torn to pieces, it turned out that what he feared happened if his friends became victims of the ferocity of Japanese forces, especially the woman he always loved had married another man.

Ben's face that was happy turned into a sad and silent, "are you okay sir?" Asked Tomo immediately. "It's okay, let's continue the trip" replied Ben. Then Ben said goodbye to Sharif, and immediately continued his journey. When in the car, Ben kept quiet without a word coming out of his mouth. He then changed the planned schedule, which he had to spend the night before in Djakarta, now he decided to continue his journey to Bandung. Throughout the journey he was constantly thinking about the fate of his friends and not forgetting the story of his love with the girl of his dreams, because he believed that in the future between him and Noer would be matched later. Apadaya universe says another, now the story of his love with the girl of his dreams has really run aground.

It was seven o'clock at night, the sun had sunk and now it was replaced by moonlight. The train Ben and Tomo were riding in finally arrived at the City of Paris van Java, then they both waited for the pickup at the station's lobby. Not long after the black car approached the two of them, a middle-aged man came down and introduced himself to them, "I am Dirman as your driver," he said. "Will you go directly to the inn? or I want to take you to Braga, there are many delicious restaurants, "said Mr. Dirman. "Oh yeah sir, my stomach is starving too, so we are headed to Braga now," said Ben. "Come on, gentlemen, then I'll deliver it" replied Mr. Dirman.

Moments later Ben's car arrived in Braga, Ben and Tomo walked down the street to find the right restaurant. "Now there are so many natives who eat at Braga Shops," Ben said to Tomo. "Right sir, since this country has become independent now this region has become an area of ​​property for indigenous conglomerates," said Tomo. The conversation continued until one time Ben decided to go to one of the clothing stores. "Good night, gentlemen, can I help you?" Said the shopkeeper. At that time the store atmosphere was crowded with visitors, but there was one visitor who made Ben's eyes not turn away. Yes there Ben accidentally met Noer the girl of his dreams.

All of his big body feels petrified, his heart is beating rapidly. For ten years they had not met, now they were reunited in one room. Ben seemed confused what to do, whether he would say hello or not. Suddenly he saw a well-dressed man and his clenched hair approaching Noer. "Is that a guy who is lucky to get Noer?" "Looks like my guess is right, because the man seemed to be embracing Noer's shoulder" he continued.

At that moment, it crossed Ben's mind about memory in the past, once said Noer said in his last letter to Ben. He asked Ben to stay away from him and forget the relationship between the two. Ben who remembers it immediately takes a deep breath, as a man he will keep Noer's last request to him. The atmosphere began to melt and Ben looked calmer while inside the store.

Ben starts queuing to pay for the clothes he is going to buy. He decided immediately maybe he would leave the store and forget his past memories. However, it was unexpected that Noer was now standing right behind him and was in line in the same line. Ben's heart beat again, the world seemed to stop spinning, impatiently he wanted to leave the shop immediately. "This is the master, thank you for shopping in our shop," said the shopkeeper. "Finally ..." Ben said, Ben went to his back to Noer who was paying at the cashier, his footsteps went away from the girl of his dreams, the farther away his footsteps disappeared, and the affection for the dream girl.