Arash was busily checking his smartphone with a blooming smile over his lips as he ignored his surroundings. Just seeing a string of messages from his beloved had made his heart felt so relieved. He didn't have the opportunity to read them before his hand holding the smartphone was pulled down multiple times. He scrunched his brow unhappily but immediately adjusted his mood. He knew he was not in the most ideal condition to read personal messages with everyone gathering around him like this. Rob, Tanahan, and a few trackers were surrounding him, checking him out with concern.

 

"Yes, Rob? Anything? Sorry, I didn't hear you the first time." He gave Rob a harmless warm, apologetic smile.

 

Rob repeated his question as he whispered exasperatedly, "How's your condition, Mr. Arash?! Did that old man torture you or anything? Are you alright?"

 

Arash approached Rob and gave him a brief hug. He was extremely touched with the concern and guilt reflected from the depth of the professional guide's eyes. "As you can see, I'm alright. I'm just hurt a tiny bit. Tok Silihan is a great doctor. He helped patch me up with lots of traditional herb poultices. Obviously, he didn't hurt me at all. If anything, Tok Silihan is a really nice grandpa. Don't talk trash about him, alright. He is a very kind and generous grandpa."

 

Everyone's expression was like someone who just swallowed a frog whole after they heard Arash's comment. O_____O

 

"And, these are?" Arash inquired with a raised brow and a friendly smile.

 

"Ahh, all of them helped search for you half of the night before. We finally found your traces at the bottom of the hill, but at that time, Tok Batin Silihan already reached out to help you and prevented us from bringing you back, saying you could die if we did." Rob snapped out of it and quickly introduced the trackers to his client.

 

"I see, I see. I was indeed a tad bit too hurt to be ferried around at that time. Fortunately, Tok Silihan was there. Thank you so much, everyone." Arash approached the trackers one by one, starting from Tanahan, and grabbed their right hand to give them a warm handshake full of sincerity. He made some small talk with them and finally gave each of them a warm manly hug. Everyone was enlightened by Arash's behavior, as they formed a very positive first impression of this outsider. The outsider had treated them like a brother, even from the first meeting.

 

Only Tanahan noticed the peculiarity in between Arash's words. He called the Spirit Healer 'Tok Silihan'! Not, 'Tok Batin', not 'Exalted Elder'! He even remembered that Arash had called the Exalted Elder 'Tok Silihan' in front of his nose, and was not being hanged upside down for it! It meant that the Spirit Healer had given permission for Arash to call him as such. Mind you, 'Tok Batin' was a title, similar to 'Village Head', while 'Exalted Elder' was a formal generic way of addressing an extremely honored person of the tribe. Arash's way of addressing the elder showed deep familiarity, at the level of a family member! They even joked with each other just now!

 

As such, Tanahan couldn't help but feel respectful towards Arash for being able to 'tame' the elder within a few short hours.

 

"Excuse me. The elders asked for the outsider to follow me to his haya." A villager interjected their conversation and spoke in Bateq to Tanahan.

 

"Where is he being placed? Is it possible to let him go to the doctor first?" Tanahan inquired.

 

"No need. The doctor has been instructed to visit the outsider at his own haya, just next to the Exalted Elder's abode." The villager explained. 

 

Tanahan was left speechless!

 

The haya used by the Spirit Healer was the best, most spacious, and clean haya they had. While the haya next to it, obviously was reserved for the other elders' family. Placing the outsider over there meant that the haya need to be emptied out by one of the elders' families to give way to this person. Everyone else looked at each other with a bewildered expression, safe for both Rob and Arash, who remained clueless.

 

"Is there something wrong?" Rob inquired with great concern. The expression of these aborigines was a little out of sort as if they had gotten a piece of bad news.

 

"Nothing, nothing. Mr. Arash, please follow this young man to get some rest. He will lead the way." Tanahan immediately relayed the elders' instructions. Who was he to question what the elders' dictate? Anyway, Mr. Arash was really a pleasant person with an ever-smiling face. It was hard to get angry or to have a negative feeling with such a warm smiley person.

 

"Excuse me, I heard that there is a doctor here? Can I visit the doctor before resting? Although I feel fit as a bull, I won't feel appeased if I didn't at least get a check-up." Arash quickly inquired with an apologetic smile.

 

He knew if he met the doctor, he could hurt the villagers' feelings, especially Tok Silihan's, for not trusting his abilities. But he really couldn't just let it slide since he really was gravely injured a few hours before this. He was a regular person who took Omega-800, vitamin C, and glucosamine¹standard supplements a person should consume. Omega-800 is fish oil, and glucosamine is for people who had knee problems haha daily besides cultured drinks²yogurt-based drink. Important to replenish your gut flora. for general health; a health-conscious person who only lacked exercise.

 

At least he must make sure he was genuinely cured. If the result was otherwise, he wouldn't ever hold it against Tok Silihan. He had tried his best. He knew that the reason he could still be alive and kicking at the moment was due to the elder's timely arrival to save him.

 

"No need. The doctor will visit you in a while. Just go and rest first, okay. Your bag had already been delivered to your accommodation."

 

Arash blinked his eyes a few times, and hurriedly thanked everyone before following the young aborigine to his own haya. He was wondering the level of treatment he got from everyone here was so high, as if they were efficient five-star hotel employees.

 

What excellent customer service! Highly recommended!

 

He planned to write a five-star review for this settlement in Google maps when he returns home later. They truly deserved it! 

 

Hopefully, when more people were interested in this village, it will push the government to at least connect the village to town with a basic road. It will definitely benefit both communities! A win-win situation.

 

Arash pondered deeply. He felt that he got the best idea to repay Tok Silihan's help. Since the nice elder wouldn't talk about material gains, he might as well go all the way and investigate the condition of the village and try his best to connect with the right people to raise awareness and help the village to receive the help that was due. Maybe, in this way, he could make the village more accessible to tourists, hence, increasing the revenue of the Bateq people as a whole!

 

The grand idea was pretty rosy!

 

Poor Arash didn't know, if he really did that, Tok Silihan will surely beat him up with a vengeance.

...

 

Arash adjusted her bent horn-rimmed spectacles, which had just slipped from his nose. The lenses got a little crack on both sides, but it was still usable. Tok Silihan had suddenly returned it to him after he rubbed his satisfied tummy once he ate all of Arash's cooking shamelessly. It seemed that Arash's bribe worked quite well. The elder had been really nice, and his gaze had turned warm although he frequently flicked, slapped, pinched, and kicked Arash. Those attacks were devoid of malice and strength; obviously, Arash as the recipient of those seemingly harsh 'treatments' could attest to them. He was in a good mood as he followed the young aborigine to his designated 'room'.

 

Arash planned to rest for a short while to give a face to the elder who had painstakingly arranged everything for him before finding the resident doctor of the village. As soon as he obtained the information he needed from the village elders, he planned to head back as soon as possible. His girls must be so scared their Papa didn't fetch them at the promised time. The grand ideas brewing in his mind would have to wait, as his two daughters took precedence.

 

Wait for me, guys! Your Papa will return to your side soon! He spoke silently with determination. He must contact the caretaker as soon as possible after this.

 

As long as he was fit enough, he wanted to return as soon as possible after talking to the managing elder of the tribe!

 

...

 

Authors’ Note:

1. Omega-800, vitamin C, and glucosamine = standard supplements a person should consume. Omega-800 is fish oil, and glucosamine is for people who had knee problems haha (or any other joint pain). Mrs Mooncat is not recommending anything, please consult a doctor before taking anything (laugh). Usually everyone just needed a normal dose of multivitamins and fish oil.
2. Cultured drink = yogurt-based drink. Important to replenish your gut flora. Take once a day for good GIT health haha (after meals okay)