Jestham Treats Rifki, a Rantau Kid Who Endures for His Family

Medan, North Sumatra – (June 30, 2026) – Do you still remember the noble act of Devi, the Indomaret employee who willingly gave up half of her shopping time for a colleague who is far from home? Well, now it is that very rantau kid's turn to take centre stage. His name is Rifki, a young man from Aceh who is currently making a living away from home in Medan. After Devi sincerely gave away half of her time, Jestham gave Rifki a golden opportunity to shop for free groceries for a full 1 minute. And now, Jestham challenges Rifki to make the most of that special moment.

When Jestham asked, "What do you want to buy?" Rifki answered firmly, "Staples, Sis!" For him, basic necessities are the top priority, especially to send something to his parents and younger siblings back in his hometown. Jestham dug deeper. "What's the most important thing?" Rifki replied, "Rice and cooking oil." However, behind his shopping list lay a deep longing. When asked if he missed Aceh, his eyes sparkled as he admitted he missed his parents. "Mum, Dad, I miss you. Wait for Rifki to come home, Mum," he said softly, as if speaking directly to his mother through the camera.

The 1-minute shopping spree began with full enthusiasm and a bit of chaos that drew laughter. "Ready, ready, ready!" Jestham shouted, starting the countdown. Rifki moved like lightning, grabbing stacks and stacks of sugar. He did not stop there; he hunted for cooking oil, Indomie, and soap. Jestham also joined in, cheering him on. "Take it easy; grab them slowly!" The atmosphere in the minimarket turned into an exciting and hilarious race, full of cheers and laughter.

The chaotic excitement as Jestham accompanied Rifki, who raced to hoard as many instant noodles as possible in the one-minute shopping challenge.

After an exhausting 1 minute, Rifki's cart was full of sugar, cooking oil, Indomie, and soap. "That was crazy, huh," Jestham commented, looking at the haul. "See, some things even fell over." Yet, behind the laughter, there was a great determination. Rifki pointed to the cart and said, "Mum, this is for Mama." Jestham asked how he would send it, and Rifki answered, "Later, when I'm off, I'll go home to the village, Sis." He planned to bring all these staples to his parents in Aceh when his time off came.

Rifki revealed that he is the firstborn of three siblings. He left Aceh for Medan right before a major flood hit his hometown. "A week before the flood, I was already here," he said. Despite being very young, he has already shouldered the responsibility of being the family's backbone, sending money for his parents and pocket money for his younger siblings. However, when Jestham asked about the saddest thing about being a rantau kid, his face turned gloomy. "It's just not lively here, Sis. Living alone in a boarding house," he answered in a sombre tone. "I miss my parents," he admitted. He also revealed that in the rantau, he has to hold back his hunger. "At home, we can eat as much as we want, but here, I have to hold back."

Rifki's sorrowful face as he shared his struggles and the sacrifices he had to make, enduring hunger throughout his time far from home.

Even more heartbreaking, Rifki admitted that when he is sick, no one knows. He still tells his parents that he is fine, even when he is not. Hearing this confession, Jestham fell silent for a moment and offered deep encouragement. "It's tough being a 'rantau' kid, isn't it?" she said with concern. "Life really teaches us to be much stronger. This is a process. There's a five-letter word for it: patience. Not everyone can go through that process. But when you are patient, believe that the blessings will be extraordinary." Her words seemed to touch Rifki's heart deeply, as he appeared to be holding back tears.

The emotional moment grew even stronger when Rifki promised, "Next week, I'll bring these staples home for Mama." Jestham assured him, "The blessings go to a child who is devoted to their parents." Rifki then shared that his parents often watch Jestham's videos on TikTok. "Earlier, you came to shop... later, when it's uploaded to TikTok, they'll watch it and see me in the video," he recounted. Jestham was moved. "Videos that we think are ordinary can actually cure the longing for parents. That's amazing." Tears of emotion were almost unstoppable as she realised that simple content could become a bridge of love between a 'rantau' kid and their family back home.

One minute of shopping, a million meanings of struggle—that is how Jestham's simple act of kindness transformed Rifki's difficult days into an unforgettable memory.