"Never Shopped Like This": Tears of Hope from an Old Father Still Faithfully Waiting for His Family

Medan, North Sumatra – (06/03/26) Late that night, as doors began to close tightly, a middle-aged father had not yet returned home. Worry enveloped Jestham, who asked, "Why haven't you gone home yet, sir?" A simple yet heartbreaking answer came from the father: "How can I go home? I didn't earn any money."

Yet, in the midst of that uncertainty, a glimmer of fortune came from Jestham, who offered him a special chance to shop for basic necessities as much as he wanted. The father's eyes lit up. "Father, I have a blessing from God. We can shop for all the staples we want, okay?" "Yes," he answered briefly, yet full of unspoken gratitude.

They then entered a minimarket. The father's gaze looked unfamiliar. "Never shopped like this before," he repeated several times. When Jestham asked what the most urgent need at home was, without hesitation he answered, "Rice. There's no more rice at home." It turned out he was 69 years old, yet his spirit to run around filling a shopping basket within a 2-minute time limit was still blazing. "I can still run," he said optimistically.

According to the rules, Jestham gave the father 2 minutes to take as many items as possible. "1, 2, 3, go!" Jestham shouted, cheering him on. "Take it, sir! The rice. The Indomie is to your side, sir... Don't be shy, sir. Hurry!" Jestham's voice echoed continuously. He grabbed eggs, cooking oil, and sugar, which he struggled to find. When he hesitated, thinking his shopping was too much, Jestham immediately reassured him, "Just put it in, sir; it's fine. I'll add more, okay?" Sardines, which he had forgotten, were quickly slipped into the basket. "Alhamdulillah," he whispered in gratitude.

Although his body was frail and his job as a pedicab driver was very meager, his heart was noble. He even admitted he couldn't bear to enjoy the blessing alone. Behind his spirit to work until late at night and often return empty-handed, even just to have a meal, lay a deep, old wound: his longing for his wife and biological child, who had not contacted him in decades.

The father began to tell the story of his child named Indra. "It's been a long time, since '87," he revealed. He could only guess that his child Indra was now around 34 or 35 years old. "Never sent any news," he said sorrowfully. Seeing this moment, Jestham asked, "If Indra watches this, is there anything you want to tell Indra? " The father could no longer hold back his tears. He entrusted a very deep message: "To my dear wife Sukmawati, we have been apart for a long time, but I am still waiting for you. And to our child Indra, I hope you are healthy, and I always pray for you."

Currently, the father lives with his younger sibling and that sibling's children, whom he already considers his own. "They are good to me, and I love them too. I help with the household expenses," he explained about how he gets by. Especially during this Ramadan, he is willing to pedal his pedicab until late at night, even until 10:30 or 11:00 PM, just to bring home some money. "Eid is coming; I want to buy them clothes," he said, his eyes glistening with tears. He dreams of being able to buy new clothes and a little bit of Eid cookies for his nieces and nephews, who have given him the warmth of a family all this time.

At the end of this moving encounter, Jestham gave a little extra charity to help buy Eid clothes. The father could only give thanks. "Oh God, thank You for the sustenance You have given me. I cannot repay what these benefactors have given. You are the One who will reward them later." With great hope, Jestham prayed that this video would go viral so that perhaps it could reach Surabaya and be seen by his wife and child, Indra. A simple hope from a father who never tires of waiting: "Hopefully there will be news about your wife and child, sir." He then took his leave, holding tightly to the invaluable blessing—not just for his stomach, but to heal a little of the long-neglected pain in his heart.