Chapter 9

• Ayu shook her head slightly, but her voice trembled a little. "The Kecak dance often serves as a sign for the people of Bali. If something is wrong in someone's life, this dance can be a warning from the ancestors."
• Daniel frowned, confused. "A warning of what?" he asked curiously.
• Before Ayu could answer, suddenly one of the dancers, who played Rahwana, tripped and fell straight into the circle of fire that was still burning. The audience gasped in shock, while the other dancers quickly pulled him out and extinguished the flames that were creeping up his body. But what sent shivers down Ayu's spine wasn't the accident—it was the dancer's gaze. He stared straight at Ayu. And under the blazing fire, he whispered softly,
• "Do not resist your fate."
• Ayu took a step back after witnessing that, her heart racing faster. Daniel, who didn't hear the whisper, only looked at Ayu with a confused expression. "Ayu? Are you okay?" Ayu didn't answer. She felt that something much bigger than herself was happening somewhere. The ancestors had spoken to her. And it was the last warning.
• That night, after the performance ended, Ayu couldn't sleep well. Her mind was consumed with the mysterious whisper from the dancer. The next morning, before sunrise, she decided to go to Pura Besakih, one of the holy temples in Bali, known for the Melukat ritual—a purification ceremony with holy water.
• At the temple, Ayu wore a kamen (traditional long cloth from Bali) and a white kebaya as a symbol of purity. Her hair was neatly styled in a bun, revealing her nape, adorned with a frangipani flower—a flower often used in religious rituals.
• Daniel followed her curiously. "Ayu, are you sure you want to do this?"
• Ayu nodded slightly. "I have to cleanse myself, physically and spiritually. If there really is a warning from the ancestors, I must find the answer."
• In the holy pool, Ayu stood under the holy water spout flowing from stone statues' mouths. The water falling on her head felt cold, but at the same time, it seemed to bring peace within her.
• Daniel watched from afar, not daring to interrupt the ritual. But he couldn't hold himself back from asking, "What exactly are you doing?" he asked after seeing Ayu open her eyes.
• Ayu turned toward him, water droplets still flowing down her face. "Melukat isn't just for cleansing the body, but also the soul. It's a way to remove negative energy and seek guidance from the ancestors."
• Daniel fell silent. To him, this seemed like a myth. But seeing Ayu's sincerity, he couldn't deny that there was something deeper than just belief—there was a rooted conviction within her.
• After the ceremony ended, Ayu lit incense and prayed in front of the temple's shrine. In the silence, she asked for guidance. And at that moment, a breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of incense and frangipani flowers. Ayu slowly opened her eyes. In her heart, she knew that the answer was already there. The only question was, would she be brave enough to accept it?
• The sun slowly rose in the Bali sky, shining over Pura Besakih, the largest and holiest temple on the island. Ayu stood in the temple courtyard, her fingers tightly holding a small flower offering—sesari—containing flowers and incense she had prepared since dawn.
• She had completed the Melukat ritual, but her heart was still uneasy, and she had not yet found the answer the ancestors meant.
• Daniel stood not far from her, gazing at the temple complex towering majestically on the slopes of Mount Agung. "So, this is the spiritual heart of Bali?" he asked, impressed.
• Ayu nodded. "Pura Besakih is not just a place of worship, but also a symbol of the balance between humans, nature, and the gods. Here, the ancestors are always watching over us."
• Daniel put his hands in his pockets. To him, the concept of ancestors always watching over them sounded more like a fairy tale than reality. But he couldn't ignore the fact that since arriving in Bali, he had started to see something different—something that couldn't be explained by logic alone.
• As Ayu was about to kneel and begin praying, the wind blew fiercely, carrying the scent of incense growing stronger. The sesari in her hand swayed, as if an invisible force had touched it.
• Then footsteps were heard.
• Ayu turned. An old man in all white, with a traditional Bali headpiece (udeng), approached them. His eyes were sharp, full of authority, as if he could see through a person's soul.
• "You must not resist the will of the ancestors, Ayu," the old man said softly.
• Ayu froze. "Jero Mangku?"
• Daniel looked at them in confusion. Who is this person?
• Jero Mangku was the priest at Pura Besakih, a spiritual leader who served as a bridge between the human world and the spiritual realm. His face was wrinkled, but his gaze was sharp, filled with hidden meaning.
• "You already know who you are and your fate, Ayu," Jero Mangku continued. "But you are still trying to resist."
• Ayu clenched her fist. "But I also have the right to choose my own path, Jero."
• A faint smile formed on Jero Mangku's face. "Maybe. But remember, when a Balinese child is born, they are not just born as an individual. They are born with a debt to their ancestors and their community. To reject fate is not just to reject personal desires, but to reject the spiritual inheritance of your family."
• Daniel, who had been silent until then, finally spoke. "Wait, you mean Ayu can't choose who she wants to be with?"
• Jero Mangku turned to him. "You are an outsider, aren't you? Not everything can be explained with words, but if you stay here longer, you'll understand. Love is not just about two people. Love is also about balance, karma, and blessing."
• Daniel fell silent.
• Ayu bit her lip. "But... I can't just sacrifice my feelings."
• Jero Mangku took a deep breath. "Then be prepared. Because resisting fate means challenging not only humans, but also the universe."
• The wind blew harder, making the incense in the temple courtyard flare up before it went out. Ayu shivered. She knew this warning was serious. But was she brave enough to challenge it?
• Since meeting Jero Mangku at Pura Besakih, Ayu couldn't shake the restlessness in her heart. The words of the priest kept repeating in her mind:
• "Resisting fate means challenging not only humans, but also the universe."
• That day, Ayu and Daniel decided to return to Ubud, where Ayu lived with her family. They passed the terraced rice fields in Tegalalang, where a light mist still hung in the morning air. Ayu sat in the front seat while Daniel drove carefully.
• "You haven't said anything since we left Besakih," Daniel said, glancing at her.
• Ayu bit her lip. "I just... I'm thinking."
• Daniel sighed. "About what? About your fate? About that warning?"
• Ayu turned to him. "You don't believe, do you?"
• Daniel was silent for a moment before finally answering. "I believe in many things, Ayu. But I also believe that our lives are the result of our own choices, not something that has been decided since birth."
• Ayu wanted to believe those words. But what happened next made her start doubting everything.