The Story Of The Brebes Rice Stall The Enchantment Of Two Daughters Who Survived The Simprug Fire, The Owner Is Diligent In Alms Friday Blessings

A shop that survived the fire at Simprug Golf, South Jakarta, Tuesday (23/8/2022) ANTARA/Luthfia Miranda Putri

JAKARTA - "Alms brings blessings". The simple sentence came from the mouth of Sri Rohayati, the owner of the rice stall "Warung Brebes Pesona Dua Putri".

This is the only building that survived the fire at Simprug Golf, South Grogol, Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, on Sunday (21/8).

This blessing is proven when he sees the Simprug Golf area that has been burned. The red rooster devoured the houses belonging to 133 families (KK) or 398 affected people.

Launching ANTARA, this simple warung can be seen still standing firmly among the rubble of the former building which began to crumble and almost merged with the ground.

The police line still stretches around the 4x12 meter stall since the fire broke out.

The shop, which is dominated by yellow and green colors, is a silent witness to the ferocity of the fire that burned the residents' houses.

At that time, around 10.00 WIB, Sri's brother, Zaini, was guarding the shop as usual by serving customers. When they put the food in the shop window, there were screams from residents to get out of the house.

"It happened when I was serving people, I kept getting excited. When I saw it came out there was a puff of smoke from behind," he said.

He panicked too. "I was so panicked, I didn't give my customers a drink," said Zaini when met at the shop.

Then Zaini immediately woke up her father who was sleeping in the upstairs room. He quickly grabbed some salvageable items such as clothes and money to take out.

After leaving the shop, several volunteers began to arrive and help transport items that could still be saved, such as refrigerators, shop windows and rice cookers.

According to Zaini, at that time the atmosphere was colored by panic. Residents save themselves from the fire.

He and three members of his family immediately fled to a safe place.

After some time after cooling down the fire, Zaini was surprised to see that the condition of the shop where she was selling was still intact and not burned down like other houses.

After he saw the condition of the shop after the fire, only the walls of the upper room were slightly burnt and the ventilation of the lower floor was burned.

He also conveyed the news to his brother and shop owner, Sri who was in his village, Brebes (Central Java).

"Yes, maybe a miracle from Allah SWT. My brother when selling his prayers and alms he never misses," he said

"Every Friday we also give free food and drinks," Sri said gratefully.

A stall that survived the fire at Simprug Golf, South Jakarta, Tuesday. (23/8/2022). ANTARA/Luthfia Miranda Putri

Donate alms

Sri said that his family had been carrying out the "Blessing Friday" action for a long time by providing free food and drinks to residents in need.

In addition, the owner of this shop joins the community in Pamulang by becoming a donor. Namely giving alms in the form of money when you have more sustenance.

"When I sell, someone asks me to give rice. He pays, I don't want to, instead I add money," said Sri.

The 41-year-old woman said that her social sense grew from her parents' upbringing since childhood. He is used to sharing sustenance even though sometimes he also needs it.

According to Sri, her daily income as a rice stall seller is uncertain. Sometimes they earn from IDR 900 thousand to IDR 1.2 million per day.

With this social action that she did, Sri did not deny that she had lost but it all returned to the sustenance that had been arranged by God Almighty.

"Yes, the name of a sales person still has a loss. But what else can we do, we are human beings, we have to help each other," he said.

It was broken

He said that this shop was a gift from his late father, which Sri has occupied since she was in Junior High School (SMP) and has been living until now.

This shop was destroyed, precisely when the corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic began to hit Indonesia. Its destruction was not due to the plague but another cause.

At that time the shop as well as his house was struck by lightning and exploded itself among other houses. However, he felt grateful that the residents worked together to rebuild his house.

Sri said that perhaps the kindness of the residents also came from the kindness of his father, who was the head of the Neighborhood Association (RT) in the area.

Sri's Hope

In the midst of her gratitude for surviving the fire, Sri said she hopes to be able to repaint her shop and rebuild other stalls that were engulfed in flames.

"This is if there is sustenance we want to repaint this shop. Then our grilled chicken shop will also be rebuilt for rent and business," said Sri.

It doesn't stop there, Sri hopes that electricity and water can be re-installed in her area so that she can carry out daily activities, especially selling.

It is hoped that the installation of electricity and water can also help people in need. Sri and her husband plan to take the refugees to rest in their two-story shop.

"This will be when we return to the village. Residents can come here," said Sri.

Sri feels sorry because there are many residents who have to find new rents and have children who are still in school.

"Next to this morning, the house has been cleaned, the ceramics are still intact. Later on, the plan is to set up a temporary tent," he said.

The hope is that by accepting their neighbors to stay at the warung, they can help those who have been caught in a fire find a temporary place to live while looking for a new rented house.