The Reserved Seat at the Library

Every afternoon, Vikram studies at the same table in the library. One seat across from him always has a red sweater on it. But no one ever sits there.

Setiap sore, Vikram belajar di meja yang sama di perpustakaan. Di kursi seberangnya selalu ada sweter merah. Namun tak pernah ada yang duduk di sana.

At first, Vikram thinks someone forgot the sweater. But the same sweater appears every day, always on the same chair.

Awalnya, Vikram mengira ada yang lupa membawa pulang sweter itu. Namun sweter yang sama muncul setiap hari, selalu di kursi yang sama.

One day, he decides to ask the librarian about it.

Suatu hari, ia memutuskan menanyakannya kepada pustakawan.

"Why does that chair always have a sweater on it?" he asks.

"Kenapa kursi itu selalu ada sweternya?" tanyanya.

The librarian smiles. "That's Beatrix's chair," she says. "She saves it for her friend Ulla every day."

Pustakawan itu tersenyum. "Itu kursi Beatrix," katanya. "Setiap hari ia menyimpannya untuk temannya, Ulla."

That afternoon, a woman walks in. She places a red sweater on the chair. Vikram watches, curious.

Sore itu, seorang perempuan masuk. Ia meletakkan sweter merah di kursi itu. Vikram memperhatikan dengan penasaran.

"Excuse me," he says. "Is that seat for someone?"

"Permisi," katanya. "Apakah kursi itu untuk seseorang?"

"Yes," Beatrix says. "My friend Ulla comes late because of her job. She walks slowly, so I save her a seat near the door."

"Ya," kata Beatrix. "Temanku, Ulla, datang terlambat karena pekerjaannya. Ia berjalan pelan, jadi aku menyimpankan tempat dekat pintu."

"That's kind of you," Vikram says.

"Baik sekali Anda," kata Vikram.

A few minutes later, a woman with gray hair walks in slowly. She sits down in the saved chair. She smiles at Beatrix and thanks her quietly.

Beberapa menit kemudian, seorang perempuan berambut abu-abu masuk dengan pelan. Ia duduk di kursi yang disimpan itu. Ia tersenyum kepada Beatrix dan berterima kasih dengan suara pelan.

Vikram goes back to his own table. Now he understands the empty chair. He no longer wonders about the sweater.

Vikram kembali ke mejanya sendiri. Kini ia mengerti soal kursi kosong itu. Ia tak lagi bertanya-tanya tentang sweter itu.

The next day, he waves at Beatrix when he walks in. She waves back.

Keesokan harinya, ia melambai kepada Beatrix saat masuk. Beatrix membalas lambaiannya.