Green spinach and red chilies, blend beautifully with the yellow-walled shop that looks simple. It has been seven years that the chubby man who is familiarly called Bang Iki has been selling vegetables in a housing complex in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta.
"Starting [from] those who are encouraged to have a stall there," said Riski Ari Permana, 26 years old, accompanied by his wife.
Maybe he never thought that there would be an epidemic that forced him to adapt so he could continue to support his family. However, in 2020, a pandemic called Coronavirus Disease 2019 or COVID-19 has rocked major cities in the world, including Jakarta.
Those who tried to make a living by trading, were faced with the fear of not being able to sell their wares to their previously loyal buyers. Not only to buy but also to chat, share stories.
[We Are Not Alone When Facing A Pandemic]
Adaptation in the style of Bang Iki
Reluctant to be immersed in anxiety, Bang Iki did not want to be silent. Adapt, it was the path he chose. After hearing the announcement of the government's large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), he immediately took out his smartphone. With his fingers agile typing something.
"For those who want to order vegetables, fruit, fish, that's fine. Ready to take them home, ”he wrote on WhatsApp.
Even though his education was stopped at the junior high school level, he knew very well about the dangers of transmitting the corona virus. On his own initiative, Bang Iki also implemented physical restrictions at his shop. Of course, for the health of himself and his loyal customers.
"Because there are no crowds, so I recommended five people, five people," he explained. "We also promise to wash our hands before and after shopping. We prepare the place. "
Unfortunately, not everyone could follow Bang Iki's instructions. Patiently, he tried to explain the reasons why such a rule existed.
"We're human, so sometimes there are those who nag. I was told to queue for five people, but they said 'I'm in a hurry, Mas, I'm in a hurry', ”he said, imitating the words of the nagging customer.
Meanwhile for those who stayed at home, Bang Iki tenaciously copied every order he received from a chat onto a piece of paper. "Claws, chicken head, soup, galangal, bay leaves," that's a fragment of an order from a customer named Mrs. Yanti. For the sake of customer satisfaction, if he is not in his shop, Bang Iki does not hesitate to go shopping and look for it until he finds it. He also does all that so that customers don't leave the house.
"The response was not bad, Alhamdulillah. So people don't have to leave the house, we stand in line, ”said Iki who was pleased with the reactions from the buyers. "Starting from one, uh, the neighbors also begged, yes, word of mouth finally, to all orders."
The Bang Iki initiative was not without challenges or difficulties. The roar of the motorbike he was driving sometimes had to stop in front of the lockdown portal that blocked his speed when delivering orders. Not wanting to give up, he turned around and looked for another route, until finally he was able to stand in front of the buyer's house.
While wearing a cloth mask with a batik pattern, he hands over two to three plastic bags containing staples over the fence at the customer's house.
The clock showed seven in the evening, his shop was closed, but Bang Iki's steps had not stopped. He walked down the small alleys, approaching one by one the houses that ordered the next. He is not alone. Apart from his wife who looks after the shop, he is also assisted by two younger siblings in fulfilling orders.
Bang Iki is grateful, after being able to adapt to the midst of the corona storm, the turnover from selling his vegetables, which is around Rp. 2.5 million per day, can continue to flow. However, he didn't forget to think about the fate of other fellow merchants who might not be as fortunate as him.
Message and Hope
It was getting late, Bang Iki's phone rang again by the sound of a notification from his WhatsApp account. Orders for tomorrow. Before we parted ways, Bang Iki left messages and input for the people and government of Jakarta.
"The important thing is that we just follow what the government wants, anyway, it must be good for us. The important thing is according to that. His name is also a plague, one day it must be over. As usual again, "he said hopefully.
"For the government, it will motivate people even more. The hard one there.
"Mostly, if young people now understand, young people now often open their gadgets. What is rather difficult is these old people. Yes, maybe because they never opened their cellphones, then they were also lacking on television. Yes, maybe it should be ordered directly from the government to the RT / RW, and socialize it again.
"Or maybe a successful team can be created for more socialization. For example traveling around one village, the community will socialize it. Because maybe they will understand better if there are people who tell them rather than through the media, "he concluded.
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