Scavenging for a Living at Cirebon Station, Unable to Celebrate Eid at Home

For Ayus and other porters, this is the most anticipated time, namely the arrival of the Eid homecoming and return flow. Cirebon (ANTARA) - While many people celebrate Eid at home with family, a different atmosphere was evident at Cirebon Station in West Java on Saturday (21/3) afternoon. Amid the continuous flow of homecoming travellers, several workers stayed at the station, seeking a living from the bustle of arriving and departing passengers. At that place, Eid does not always mean returning to the village or gathering at the dining table with family. For some people, the holiday is spent working, ensuring the smooth travel of passengers while hoping for income that can be brought home. In a corner of Cirebon Station that never truly quiets, Ayus Warnoto (53) stood in a vigilant posture. His gaze swept over the stream of passengers exiting the carriages. Sharp yet calm, as if trained to read who needed a helping hand. Occasionally, his eyes fixed on someone struggling, dragging a large suitcase haltingly or carrying stacked bags in both hands. As soon as the signal came, whether a small wave or a brief call, Ayus responded immediately. With efficient and almost reflexive movements, he lifted the load and carried it to the parking area or the station exit. Nearly three decades he has pursued this work. His days are spent at the station, waiting for opportunities that come unpredictably. For Ayus, the porter profession is not a side job, but the mainstay of his family’s livelihood. Behind its simplicity, this work demands physical endurance as well as a generous heart. On ordinary days, earnings often come haltingly. Sometimes he only gets one or two customers, and not infrequently he returns home empty-handed. “If it’s not yet destined, then indeed there is none,” he said softly, yet without bitterness.