The girls from Rama were paraded through Garuda like sheeps by Madam Bintang. After endless walking and 'Ooh' and 'Aah'-ing, they finally reached the helpers' cell corridors.

The corridors are more modest than the rest of Garuda. The walls and floors are not made from shiny marbles but a black shiny stones. It is still more impressive than Rama. But after seeing a Kingdom, you do not want to go back to a village.

The girls are apparently less impressed but they are all too tired to complain. 

Even the excited Bunga is now quiet as she walks limply with the crowd.

"Your name is written in front of your cell. So just log your moniker on the screen and your cell door will open."

"Yes, Madam." 

"The lights will be turned off at 10 pm sharp and on at 6 am precisely."

"Yes, Madam." 

Ara started counting how many times they have said "Yes, Madam" today but she has lost counts now. That is how many times they have said the same monotonous answer like a bunch of robots.

"Now of you go."

Ara waves Bunga a good night and she walks across the long corridor in an attempt to find her cell.

Just like what Madam Bintang said, her name "Mutiara of Rama" is written in a black ink and block letter in front of her cell. The cells door is not black like the floor and wall but is silver. It has a digital screen in place of a door handle.

Ara puts her arm, where the moniker was embedded, closer to the screen. The light changes from red to green and the door unlocks. 

Ara inhales deeply and walks inside. The cell is about 8-meter square, which is big enough for a person to live comfortably. It has a bed that is lifted up with a desk below it. Across the bunk bed are a sink and a mirror. Next to the sink is a tiny room less than 2-meter square where apparently is the bathroom.

"Wow, this is not bad at all!" said Ara to herself. She puts down her black duffle bag and starts unpacking her clothes. 

She washes up and climbs to her bed. The first night at Garuda creeps in fast. Before she knows it, the light has been turned off. Exactly at 10 pm like Madam Bintang said.

Ara logged herself using her moniker to her assigned cell. The light was turned off.

"It's not like you have a choice, you know? You just have to suck it up like everybody else. Like what Mom used to say. Life is not easy. But it goes on." Ara whispers to herself, like a lullaby.