A Reply to My Husband

Go home

Barra put her foot out the gate. The air of freedom he could not enjoy this year.

"Alicia ... Papa's coming home," murmured Barra.

Barra looked around looking for Hanna. He had already told Hanna earlier if she was free today. But she doesn't find Hanna coming to pick her up.

While at his house Widia was busy preparing dishes to welcome Barra's return. He cooked all the food Barra liked.

Many times Widia looked at the clock and began to fidget.

"Why haven't we got home yet? Has Hanna gone to pick him up? Ah ... But Hanna I reminded you to pick up Barra. Even I just want to come along. Did they stop by somewhere first?" various questions filled Widia's head.

"Just wait a minute, if it hasn't come yet I'll pick up Barra by taxi" Widia murmured.

After an hour Hanna and Barra haven't come home yet. Widia is already very agitated. Time and time again a wall clock. But the one we were waiting for didn't come either.

Suddenly the bell rang. Widia half ran towards the front door and immediately opened it.

Widia shed tears seeing her son standing in front of the door. He looked at the boy with haru. Barra looks clean and tidy with a fresher body than the last time they met.

"Mother ..." Barra immediately hugged her mother and the two dissolved in tears. No matter how bad Widia is, she is still a mother who loves her child.

"How are you, Barra? Let's go in. I've prepared your favorite meal."

Barra nodded. While embracing her mother she walked into the house.

"Where's Alicia ma'am?"

"He was sleeping. You better clean your body first. Then we eat."

"I want to see Alicia first. I miss him so much." Barra ran towards Alicia's room without hearing her mother's words.

Widia who saw Barra was so excited to see Alicia became annoyed. He recalled Hanna's lies.

A little while later Barra came back to see her mother.

"Let's eat ma'am, I miss mom's cooking too. Alicia was sleeping well. I won't bother him. I can't wait for him to wake up. I was very anxious to see it" said Barra, chewing his food.

Widia just silently listened to Barra babble about Alicia.

"How's mom doing?" barra asked when she realized her mother was more silent.

"As you can see. Mom is now like a maid in this house."

"Where's Hanna? Why didn't he pick me up?"

"Hanna didn't pick you up? Then how did you get home? I told her to pick you up!"

Barra just shrugged her shoulders.

"He's an outrageous Barra. Mother had chosen him wrong."

"What did you say? If it wasn't for her, she might be a prison mother now. He helped mom."

Barra's words made Widia speechless. Again he remembered his mistake. It's all because of him.

Then Barra heard Alicia's crying voice.

"Alicia is awake." Without a second thought he immediately ran towards Alicia's room. After a while he came down carrying Alicia in his carrier. Somehow Alicia looks calm in Barra's arms. He seems to be used to it.

"Papa's son is awake ... Hmmm ... I miss you so much, son." Barra kissed Alicia's puffed cheeks. Widia who saw Barra's closeness with Alicia became pity.

He deserves to know.

"Marra ... I want to talk to you."

"He's beautiful, Mom? Of course, Hanna's pretty and I'm pretty." Barra speaks for herself.

"Let's go play Papa."

Barra took Alicia away from the room. While Widia could only look at them speechlessly.

Hanna appeared not long ago. He looked at Widia lazily and continued walking regardless.

"Stop you cunning woman!" prevent Widia. "Where have you been? Why didn't you pick up Barra earlier?"

"Oh ... I forget. Is he home yet?" ask Hanna cuek.

"Then you said you forgot to pick her up!"

"I forgot, how else?!" Hanna kept walking away from Widia. He walked in search of the source of Barra and Alicia's voice which sounded like he was laughing. Hanna found them both in the living room.

"Alicia Mama's home" said Hanna. The little boy turned to his mother and laughed. He was on Barra's back. They're playing horses like him.

"View ... Mama's home." Barra lowered Alicia from above her back.

Alicia approached the two of them.

"Have you come home?" ask Hanna trite.

"Why not pick me up?" barra asked coldly.

"I had a job. You know I have to make money now?"

Barra becomes guilty of hearing Hanna's answer, even though Hanna is just making up stories. He never worked because during Barra's time in prison he got money from Affandi.

Affandi dares to send him money because he feels his deal with Malik and Hanna is just a bluff, as Hanna says.

"I'm sorry .. I'll work after this. There must be a company that's willing to accept me." Barra hugged Hanna.

"You miss me?" ask Barra. Hanna nodded uncertainly. Then Alicia tugged at Barra's hand and asked her to play again.

"Papa's son wants to play again?" ask Barra. The little boy just nodded his head.

"Take Mama to play with us" said Barra. Alicia who could not speak understood Barra's intentions. Then he pulled Hanna's hand.

"Mama's playing?" Alicia nodded. "All right ..." Then Hanna joined them. They really look like a happy family.

Widia who saw this togetherness from where she stood so moved. He did not want to ruin the happiness that Barra was feeling. But he also does not accept if Barra continues to be lied to by Hanna.

* * *

"Mother ... said you wanted to talk to me yesterday? What do you want to talk about?" Barra came to her mother in her room.

"Where's Hanna?"

"Go, he said there was work. Do you want to talk about Hanna? She's not being nice to mom?"

"He was never nice to my mom. He never respected his mother. It was different with Rania. I regret Barra. I'm sorry I made your life a mess. It's all mom's fault." Widia spoke with teary eyes. There was regret on his face.

"That's it, ma'am, it's happened. I can already accept it. After all, if it wasn't this way, I wouldn't have Alicia. I feel happy Mom ... Alicia is my life now. I'll be better for Alicia" Barra replied.

Widia is feeling more guilty.

"I'm sorry Barra's mom ... But Alicia is not your child." Widia said with tears. He knew his words would hurt Barra's feelings.

"You might have a hard time believing it, but it's true. Alicia's not your real son."

"What did you say?"