A ROSE FOR MOM

A ROSE FOR MOM 15

Rini released the hand of Angga who was holding her hand. He rushed out of the courtyard and disappeared behind the fence, after seeing a shadow of a familiar person, Arum, coming out of the house.

Angga was surprised to see Rini's attitude.

"Female, why are you there, come here.. I've made milk for Angga."

Angga ran over to Ratih.

"Ibuuu... There is Rini in ,sana." he said as he took the street.

"Where is she now, I just caught a glimpse of her."

"It's gone again."

Patih remembered that name. Rini, who meets at a toy store, and Aryo seems to hate her. Who exactly is Rini? The desire to know it. And why Aryo hated her so much, while Angga looked so familiar with her.

"Yes, let it go, let's drink the milk first."

"Why did Rini leave?"

"Maybe there's a need."

"What's that need?"

"That need is something to be done. You are, all-in-all asked, smart boy, handsome boy, let's drink milk first," said Ratih who then took Angga's hand into the house.

***

Rini stepped further away from the Aryo family home, with a mind full of questions. Isn't Arum lying in the hospital after surgery? Why was it at home? Is it wrong to see the gurney that brought Arum to the operating room?  Rini kept walking, forgetting to call a taxi or other vehicle in order to bring her back to Wuri's house.

"Are my eyes myopic? In that house there is Arum ma'am, in the hospital there is Arum ma'am... am I crazy because I am crazy about Aryo's handsome sir?" he muttered all the way.

Confused, Rini steps into the hospital. Wuri met him who was surprised to see his arrival.

"Say there's a need?"

"Not be."

"Kok..?"

"I don't see anyone."

"Hm. Then why are you flirting over here and there?" wuri asked because Rini looked like a confused person.

"Eh. listen, I've seen Arum opname's mom here after surgery. But how come she's home all of a sudden?" 

"That's right, you're a license because you have a bad intention, right? I've guessed."

"Dad, don't nag first dong, I'm confused again."

"Not to be confused, it's none of your business. Now here, take note of what I've written in the book, as usual."

"I'm going to the hospital ward first, right?"

"No way, if I'm reckless, I'll fire you!" wuri said firmly, then did his other work.

"Wow, very cruel!"

Wuri did not answer. He was upset at his best friend.

But Rini was not out of her mind. He promised himself that he would look into the ward where Arum was being treated. He must be sure of his sight.

***

"Mom Arum.. How now? Feel better?" bram's doctor said when he examined Arum that afternoon.

Arum smiled. He felt that every word the doctor said could always touch his feelings. 

"How ?"

"Okay doc" replied Arum slowly.

"So much pain?"

"There's the dock" Arum said, showing the stitches in place of the surgery two days ago.

"Oh, yes, it still feels pain, that's for sure, it's still a new injury. But it will heal later. Feeling dizzy?"

"No,"

"Good, blood pressure's normal, just a little less, tomorrow's better."

Arum smiled again. And Dr. Bram likes to enjoy that smile. There are eyes that are shady but make a trough. There was sorrow that was out of nowhere, buried deep in his heart. I wanted Dr. Bram to ask, but I was hesitant. Maybe later.

"Who is accompanying here ?"

"Mom, but I'm coming home for a while.."

"Suami ma'am Arum?"

Arum fell silent, his eyes suddenly glistening with tears. The doctor regretted asking. Is that why the eyes seem to cause trepidation?

"Ma'af ma'am Arum, I don't mean to make you sad" said Bram's doctor. 

"It's okay, Doctor" replied Arum

"Well, Miss Arum, tomorrow try the sitting exercise? It's still gonna hurt, but slow down's gotta try."

"Good."

"Suster, the infusion can be replaced after this," he ordered the nurse who delivered it.

"Good doctor."

"Bu Arum can eat a lot, right?"

"Slightly,"

"Cock a little, eat a lot to be healthy immediately. Yea?"

Arum again nodded with a smile.  The tears still seem there. Doctor Bram wants to wipe it. No, it's not polite, he thought. He took a piece of tissue and gave it to Arum. He nodded for a while then left Arum alone. 

Arum looked at the tissue that the young doctor had given him. He wiped away her tears. Surely many wonder, why in a state of pain, after surgery again, then it does not seem her husband waiting.  Arum recalled, when before the operation, the husband had to sign a statement, Suryo said that her husband was leaving and she was his mother who would sign it.  

Maybe the doctor thought it wouldn't take long. Ah, I don't know, Arum won't think about it. 

Shortly thereafter the nurse replaced the infusion.

"There's a complaint, ma'am? Does anything hurt?" the nurse asked.

"No, sister." replied Arum slowly. The question is, is my heart hurting? It will be answered.'yes'. But no, Arum will try to forget everything. Her husband had forgotten her, and put the traitor woman in his household, becoming a mother to his son. There would be no regrets if he did not go home.

***

When Angga was asleep that night, Ratih prepared to go home. Bu Nastiti deliver to the front while looking for Aryo where.

"It's mom, it's okay, I go home alone," said Ratih.

"Don't kid, it's night. Where is Aryo, " said Miss Nastiti while looking at the page.

Under the mango tree he saw Aryo sitting pensively. But he got up when he saw his mother and Ratih walked towards him.

"Let me go home alone sir" said Ratih.

"Eh, don't ma'am, let me drop you off" Aryo said as he walked into the house to retrieve the car keys.

"Every day I trouble ya ma'am," Ratih told Ms. Nastiti.

"It's not upside down, son? We're the ones who always bother you, aren't we?"

"No ma'am, I don't feel bothered. Really.."

"Let's get Ratih" said Aryo who had changed clothes from the singlet shirt he was wearing. Ratih glanced at the sesa'at, then turned his gaze to the other direction.

Aryo opens the car door for Ratih to sit next to him.

Ratih waved at Ms. Nastiti as the car made its way and exited the yard.

"Feet is exhausting, isn't it?"

"No sir, he's a good boy. I like it."

"Thank you for all that Bu Ratih did. If there's no Mrs Ratih, somehow I'm facing my son who lost his mother."

"Don't think sir, as long as Angga is happy, I'm happy too."

"Once again I say thank you."

"May I ask you something ?" ask Ratih.

"Who is Rini?"

Aryo breathed a heavy sigh. The memory of Rini made her face grim. He was the beginning of all this.

"Sorry, if you object, you don't have to answer. Yesterday he came to the house, but as soon as Angga called me, and I came out, he suddenly ran away."

"Oh yeah?"

"It seems she thought that I was Arum's mom."

"certainly so. Mm. I'll say everything. Mrs Ratih has been very kind to my family, I will not cover all these secrets."

Ratih was silent, waiting for what Aryo would say.

"long story. Will Mrs Ratih accompany me to just drink at a restaurant? I'll say everything."

Pushed by curiosity, Ratih nodded.

"All right, but don't take it long."

"No, just drink or eat something, so I can say everything."

Aryo stopped his car at a restaurant. He chose a seat that was a bit far away from some of the other people who were eating there.

"What do you want to drink?" aryo asked as they sat down.

"I'm just lemon tea. It's warm."

"Then. What do you want to eat?"

"No sir, I will not be able to accompany my father to eat if it is full here."

"That's light. Oh yeah, there's good croquettes here. Want huh?"

Aryo ordered his drink and two-part croquettes. They sit facing. Sometimes their eyes look. There is a strange shiver that annoys Aryo when he realizes that he is already married. No, I can't have a weird feeling like this. Thought Aryo.

Aryo sighed. 

"Sir Aryo so say something?" ask Ratih to remind.

"Oh yeah, oh yeah, fight, I feel nervous like this," said Aryo while putting both hands on the table.

"Anges?"

"I remember my wife. We used to eat and drink here."

Ratih was silent, maybe Aryo will start the story from there. It turned out that then he fell silent while playing the car keys located in front of him. Even until their order came, Aryo had not said anything about Rini yet.

"If you object, don't force it. I'm sorry if my curiosity bothers Mr. Aryo." 

"No, I'll tell you everything. Please drink," said Aryo while stirring his drink.

Train followed. In the cold air, it is better to drink warm drinks.

"Truly this is all my fault. My faith is less firm, and it is easy to be tempted. The situation at the time was very supportive. It was raining, it was cold, my wife was going to find her sick friend. Angga is asleep, and Rini seduces me. I don't know who's wrong, even if I don't do anything further forbidden, but actually it's not worth it. That's when Arum came and saw it all."

Ratih was clenched to hear everything. Not too long, but Ratih was already able to catch him. There are free moments, there are supportive situations, and there are fanning demons, the last is there is faith that easily collapses.

"I'm so sorry. My wife just left, and never came back. But that he had met Angga a few months ago, I was a little relieved, meaning he was still there and nothing less. I was thinking bad, lest he kill himself, lest. ah. bad shadows always haunt me."

Ratih felt pity staring at Aryo's face that turned sad. He made a mistake, and he regretted it. Why can't Arum forgive him?

"I was lucky to meet Mrs Ratih, who could be 'mother' to Angga. Thank you very much," said Aryo who this time somewhat faltered, like holding back a cry.

Ratih wanted to cheer him up, but how? He couldn't touch her. He just lives out.

"Sorry Mrs Ratih, I got carried away."

"Sir Aryo must be patient, one day Arum will definitely return to Pak Aryo. It's impossible for her to forget her family forever."

"It's been almost a year." lamented Aryo.

Ratih sipped his drink. 

"Ah, come on, please eat the croquet" said Aryo when feeling calmer. He felt relieved to have revealed everything that had happened to Ratih. He deserves to know because he was always there for Angga, and if Rini comes again, Ratih already knows that he hates her for something, and Ratih also knows how to behave.

***

"So this morning Dr. Bram didn't come, didn't he come?" ask Suryo's mom when she comes that night, to Yu Siti.

"Come ma'am." 

"Thank God. What say?"

"Just check as usual. Said tomorrow Arum's gonna have to practice sitting."

"Don't it hurt anymore?"

"It doesn't hurt so much, it's less."

"Thank God."

"Bu Siti will sleep here ?"

"Yes, let Yu Siti sleep here."

"Who's mother at home?"

"It's okay by yourself. Pono mother told to sleep in the garage, so that if needed at any time we do not have to wait over time."

"I want to go home soon too."

"Don't be in a hurry to go home. Let the doctor decide."

"Sadly bothering mom continues."

"You forgot what mom said. You're my son, where do parents mind being distracted by children?"

"Thank you Mother" said Arum lirih, full of joy.

"But according to mom, you also have to remember your parents."

"I remember when my mother received Rini when I went there."

"Then just telephone Rum, tell your mother that you're okay, so that your mother is relieved. It's been almost a year since you disappeared."

Arum sighed. Better yet, he'll just call his mother. I don't know when I'll be there.

"This is your phone" said Suryo's mother, holding Arum's phone. Bu Suryo also bought the phone for Arum, so that Arum can contact who he wants to contact. But it turns out Arum only uses to connect with himself, or Pono if he will be told to do something.

"Thank you Mom, it's late tomorrow, Arum just called me."

"Yu Siti, why are you quiet? Did you bring macaroni stup for Arum?"

"Yes ma'am, I'm ending up talking to Arum."

"No Yu, I want to go home now. Let Arum eat your cooking, he usually likes."

"Yes Bu Siti, I like, want a little dong" said Arum with a smile.

"Yes, mom went home first. Yu, you accompany Arum, if there's any call to the house."

"Yes mom," said Yu Siti who was busy removing the dishes she made for Arum, spooning a few spoonfuls of the plate macaroni setup she had prepared.

***

Bu Suryo came out of Arum's room, calling Pono who was waiting outside.

"No, I'm coming home, your car's ready in the lobby."

But just a few steps away from the room, he saw a woman who walked slowly, while reading every name in the patient's rooms. Bu Suryo was suspicious because the woman was standing in front of the door of Arum's room. He returned and approached the woman. Ms. Suryo doesn't know her.

"Who are you?" he asked suddenly, surprising the woman.

"I'm Rini" he answered nervously.

Mrs Suryo was surprised. He remembers the woman who caused Arum to leave his house. And his anger is mounting.

***

tomorrow again yes