A Story of the Haram Child

Chapter 4 Hope Nesa

Nesa woke up just at dawn. The little girl was used to waking up early because Anarya - her father - had been training her since the age she entered five.

After the dawn prayer, Nesa rushed to the kitchen and washed the dishes which was then carried on with other work, sweeping the house and grounds. 

When the clock was pointing at 06:30 he was ready with his school bag and said goodbye to Lasmi, as usual just by saying, "Nesa leave yes, Mom." Without a hand kiss like a child saying goodbye to his mother.

Not because Nesa did not want to kiss ta'zim on the back of her mother's hand, but Lasmi who did not want Nesa to touch her. "Snurvy," he said.

In front of the house, Asril was ready to pick up Nesa on his bicycle. A smile rose from the lips of the elf-hearted little man.

"Come, Nes. I'll take it to Mbok Jum to get some cake."

"Okay," Nesa replied, she immediately climbed on the back of the bike.

Arriving at Mbok Jum's small house, Nesa wrapped some kinds of cakes that Mbok Jum had prepared.

"Mhc ...." Nesa seemed to want to ask the middle-aged woman something, but she hesitated.

"Yes." Yeah."

"Emmm... Would you like to ask?" Carefully Nesa asked while staring at the wrinkles on Mbok Jum's face.

"Ask what a pretty neng?" Mbok Jum finally approached Nesa and stroked her hair.

"What's that bastard, Mbok?"

Mbok Jum was shocked by Nesa's question. For a moment he looked at the sweet face of the little girl before him. There was a sad face there, a face that should be happy at his age, but he never got it.

"Cute bells do you know that?" 

"Mom used to say I was an illegitimate child, Mbok. Said I was picked up from the trash."

"Hush! Astaghfirullah .. is not true. Mbok Jum knows better where beautiful neng comes from."

"Mbok Jum knows about me?"

"Yes, but now look at the clock. It's almost too late, that's his friend's waiting too." Mbok said Jum while pointing at the clock and to Asril who was still on the bike.

"Oh yes, Mbok. I forget. I'll be back at school later today, Mbok. Assalamualaikum." Nesa said goodbye while kissing Mbok Jum's hand. Not to forget he brought a cake that he would sell at school.

****

Sure enough, Nesa went home from school directly to Mbok Jum's house. He knocked on the door many times but there was no word. 

"Ah, maybe Mbok Jum to the market," inner Nesa. He put the cake box on the terrace table, where Mbok Jum used to hold his merchandise. 

"Why, Nes?" asril asked when he saw the listless face of his best friend.

"Mbok Jum doesn't exist. I'll be here again this afternoon."

"Why do you want to know what an illegitimate child is?"

"People know, but if you want to ask me, Nesa's afraid."

"Don't your father know that Aunt Lasmi called you an illegitimate child?"

"Mom never called me an illegitimate child in front of me."

"Oh .. I'm also surprised, Nes. Why does Aunt Lasmi often get angry at you?"

"Hm ...." Nesa just put her shoulder out.

It did not feel the journey of the two little friends arrived in front of Nesa's house. Finished taking his eyes off Asril who was back pedaling his bike, Nesa walked into the house.

His little steps swayed nimble. He found three-year-old Resti playing with all the toys scattered in the living room.

"Assalamu'alaikum's chat. Hi, Resti darling. Here, brother bring a layer cake for Resti. Eaten yes, my dear sister," Nesa said as she handed the layer cake to Resti.

"Thank you, Sister Nesa." Resti immediately welcomed the sandwich cake in Nesa's hands, not forgetting he gave a kiss on her brother's cheek as a sense of gratitude. 

"Where's the cake coming from?" Suddenly Lasmi was already behind Nesa.

"From friends, ma'am," Nesa replied, turning her head. He had to lie about this.

"Start begging you to your friends?"

"No, Ma."

"Well, if you're embarrassing your parents."

"No, Ma. There was a friend who was sharing a cake."

"Yes, change clothes and keep eating. But remember, the side dish is for Resti."

"Mom, when's dad coming home?"

"Why?"

"Nesa kangen" said Nesa with a bowed face.

"You've been home for a long time!" Answer Lasmi ketus.

Nesa was getting bowed, there was a clear feather falling onto the back of her hand that was twisting the edge of her shirt.

Lasmi approached him, seeing the little girl inching a little scared. Lasmi bowed her body and looked up at Nesa who had been soaked in tears.

"Eh, bastard! Why don't you stay with your grandmother? You can ask your father to stay there, you'll be happier there."

"Later if your father comes home you must ask to be delivered to your old grandmother. But beware if you say I told you to," Lasmi threatened.

Nesa is still sobbing. His eyes closed, not daring to look at Lasmi. Lasmi smiled in satisfaction and let go of Nesa's face violently. He turned around and was about to return to where Resti was playing.

"Mom, why do you hate Nesa?" 

Lasmi. He did not expect the question was finally thrown out of the little boy who had always hated. Lasmi turned around and stared intently at the still sobbing little girl.

"Because you're not my son!" Lasmi replied firmly without thinking the feelings of the little boy in front of him, he did not care about the sedu sedan Nesa who was increasingly swift water droplets from both neutrals.

"Mother's mother's mother's mother ...." Nesa squandered and hugged Lasmi's waist. His crying broke even more, he felt unwilling if the woman he called the mother did not want to acknowledge him as a child.

"Let go bastard! Najis knows you're touching me!" Lasmi violently pushed Nesa down.

"Remember, don't touch me!" Jerk Lasmi while pointing towards Nesa.

Nesa shuffled into her room. I don't know how long he cried to sleep on an empty stomach.

****

"Love, wake up, son."

Nesa was stunned when a hand gently stroked her hair. The voice of the call was also different from the voice he used to hear when he woke up late.

Nesa was shocked when she opened her eyes, a beautiful woman dressed in a long beautiful white dress. The woman smiled very sweetly.

"Nesa, let's go for a walk, yuk!"

"Aunty who?" asked Nesa confused.

"Call me 'Mama', honey. I'm your mom who always misses you."

"Mama?"

The woman just nodded while smiling.

"But ...."

"Nesa wants to go for a walk, right? Look at the window." The woman gestured with her eyes for Nesa to look at the window.

Nesa moved from her bed to the window where she used to cry. How surprised when he saw the scenery outside the window, Nesa was amazed since when there was such a beautiful view.

Seen a beautiful garden with a variety of flowers and colors, green grass spread refreshing the netra that looked, there is a pool and gurgling water, and butterflies flying adds to the work of nature creators.

"Follow out with mommy, son. Mama can't leave you here." The woman's face was suddenly sad as she cupped her hands together onto Nesa's face.

Nesa was still confused, she did not know who the woman was because she had never seen her. What was that incredible view outside her house?

Time and again Nesa looked at each other in the direction of the beautiful woman in front of her and the scenery outside. Long he was stunned until he was shocked when his face felt cold by the water splash. Instantly he woke up and he found the sound of lightning belonging to his mother, Miss Lasmi.

"It's late afternoon, wake up!"

"Yes, Mom." Nesa rubbed her face wet with water.

After Lasmi exited the room, Nesa was still in confusion. He looked through the whole room, but there was no one. 

"Window! Yeah, the window." yeah." Nesa hurried to the window. There was only a yard next to his house. That magnificent sight no longer exists, has vanished.

"The mother! Get out there and do your job!" Squealing Lasmi from the outside disperse the little girl's confusion.

Nesa rushed to the kitchen to do her regular chores, washing dishes and sweeping. In his heart he wanted to return to that dream, a very beautiful dream.

"If mother were like that woman" Nesa murmured with a small smile, there was hope in her eyes. A little girl's wish for affection from the person she calls her mother.

"Nesa was sure, O God .. Surely one day you will love Nesa." Still with a smile, he hoped.

Yes, only a belief is in Nesa's heart. A little girl who tirelessly prayed to her Lord.