After the Rain

Back to Work

An hour and a half drive, Aji passed by full of emptiness. Khodijah left even if only for some time, making some of Aji's soul yawn. His spirit faltered because it remembered having to pass the time without the presence of the wife. However, Aji must not despair. There are still two children he has to fight for. Aji can only hope, hopefully there is good results after his wife tetirah at his mother-in-law's house.

The car turned and stopped at Miss Maryam's house. Aided by Haidar, Aji then lifted the body of the wife. The door of the house is wide open. Maryam and Habibah stood in the doorway to welcome Khodijah.

"Let's just lie down in Mom's room!" ma'am Maryam's orders to her son-in-law.

Aji nodded. He entered his mother-in-law's room and laid Khodijah on the bed.

"You must be tired, Deck. Rest up!" said Aji.

Khodijah. He then closed his eyes. His body really feels sore. However, on the part of the foot, he could not feel anything at all.

After laying Khodijah on her mother-in-law's bed, Aji returned outside to pick up the bag containing her clothes.

"Is this kept in Mom's room too?" ask Aji to Miss Maryam.

"Hmmm...."

Only the darkness came out of her mother-in-law's lips. Aji took a deep breath. She knew that her mother-in-law was silencing herself. Perhaps, the old woman was still upset over her attempt to heal her daughter.

Aji kept two large bags in the corner of her mother-in-law's room. For a moment, he glanced at Khodijah who was snoring softly. Aji smiled faintly, apparently the trip had made Khodijah exhausted.

"Kang Aji, called mother."

Habibah's whisper made Aji stunned. He looked at his sister-in-law. "What did you call Akang, Bah?" ask Aji.

Habibah only shook his shoulders. A moment later, he came out of his mother's room.

Aji approached the bed. He covered his wife to the chest. After that, Aji went out to meet her mother-in-law.

"Mother called Aji?" said Aji on pleasantries.

Maryam did not answer. However, the movement of her hand signaled for Aji to sit in front of her.

Aji obedient. He then sat opposite the mother-in-law who was staring intently at him.

"How is Khodijah progressing?" ask Miss Maryam.

"Thank God, Mom. Khodijah was already starting to move his legs. Even to walk, he still needed the help of others. Now, Khodijah can sit down. His right hand could move a little. Mr. Dana said, as long as he was diligent in practicing, he would be able to recover," said Aji.

"Sir Dana?" said Miss Maryam while linking her eyebrows together.

"Yes, Mom. Mr. Dana, the one who is treating Khodijah now," Aji said.

"So, you're still bringing the Sejah to treatment in such a place" said Ms. Maryam.

"Sorry, Mom. Aji had no other choice," Aji replied as she lowered her head.

Miss Maryam exhaled her breath violently. He no longer knew what to say to his daughter-in-law.

"Yes, you can go home!" said Miss Maryam, turning her face away.

Aji was quite surprised to hear the words of her mother-in-law. He stared in disbelief at the old woman who did not respond in the slightest to his existence.

"Are you throwing Aji out?" asked Aji with trembling lips.

"Whatever you think!" said Miss Maryam as she got out of the chair and went to the room leaving her daughter-in-law. Arriving at the room, Miss Maryam immediately locked the door to her room.

Aji's heart was crushed to get this kind of treatment from her mother-in-law. As if what Aji had done for Khodijah, there was never any meaning in front of the mother-in-law's eyes.

Even though his whole body felt weak. However, Aji kept moving from the seat. For a moment, she stared at her mother-in-law's tightly shut bedroom door. Aji understood, maybe his mother-in-law did not allow him to say goodbye to Khodijah who was none other than his wife.

"Go home, Deck. I'm sorry if Akang can't see you first" Aji muttered as she passed away leaving her mother-in-law's house.

.

.

"Thank God, Mom. Kang Yandri has been declared healthy" Daniar replied.

"Thank God then. Then, what do doctors say about clear fluids that like to come suddenly, son?" salma asked her daughter-in-law.

"Possibly, it is the brain fluid that seeps when under pressure. In the past, when checking into ENT, Yandri was given drops to dilute the mucus that clumps. Because you feel uncomfortable, Yandri often forces to remove the clot until it comes out of the clear liquid. Yandri thought it was snot, it was brain fluid" Yandri said.

"Astaghfirullah, Yann. Be careful dong ... any action, should consult a doctor first," reprimanded Ms. Salma.

"Yes, Mom. From now on, Yandri will be even more careful" Yandri replied.

"Yes, get some rest. You must be tired" continued Ms. Salma.

Yandri and Daniar nodded. They then say goodbye to go to the room. Arriving at the room, Daniar told her husband to lie down.

"Dad is not sleepy, Bun," Yandri refused.

"But I need a break. Even if not sleepy, as usual Daddy just lying down. The important thing is to rest" said Daniar.

"Bun," call Yandri.

"Hmm" Daniar replied.

"Dad, it's been declared cured by Doctor Andre. Can you get back to work?" ask Yandri.

Daniar who was cleaning his face, immediately turned to hear Yandri's question. "Are you sure you're strong enough to work again?"

"God willing, Bun. It's been too long, too, Daddy's been unemployed" replied Yandri.

"If indeed Dad is able to work again, Mother may not forbid Dad. Mother cannot deny, if we need money to live our lives. But if you want to stop working and decide to find a job here, Mother will not get in the way either" Daniar said.

"Hhh .. finding a job in this day and age is hard, Bun. It's okay, I'll just hang in there. May Father be given health as usual" replied Yandri.

"The choice is in Dad's hands. Mommy can only pray for the best for Dad," continued Daniar.

"Yes, Bun. Thanks for supporting Dad's decision. Thank you too, because Mother always faithfully accompanied Dad even though he was in a bad state," said Yandri, hugging his wife from behind.

"Together, Dad. No need to thank me either. It's Mother's job to keep walking by Father's side" Daniar replied.

Yandri. He then kissed the head of the wife lovingly.

.

.

A week has passed. Today, Yandri decided to go back to work. Using a four-wheeled vehicle, he intends to return to boarding school.

Actually, both Daniar and Bu Salma, they were worried when Yandri decided to go to Indramayu with his own vehicle. However, Yandri's stubborn nature, can only make the two women of other generations take a deep breath.

"Just pray, Bun. May you be safe until your destination" said Yandri.

Daniar smiled, "Yes, Dad. Do'a Mother always accompanies Dad."

Yandri turned to look at her mother-in-law. "Yandri said goodbye, Mom. Titip Niar is the same Star" he told his mother-in-law.

Ms. Salma nodded. "Go away. No need to speed, son. Stop if you feel tired. Let it be slow, as long as it's safe," he advised.

"Okay, ma'am," replied Yandri. After saying goodbye to his mother-in-law, Yandri then met the Star and said, "Dad work first yes, son. Learn well, be smart. Don't forget, take care of Mommy, yeah."

Stars nodded. The little girl who was in the 2nd grade also hugged her father. "Be careful on the road, Father," he whispered in Yandri's ear.

Yandri smiled as he returned his daughter's embrace. "Surely, son," replied Yandri.

Shortly after, Yandri got into his car and started to drive the vehicle out of his mother-in-law's yard.

"Bismilahbornrahmanirrahim ...."