Akad Shackle

Waiting for Answers

Rahma chose to sit back in a chair specifically reserved for the parents of the students. Coming to Athaya now seems like not the right choice.

"Wow..it's amazing to get a special gift" one of the teachers who served as the host of the event at that time invited the audience back to applaud after Tama gave him a gift.

"Whose name? can we get in touch first?" ask the mc who walked closer towards Athaya standing in the middle of the stage. Tama chose to return to her seat.

"Athaya, my name is Athaya. I'm a santri TPQ Baitur Rahmah" Athaya nodded to a question from the mc, Athaya, he also immediately introduced himself in accordance with the direction of his teacher who must mention the origin of his place of study because it was not only performed from the TPQ level but also PAUD and others.

"Well cool, if Master can find out who taught Athaya to do the kayaking?" the mc again asked, a question that represents the audience of course.

"In school I practice the same teacher, if at home I practice the same Mother" replied Athaya honestly,

"Who taught Athaya how to kayak?" the mc practice the Athaya style while playing a rhythm that managed to make the audience anxious.

"Mother" he answered briefly, Athaya circulated his gaze looking for the whereabouts of the Mother.

"Who's looking, Dek?" ask the mc,

"Mother" replied Athaya, waving to the direction where Rahma stood again as she stung her son to look for her.

Athaya calmed down after seeing her whereabouts. He stepped off the stage with the help of his teacher after answering all mc questions.

"I'm sad, Athaya didn't even mention my name" a familiar voice in Rahma's ear made her turn her head towards the source of the sound.

"Mas" Anggara was already standing behind him,

"The gas is here? since when?" asked Rahma curiously,

"Since you sat there I've been sitting here" Anggara replied, he did come even earlier than Rahma to that place. Rahma was the only one who was unaware of her existence since.

"Yes, I don't know" Rahma replied, she again straightened out her gaze as the core event began.

"I promised Athaya that I would not let her down" Anggara said without being asked,

"Alhamdulillah" said Rahma briefly, she did not want to dissolve in the conversation with Anggara because she felt uncomfortable. How not, he is currently in a row of seats of the elderly santri and Anggara sitting right behind him.

"Alhamdulillah, this foundation is growing more and more because of the moral and material support provided by our main sponsor. And today we respectfully ask him to give a welcome and officially open the new foundation office" the closing remarks of the chairman of the foundation were greeted with boisterous applause from the guests and the entire audience. At the same time welcome the rise of Tama to the stage.

"Why did you send Athaya here? is it because of that guy?" Anggara whispered again to the ear of Rahma who focused on listening to the speech of the chairman of the foundation.

Rahma took a deep breath, her ex-husband is still fishing for things that are privacy for Rahma.

"This foundation belongs to Mr. Hakim, he is the chairman of his foundation" Rahma pointed with his chin towards the stage where Mr. Hakim stood.

"He was a friend of the late father, a native of Garut people who migrated to the city. He dedicated his success in the city to the people by establishing this foundation" explained Rahma at length, he wanted to end Anggara's prejudice which he thought was excessive and unreasonable.

"Actually I don't need to explain this to Mas, what is my personal business doesn't seem to have to interfere. But since it's about Athaya's education, I want to set the record straight on why Athaya was sent here. Please Mas." pinta Rahma ended his speech which was also slow, fortunately the seat on his left was empty so he did not need to whisper too much to talk with Anggara for fear that anyone heard.

"Okay, I'm sorry" Angga replied in defeat, knowing again that she couldn't control herself.

An hour passed, the inauguration of the new foundation office building was over at exactly 17:30. Rahma spread her arms to welcome Athaya who ran towards her. He was only able to be with the son because Athaya had to receive an exclusive interview with a special reporter of the foundation who served in the publication and documentation section of the foundation.

One of the new breakthroughs made by the foundation development team is the IT team that specifically documents and publishes every activity of the foundation. They publish it both through print and electronic media.

Some social media accounts in the name of the foundation have also been quite viral in the virtual world. No wonder if in a fairly short period of time this foundation is growing very rapidly.

"Mother's son happy today?" Rahma kissed the head of Athaya who was still in her arms.

"Alhamdulillah, I am so happy Mother. I got a gift from a handsome omm" Athaya handed the brown paper bag to her mother's hand.

"Already Mother, said omm later there will be another after-take gift he said" replied Athaya made Rahma a split second freeze.

"Dear Athaya, this is a gift from my father" Anggara who has since felt neglected finally greeted first.

Rahma took a few steps back, directing Athaya to greet her father and receive a gift given by Anggara.

"Thank you father" Athaya replied briefly, he kissed Anggara's hand but was returned with a tight hug by Anggara, he then carried it.

"Dad, Thaya's grown up. Thaya's body is heavy, downin.." Athaya protest that does not want to linger carried by his father.

Anggara's heart melos, given the difference Athaya treatment to him at this time. Athaya looks so comfortable when held Tama on stage earlier, different when held by him who immediately raised a protest on the grounds that Athaya was big and asked to be taken down.

Rahma caught a disappointed look on Anggara's face as Athaya asked her to be taken down. He just sighed, unable to do anything. Rahma was not willing to force her son to be familiar with Anggara, anyway what happened today may be the fruit of Anggara's treatment so far.

"Mother, we're home!" Athaya sulked, he who was on the way to pray for Maghrib in the foundation where the school even first asked to go home when there was still a long time before Maghrib.

"Hah ..iya dear, just a moment" Rahma reached into the phone in her vibrating sling bag. And at the same time Anggara's cell phone rang.

Rahma who will pick up the phone when she sees the name of the caller, she chose to hold her phone.

"Mas I know yes you went to your son's school instead of going out of town" a loud enough sound from the caller who contacted Anggara was heard to Rahma's ears because of their distance that was not too far away. Aggara even to keep the phone away from his ear.

"I..iya.iya came home" Anggara replied quickly, he immediately hung up his phone without waiting, his gaze directly towards Rahma with a reddened look of embarrassment to be caught lying.

"I have to go home" Anggara said hesitantly, he was embarrassed because he believed Rahma must have heard his wife's screams.

"Please Mas" Rahma nodded his head slowly, Anggara turned to Athaya and said goodbye and embraced Athaya without burden.

"Athaya.."the voice of the little boy called out to Athaya, she was his son's classmate. They chatted after Athaya kissed Anggara's hand.

"Mother, I want to go there first with Kahfi, can ya?" Athaya who had sulked asking to go home seemed forgotten because of the presence of his friends. He asked Rahma for permission to play.

"Well son, but be careful and do not go far" Rahma allowed while not forgetting to warn the son. This opportunity was used by Rahma to receive a phone call that kept ringing from earlier.

"Assalamu'alaikum" said Rahma after the call was connected,

"Wa'alaikumsalam, I want to charge the answer now" to the point because that's what the caller expects is none other than Tama.

The man who had not contacted him for two days, had only seen him from a distance when Tama gave a speech. Rahma did not expect that Tama was the main donor of the foundation where her son studied.

Honestly Rahma again felt insecure after getting to know who Tama was, but her heart was steady to give an answer immediately in accordance with Tama's request who will charge her love expression after returning from abroad.

"You're still there, right?" tama asked over her phone, she was still waiting because Rahma was not speaking,

"Yes sir, I'm still here" Rahma replied jolted from her daydream,

"What's the answer?" tama asked again, this time her voice sounded no longer from the phone connection because Tama was standing right behind Rahma who chose to stay away from the crowd when she would receive the phone.

"Pak Tama" Rahma flinched, immediately turned around and they faced each other. In front of him kin stood a dashing and handsome figure with a complete suit stelan that since then could only be seen secretly from a distance.

"Long wait for your answer, I can't wait to hear it" said Tama flat, his gaze did not turn a second to look at the blushing face of her heart.

"I.I.m...." Rahma was clumsy, the answer she had prepared was suddenly broken due to Tama's sudden presence.

"I what?" tanya Tama softened with a hopeful look.

"I ....." Rahma ventured back to Tama's gaze, she took a deep breath filling her narrowed lungs as she was about to speak.