Biohazard's Catastrophe: Death's Hallway

That Mother Still Knows Him

The next morning

It was not difficult to get permission from Ilham. The middle-aged man understood Ardana's desire to accompany Paramitha to find her biological mother's family in Karanghawur Village. He also lent her his Ford Ranger. After getting the required transportation, Ardana immediately picked up Paramitha who was waiting on the veranda of Nina's house. There was no breakfast before leaving because the two agreed to enjoy it after getting there.

No Hadi or Nina was waiting because the couple was shopping at the market. Seeing a car approaching and stopping in front of the yard, Paramitha looked curiously. As soon as Ardana appeared from inside, she tidied her hair and came down to the young man.

“I thought we were going there on foot. Who did you borrow this car from?” ask her while making small talk.

“Pak Ilham's. I'm honest that this morning will take you to Karanghawur Village.” Ardana patted the car engine protector while smiling proudly.

Paramitha squinted her eyes. “Beliau... know you will drive me to Karanghawur?” tanyanya.

“Iya,” replied Ardana casually, “beliau allow me.”

“Alright, we leave now,” firmly Paramitha.

“Good, Mr. Princess Catranata,” says Ardana.

He leaned slightly while stretching out his right hand. Seeing her behavior, Paramitha shook her head while smiling amusedly. With pleasure, the young man opened the passenger door for Paramitha. After the welcome had gone up, he immediately returned to the driver's seat. Despite actually just passing the driving test, Ardana feels very proud to apply it directly to something important in her view. Moreover, what he drives now is one of his favorite cars since he was still in High School.

It took an hour more than forty-three minutes to get to Karanghawur Village. The condition of the highway connecting the two villages was not as smooth as Ardana had imagined. The road that had begun to break and hole forced him to be careful but over time he became impatient. Paramitha apparently did not hesitate to reprimand him whenever tempted to speed. His two eyes always glared whenever Ardana was tempted to do so. The young man did not bother to obey the girl's wishes. If it was done in Jakarta, other drivers did not even care if he did not gas pass at will.

A few dozen meters in front of them passed by six sheep grazed by a grandfather in a white T-shirt and short pants. His face was not clearly visible as it was covered in a wide caping cap. He only turned his head for a moment at the Ford Ranger car that had stopped a bit away from him, then shook his head as his mouth seemed to mutter grumbling. Ardana almost hit him if not immediately stepped on the brake pedal.

“Be careful driving it! You don't see in front there's an old man and a lot of sheep crossing?” adam Paramitha firmly.

“Iya, yes. I'm not speeding,” said Ardana.

The young man chose to give up instead of having to look at the creepy eyes of his lover and went back on his way. Paramitha began to cross her arms in front of her chest with a pouting expression. Seeing it like that alone made Ardana ketar-ketir, but did not dare to start a conversation first.

Unlike in the more crowded Cikembang Village, Karanghawur Village is a little quiet. But the natural conditions are also still green and sustainable really captivate the eye. Along the road they traversed, the houses belonging to the locals on the left and right were not too close to a small fertile garden pause. A dozen of the houses even have a fish pond whose water is drained from a spring in the east of the village. Several private and public vehicles from the same or opposite directions occasionally pass. What gives the impression of sustainability is the presence of several large and old trees at various points that can still be reached by the eye. Such conditions make Ardana not turn on the artificial air conditioning system on the dashboard. The window glass is lowered in half so that fresh morning air can sneak into the car.

Paramitha looked at the condition of the village while remembering her childhood. He did not really remember how many times he had come here because it had been a long time ago. His maternal grandmother's house is not as good as his father's family in Cikembang Village, but its location around the people's garden makes the atmosphere no less comfortable. At least in one month, he often stayed there three or four times. Gathering with his cousins, doing hide and seek, fishing in ponds and various childhood games have been done. Like Cikembang Village, Paramitha never visited the village where his mother was born since the dark events that befell the Catranata family occurred.

Ardana was amazed to see the simplicity of the village that he had just visited for the first time.

“Wah... I just know the natural conditions here are still sustainable,” comments while glancing a little scared towards Paramitha.

Paramitha glanced back. Fortunately it was still on Ardana's side because the girl's face was back as flat as before. He did not respond, only keeping a look at the natural scenery of Karanghawur Village from his position. After all there should be a chat that starts to melt the atmosphere, right?

“Fear of being missed,” says Ardana started, “you want breakfast what now?”

“Maybe rice can sit. Or whatever you do, I eat the same as you,” replied Paramitha.

“Alright, we search for a minute.” Ardana began to look for the existence of a place to eat that he considered cheap festive on the side of the village road. Usually in the morning like now, food vendors like that there are still many who hold a stall, although since then he has not found it.

Right around the corner, Ardana found a rice stand for breakfast. A simple place in the form of an angkringan tent with a table and a long chair in it was not so crowded. There were only four locals eating breakfast. At the same time his stomach was already asking to be filled. Ardana pulled over the car at three meters near the tent and got off and opened the door for Paramitha.

“I can open the door myself, Dan,” said the girl in a lazy tone.

Ardana did not answer and only smiled knots. The two of them entered and sat in an empty spot on the left corner. According to Paramitha's wishes, Ardana likened his order to nasi ubuk given additional eggs balado and spicy peanut sauce. One of the teenage boys who seems to be the son of the landlord is in charge of serving the order and taking it for the both of them.

“Well, I call the order, Neng. Because you like spicy, yes the menu is not far from the balado and peanut sauce. Fits, right?” The young man helped give the second plate containing the menu he mentioned earlier to Paramitha.

“Since you called me that. What's up, anyway?” Paramitha gave a smile with an amused expression every time Ardana called her ‘Neng’.

“Hey, you and I are both Sundanese? Precisely good, because. hmmm, you are special to me,” said Ardana who then close her lips to Paramitha's ear to whisper the sentence at the end.

While Ardana and Paramitha were chatting, the middle-aged mother who was fattened by the owner of the angkringan rice field was stunned to see the girl's face. He frowned while squinting, as if he was recognizing something from Paramitha.

Realizing she was being noticed, Paramitha turned her eyes away from Ardana. His gaze was now fixed directly on the mother who immediately threw away her face while serving other visitors who had just arrived. Of course the girl felt a little surprised to see the behavior of the owner of the rice angkringan tent where breakfast. Ardana who also saw nothing to react despite occasionally taking turns to glance at Paramitha and the mother of the owner of the stall.

He raised an eyebrow at Paramitha as a code to ask what was going on. Paramitha shook her head quickly then continued her breakfast.

One by one the angkringan rice stand visitors went until only Ardana and Paramitha were left. An opportunity for the girl to ask about the owner's suspicious behavior with the gaze earlier. But if doing so is like being interrogated, that makes him seem like a threat. Finished spending her breakfast with Ardana, Paramitha takes over the pay turn. He approached the mother with a polite smile.

“So how much is it, Bu?” tanyakanya.

The yellow-painted mother with long curly hair past the shoulders before her had a moment of awakening but returned to normal, but the look in her eyes that implied shock could still be read by Paramitha.

“So twelve thousand rupiah, Neng. If the sweet tea is free,” the answer.

Paramitha handed over a piece of money with a nominal of fifty thousand rupiahs.

“This, Mom. Hmmm... punten, have we met before, Mom? My face looks familiar no longer. May have met but forgot again,” he said in pleasantries. It seems good enough for him to start this way.

The mother was aghast but tried to appear ordinary. He handed over the change to Paramitha.

“Do not, Mom,” reject Paramitha smooth, “money just saved for Mom.”

“Eh, i—iya. Hatur nohun, Neng,” reply mom.

Paramitha did not move while affirming her gaze. Knowing he could not avoid anymore, the sibu owner of the angkringan rice stand gave up. Slowly he stared back with a bit of anxiety.

“So Mom did notice you. Like I've seen you here, and it just so happens that your face is similar to the child you used to know,” said the mother honestly.

Paramitha. His heart guessed the purpose behind the confession of the mother of the owner of the angkringan rice stall he was talking to. Ardana who was just sitting watching now stands but has not moved.

“Maybe if you say who it is, maybe I know him too?” Paramitha tried to pry at other captions that made her curious.

The mother of the owner of the stall took a deep breath and then took off her apron which she had been wearing since.

“The person was a child. If it was big, it might be as big as Neng now. His name was Paramitha Asmarani, his son Linggasatria from the Catranata family and Erni Suherni. Mother is also very familiar with the mother of the child, because in her youth known as a beautiful girl who is very good in this village. That's why looking at you, I see Erni's face. Mom even had time to babysit Paramitha when she was two years old.”

Hearing the answer of the mother of the owner of the rice field, Paramitha's heart suddenly thumped. This girl did not expect that the person in front of her knew her in the past. Both of his eyes were slightly teary and would almost shed tears. But Paramitha is still a strong and strong girl, in the most sad atmosphere even though she can still control herself.

The mother could feel something strange. But it has not been realized that the beautiful girl standing in front of him is none other than the little girl he used to care for, Paramitha Asmarani Catranata.

“Sorry before, Mom,” said Ardana, “don't be surprised, the one in front of Mom is indeed Paramitha Asmarani.”

Like hearing the sound of lightning in the hot day, the mother's face suddenly turned deathly pale. How surprised he was when Ardana told the girl he was interacting with was Paramitha. But he still does not believe. Paramitha stared at him very closely. His two eyes did not blink at all looking at the girl's face.

“Gusti Nu Ageung.. so you really are Paramitha her son Erni?!”

Paramitha nodded slowly, “True, Mom. I am Paramitha her daughter Linggasatria and Erni.”

The atmosphere that was once normal changed drastically to novelty where the mother of the owner of the rice stall immediately hugged Paramitha while crying. Her lips were softly saying various words of gratitude. Paramitha who could still control herself only closed her eyes while smiling bitterly. His hand rubbed the mother's back gently.

Ardana and the teenage daughter of the mother just silent, looking at each other without being able to understand. There was nothing they did but let the mother spill her gratitude in Paramitha's arms.

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