Bride Shadow

That afternoon

The Abhimanyu residence looks very busy today. Two housekeepers and a gardener who worked there were busy tidying up the house and the room on the top right next to Mitha's room now. All the furniture was replaced with new furniture after yesterday his papa invited the painter to repaint the room in its entirety. And Mitha could only stare at all the busyness while accompanying her mother who was sitting on the sofa in front of the television.

Doctors granted Maria's wish to rest at home after her temperature stabilized. Her mother also scheduled her operation early next month, the day after Mitha and Eagle got married.

"Here" said Maria softly as she patted her thigh. A sign for Mitha to lay her head there, and the girl complied willingly.

"How was your lecture Mith?" He asked while stroking the youngest's head gently.

"Good ma."

" That's all? usually you tell a lot to mama." right, Mitha including mama's children who get full affection from her parents. Abi and Maria loved and cared for him. No wonder if at the age of 20 he still often sleeps accompanied by his mother. But that was before the tumor attacked his mother's lymphosid and made a large lump under her chin. Not only that, the disease also attacks the immune system of his mother to be vulnerable to pain just because of small things.

"mom...."

"mmmmm..."

" Does Mitha have to be the wife of Brother Eagle?" mitha asked very carefully.

"Yes." short answer, but Mitha wanted Maria to explain why. But it seemed that the middle-aged woman chose to remain silent until Mitha no longer dared to talk about her marriage matters.

"Later in the afternoon the eagle came home." came back a short sentence that said from the lips of his mother.

''later afternoon?" mitha's birthday was shocked. She didn't expect her brother to be home so soon. Though he hopes the Eagle will still be there for a long time, or maybe delay his return until he still has a lot of time to think and enjoy the singles period, or is time passing too quickly?

The difference of 10 years of their age definitely raises a lot of differences. She who is only 20 years old why should be married to an om-om in her 30s who note bane is her biological brother? Why didn't the eagle get married there? Is that brother so bad? or is he a disorder? just imagining it made Mitha shudder. LGBT cases are no longer a secret in Europe. Is it possible that the Eagle is also one of his followers?

"Why is that Mith? and what else are you thinking? The eagle is your brother, your future husband too. Yeah, well, you never met.you were 10 when your sister chose to take opa in London. But the Eagle is still the son of mama. He also got a good upbringing while there. So you don't have to worry, mama papa won't make you choose wrong." just a weak nod answered as she pleased. Mitha has resigned. For the sake of his parents he will accept his destiny, including preparing his heart if later the lay community blasphemes him for suspected incest perpetrators.

"Ma, to yuk's room. Take medicine and rest. The doctor said you can't be too tired." Maria smiled softly, rising up helped by the princess who held her hand to the main room on the first floor.

It was Mith who took care of her. The youngest daughter always cooked special dishes for him according to the instructions of the doctor, feeding and accompanying him. Never once did the girl complain or speak rudely to her. Maria is lucky to have such a child.

"yes ma. Is our son going home? papa's gonna pick her up later." Abi looked very happy and excited that afternoon. His face looks a few years younger if so happy.

"Mith.then come with me and pick up your brother." Mitha was silent in fear of hearing her papa's invitation. He would be awkward between father and son.

"What ..wouldn't Mitha accompany mommy?" This time Maria held her arm while shaking her head slowly.

"You have to go to the airport. Later let mak Ijah accompany mama." and again Mitha can only nod resignedly. Abi then took his dear wife to the room and told Mitha to rest in her room.

In the procession, Mitha walked up the stairs. Retracing him one by one until passing his sister's room candidates. Curiosity made him open the little unlocked door and look inside. A masculine room with a charming combination of blue and gray. All the furniture is dominated by black, contrasting with the majority of the rooms are white furniture with pink paint that looks girly. On the ground he closed it back up, passed it back to his room.

The phone rang just as he opened the room door. Mitha's habit was to leave her in the room when she was at home.

"Andra." inside. As his heart flowered, his fingers moved quickly sliding the camera button on his screen. There the figure of a handsome man with the face of a Korean oppa-oppa waved at him. The man was unceasingly smiling at her.

"Mith, next month I'm going back to Indonesia. It feels like I want to see you sweet." Mitha who was smiling happily became gloomy. Next month? just one more week. While she will marry the Eagle in just a few days.

Mitha pleaded with Andra to run away from home. Go far away and live with him. Leaving the house that had been protecting her, as well as the parents who raised her so that this marriage was canceled. But where is the respect and devotion for parents? He was almost the same as Malin kundang who disobeyed his mother.

"Really?"

"Yes. It doesn't matter if it's only two weeks at home. Next semester I can also go home on vacation. I hope my script is over. When I graduate, I'll go home and propose to you as Rahardian's mistress."

Mitha should have been happy with her lover's words. Getting married and living with Andra was her dream. But what is the power of a dream if it has been faced with a colossal drama of life called reality? non sens!

Abhimanyu said to him this morning when the father was leaving the house.

''Remember the words of Papa Mitha. The person who will marry and mate with you may not be the one you love, son. Everyone's soul mate has been written in Lauhul mahfudz. Expand your istikharah, and Allah the Great will guide you to your soul mate. Let not your love for someone blind your conscience. Think carefully about papa's words. Because whether you accept your mother's request or not, you're still our children."