Canticles

78. Requesting Opportunity

After meeting Hamidah with Romli, the police got answers to all the questions that stuck.

Hamidah was taken back to the detention cell. But Hamidah screamed and thrashed while begging Romli to help him.

" Help me Bang. Help me get out of here. I don't want to go to jail Bang...!" call Hamidah crying.

Romli ignored Hamidah's request and turned his face the other way. Slowly tears fell on his face. Apparently Romli's heart was touched to hear the screams and cries of Hamidah.

When Romli's heart was worried, Romli's phone rang. Romli smiled as he saw Anita's name on his phone screen. He swiftly received the phone call while staring out the window.

" Assalamualaikum, yes Ma..," said Romli with a smile.

Hamidah, who was screaming when he was taken forcibly into a detention cell, stopped his actions. He watched Romli silently. Seeing Romli's smiling happy face made Hamidah's heart break. He realized his happiness had passed because Romli now belonged to another woman.

With a gontai Hamidah step into the woman's special detention cell. There was no drama like before and it made the police as well as the prisoners of the cell stare confusedly at Hamidah.

Then Hamidah chose to sit leaning against the wall of the prisoner while bending his legs. Afterwards Hamidah put his face down and cried in silence.

Meanwhile, Typhoon was still extracting information from Romli's mouth.

" So what is it Mr. Romli. What is your relationship with the suspect...?" ask Typhoon.

" Hamidah is my girlfriend Sir. We love each other and intend to marry secretly without the knowledge of My first Wife and will tell her later. At first everything went well but suddenly became chaotic because My first wife who originally agreed to share suddenly refused polygamy.

" So you betrayed your marriage first Mr. Romli...?" ask Typhoon with a mimic does not like.

" I was wrong Sir..," said Romli shyly.

" What reasons make you twofold sir...? ask Taufan curious.

" I'm in touch with Hamidah because I want to have a Son Sir. My first wife wasn't barren, but she had trouble getting pregnant. Weak contents. Every time she got pregnant, she miscarried. When I was down like that I met Hamidah. She's nice and pretty. That's why I'm interested in her and intend to marry her" Romli said, staring out the window.

" So on...?" ask Typhoon impatiently.

" I asked My Wife for permission to remarry. I know I am getting older and it will be difficult to have children if it is postponed again. I managed to persuade My Wife by saying the advantages of Hamidah. I assure him that Hamidah is the right woman for Me to lay My Seed. My wife finally agreed because she realized it was impossible to give me what I wanted. That's why that day I brought My Wife to see Hamidah. My intention was to bring them together so that My Wife could be close to Hamidah. But We were disappointed because we had to watch Hamidah making love to other men in our bed" Romli said.

" Subhanallah..," muttered Typhoon while shaking his head.

" I feel ashamed and devastated. Because it turns out the woman I'm proud of is not a good woman. My wife got angry and then looked for another woman to be My second wife. The main reason was because he didn't want me to have a son from Hamidah, that immoral woman." Romli said.

" Are you now happy Mr. Romli...?" ask Typhoon carefully.

" Yes Sir. My second wife is pregnant. The age of the womb entered the fourth month..," said Romli proudly.

" Well congratulations, Mr. Romli" said Taufan, shaking Romli's hand.

" Thank you sir..," Romli said with a smile.

" But you seem to have forgotten something Mr. Romli.." said Taufan.

" Forget what, sir...?" ask Romli not understand.

" Hamida. You left it without news and certainty. At least tell him if it is his fault that makes you turn away..," said Typhoon to make Romli aware.

" So Hamidah misunderstood me for thinking I left him because of another woman's smitten..," said Romli, who is taken by Taufan.

" And that's the root cause of everything Mr. Romli. Hamidah is angry because you broke a promise. His uncontrolled anger has cost him lives. A dozen of the victims died because Hamidah was jealous. Is it worth it, sir...?" ask Typhoon.

" I'm sorry Sir. I don't know if this will be the end of it..," said Romli while ruining his hair violently.

" The rice is already porridge, sir. I just hope the victims and their families get justice" Taufan said.

" While I don't feel I'm involved in Hamidah's actions, but I'm ready to take responsibility Sir..," Romli said.

Romli was silent because he could not imagine the prison sentence he had to live because of an accident he did.

\=\=\=\=\=

The trial for the chicken noodle kiosk explosion went as it should. Hamidah and Codot were named as suspects because they proved to be the masterminds behind the deadly blast.

Almarhumah Reni is also named as a suspect. But because Reni had died, her case was dismissed in the name of the law.

While Romli was presented as one of the witnesses who incriminated Hamidah. And as long as Romli bore witness, Hamidah bowed without even raising his head.

After a complicated trial, the judge handed down different sentences to Hamidah and Codot.

Hamidah was sentenced to death while Codot was sentenced to life. Although it had reaped the pros and cons of the community, but the decision of the judge was still carried out according to the rules.

\=\=\=\=\=

That day Gama deliberately came to visit Ramon's office because he wanted to talk about something.

" What's so important until you have to talk outside the rich habits of gini, son...?" ramon asked when they were out of the office.

Ramon and Gama were sitting opposite each other in the office cafeteria.

" Yes Well..," said Gama steady to make Ramon smile.

" You know Gama, hearing you call me Dad makes me proud. I feel like I have two boys in my life. It's been a long time I've wanted to say this but it always fails..," Ramon said as he rubbed Gama's shoulders gently.

" I really want to be a real Father's Son." said Gama quickly.

" You mean...?" asked Ramon not to understand.

" i... I love you with Brother Lian Yah. Let me approach him and reach for his heart." said Gama as he looked at Ramon's two blinds expectantly.

Gama's words surprised Ramon. He did not expect if all this time Gama put his heart on his daughter. Ramon thought they were close and often quarreled because it was a habit from childhood.

" Don't do anything in a state of instability, son." Ramon said after sipping a coffee in front of him.

" It's not stable what do you mean...?" tanya Gama did not understand.

" Maybe your feelings for Lilian are just a momentary liking that will go away with time. Father knows it..," said Ramon wise.

" But I ain't lying. Honestly, I've been interested in Kak Lian and admired her since I returned to Jakarta. At first I thought I was just a regular awe because we hadn't seen each other in a long time. But it's different Dad. I fell in love with Brother Lian like a man to a woman. I was jealous when another man approached her. And I came to face because I wanted to ask Father's blessing. I want Father to love me the exact same opportunity that Father gave to all the men who came near Brother Lian.", said Gama solemnly.

Ramon was glued to his seat and tried to digest Gama's words. Before him Gama seemed to be transformed into another figure, more mature and charismatic. And that stunned Ramon for a moment.

" Dad..," called Gama while gently touching the back of Ramon's hand.

" Eh.., oh yeah. Yes son..," said Ramon a little nervous.

" Well, what's Dad...?" ask Gama expectantly.

" Dad believes your words and Daddy will give you the same opportunity to compete for Lilian's heart.", said Ramon steadily to make Gama smile happily.

" Thank you Well..," said Gama with teary eyes.

" Together Son..," said Ramon with a sincere smile.

From his seat Ramon could see Gama's strong determination to pursue Lilian's love. Successful or not, Gama chose to give the ending of his love story to God the Almighty.

seriated