Chandanas

Section 17 (Flashback pt.1)

*3 Years ago*

Kiran glanced at Arda who was playing a milk bottle. It had been three hours since his parents left the house. He did not know how to deal with this two-year-old boy before him. The caretaker who had been hired by his mother had not arrived even though the woman should have been here since two hours ago. Kiran glanced at Arda once more. He sighed stifled while holding his stomach that was incessantly making noises, he was starving.

Not so long ago, a tall male figure entered the house while carrying a canoebo and a small bucket. He accidentally saw two of his employer's sons sitting in front of the television. The youngest was seen busy throwing bottles of milk that had been empty, while the firstborn with a limp face tried to take the bottle and give it to the little one again. This repeated several times until finally the man decided to come to them both.

"Kiran, what else?" said the man who had made Kiran look up.

"Eh, Mr. Arif. This sir, take care of Arda. The babysitter in Mama's rental hasn't come since." Kiran smiled faintly while holding Arda who looked dim.

The man called Arif was none other than the new driver of their family. A few weeks ago the longtime driver of the Kiran family resigned because of his age and his eyesight deteriorated. Not until a matter of days, someone came to their place and said that he needed a job. Without a doubt, the father hired the man. Since her first day of work, it has now been two weeks since Arif worked for the Kiran family.

As far as Kiran knew, Arif was a polite and friendly person. He is also a hard worker and has always been kind to Kiran and her sister. Although Arif is just a driver, he quite often furniture Kiran food outside if it happens to be delivering, clothes and trinkets worn Arif also classified as expensive items. Although he was surprised, both parents Kiran did not bother about it because of the good attitude that Arif always showed. In terms of age, the driver looks not much older than Kiran's father. They looked the same age even though Kiran could not tell what the exact number was.

"Oh, the Endang has not arrived. In a minute, let Mr. Arif call. You see, Father yesterday sent him to your mother. So it's not good if it turns out that he's been this late, either" Kiran nodded lightly while Arif reached into his pants pocket while walking away to make a phone call.

Kiran looked at the driver's back blankly. He no longer held hunger. He wanted to go out to buy food because his mother had no time to cook this morning, but on the other hand he could not leave Arda alone at home. Once again Kiran sighed. Although he was proud of his mother who was reluctant to hire regular housemaids to take care of their magnificent home and preferred to do most of the house tasks alone, but there are times when Kiran felt sorry and regretted her mother's decision. Especially in times like these.

Every weekday, a maid would come to their house to help clean the house and iron the clothes. Even so, for the business of cleaning her children's room and washing her husband's clothes, Kiran's mother always did it all alone. For the size of a conglomerate wife, Liliana is indeed quite independent and simple. This trait is what he then passed on to his two sons, who despite always living all-sufficient lives, both always look simple and what they are.

Arif came to Kiran with a sumringah face, "Endang is already in front of the alley. You get out there is okay. Let me take care of Arda. Than just being hungry, right?"

Kiran's stunned. How did Mr. Arif know he was holding back hunger? "Sir Arif knows where Kiran is from?" ask Kiran, curious.

Arif sighed with a small smile, "Where do you not know. Your stomach has been sounding ever since."

Kiran smiled shyly at the driver's words just now. After thinking once more, Kiran decided to entrust Arda to Mr. Arif, "Dek, Brother came out for a while huh. You were here with Mr. Arif, don't be naughty." Kiran stroked the top of her sister's head.

"Sir, pick Arda yes," Kiran continued while smiling at the driver.

Arif just nodded while allowing Kiran to leave. Without stalling for more time, Kiran went into the trunk and pulled out her bike. Despite being able to ride a motorcycle, Kiran was reluctant to use it on the highway because she felt she was not old enough. Shortly before Kiran pedaled her bike, she turned her head back. I don't know why she doesn't feel good. Like there was something holding him back from leaving, but he didn't know what it was.

Although his heart was still unsettled, Kiran pedaled her bicycle leaving the house. Along the way he felt he had to return home immediately. Although he believed in his driver, somehow his feelings said something bad was going to happen. Whether this is a sign or an excessive fear, Kiran must surely rush to buy food and return home as soon as possible.

After arriving at one of the fast food restaurants, Kiran parked her bike then walked quickly to order food immediately. Given that there was no food at home, Kiran decided to order three servings of fast food. One for him, one for Mr. Arif, and one for the nanny he hired. The day was a holiday so the queue of buyers snaked quite long. Coincidentally, Kiran met some of her schoolmates - at that time Kiran was still Junior High. Three girls with all-fashionable looks walked over to Kiran to say hello.

"Kira? Alone?" said one of them.

Kiran glanced lazily then nodded. He was trying to make the girls feel good about him so they could leave immediately. Instead of feeling offended, the three girls seemed even more interested in getting Kiran to talk.

"You're always this cute, are you the same as everyone? It's a pity when you're good looking" said one of them, still the same girl.

Kiran grunted softly. Sometimes some people do not give up just with a cold attitude. Although honestly Kiran could not bear it, but inevitably he had to act frontal so that these people keep their distance and go away from him because he knew very well that once he gave space, he had to keep his distance, they'll misinterpret, misrepresent themselves, "No. I'm not like this to everyone. I'm just looking at rich people."

The girl frowned, "Our rich people? What does that mean?"

The queue began to thin, Kiran had already arrived at the cashier's table, preparing to pay for her order. A female cashier smiled as she said the amount Kiran needed to pay, "That was her friend?" The cashier received Kiran's money while asking.

Kiran nodded softly in response to the Cashier's sudden question, "You deliberately made them angry, but you look guilty. Boys are difficult to understand, yes" continued the Cashier while giving a receipt and change to Kiran.

"Thank you" Kiran took the change without responding to the cashier's remark. He had been away from home too long. It's time he went home and made sure Arda was okay.

Kiran picked up her bike and turned it towards the exit. Kiran leads her bike to the parking lot to pay for the parking lot. After giving her the money and saying that she did not want any change, Kiran prepared to ride her bike. But his attention was sucked when he saw a girl who looked the same age as him was trying to cross the road while sobbing violently. Kiran led her bicycle to leave the restaurant parking area to the sidewalk while observing the girl.

The girl was on a different side of the road to Kiran and was about to cross over to where Kiran was at the moment. He looked to the right and to the left but did not really pay attention to the road, it was as if he was walking forward unconsciously so that some vehicle honked repeatedly which seemed to have no effect on the girl because she was still walking straight ahead with empty eyes and sobbing which is getting worse.

Kiran, who saw this, slammed her bike and ran towards the girl. Kiran had not blinked yet, a car traveling at high speed honked many times from a distance. The girl did not hear and still walked slowly. Without thinking much, Kiran ran towards the girl and pushed her towards the sidewalk until they both fell down.

The girl looked surprised and frightened. He edged back when he realized Kiran had touched him. Meanwhile, Kiran felt astonished herself to see this person. Maybe he has lost his mind? After observing the frightened-looking girl, Kiran's annoyance subsided. Instead of scolding her torpor, Kiran felt sorry to see this girl frightened and shuffled to her knees.

Kiran looked around, seeing a pair of glasses that the girl had previously worn now lying on the highway. Carefully, Kiran picked up the glasses along with one lens that had been removed from her frame. He cleaned the glasses by blowing slowly, "The eyes are broken." Kiran whispered softly.

"Are you okay?" kiran continued, looking down and holding out the glasses she had just picked up.

The girl did not reply, she was still busy muffling her cries as she took the glasses from Kiran's hands with her head bowed, "You want to drink? To the shop would you?" Kiran offers.

The girl nodded slowly. Her braided hair looks very unique in Kiran's eyes. Even so, Kiran had trouble seeing the face of the girl before her because she did not want to look up and see herself, "Sorry but I was in a hurry. There's a tissue. You wear your tears just like this little wound. Next time be careful if you cross, especially here not many people. Don't cry in the middle of the road. I'm a lunatic." Kiran put down the mini-tissue she bought a few days ago from the store near the house on the lap of the Girl.

Kiran stood up while cleaning her shorts. Turns out his knee was scratched because it had fallen down earlier. He sighed softly as he reached out to help the girl stand up. At first the girl seemed surprised, she even rewinded her body as if she was afraid to see Kiran's hand, "Let me help stand up." Kiran.

The girl looked at Kiran's hand that was still outstretched at her. There are some cuts there. Doubtfully, the girl grabbed Kiran's hand and stood up after Kiran pulled her. For a moment Kiran was stunned to see the face of the girl before her. There are a lot of bruises and bruises here and there. It was only fitting that since then he kept his head down and hid his face.

Kiran hesitated to say what. It is impossible to ask where the bruises and bruises came from considering that they did not know each other. But Kiran's instincts hurt to see a girl his age who is classified as still a child seems to suffer greatly even just from seeing it at a glance, "You're okay?" Kiran asked once more.

The girl nodded in doubt as she pulled her hand which was still in Kiran's grasp, "Can you walk? I'll take a bike, will I take you to the hospital? Or am I taking you home? Your wounds must be treated" Kiran said.

After finishing his consecutive sentence, Kiran fell silent. This is the first time he has spoken this much to a woman after the terrible incident in the Elementary School a few years ago. He is usually always indifferent and tries hard to fight his humanity by acting foolishly to others. But somehow he felt the need to help this girl. Despite the fact that he almost got hit for saving an unknown person, Kiran felt that this girl was in need of his help.

"No," the girl said softly until Kiran could barely hear her voice at all.

Without waiting for Kiran to reply, the girl lowered her head then walked away leaving Kiran still confused by the situation just now. Kiran looked at the girl's back with everything that ran amok in her mind. He was not out of thought, it was very difficult for him to be friendly to a woman. But once he managed to fight his logic and win the conscience he had, it was precisely this kind of reply that he received. The girl did not even thank me at all and just left.

Kiran's breath was restrained when she saw the girl was dazed and wanted to fall. Despite his annoyance and annoyance, he finally decided to stand there and wait until the girl disappeared from his sight, "He why? The bruises, where did they come from?" muttered Kiran slowly.

After being completely unable to see the girl, Kiran walked towards her bike that had fallen on the sidewalk. He checked the food that also fell with the bike that he just slammed, "Lucky still safe," he said relieved.

With full force, Kiran pedaled her bicycle. Split the streets in a hurry. He hoped nothing bad happened. He hoped his hunch was wrong. But who would have thought, that day seemed to be the last day Arda was able to see the colors of the world.

To be continue...