Companion to Heaven

Chapter 5 | Life Must Go On

Chapter 5

Life Must Go On

“Lun, Papi really hungry ya...” said Papi that morning. He rubbed his tummy.

“Kalo so, I went to the soup kitchen yes, mumpung still morning. Hopefully not ngantri.” Aluna who was wearing black trousers and a flannel shirt of maroon box chime black was pouring out.

“Sip.. don't forget to ask for a mask and hand sanitizer yes... Our stock is up...”.

Aluna turned to glance at her father while giving her thumb.

Arriving at the soup kitchen post, refugees appeared to be queuing. The length of the line is normal.

I'll take breakfast or take a mask? thought Aluna.

Seeing the length of the queue at the kitchen post and the shorter prokes queue at the prokes post, he finally decided to take the mask and hand sanitizer first.

A few minutes standing in line at the prokes post, finally arrived also his turn. Not long after, he got a box of masks and a hand sanitizer.

“Thank you very much yes, Mom,” Aluna said to the female officer who gave the means of the process to her.

“Sama-sama, Dik,” reply the officer.

Out of line to get prokes advice, Aluna goes into line to get breakfast.

Thank goodness, her choice was right. The queue at the general kitchen post was left about 5 people. Aluna stood in the next line.

In less than 15 minutes, Aluna had gotten a rice package for breakfast for herself and her father. He immediately returned to the room where Deva and Devi were being treated.

This morning, Aluna and Papi are still guarding the Deva and Devi Twins.

“Come, Pi. breakfast first.. Keep the Deva and Devi twins also have to be strong and vigorous. Life must go on!” take Aluna while encouraging herself and her father.

“Rightly,” replied his father briefly with a smile. “Papi liked your qoutemu this morning,” he continued while lifting his biceps and clenching his right hand.

The father and son also enjoyed their breakfast with a menu of yellow rice, ogor omelette, and oreg tempe.

They look excited. Yes, it should be the spirit that must be treated even though it is still in a state of grief because of the death of his wife, floods and calamities that afflict Deva and Devi in succession.

A few moments later, Papi first spent his breakfast ration.

“Pi... so excited for breakfast this morning,” seductive Aluna.

“Not spirit anymore, Lun. Bring it up Papi laper. Thank God, this morning Papi's appetite is officially back. Yesterday Papi did not enjoy eating,” explained Papi. Then he sipped a warm tea in the plastic cup that had been brought by Aluna.

“Iya, Pi. It looks like I am too. The taste of breakfast this morning is the most different from a few days yesterday during the evacuation.”

“What are our plans going forward, Pi? Aluna asked before finishing her last mouthful.

“It looks like the flood has subsided, Papa will clean the house. You while staying here take care of the twins,” explained Papi seriously. “Papi's obligation is to take care of you. Papi will continue Papi's routine..”

“Papi Means, want to pull angkot again?” ask Aluna to make sure.

“Iya, for now, that's all Papi can do. Hopefully in the future from the results of angkot narik have Mr. Arman, in addition to later can suffice the needs, Papi also want savings for business capital.”.

“Ya. hopefully. This is the path and the test that we must take. Papi was happy to have a lot of effort, but everything fell when the pandemic occurred. Papi has no regrets at all. Perhaps this is God's way for us, especially Papi can be free from debt and pratik riba.” Papi smiles.

He used to be a rich businessman in Jakarta, successfully leading several PTs. Constrained with bank interest, eventually all assets are taken by the bank. Papi only has the money left to survive with his wife and children. He also moved to Bogor by buying a small house.

He is calmer now, though small, he is no longer chased by usury. But even though he tried to live a normal life in accordance with religious regulations, the test is now his own wife. His wife left after asking him to sign the divorce papers. Not accepting, the night before his wife left, Papi even tore up the divorce papers.

“You alone, how's Lun? Sorry Papi.. Your Master's college plan is falling apart!” Can't stand it, Papi shed his tears.

Aluna took her hape. While checking if there is an email apply for the application that was replied.

He checked for a moment and opened his email. There was an interview call. He's very happy. Finally there was my proposal, he thought.

But when he read more carefully, it turned out that the email entered two days ago. That means, the interview call has passed. He thought for a moment.

He tried to remember why he did not open the email at that time.

He knows the problem. At that time, he was in a state of turmoil. The first day of the flood and also had to find his two younger siblings.

Aluna tried to calm down. But still, her Papa could see from her attitude.

“Lun, you why?”

“Euummm. Yes, just calm down, Pi, I'm still young, and there is still time to pursue college S2,” he tried to entertain himself and also his father.

Though actually in his heart the deepest, hearing the word S1 or Master, reminded him of the failure to enter at his favorite PTN. The money that should have been used to pay for college fees was forced to be used to cover the family, fulfilling his papi business to buy a small house in Bogor whose costs had not been covered.

“I'll definitely get a job. If I have worked, it will have a fee to continue the Master of Communication, help capitalize Papi business and finance the school of the twins Deva and Devi, respectively,” said Aluna with a smile and a sliced heart.

“Papi will always pray, all your words Allah will immediately grant and become reality,” said Papi.

“Aamiiin. Thanks a lot, Pi. The prayer of Papi must have been heard by Allah,” Aluna replied.

Aluna kept what she was going through tight. He cannot indulge in his Papi like he used to when their lives were rich. He never complained if how many applications he had sent, later no company would call to undergo tests and interviews.

But despite her reality, Aluna refused to give up. He always remembered Papi's message, the duty of man is to strive, let all submit to God.

“Let the system of God work and we keep praying that He moves anyone to call you for tests and interviews,” Papi said several times to his daughter.

“Siap, Pi. Papi always says so.. I have memorized the phrase Papi hehe,” said Aluna. At this time He still hopes in Him so that the dream work that is needed so much at this time is soon obtained.

There is something in Aluna's heart. He actually wanted to share it with his father. It's just, he thought again, if he told a story, he was worried that his father was getting sad.

“Lun, you want to say something?” Papi looked at Aluna who from her face looked troubled.

“Engg... Not really, Pi,” Aluna is still hiding it. For the time being he will continue to send out applications.

Think of a test call in an email that he reads late as a mate. Yes maybe not a match, surely the job application I sent, will find his soul mate, muttered Aluna in heart to expel the sadness he is experiencing at this time.

For a moment Aluna looked at Devi. And suddenly he was excited.

“Pi, Pi.. Devi fingers motion... She is already conscious,” Aluna pointed fingers her little sister's hand twitching.

Seriate