CURTAINS OF THE PAST

THANKS AND SORRY

Allahs…

Teach me how to be grateful, so that I am no longer busy complaining.

Remind me of my past, even in bitter times. So that I don't look awkwardly at the future…

Orange light has graced the afternoon sky in the city where Toni and her family live. They just got to that. Not much to say, not much to do. Toni and her family did

stay on their benches. It just so happened that Ghali was driving his car.

When Iffah and Ghali had entered their respective rooms, Toni and her parents were still left behind in the main room. Iffah and Ghali understood exactly how the man felt. She must have been eager to share her grief with both of her foster parents.

Toni sat on Chellin's knee and slid her cheek into the middle-aged woman's thigh. Chellin gently rubbed the head of her son whom she cared so much about. A mother's feelings were completely painted on her face, even though she was not a mother. Milka was also like a grandchild to him, as long as he knew Toni in his life.

Bobi looked at the concerned man who was already his son. Many times he blinked his eyes that felt sore and reddened. Clear liquid that soothed there, absolutely not allowed to spill. She did not want her son to grow sad to see her tears flow.

“Ma, Pa...” call him down without turning his head.

“Iya, Son.” Chellin grabbed Toni's hand hanging on the sofa she was sitting on.

“All Toni loves have left Toni, Ma, Pa. Can Mama and Papa promise not to leave Toni too?” Ask him expectantly. Her tears flowed back and wetted Chellin's thigh.

“Originally you promise not to grieve anymore in front of us, dear. We will promise not to leave you.” Reply Chellin.

“All the living will go before Him, Son. Without exception. If death separates us, then ready or unprepared, we must be ready.” Firm Bobi.

“Paah..” Toni raised her head and looked at Bobi's face with sadness.

“How lucky we are to have you, son. God has found us.  If there is no you, then,

then we have no one. We can't even afford to have offspring.  But He gave you to us as our son. Papa also lives a day without anyone, your mother too. If it wasn't for your grandmother and your biological Papa, we wouldn't have the family. Just the two of us, and I don't know when we'll have each other. It's just, we have to be ready to lose each other.” Bobi was finally able to wipe away her mischievous tears, and just came out of her almost blurry eyes.

“So Papa beg you, do not dissolve in this sorrow. Because we can't afford to see our son moody all day.” Pinta Bobi's. “Our age is no longer as young as you, son. We just

expect happiness from you. And our happiness is in your happiness. Then happy…

Your future is long with Iffah. Do you want to see him sad to see you like this?” Bobi tries to make Toni understand.

“I'm sorry Toni, Pa. Toni promises to keep trying to get up. Papa's right, Toni shouldn't be constantly in this grief. Thank you for being a good and thoughtful papa to Toni. Thank you Mama.” Toni squeezes Chellin's fingers and kisses them gently. Chellin and Bobi smile at Toni's promise.

“Now get ready, Maghrib time is almost.” Bobi got up from his seat about to move to his room which he had been living in for a few days.

“Toni get ready yes, Ma.” His pamphit while getting up. Chellin nodded his head.

*****

“Assalamu’alaikum.” Toni entered into his room.

“Wa’alaikumussalam.” Sahut Iffah immediately approached Toni. Toni threw herself into his wife's arms.

“Hmm scented once... You've finished your bath, Darling?” Toni asked without letting go of Iffah from her arms.

“Already, and now it stinks again because of you.” Sumpul Iffah tried to follow her husband's mood.

“But I still want to hug you like this.” Toni's tightening her hold. “Thank you and sorry, darling. Those are the only two words I can say right now for my beautiful wife.”

“Thank you and sorry dear. Just those two words are also what I can say right now for this handsome husband of mine.” Reply Iffah while inhaling his breath deeply and then throw it again slowly.

Toni let go of his arms and kissed his wife's forehead. “I shower ya, Papa and Ghali will definitely wait for me.” Toni immediately went to the bathroom.

Iffah smiled in response to her husband's words. She looks relieved to find her husband who is able to be fair to the atmosphere. But Iffah was so understanding of her husband's pain that she didn't want her husband to forget too quickly the grief he had just experienced.

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