DUSK PAINTING

Chapters 10. Nda, Daddy's home!

Rahma woke up in shock and her eyes narrowed when her face was hit by the hand of the little Dika. It has become commonplace because the child if sleeping position will change, roll and rotate. He put back the sagging blanket to Dika's body and returned himself to the body.

The wall clock shows at 23:30 p.m. That means he's only been asleep for 2 hours. But now the drowsiness suddenly disappeared. Though throughout the day he deliberately busied himself so that the night could sleep soundly and wake up before dawn. For what? For the sake of being able to avoid from constantly remembering the husband, remembering his love and memories.

Rahma breathed a rough breath. Trying to change positions so that the eyes can be closed. It's still hard.

Longs.

Where I've taken this longing, Bang.

Rahma sat down while covering her face with both palms. Heavy, what a heavy burden of longing that he bears. He sighed, exhaled a long breath, then chose to move to the closet and open a drawer.

"Nurse leave this same Uma. He said the deceased once told him to give this book to you."

He held it in his chest. It has been five months since Malik's departure. But he did not have the courage to open the black-bound diary. Scared, not ready.

With trembling hands, she sat down in front of the dressing table, venturing out to open the first courtyard while saying bismillah. Without being able to be dammed, tears washed both cheeks. A family portrait poses with a smile on the camera as she holds baby Dika and Malik covers her shoulders, opening the first page.

Second page.

April 4th 20xx

Today is a scary day. Nasopharyngeal cancer stage 3, once the doctor concludes from all the complaints you feel.

You cried and hugged Brother with the fear of loss. But Abang tried hard and smiled full of calm while peeping your forehead full of affection.

"It's God's destiny" so Brother comforted you.

My brother's heart was crying. I feel like my life will be short. We're going to split up, lose you and our son...

He can no longer continue. Choosing to close it while kissing the entire surface of the book and hugging it tightly accompanied by tears. Crying without a sound.

He tried to calm himself. Inhaling as much air from the nose and releasing the mouth. One glass of water on the table to drink until the toilet.

His head shook accompanied by the word istigfar many times. Do not forget the prayer flow is offered to the deceased beloved husband.

I have to be strong. For Dika.

Bugh.

The sound of falling objects in the silence of the night, making Rahma aghast. He hurriedly wiped the still watery eyes as well as dried the wet cheeks with a few sheets of tissue. He went to the window. Uncovers a bit of curtain cloth to peek towards the courtyard. There was no one outside, only the leaves in the lined pots looked wet as the spatter began to fall. His forehead frowned, from the wall fence look there is a car stop. The unknown car.

Rahma rubbed her nape. Suddenly he felt afraid because at home there was only himself and the child. Father and Uma had not returned from the Holy house to meet Umi who had just come from Jakarta.

Pull the blanket into his choice while holding a very sound Dika. He recites remembrance in the heart, continues and continues until feeling tired and not long drowsiness attacked.

****

Dots of water began to fall on the windshield of the car. The rain began to rain down the streets. Making the midnight air feel colder piercing the skin. Badru's father turned on the wiper to wipe the wet car glass because the view became blurry due to rain water mixed with dust attached to the glass.

Event kangen-kangen with the sister who is none other than his mother Suci, who got a turn to live in Bandung made him and his wife forget the time so comfortable that it did not feel already midnight.

"Uma, do you know the converts in the pesantren ustad Ahmad?" Dad broke the silence by inviting the wife to chat while still focusing on paying attention to the streets that are quite quiet there are only a few vehicles that pass by.

"Oh that. Certainly, dad. Mother-foster idols want to be turned into ghosts." Uma chuckles. Because he often heard the jokes of study mothers who hope someone succeeds in making the ghost of the celebrity pesantren.

Badru's father did not show a smile, instead a serious look on his face. "So in the study pas dad finished the sunna prayer, see Dika familiar with him. In fact, do not want to let go of sitting on his lap until the study is completed. Even when I overslept."

Uma looked round her eyes. Shocked certainly. He turned his body to face the husband to focus on hearing his continuation.

"Oh Allah, Dika." Uma shook her head because she was filled with the attitude of the granddaughter who might miss her father. To regard others as his father.

Badru's father knitted his eyebrows together as the car he was driving approached the house. There was a car parked outside blocking half the gate with the hazard lights on.

"Whose car, Dad?" Uma held the arms of the husband who was going down with a sense of anxiety because the complex atmosphere was very quiet. It seems like two security are going around and have not yet made it to the block.

"wait. I want to see." Dad came down with his head covered with his jacket because the spatter still soaked the earth.

"Uma. Here!" With a little loud and a shocked face, Dad waved his wife down.

"Innalillahi...this right?!" Uma screamed while covering her mouth. The fluorescent lighting clearly identifies the unconscious man, whose wet face was hit by the raindrop, as the person they were talking about.

Adhan dawn reverberate. Badru's father confirmed Mizyan's condition before preparing to go to the mosque. Still not awake. Last night with the help of 2 security people, my father lifted Mizyan's body into the guest room. All of you also explained to the guard if he knew the person who fainted.

"Uma, I'm taking hape to the mosque. If he's not conscious yet, let him know. I'm gonna take Doctor Gunawan here."

Uma nodded as she followed Dad towards the door to lock it back. He went to his room to perform his own morning prayers.

"Change your clothes, have guests." Uma rebuked Rahma's arrival to the kitchen, which was still wearing a knee-length nightgown.

A startled Rahma hurriedly ran towards the room and reappeared wearing a home robe.

"Who's the guest, Uma?" Rahma approached Uma, helping to put the kneaded seasoning into a bed that looked like the oil was hot.

"Mizyans."

Rahma then put the kale that has been cut into pieces and washed clean. While stirring it, his two brows furrowed feeling like he had heard that name.

"Father's victory?" Rahma turned to the mother who was smearing pieces of chicken meat with ulek seasoning then put in a pot that had boiled water.

"Assalamualaik."

Uma could not answer Rahma's question. He took over Rahma's job and told the boy to open the door. The voice of the father who said greetings again sounded the second time who had just returned from the mosque before 6 am.

Rahma answered while rushing towards the door.

"Morning, Rahma." Doctor Gunawan, who was standing next to Badru's father smilingly greeted Rahma who had just opened the door.

"Morning, doc." Reply Rahma with a thin smile. "Dad sick?" He turned to look at the father with a sense of wonder because he came with a doctor who was a neighbor in block C.

"It's not Dad, but it's..."

"Come, doc, in the guest room."

Rahma was still curious about Dad's answer hanging with a worried look. He followed the steps of the father and the doctor towards the guest room.

Deg.

Deg.

He gawked and pegged at the doorway watching the scenery presented.

"She, I'm home....."

Two things that make Rahma's heart feel like it will escape from its place. First, the face that lay down with a slumber. Second, his son who stood prancing on the bed beside the person who was lying down, while shouting 'Nda, father came home'.