ENDRO, THE BODYGUARD

UNCLE

"Squealing... Mr. Endro... That year many police have retired... Ah yeah... Maybe Mr. Satya knows about it. You can ask Mr. Satya directly, Mr. Endro. Unfortunately, he was transferred to XXX a few years ago." Said one of the policemen there.

Endro felt he had to answer his own questions. He did not want to be angry or hate his birth mother's family because of his misunderstanding.

A week has passed since he came to the police station in his town. Endro goes on a business trip to the XXX town where Mr. Satya is on duty. When the opportunity arose, Endro took the time to meet with Mr. Satya after making the appointment first.

Mr. Satya, a cop who's a little older than his father, if his father's still alive.

Enough pleasantries, Endro finally asked about his father to the police.

"Actually Mr. Kamil wasn't really in jail, son Endro. We have no authority to arrest innocent people.

A few days after Mr. Kamil was called to the police station, Mr. Kamil's in-laws contacted us again. He seems to have calmed down by then, compared to when he first reported Mr. Kamil on charges of escaping his daughter.

He admits only momentary emotion because he felt devastated after losing two of his loved ones at once. He also admitted that Mr. Kamil was his son-in-law. He eventually dropped his lawsuit and asked us to release Mr. Kamil.

I remember his story very well. Because I witnessed for myself the drama of sadness that they showed at that time. Mr. Kamil's love was so great towards his late wife, that he felt guilty all day and did not want to be released.

A year later. Pak Kamil's sister-in-law, who may not have known that her mother had dropped the lawsuit, did the same. But baby, Mr. Kamil is still frustrated.

All he thought about was his wife all day.

Four years passed. A mother came with her grandson to see Mr. Kamil. At that time there was a newness again. The mothers said that the boy he brought was the son of Mr. Kamil who was entrusted to him.

Mr. Kamil hugged the little boy tightly. He cried and said 'Your mother has left us, son...' We persuaded him to go home with reason, pitying his son without parents." The policeman tearfully told the story of Endro's father who was in prison at his own will.

He truly lives up to how he recalls Endro's father's past in prison.

"But... By the way, why are you so interested in Mr. Kamil's story, Nak Endro. Do you recognize him?" The policeman looked curious.

"The little boy the mothers brought was me, sir... I'm Mr. Kamil's son..." Endro gettin' it. She shed her tears remembering how her father struggled in raising her alone.

The policeman was agape at Endro's confession. He felt disbelief at the thing he had just heard from the mouth of the young man before him back then.

"Ja-so you're Mr. Kamil's son, Nak Endro?" Asked the policeman again still in his shock.

Endro nodded slowly. "Thank you, Sir. You've taken the time to tell me all about my father." Endro.

"Together, Son Endro. Then how's your dad doing now?"

"He died three years ago, sir. He's had a heart transplant a few years before." Endro answered again trying to smile strongly.

"Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji..." Said the Police Officer again surprised to hear the news of Endro's father's death.

*****

Endro turned his steering towards Mr. Arif's residence. The person he recently knew as his mother's older brother.

There, in front of the fence, he finds Hanan, his cousin just returned from his office.

They stared at each other awkwardly for a moment.

"Endro..." Hanan started saying hello first.

"Thean..." Sahut Endro replied.

"You want to stop by?" Hanan's question still looked awkward.

"There's... There's gotta... Come on come in with me. He must be happy with your arrival." Hanan began to get excited. They entered the house simultaneously.

"Assalamu'alaikum's chat..." Hanan said as she entered her house. Endro was still awkwardly standing behind Hanan.

"Wa'alaikumussalam's chat... Uh... Papa's gone home..." Welcome Hanan's wife who is holding their son's small hand.

"Hmm Papa's son is very fragrant, dear. Must have taken a shower..." Hanan invited her son to have a small chat with her.

"It's Pappa..." Sahut the little guy.

"You know what? Someone misses you, darling." Hanan said to his son.

"Capa?" Hanan's son tried to peek behind his body. "Equation..." His cry was so excited when he found Endro's face standing behind his papa.

"Hy Son..." Greet Endro with a smile. The toddler ran up to Endro and asked to be carried by him. "Oh yeah, honey... We haven't had a chance to get acquainted, have we? What's your name?" Ask is so familiar.

"All-la..." Sahutnya with tongue lisp typical toddler sound in general.

"Huh? Who-who?" Reset Endro did not understand what the little boy said.

"Chandra, uncle..." His mother, Hanan's wife, said.

"Oh... Chandraa." Endro chuckled a little. The answer of the little boy was much different according to him.

"Uncle Arif is there, Hanan?" Ask Endro then. For the first time he called Uncle to Mr. Arif.

"Maybe papa's coming home soon, End. He must have gone to my grandmother and my mother's tomb first. Almost once a week he's been there." Hanan Sahut. "Let's sit..." Take Hanan again.

"A few weeks after the departure of Grandpa and Aunt Lidya, Grandma asked to move here. Papa according. Papa was married in this city until I was born and raised here.

At that time I was too often looking at pictures of aunt Lidya. I thought it was a picture of my mom. Because, my mother died while giving birth to me. Then when I was in high school, Grandma told me everything, End.

It's not my Grandma or my Papa's fault. They'll find you and love you if they find out Aunt Lidya has a child.

Papa's been so unhealthy lately because he's been thinking about you, End." Hanan told a long story without Endro asking. But in Endro's heart, he really needed that.

"Assalamu'alaikum's chat..." Mr. Arif's voice was heard saying greetings from the front of the main door.

"Wa'alaikumussalam..." Answer them almost simultaneously. Endro took down the little Chandra from his lap. He immediately approached Pak Arif who was also approaching him.

"Endroos!" Call Mr. Arif lirih. His eyes glazed over at the young man before him at that moment.

"Uncle..." Reply Endro. Mr. Arif smiled excitedly hearing Endro call himself uncle. They both scattered themselves and hugged releasing tightness in their chests that had raged for several weeks.

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