I Can Without You

21. Surya Papa

Surya opened his room door slowly. Wulan, his wife, was sitting crying on their bed. Surya then entered the room and closed the door again.

Surya walked over to Wulan. Sitting next to his wife, he held Wulan's shoulder which shook with his tears.

"Why cry?" ask Surya softly.

"Why didn't you hear the cloud talk? Clouds want to marry Keinan, Pa. A widow has one child" replied Wulan still could not accept.

"What if Keinan's mother is?"

"Pa, this is Cloud's first wedding, Pa. Cook him married a widow anyway," complained Wulan who had begun to subside his crying.

"What's wrong with widows, Ma? Wasn't Mother Khadijah also a widow? After all, who the hell would Ma want to bear the status of a widow? If they could choose, they wouldn't want to be widows either, Ma."

Wulan fell silent. Wulan admitted that her husband's words were true.

"Don't you dear Mama the same Keinan? And again, Mama also already know for herself how the story is until Shofi can be a widow like that."

Wulan squinted her eyes. She looked at her husband's face with a full gaze.

"How come you're not surprised that Denger Awan wants to marry Keinan's mother? Surely Papa knows first about this?"

"Hehe, yes," Surya replied by showing his grin.

Wulan widened her eyes.

"Don't Keinan often invited to play here is also an idea from Papa ya to take his heart Mama first?" guess Wulan then.

"Pinter's wife Papa," said Surya while pinching Wulan's nose.

"That's it... Ahhhh... Not good ah. Papa wicked. Anyway Mama wants to sulk," said Wulan who then immediately pouted and turned his body while crossing his hands on his stomach.

"Are you sure you want to snack?" solar Goda.

"Yes, anyway Mama sulks," said Wulan.

"Can Mama eat with Papa?" goda Surya again while rubbing on the right shoulder of his wife.

"Iiissshhh, Papa sana ahhh. Don't be whittling with Mama," exclaimed Wulan by pushing Surya's cheek plan.

"No. Kan Mama knows for herself that Papa can not be far from Mama," said Surya who again rubbed on Wulan's right shoulder.

"Papa iiissshhh, Mama's not craving."

"Papa iiissshhh, there. Mama's been snooping with Papa."

Again and again Wulan again pushed Surya's body away from him. But Surya also kept coming back to his wife.

"Ngambek. Please. No, not pa-pa."

Surya started to look up at his face. And in just an instant, Surya had started to kiss Wulan's right cheek many times.

"Father.." whine Wulan.

Wulan then turned her body and directly rained down on Surya with light blows on her chest. And instead of being in pain Surya laughed and then pulled his wife's body into his arms.

Surya kissed the top of Wulan's head then rubbed his hair full of affection. Not long after that it sounded a small sobbing from Wulan. Yes, Wulan was crying again, but this time she was crying in her husband's warm embrace.

Surya, of course, has memorized the character of his wife. Wulan was not a person with a hard heart. It's just that it takes time if you want to change Wulan's assessment of something.

"Why does it have to be Keinan anyway, Pa? Why did Cloud have to marry a widow?" ask Wulan again in the end.

"Ma, Cloud intent is good. He wanted to raise Shofi and Keinan's degrees. Protecting them from the negative stigma of society and also the insults and bullies that they often get. The clouds also want to give a complete family to Keinan. So that the child has the figure of a father and can feel the affection and attention of a father. Mama should be proud of Mama's son. His thoughts were very mature," Surya replied trying to explain.

Wulan fell silent. Trying to get through everything her husband said. The soft caress of Surya's hand on his head slowly began to give Wulan a sense of comfort, although the occasional Wulan also still sounded as unwilling.

"But, Pa, marriage is for a long time. Even if it can be only once in our lives. Mama also certainly wants the best for Clouds, Pa," said Wulan.

"Best according to Mama is not necessarily for the Clouds, Ma. And also, as parents, our job is to bless our children's choices. Our kids are grown, Ma. We cannot impose our will on them. They can choose and decide the path for themselves. While it is not a deviant thing, not a bad thing and forbidden by religion, it would be better if we support and approve the good intentions of our children, Ma," replied Surya at length.

"But it feels like Mama's heart still can't accept it, Pa."

"Slow down, Ma. One that Papa knows, Shofi is a good, polite, and hardworking woman. Papa sure Mama will also like it if you already know him later. For a while, Mama can convince Mama's heart first if this is all for Keinan's good. Mama, dear, is it Keinan?"

And on target. Yes, Wulan has indeed been very fond of Keinan and sympathetic to the storyline of the little boy's life. Ah, Surya does understand how to take his wife's heart.

"Mama dear the Keinan. But it feels like Mama's heart is still not able to accept, Pa," complained Wulan, still in Surya's arms.

Surya smiled again.

"And Papa said, slow down, Ma. As time goes on, let your heart begin to accept Shofi. For the sake of Cloud's happiness, too, Ma."

Wulan did not answer anymore. The couple finally fell silent by hugging each other. Both are still drifting with their own thoughts.

Wulan who was still thinking about all the words from her husband earlier. While Surya who tried to calm and convince his wife's heart to be able to bless the good intentions of Awan to marry Shofi.