K&K (Taste Features)
3. A Hope
“A total of thirteen bodies of the victims of the Kencana Air RQ301443 plane crash trip Jakarta-Sydney Australia has been found despite being incomplete.”
Bibs.
Haikal shut off the television.
Four days have passed since the accident that shocked the entire country occurred, not yet known the whereabouts of his fiancee. She stared at the pre-wedding photo in the frame.
“Are you all right, Kezy? You should be fine. You promised to come back soon after that spring. We're gonna marry Kezy. Three months left.” Haikal spoke to a photo of his fiancee.
Haikal's lips were silent now. But his heart kept telling stories.
You must be somewhere safe. Aye right? Kezy, please come home. I'll wait until you get back. Don't you remember your promise to me? Promise that once we're engaged, we won't be far apart, let alone for a long time. Because we are destined to always be there.
Always filling each other.
Always ..., and always until aging enjoy the time.
Haikal kissed Kezia's photo and hugged her tightly. He's not a whiny man. Even while in Paris, he had been a victim of bullying his friends until battered when he was ten years old.
Since childhood he never shed a tear even when his dying father told him not to cry, he really did not cry. At just eight years old!
But this time it was different. The girl he loved went somewhere when they would celebrate a sacred moment. The girl who will be his, in full, who will be part of the living sheet in every episode of his future.
The girl who was about to give birth cloned between them, two or three children and took care of her together. The girl who would accompany him sat down to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning with her wrinkled hands and myopic eyes in the next few decades.
***
“Yes Allah O Lord...May Kirana be safe. Mama's sure she survived. Mama is sure she is fine,” bu Sita chanted prayers many times for the daughter she loves, as well as Haikal on the lover she missed.
They watch television at the same time, in different places.
“Iya, Mother. Before there is the name Kirana Badr in the list of dead victims, we must be sure Kirana survived,” replied Mr. Bagas smiled faintly, again trying to strengthen his wife even though his little heart rebelled.
He hugged his wife and tried to calm her down. He stroked his chest that felt tight. He hopes that at times like this his heart disease does not recur. The mother held daily studies for the safety of her grandson.
Many guests came to offer condolences and were sorry. But his wife kicked the guests out. Even the bouquets of their co-workers and relationships were ransacked by the mother of the two girls.
“My son is not dead. You don't have to come here as if you want to mourn my home. These flowers are a great insult to us. Did you guys really expect Kirana's death??” he was angry at that moment.
Mr. Bagas is just a famous musician of the 70s who is retired from heart disease. He can't do much. For the sake of comforting himself, he plays the piano with Kirana's favorite song while his wife starts to get out of control. No tears sir Bagas shed wet both his cheeks.
Her chest feels tight. His heart was like it had been pierced by a thousand hot knives running through both of his shoulders. His left hand gripped the sofa, he bit his lip trying to endure the pain.
He does not want his grieving family to be burdened with his condition. Cold sweat poured out from his gallant body. He hugged his crying wife. Mr. Bagas closed his eyes trying to catch his breath. The wife felt the husband's heart beat irregularly with a severed breath.
Her husband also looks nervous.
“Pa..” call bu Sita. She let go of her husband's embrace. The husband holds the chest with his left hand.
“Papa no pa-pa?” mom asked worriedly. Her husband did not answer, and just closed his eyes withstanding the pain.
“Pa.. papa heart friday again?” mom started to panic. Her husband was unconscious.
***
“How was the result, Doc? My husband is fine, Kan?”
“This is the second heart attack. If there is a third time, I fear it will be very dangerous. For a while let the patient hospitalize first. And please do not let patients hear the news is unpleasant and stressful,” said the doctor.
“Why should it be like this? Kirana had an accident. Papa's sick. Why do constant misfortunes befall our family?” bu Sita mourned her husband. Condemning an unfair bad luck for him.
“Already, Son. We have to be patient. Istighfar. All there hikmahnya,” advice of the mother-in-law. The cries of Mr. Bagas' family decorate the hospital hallway.
***
Every day Haikal went to the accident information post of Kencana Air RQ30144 plane, he came home with a gloomy face.
NAUGHT.
There was no information, news or signs of Kezia. Although a sample of the mother's hair from Kezia has been submitted, no DNA matching the victim's body cut has been found.
Three weeks went by, neither Kezia nor Kirana. Their two families were filled with feelings of sadness and anxious expectation. Kezia's parents can't linger in Indonesia, they've changed foreign nationals. They were expecting news from Haikal.
Haikal was increasingly frustrated, he saw a calendar that increasingly hurt him. In a month he will be married. It should be this time, they are fitting their bridal attire. They should be busy at this time selecting the names of invited guests, talking about the maturity of the decoration concept, paying for the completion of the building, accompanying Kezy trial make up with MUA, do a food tester that will be served on the buffet and meeting with the Wedding Organizer.
It should and should be what Haikal had in mind.
His anxiety became more unstoppable. Almost every night he woke up breathing heavily. Then he could not sleep at all until dawn rose up the horizon.
Geck, tok, tok.
The door of Haikal's room was knocked by someone loudly. Haikal is not afraid.
He sat and looked behind the window of his room. Haikal's teak chair facing the window and turned to the counter opposite the door of his study.
Haikal did not budge even though the knock on the door sounded louder.
The door knocker opened slowly. Women who were older than Ms. Sita came carrying trays containing mint leaf flavored tea. This time, they serve tea instead of coffee. He approached, and placed the tea on the table.
“It's been two months. What are we going to do?” asked the woman half-whispered in a cautious tone. He stood next to his son and gently patted Haikal on the shoulder.
Haikal.
“Experts have said the chronology of the accident. The plane exploded in mid-air and shattered into pieces. And.maybe.. Everyone said..if possible..” the woman had not yet finished her sentence, Haikal got up from her seat.
“Mama also thinks the same with them that no one survived? Did mom tell you Kezy was dead? Is that what mom wants to say?” Haikal clenched his hands half angrily. The muscles in his temple stiffened. He stared at his mother so sharply as if there were embers burning at the end of an arrow ready to shoot, stab and burn anyone.
“Not so son.mama just want you to start accepting reality.” Ms. Anna looked misbehaved, slowly releasing her hand on Haikal's shoulder.
“Ma.I'm sure Kezy is fine. Mama's daughter-in-law would have survived. As long as Kezy's body isn't there, Haikal thinks Kezy's alive. And for that long, the marriage will continue. Whatever happens Haikal will continue with the wedding plan.”
Haikal walked away from the mother to the door.
“Where are you going?” ask Anna's mom worried.
“Seeing Kezy's wedding dress,” Haikal answered flat while still on the doorstep.
Miss Anna nodded.
He was worried that his youngest child would become insane. He was devastated when he found out his future son-in-law had an accident. Kezia is the perfect person. The ideal kind and beautiful girl was with her son. He also loved the girl like his own son.
Ms. Anna had only known Kezia for a year and a half, but she knew a lot and knew very well Kezia's nature and attitude. Miss Anna breathed heavily. He was just trying to accept the reality. During these plane crashes, there are rarely any survivors. Especially if it explodes in the air.
Nor does he want his son to spend the rest of his life in vain on a girl who is not even known between life or death.
