K&K (Taste Features)
4. Bad News
Haikal drove the white car at such a high speed that many road users cursed and cursed him.
He's so emotional.
His family is now starting to doubt Kezy. Doubt the girl to come back.
The white SUV arrived at the parking lot of a classic Javanese-style boutique. Entering the lobby, the eyes will be pleased with a variety of typical Javanese interiors. Teak wood carvings, and the fragrant smell of night-smelling flowers and jasmine make visitors more at home.
Boutique “Kerani Bride” was chosen by Haikal to design her bridal outfit because Kezia loves Javanese culture and customs so much.
“Oh, Please come in!” greeting a receptionist who immediately recognized Haikal well.
“Thank you.”
“I call bu Kerani ya.”
Haikal. Soon, a reddish-haired woman with a tall bun and wearing half-round glasses approached him. The owner and designer of the kebaya and wedding dress wore a new purple kebaya lice dress with three-quarter sleeves dangling in the form of bells and small ribbons embedded in the elbow. The long skirt of the songket cloth is pencil-shaped and some pliskit on the front. Her smile was beautiful, even though she was over sixty years old.
“Have not seen ya in a long time, son Haikal. How are you doing?”
“Good budhe. What..the wedding dress is done?” Haikal asked stammeringly.
Budhe Kerani did not immediately answer but stared fixedly at Haikal's face full of meaning. “Almost. You can see it,” he replied later.
Haikal was led into a very large room. There are many headless mannequins that wear a wide variety of wedding dresses. Budhe Kerani is the older brother of his late father. A designer of modern and traditional wedding dresses. Budhe Kerani shows a mannequin in one corner of the room.
A wedding dress, a blend of European-style kebaya and batik skirt. The green color of toska on kebaya and brownish batik met red. Sprinkling gem sequins with embroidery rose petals in some parts look unfinished plus brocade at the ends of the arms increasingly make anyone who sees will be captivated.
Haikal was stunned to see the dress.
She imagined how beautiful Kezy would be if she wore it later. He noticed that green and brown were typical Kezy colors. Fits eye color and indo-european hair. Kezia chose traditional Indonesian clothing, namely kebaya and batik skirts with European models.
“Beauty once,” murmured Haikal. Budhe Kerrani smiled.
“Nak, this will look perfect when it is finished and worn later.”
“He will wear it budhe.” Haikal.
Budhe Krani smiled bitterly. News of the plane crash was everywhere. His sister-in-law Anna, had called and asked him to give understanding to Haikal. He was even asked not to finish his bride-to-be's wedding dress nor a suit for Haikal. Anna was eager to cancel the wedding plans.
“We never know what God's plan is like. We also never know that behind the disaster there is a wisdom. Humans can only hope, berdo’a and try. If you believe your bride-to-be will be back by your side, then stay confident. Stay confident that he is okay, until we will know the results later. If not, then God will give you a better replacement,” advice budhe Kerani. Although the words are the same with the people in general, at least budhe Kerani said very warmly. Between giving support and affirming reality. Haikal thanked Krani for his appreciation of his feelings.
“I will still hold that wedding budhe. Please finish well,” pinta Haikal. Budhe Kerani nodded as she gave a smile.
#Two months later
“Papa how are you?” ask Citra when entering her parents' room. The father was sitting in a wheelchair, looking far away. The image walked closer carrying a tray of warm white water and pieces of melon fruit on a white ceramic plate.
“Pa..” call it down while putting the tray on the table next to the bed. Papa looked over and rubbed something at the ends of his eyes.
“Good. Papa want a snack? Want Citra Temeni streets outside?” The image kissed the back of his papa's hand. Papa looked at Citra fixedly behind her eyes before then nodding in agreement. The image pushes papa's wheelchair out of the room. The atmosphere was bright and it was great to enjoy the day.
Mr. Bagas saw his wife who was preparing dinner assisted by a maid and her mother when passing through the family room. He saw how thin the wife's body was. Dark circles were clearly visible under his eyes. His gaze shifted by looking up at his second daughter, Citra, a seventeen-year-old teenager, is now also getting smaller. It should be the days of High School and adolescence that he can do cheerfully. Unfortunately, it is now possible for Citra to feel bland and full of grief. Since the crash of the Kencana Air RQ30144, Citra has never left home other than school. She helped her mother take care of her father. He must suppress the desire to hang out with peers. Citra's pleasure days have vanished in the last three months.
Citra invites papa to sit on a park bench. Mega began to go down the sky horizon, so that the twilight seemed to be getting redder. The image has not changed clothes. The white-gray uniform looks increasingly dull.
“Today the atmosphere is cool yes, Pa. Om and Aunt Sasha are coming. They want a weekend here,” Citra said while fixing her hair that was scattered and called the wind to a little messy. “Definitely crowded,” he continued smiling happily.
Every weekend his sister's family stayed at their house. At least, the nephews of Mr. Bagas who are still in SD can make the atmosphere crowded and fun. The quiet house, as if forced to feel alive again. Papa looked at his youngest daughter for a long time, he held Citra's cheeks gently.
“Papa apologize yes, Nak.” Mr. Bagas bit his lips, held bitter in his chest. The image frowned not understanding.
“For what?”
“It's okay. Papa Just wanted you to apologize papa.” He gulped and threw his face in front of his daughter so that he could not see his teary eyes.
***
After dinner with the extended family, Mr. Bagas returned to the room. Coronary heart disease suffered makes it have to rest a lot. In the living room, Citra plays with her cousin. The television is on loud. So it feels crowded. Ms. Sita and aunt Sasha were sitting around looking at the news while eating a snack.
“The joint SAR team along with the ranks of the airline Kencana Air held a press conference and agreed to declare that all the victims of the Kencana Air RQ30144 plane passengers were killed. Although some of the passengers had not yet been found, some evacuees doubted their safety. The search for the victims of the crash of the Kencana Air RQ30144 aircraft was stopped from tomorrow. The President and the Ministry of Transportation expressed deep condolences. The chief aviation director apologized and prepared to resign. The Kencana Air will provide insurance money worth two billion to the families of the victims. Bla...bla..bla...”.
The image and his cousin stopped playing. It felt like lightning was striking. All riveted. It was as if the earth stopped moving and the clockwork no longer sounded. The news that appeared was not good news and it made the heart of Mr. Bagas' family melt.
“This is not true. Why did they stop the search for Kirana? There are sixteen more victims. Why won't they look for him?” bu Sita got up and accused the television with a high tone exploded. Everyone fell silent not daring to comment or even just advise Sita. The truth was so bitter to them that not a single word was uttered.
“Pa! We're going there now. Or we pay the SAR team to continue the search for Kirana. A..or.we pay divers and fishermen around to look for it.” Ms. Sita shook both arms of her husband who was down.
“Calm mbak. It's been three months. They can definitely conclude with full calculation.” Aunt Sasha tried to calm down in a sobbing.
“Why did they decide so quickly? They are not God. Not God. How dare they say my son is dead. No. gabe. Kirana's not dead. Before I saw the body himself, he was alive.” Bu Sita threw the remote control at the television but instead hit the vase near the television, until the vase broke. Cuts of fresh yellow Chrysanthemum flowers that have not long filled the vase, also scattered on the floor. The sister-in-law was strangled. A few seconds of silence enveloped the family room. Only the rhythm of breathing up and down quickly heard from the body bu Sita.
“Already, Nak.” Her mother-in-law broke the silence.
“Why does everyone want my son dead? Why can't anyone believe Kirana's still alive. Why..?” bu Sita almost screamed and she was unable to hold back until her tears spilled and was followed by falling unconscious for the umpteenth time.
***
In the room, Mr. Bagas watched the news alone. He doesn't care as a man. He could not hold the water of sorrow in his eye bags. Mr. Bagas' throat feels choked. The man sobbed. Especially hearing the noise from outside. His daughter has been declared dead. Any father would not be able to take the blow, feel himself useless as a father who can not protect the safety of his son. He even dreamed, Kirana drowned in the sea calling his name, while he just sat still unable to move and help. Dreams that feel real. The dream was never told to anyone.
So sad every time I remember it.
Doesn't the law of nature say the old die first? Thought mr. Bagas. He's sick, why isn't he the only one who's dead? Why should his daughter be so young and have a long future? If he could have offered the angel of death to replace his son's life with his, he would have done it. Mr. Bagas realized that something must have happened to his wife by now. He got up to go to the family room.
***
