Kei And Layla

Chapter 15: Longing

Since Kei's wedding day, Layla has been pensive for days. He asked himself.

'Why is the reality that happens not like hope, why are they so shallow in their way of thinking?'

Layla sighed deeply staring at the sky so dark that no moonlight was adorning the sky.

'What I've always thought was right, I ended up getting lost in it,'

'Maybe to enjoy a little life filled with uncertainty, I should enjoy the madness?'

Layla let out a disappointed sigh, her heart had been broken, her hope had been dashed. The confidence that he has been cultivating, shaken by circumstances.

'What am I looking for? what did I find?'

Layla cupped her face sad, so many questions in her inner being an endless inner upheaval.

"Yes Rabb, I surrender all your provisions, I live all that You desire. But this mind always refuses. What am I supposed to do?" layla murmured softly.

Then Layla leaned her body on the chair, her eyes closed and thought hard.

"I have to get out of the house, I want to leave behind all the luxuries so I can understand the meaning of life." Layla opened her eyes and smiled.

"Yes, I have to get out of here."

The next morning Layla had cleaned her clothes and put them in a small backpack. After finishing Layla stepped out of the room and met her two parents who were sitting on the dining table chair. While Anita poured warm milk into the glass.

Anita and Surya are very surprised to see Layla with a small bag on her back.

"Laila? where are you going, son?" anita asked, putting warm milk on the table, and then walked over to Layla.

"I'm going to go, Mom."

"Where's Layla going?" surya got up from his seat and approached Layla.

"I want to learn to live independently, Mom." Layla lowered her head.

"But Layla dear.."

"Mother, my heart has been broken. My hope is gone and there's nothing left for me?"

"Layla don't talk like that, your future is still long Layla." Anita tries to take off the bag hanging on Layla's back. But Layla prevents him by holding Anita's hand.

"No ma'am" Layla said. "Let me live my own way."

"But Layla." said Anita with tears.

"Layla, where are you going? tell Dad."

"Dad, Mother.trust me, Mom." Layla was hard to leave both her parents. But he felt he had to.

"But baby, does it have to be this way?" anita looked at me.

"Trust me Mom, I'll come back and I'll tell you where I live later."

"Didn't you love us Layla?" ask Surya.

"Father and Mother don't need to know how much I love you" Layla said. "Of course my love for you is irreplaceable."

"If you love us, then why are you leaving us Layla?" Surya looked sadly at Layla.

"Let me live my way, Mother."

Layla releases Anita's embrace from her shoulder. "I'm going Mom, Dad." Without looking again Layla immediately walked out of the house to the highway not far from her home.

"Lalaylaa!!" Anita screams for Layla, and she steps up to follow Layla. But his footsteps were held back by Surya who was hugging him from behind.

"Let Layla go ma'am, let her find herself and the peace of her soul."

Surya smiled at Anita, "Our daughter is indeed amazing Ma'am."

"I mean Father?" ask Anita.

"But sir, Layla's the girl. Where will he live? who will take care of him sir?" asked Anita, still not accepting Layla's departure.

"Trust me, we're not in vain to have a daughter like Layla."

Anita still does not understand what Surya means. Anita continues to wriggle in Surya's arms and calls out Layla's name.

"layla, don't leave my dear mother" he said.

"Calm your heart, ma'am." Surya continued to try to calm Anita down by giving an explanation little by little.

"But Sir."

"Trust the Almighty Mom, Layla will be fine and can carry herself wherever she is."

After listening to all of Surya's words, Anita's cries finally subsided and began to calm down. Then Surya brought Anita into the house.

***

Meanwhile Layla continues to walk without a clear destination. He just followed his foot. Sometimes he stopped just to rest. After that he again walked through the highway sometimes through the village and so on. Until he stopped in a small town and rested on a deserted road. He sat under a fairly shady tree. Layla was silent looking up at the sky which left a tinge of orange signs that the day had begun to afternoon and was almost dark. Layla wiped the sweat on her forehead using her palm. When Layla was pensive there was a middle-aged woman greeting her, "Daughter, what are you doing?"

Layla turned her head to the side looking at a middle-aged woman who was pushing a wagon. Looks like he's a scavenger in that small town. "Ah Mother."

The woman approached Layla and sat down next to her, then offered Layla mineral water. "Looks like you're not the guy around here, son, you want a drink?" ask Layla.

Layla just smiled not answering the woman's question. Then Layla received the bottle of mineral water and downed it. It just so happened that he had not been drinking since morning. "Thank you, Mom." Layla said as she gave the bottle to the middle-aged woman.

"Where are you going, son?" ask the woman again.

"Don't know ma'am, I have no place to live and no purpose here."

For a moment the woman was stunned to notice Layla, "how about you go to Mom's house? yes, Mother's house is simple but at least it can be for shelter."

"If you don't mind."

"Of course not, I live alone. Mom's husband died a long time ago and I don't have any children." The woman's story.

Layla nodded her head listening to the story of a middle-aged woman who turned out to be named Kartika, after they became acquainted.

"A pretty name, as pretty as Mom's face." Layla looked at Kartika.

"Mother is not a native of Layla here, Mother left home and eloped with Mother's husband. But unfortunately he could not survive against his cancer" replied Kartika.

Layla was stunned when she heard the story of Bu Kartika. It turns out that lovers always experience the bitterness of life. Layla smiled bitterly listening to the story of Kartika.

"Great mom."

"Ah, you could have been son. Mother just can't get to another heart, son, we met in eternity." The word Kartika makes Layla's heart full. Reminds him of Kei. It is always in his heart and mind.

"It's dark, we'd better go home." Kartika got up from her seat and stood looking at Layla.

Layla nodded her head, then she got up and walked over to the Kartika wagon.

"Come on." Layla walks beside Kartika while helping her push the cart until in front of Kartika's house which is still dirty and seedy.

"It's Mom's house, is it okay you live here?" ask Kartika.

Layla nodded her head quickly. " It's okay Mom, for me to live anywhere is the same as it feels."

Then they both went into the house. Kartika allows Layla to clean up. After that Kartika provides food. They ate together and talked to each other late at night. Kartika soon fell asleep due to exhaustion. Seeing Kartika sleeping, Layla went out and sat on the terrace of Kartika house looking at the dark sky studded with stars.

"Kei." muttered Layla. Her tears fell, she could not bear when she called out Kei's name.

"Do you miss me like I miss you right now?" layla said softly in between her sobs.

"Yes Rabb, tell him. I miss him so much." His heart felt sore. It felt like he was no longer able to bear the burden of his life because he had to part with Kei.

O Lord, I plant flowers You grow weeds. I flush it with water and You burn it with fire. I filled the cup with honey but You replaced it with the poison of life. Tell me can I escape the snare of Your love that has been embedded in the heart?