Love, Treasure And Erlita

Chapter 25

“Jakarta?!”

Nafan immediately went in and checked his room.

One of Erlita's suitcases wasn't there. All the money was taken and he just left a memo that he should immediately go home to Jakarta because there was important business, on the table.

Nafan was really disappointed. After what he did for the girl, he was left with no strings attached. Even all the hard-earned money by mortgaging self-esteem is actually used by Erlita to leave it alone.

Nafan felt himself to be very bad and unworthy to be able to make Erlita stay by his side. He felt like he had failed to become a man, a husband and a leader for Erlita.

That night, Nafan felt very lonely. Although he had lived alone in the house long enough, Erlita's presence brought a different atmosphere to Nafan's life.

Although often bothered by having to mop the floor many times when Erlita back and forth walking with her dirty sandals, or having to get up early to cook or forced to sleep on the sofa because Erlita craves. It all felt so much fun to him.

Nafan felt he no longer wanted to live alone like he used to. For the first time he had something to guard and defend, although in the end he would still lose and be left behind. He misses his wife very much.

***

It took only two hours for Erlita to return to Jakata. He was on his way from the airport to his home. He deliberately took an online taxi because he could not contact anyone at his home to pick him up to the airport.

Erlita stopped in front of the gate. After squeezing the bell and waiting long enough in front of the gate, a security came to open the fence. It seemed like it was a new security officer since Erlita had never seen it before.

“Whose you?” ask the new security.

Erlita was quite upset that only then was there a worker in her house who did not recognize her.

“I am the owner of this house.” Erlita was about to enter but the security guard stopped her.

“Sorry, Miss. But Mr. Bram does not allow me to bring anyone in without his consent.”

“Are you tired of work?!” Hardik Erlita is upset. “Same as Om Bram, Erlita is here!”

The security guard immediately contacted Bram.”Sorry, Miss. Sir does not allow you to enter.”

Wow, this is really outrageous of his name. How could it be, Miss the owner of the house is not allowed to enter her own house. It doesn't make sense.

“OK, Then tell Eyang Pratiwi that Erlita is coming!”

“Sorry, Miss, but Mrs Pratiwi is being treated in hospital. So –“

“What?! The infirmary? Which hospital???”

***

Erlita ran down the hospital hallway. He could not believe that no one had told him that his grandmother was seriously ill and hospitalized. He was almost crazy for fear of not having the chance to meet his grandmother before he died. Erlita cries until she forgets that she left her suitcase in front of the hospital.

The nurse shows the room where her grandmother was being treated. Erlita saw a breathing apparatus and many other hoses attached to her grandmother's body.

“Yang, Eyang is awake. This is Lita, Yang. Grandchild Eyang has arrived.” Erlita still held back her cries.

Pratiwi immediately opened his eyes, happy to hear the voice he had long missed finally coming as well.

“Yang, Eyang Denger Lita?!” Erlita was glad her grandmother was sober.

“Don't be sad, Eyang just overslept. Break for a while.”

“Yang, what exactly happened? Why did anyone get treated here? Why not call the doctor and nurse home as usual? Medical devices that you need at home can still be used all right, Yang?”

Pratiwi nodded, “Bram who wants Eyang like this.”

Pratiwi nodded back. “Ta, please find a way so that Eyang can immediately follow you to Banyuwangi.”

“What?! But Yang. That's not possible. Lita came home because she could not stand the situation there. How could Lita take Eyang back to such a place? Lita is sure that Eyang also will not be at home.”

“Please, Ta.”

Erlita thought carefully about her grandmother's request. Reluctant he returned to the slum and secluded place, but how he had to persuade his grandmother to undo his intention to go there.

***

Erlita had been staying in the hospital for a few days to take care of her grandmother. Somehow he always remembered Nafan who always prepared breakfast and dinner for him, took him to the city with his motorbike and who would hug him when he was experiencing anxiety like that.

He missed the man who didn't have that much money. He misses a fight with Nafan because he has to fight for electricity to turn on the AC, or make Nafan angry because he has to mop the floor many times. He misses the things he once hated.

Erlita has decided to return to Banyuwangi with her grandmother. He only needed to talk to his uncle to be allowed to take his grandmother away from there.

The next day, Erlita met Bram who happened to pass by and stopped by the hospital to see her mother.

“Om, Lita wants to talk to Om.”

They sat next to each other in the waiting chair in front of the room where Pratiwi was being treated.

“Om, Lita would like to ask permission from Om to take Eyang to Banyuwangi. I want to visit Eyang there.”

“Ngga. Om won't permit. It would be very dangerous for Eyang if he had to travel that far with conditions like now.”

“But Om, Lita has consulted the doctor and said they are not a problem to refer Eyang to Regional General Hospital in Banyuwangi.”

“Ta, Om said no. So that means no.” Bram left Erlita.

It was not really a matter of Pratiwi's health that Bram considered, but rather the worry that Erlita would influence her grandmother to take over Bram's power.

***

That afternoon Nafan was gardening beside his house to shift his longing to Erlita who was getting excited. He is sure that busyness will succeed in diverting his mind from things that are beyond reason. So to fill his day off, since the morning Nafan exercise, clean the house and then garden.

Shortly after, a car stopped in front of his house. The figure of the tall, bespectacled man, whom he was already familiar with, got down from the car and rushed up to him.

“Mas, please come with me home. Mr. severe pain.”

Nafan is not flinching. He was still engrossed in continuing his gardening as if Alan was not there.

“Mas, please listen to me, Mas.”

Nafan looked at Alan closely. He knew Alan must be very tired of driving alone from Jogja to Banyuwangi. He went in and made a drink for Alan.

“Lan, why are you doing difficult things that will not pay off?”

“But Mas, this time I did not lie. Mr. is indeed sick and is now being treated in the ICU of the hospital.” Alan showed several photos of the patient being treated in the ICU room.

Nafan smiled, “Are you guys not tired of playing?”

Alan no longer knew how to convince Nafan. He called the phone number of the hospital where his master was treated and asked to be connected to the doctor in charge. He then gave his phone to Nafan.

The doctor explained about the condition of the patient being handled. Nafan listened carefully until he was sure that what Alan said was not a fabrication as it had been.

Nafan rushed to take a shower, changed his clothes and packed his personal belongings and went to Jogja with Alan.