Love, Treasure And Erlita
Chapter 38
Nafan tries to reconcile with Erlita. He repeatedly knocked on Erlita's bedroom door but the girl did not touch her at all.
“Ta, please open the door or I climb through the window.”
Not knowing what Erlita was thinking, he suddenly just opened the door of his room to Nafan.
“Ta, I'm sorry if I was wrong. But I said what it is. I can tell you the details if you want.”
“Ngga. Everything has happened, and what I want now is, you stop working or find a way to move to Jakarta. I don't want us to live apart anymore.”
Nafan was happy to hear his wife's request. But for now, he still has to wait for his resignation letter to be approved. Then he could move and find another job in Jakarta.
“Propay yes,Ta? My –“
“Why does it seem so hard for you to leave Banyuwangi? Don't make your work nothing, who can't give you anything as an excuse. I can give you a better job than just an ordinary forest policeman who is not clear.”
Nafan had never felt that angry to Erlita. During this time Erlita always considered him a lowly man who had no treasure, making him a slave who could be ordered at will, Nafan could still restrain himself.
But that day, Erlita underestimated the work she did and lived wholeheartedly. The work he got with full struggle. He even with a heavy heart began to be willing to leave the job he loved so much for the sake of his wife, he said, but what he got was an insult as if Nafan had nothing to defend but Erlita who was rich and of noble descent.
Nafan chose to remain silent and left Erlita alone in her room. He knew that if he opened his mouth, many painful words would come out of his mouth.
Therefore, he hoped that Erlita would know that her silence carries such deep wounds and pain over Erlita's attitude and words towards her.
Johan who had heard their conversation from inside the room whose door was left open knew exactly that Nafan was holding a huge anger. But he also knew that letting Nafan leave just like that would also not solve the problems between them.
Johan tries to hold off Nafan who intends to leave the villa, but just as he pushes Nafan's chest, a photo falls from Nafan's jacket pocket.
Johan took a picture of the face of a little girl whom Johan knew very well.
“Whose photo is this?” ask Johan to make sure
“Anak Mbah Minto, an elderly living near my home in Banyuwangi.”
“Child?! Then what did you bring him for?”
“Mbah Minto is seriously ill and is now being treated in hospital. The doctor asked me to find a family member because Mbah Minto's illness was quite serious while he continued to fuss about his son. Therefore, I brought the photo to look for the whereabouts of the boy.”
“Where is the person being treated?”
“At a public hospital in Surabaya.”
***
Two hours later Johan and Nafan had landed at Surabaya Airport. They rushed to the hospital where Mbah Minto was being treated. Actually Nafan does not know exactly why Johan suddenly forced to come to Surabaya to meet Mbah Minto.
That day, Mbah Minto was being examined by a visit doctor in one of the third-grade treatment rooms.
“Nak Nafan is here?” welcome the old man is friendly.
“White, Mbah. I've been home. Mbah how? Already improved?”
Mbah Minto clapped with a smile showing his row of toothless teeth.
Mbah Minto shook Johan's friendly hand.
“Mbah, is it true the girl in this photo Mbah's biological child?” ask Johan curiously
Mbah minto nodded, then his tears began to melt in between the wrinkles of his face that more and more layered.
“It went from home at the age of ten. That day he said that he was ashamed of having poor parents like me. Then he also said that he would go to find better parents. I think that day he was just bluffing like any other kid. But I was wrong. After we had a fight, Ani actually left the house and never came back. A year later his mother died of frequent illness, but before dying he asked me to promise that I should not die before finding Ani.” Mbah Minto's tears were heavy and his voice was weakening.
“Today I am often sickly and it is Nak Nafan who always takes care and pays for my medical expenses. I know that my age will not be long. Therefore I want to meet Ani at least once before I die so that I can face my wife when meeting in the afterlife.”
Nafan could not bear to hear Mbah Minto bother telling about his son again. “Enough story, Mbah. Now Mbah rest huh?”
Mbah Minto shook his head, “ Mbah was afraid of Nak Nafan. What if Mbah sleeps and cannot wake up again even though Mbah has not been able to meet Ani.”
Johan felt his blood boiling and his chest almost burst upon hearing the old man's words. He rushed to leave the hospital.
***
Farah was happy to see her eldest son back home. That day he decided to clear up the misunderstanding between them. He doesn't want Johan to be out of the house any longer. Johan felt angry and pity to see his mother's battered face, bluish bruises. He believes his father must have taught him a lesson as usual.
“Jo, Mama apologizes, Mama regrets –“
“Bener mama regrets with all the deeds of mama?”
Farah could only nod lethargicly judged by her own son.
“Then mommy comes with Johan now.”
“But where is Jo? Mama can't get out of the house like this. Besides papa you can be angry if you know mama out of the house without permission.”
Johan handed over black glasses and slayer to cover Farah's bruised and bruised face. Then dragged his mother into the car.
“Jo, why are we going to the airport? Where are we going?” Farah was getting worried.
“Surabaya.”
***
Farah still did not understand why Johan took her to a regional public hospital in Surabaya. Johan continued to drag her to an inpatient room.
“Mama know the guy?”
Farah covered her mouth with both palms. He knew exactly who the old man who was lying weakly on the patient's bed was. But he didn't want Johan to know, so he pretended not to know him.
“What do you mean Jo? Who –“
“Ma, until when do you want to pretend? Mom not tired?”
“But –“
Mbah Minto wakes up to hear the noise of Johan and Farah. He tried to open his eyes and faintly saw someone similar to his daughter, “Ani?!”
