Love At the End of Ramadan

Chapter 4. Prejudice

The clink of the sound of the spoon clashing against the plate, breaking the silence created in the dining room of Santi's residence. A variety of dishes lined up neatly on the table in this dining room. The three people sitting in their seats each seemed to be enjoying themselves.

"Pa, why didn't Papa come home last night? Where is Papa staying?"

Uhukkk ... uhukkk ..

The question that was suddenly thrown from Santi's lips, successfully made Arman who had previously focused on enjoying the choking rendang. The man coughed like someone who was coughing up phlegm. Kirana who saw it all, gushed out a glass of water toward the papa.

"Slow Pa!" kirana said while giving a glass of water.

Arman rushed to gulp down the water given by the child and began to catch his breath. "Thank you, darling."

Santi who saw Arman suddenly choked, could only look at the husband's face with a questionable look. The man who has been his life companion for twenty-seven years looks like someone who has been caught hiding a secret.

"Where did Papa sleep last night?" repeat Santi about the question he asked earlier.

"E. That's Ma, last night Papa slept in the office. Yes, sleep in the office. Papa just came home to meet with the relationship at two in the morning, after which Papa spent the night at the office."

Nervous, that's the expression Arman showed when answering the wife's question. His heart suddenly beat like it was hiding something at the bottom of the heart. I don't want anyone to know, including my wife and kids.

The two Santi netra stared intensely at Arman's expression which seemed unusual. This is what presents a prejudice that is spoiled in the chest. A prejudice that almost a month later he dimmed, but this morning returned to the surface. The husband's gesture really confirmed that there was something he was keeping.

"Why meet with the relationship until late at night? What is Papa talking about?"

While peeling the orange fruit, Kirana also interrogated the papa. The twenty-five-year-old woman was eager to know what the father discussed with her coworkers to make her forget to go home.

Arman smiled faintly even though inside his chest was nervous. "Many Sweethearts. There is so much we discussed. Especially in a pandemic like today. Where we must survive even in the midst of a pandemic."

"Is it really like that? As far as Kirana was concerned, no company leader met with the relationship until late at night just to discuss work. Unless it's an out-of-office event. Like party events, or anything that has nothing to do with work."

Again Kirana's speech increasingly made Arman cornered. His forehead suddenly shriveled. Think of the answer from the increasingly demanding child. Kirana's question was like a question from a prosecutor.

"Look, the subject of work was not discussed until late but our chat outside the work that made us forget the time."

Kirana smiled in anguish. Arman's answer sounds absurd. "Oh like that, Pa? It turns out that Papa's business partner is great huh. Can make an Arman Adiguna forget to go home and forget his family waiting at home."

"Eh Honey isn't  ...."

Drrt  .... Drrtnt  .... Drrttt  ....

The vibration of the cell phone that was lying near Arman's plate, slashed the middle-aged man's speech. He grabbed his cell phone and saw who was contacting him at times like this. The two neutrals were wide and perfectly rounded when inwardly spelled out one of the names he was very familiar with but no one knew.

"Kok didn't pick up Pa? Who's the phone from?"

Arman gasps. The wife's question really made her stutter. "E ... This is Ma's co-worker. Yes, a co-worker. Hold on, Papa pick it up first."

Arman moved from his position. With wide footsteps, the middle-aged man moved away from the whereabouts of Santi as well as Kirana. Heading into a corner might feel a lot more privacy to talk to.

What's the matter with you, Pa? Why your attitude has really changed. You who usually dared to pick up the phone in front of me and also in front of Raina, now why is it like there is something you are hiding? You are like someone who cheats. 

Santi monologues in the heart. The bead of his eyes did not escape aiming for the shadow of the husband's body that had disappeared behind the wall. It is this change in the attitude of the husband that further traps him in the labyrinth of prejudices that are difficult to unravel.

Papa really looks weird. He who always answered the question firmly and straightforwardly, this morning like someone who was being struck by nervousness. What are you really hiding?  Is it true that Papa cheated on my mother's back?

Not much different from Santi, Kirana also monologues in the heart. The change in the attitude of the papa has really brought up the shoots of prejudice that he wants to find the truth.

Santi who had previously dissolved in his own mind, now he linked his gaze towards Kirana. The middle-aged woman smiled faintly looking at the expression of the child who also seemed to be filled with question marks.

"But Ma  ...."

"Sssstttt .. already yes Dear. It's noon already. Get ready to go to work soon. Mama's gonna be going to the boutique soon."

Kirana nodded obediently. He moved from his seat. "Good Ma. Kiran, then, farewell. Please tell Papa that Kiran has left."

"Yes Dear. You be careful."

Kirana kisses the back of Santi's hand. Do not forget to catch the right cheek and left cheek of the middle-aged woman who has given birth to this. Then he swings his legs to immediately start his activities in the morning.

Santi left the dining table. He stepped on his feet, following the husband who seemed to be pulling over in the backyard. Stay away from crowds to communicate with someone.

Santi stopped his footing which was not far from the position of Arman who was currently on his back. From where Santi is standing right now, the man seems to be very engrossed in his chat with someone who is his interlocutor behind the phone. Even the man seemed to be laughing, like he was very happy. That's what makes Santi's heart beat more and more pain.

 

     Who are you talking to, Pa? Why do you look so happy? Who can make you laugh like that besides me and Raina? Is it possible, that person is your mistress? 

Clear threads from the corner of Santi's eyes increasingly falling. As a refractive sense of restrained tightness. With his head covered with millions of questions. Seeing the husband laughing freely with others makes his heart filled with disrelief.

Santi turned around. He walked like he was carrying a burden of feeling. The fragments of prejudice that could have been a fragment of the wound that he would feel.

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