LOVE OF JUITA
Facing the Reality
Do not be weak, and do not (also) grieve, but you are the highest (highest) if you are believers.
(Q.S Ali Imran verse 139)
***
Tik tok tik!
The sound of the wall clock ticking slowly, filling the void in the dining room. Where the residents are gathering but immersed in their respective minds.
The Mbok is chin-backed with a moody face. He stared at the dining table with a blank look. While Septian massaged his head that felt heavy and influential because of lack of sleep. There was a faint dark shadow in his eye bags.
"So how much did Tian lose?" Said the Father breaking the silence.
"Near five hundred million sir. Not including small costs that do not count." Septian sighs are heavy.
"Do you still have savings?" Ask Si Mbok worried. His old eye light penetrated into the septian tube.
Septian shook his head weakly. His fingers combed his hair back with fret. He looked tired and also messy.
"All Tian savings allocate to the store. No longer left."
The father looked down deeply in the sign he put great concern on his son. He breathed heavy breaths. He was in the position of his son. Losses of hundreds of millions. The difference is that he still has savings and is mentally as strong as steel.
After all, Septian, still mental and business spirit has not been honed. Moreover, all this time he never lived hard and lack. Mental things can make things different.
"Mr and Si Mbok don't worry. If it was just for eating, Tian could not still afford it. Slowly you can sleep again. God willing." Septian's reply eased his parents' concerns.
"Don't scold your wife yeah . pity. No one wants something like this." The Mbok gently patted Septian's shoulder.
"Are you not ashamed of this?" Septian looked towards Mbok.
"Yes shy, but what to say .. We'll face it, ikhlaskan." Swishing the Mbok.
"It's not that easy, ma'am. Tian was furious, why did Julia rashly increase production. He did something beyond his ability. That's why it's like this. Tian felt Julia had been blinded by money." Septian clenched his hands until his knuckles turned white.
"Astaghfirullah Tian's. Don't think so, I know Julia's increasing production to open jobs for our rural mothers." The Mbok rubbed Septian's back.
"But look at the results. Not lucky to be lucky!"
"So, I'm not sure it's Julia's fault. The feeling of Mr. .. seems like this incident was deliberately done by people who are not happy with your efforts. You don't want to guess, but have you ever hurt the people here?"
He looked into Septian's eyes, searching for the truth and reality that his son might be hiding.
Septian was dumbstruck, memories of the confrontation between Julia, Dian and Bu Kades flashed in his mind. But Miss Kades is the wife of a respected man in her village. He doesn't want to be suspicious of Miss Kades. The problem between them is not finished.
"Content Sir. Tian did not want to suspect anyone. It may have been our fate to have this calamity." Septian lirih.
"Just close the store temporarily until this issue subsides. If necessary make a written request in the newspaper. You guys calm down first. Mbok please hold your mouth Tian, don't you hurt Julia. We're all he has here."
Si Mbok's words seemed to slap Septian. She remembers exactly how she acted last night with Julia. He vented his anger violently at Julia. He ignored his wife all night.
"It's too late Mom, I've even stuck a poison-soaked dagger into my wife's heart."
Septian eyes were moving about, wild, and restless. He avoided the look of the Mbok.
"Tian go upstairs first. Take a break." Septian got up from the chair and darted away from his parents.
The hand of the Mbok lost quickly caught the hand of the youngest child. As a mother, her instinct caught something wrong.
You gave the code with his hand so that Si Mbok refrain from pursuing Septian.
***
Riska is busy with her business handling the rampage of net citizens on social media. Every now and then he picks up incoming calls on his office phone. Patiently he apologized to an angry customer demanding an explanation.
His hands were busy typing draft sentences for apologies in writing and announcements to be made via social media and newspapers. Adzan zhuhur vegetables rang from mosque to mosque. It was Julia who was still asleep. So quiet and peaceful.
Riska left her desk and ordered two packs of Julia's favorite Padang Rice through the app. Riska went down to the first floor waiting for her order to come. Less than twenty minutes of food arrived.
After paying, Riska goes back up to the second floor to wake Julia up.
"Mbak .. wake up, already zhuhur." Riska knelt down and shook Julia's shoulder slowly.
"Emmmmm! " Julia blinked her glare eyes receiving the sunlight through the window. He sat down to stretch his stiff muscles.
"I've bought Padang rice for lunch. Do you want to eat first or pray first?" Ask Riska.
"Sholat just go Ris. If you're hungry eat first it's okay." Julia got up to the dispenser. Thirsty, he needs a drink.
"Then Riska participated in prayer as well deh Mbak. Let's just let us eat together." Said Riska looking at Julia for approval.
Julia replied with a nod and a dikulum smile.
Riska went to the toilet for ablution and followed by Julia.
They offer prayers together. At the end of the last rakaat, Julia prostrated longer. He placed the prayer he prayed at the foot of the earth. May the angel take his prayers up into the sky through to the Throne.
***
While eating lunch, Julia and Riska were still discussing about the continuity of the store.
"Riska has made an apology at IG and the newspaper. The one in the newspaper will be in print tomorrow morning. And also I've made an announcement our shop is closed for a while." Report Risk.
"Okay, are there any more complaints?"
"The one who gets angry and swears us at IG a lot. But the one who is still asking us to take responsibility is only the Nabelle. He DM asked for money for treatment. He said he was afraid of contracting TB. Sebeeeel me!" Riska looked very nervous.
"Just ignore him, he doesn't need to be addressed. We've been apologizing personally, model people for so long blackmailing us."
"The vet says Mba, he's looking for opportunities from other people's misfortune."
"This is our agenda to Bu Karti's house. We're taking him to the hospital to prove if he's really sick with TB. This has to be straightened out so that our customers don't fret." Julia decides.
"Okay Ma'am, let me call Bu Karti after a meal."
"Thank you Ris. You want to get through this difficult time. If the store permit is finally revoked by the Department of Health ... I pray you get a better job than this."
Julia looked at Riska's plain face which looked surprised. Riska, how much Julia loves and loves a girl who is light-handed and persistent in front of her. It was like getting a sister figure in this foreign place.
"Mbak .. don't say that. Riska is still at home with Mbak's cooperation."
"I'm sorry Ris, I don't know if I can give you a salary or not next month. If Riska wants to find another job, I'll excuse her." Julia lirih.
Riska is silent, she can't make a promise to be loyal to Julia. Because in reality, he also needs income. However, he will try to last longer to accompany Julia. Not because of the money but because of the affection for Julia that he had considered as an older sister.
Riska and Julia spent their lunch in silence. This problem doesn't just flip through Julia's life. But also all of his workers are cut off the source of his income.
What a bitter reality!.
