Married for Papa

Grandma's Advice

Bandung, 2021

After being treated for a few days in the hospital, Grandma Rina was finally allowed to go home. Rina's grandmother returns home accompanied by Bryan, Ayunda and Melisa. They came down the hospital building using an elevator. Grandma Rina sat in a wheelchair with the help of nurses who were on guard at the time.

"Mom, there's nothing left in the room?" ask Melisa aunt Bryan to Grandma Rina to make sure.

"Since my mother there was no Mel. But I don't know if anyone's left behind or not." Grandma Rina replied with doubt. Understandably, because it is old age memory usually decreases.

"No Mel, I checked before I left the room." Say Ayunda while pressing the elevator button towards the lobby.

The elevator went fast and they reached the lobby.

The driver was waiting in front of the hospital lobby.

"Good morning ladies." Greet Mr. Udin the invite driver who was assigned by Reymond to deliver and pick up Bryan-Ayunda.

"Good morning Mr. Udin." Reply Ayunda.

Bryan first opened the car door for Grandma Rina. After making sure Grandma Rina was sitting comfortably, Bryan folded his wheelchair and placed it into the trunk of the car. Then Aunt Melisa and Ayunda got into the car. Aunt Melisa sat in the back seat, in the second seat there is Ayunda and Grandma Rina while Bryan sat in the front seat beside Mr. Udin.

The car drove at a speed of 60 km per hour to break the crowd of the city of Bandung.

For some people Bandung is a very beautiful city but not for Bryan. He often went back and forth between Jakarta-Bandung even almost every weekend to visit Grandma Rina but never once did he visit the tourist attractions in Bandung. Though the city of Bandung is known for its beauty even formerly called Parijs van Java. In addition, the city of Bandung is also known as a shopping city, with malls and factory outlets that are widely spread in this city, and now gradually the city of Bandung is also a culinary tourism city.

During the trip Bryan was only busy with a tablet and occasionally check the phone screen. Hope his confidants provide information about Eliza's whereabouts.

"Ry, don't be too busy with work. Sometimes enjoying life does not hurt. Mumpung is in Bandung, do you not want to walk to the building satay or just hang out on Jalan Braga. There are many young people like you, who knows you found a soul mate there!" Aunty Melisa's speech melts the atmosphere.

"Hanging out is only for people who don't have jobs, Auntie." Said Bryan coldly.

"That's predictable, your answer must be so!"

"Sir, what did you crave to have a cold kid like Bryan?" Melisa asked while throwing a glance out the window.

Ayunda and Grandma Rina just smiled.

"It's a good thing my kids don't have anything like Bryan. If there's one kid like Bryan, I'll die! Every day I would definitely scold him for always saying spicy like eating level ten." Melisa complained in annoyance.

"Mbak doesn't know Mel, the feeling used to be just cravings for young mangoes." Answer Ayunda while pretending to think.

"Young insects or ants that are on the mango tree?"

Instantly Grandma Lina laughed could not bear to hear the words of her second daughter.

"The longer you tease her, the more upset you are by her."

Bryan just kept quiet to hear the commotion from the back seat.

Forty minutes later. The car that Bryan was riding had entered the yard of Grandma Rina's house. Bryan swiftly opened the door and made Grandma Rina sit in a wheelchair. Aunt Melisa opens the door and lets Bryan and Ayunda in.

"Come, you guys get in first. Take a short break here before proceeding to Jakarta." Said Melisa while putting the suitcase containing all the needs of Grandma Rina during the hospital.

Bryan brought Grandma Rina into the room in a wheelchair. After arriving at the room, Grandma Rina advised Bryan.

"Ry, remember grandma's message. If you have married the daughter of your daddy's best friend, please take care of your marriage so that your household is destroyed because you have not forgotten Eliza. Grandma didn't know Alexander's family very well but she was sure they were good people." Grandma Rina advised Bryan while stroking the head of her favorite granddaughter.

"But I'm afraid Grandma will hurt him because she won't love him at all times."

"Ry, that love will grow by itself. Trust me the same grandma. You will love your wife as long as you open your heart and accept her with all your heart. Don't let you realize it when you lose him."

"Don't copy Ry's grandmother. Grandma married her late grandfather because of an arranged marriage. For years grandma did not try to open the heart when your grandfather was so patient and kind but grandma still does not love him. Until one day your grandfather sacrificed himself to help grandma from the fire where the new grandmother felt lost. Grandma felt like a fool because as long as your grandfather lived, he never learned to love her. Grandma regrets Ry. Until now grandma felt guilty for never giving this heart to your grandfather. If time could be turned, grandma wants to fix everything." Remember Grandma with tears. Remembering the past makes you sad.

Suddenly the door of Grandma's room opened, Ayunda appeared and immediately approached Grandma Rina who was talking to Bryan.

"Mom come on, don't cry anymore. Ayunda sure, the father there has forgiven mother. If you're alive, it's sad to see you always blaming yourself." Entertain Ayunda.

"Ay, it feels like mother is not able to live with this suffering. I want to catch up with your father soon." Granny Lina's crying became more and more.

"Hush, I can't talk like that. Pamali ma'am." reprimand Ayunda.

"Mom better sleep, just got out of the hospital. Remember the doctor, don't think too much. You have to be healthy to watch Bryan get married. Don't you want to see our family's first great-grandson born?" entertain Ayunda.

Moments later, Grandma's face turns happy, imagining Bryan getting married and giving her her first great-grandchild.

" Well, I'm going to sleep but I promise you that after Bryan gets married, bring my daughter-in-law's granddaughter here. I want to get acquainted and give her a wedding gift."

"Most certainly." Say Ayunda while smiling gently.

Ayunda and Bryan left Grandma's room. As Ayunda set foot into the living room, Bryan followed behind.

"Ry, mommy doesn't know exactly what you're talking about, but mommy just asked for you. Please don't disappoint mommy and daddy. Aluna's a good girl, son, she's a perfect fit to be your wife. Mommy's sure, you'll love her and forget Eliza."

Bryan just kept quiet, not answering anything because for him it was very difficult to forget Eliza. Bryan doubts whether he will love Aluna. What kind of marriage would it be if Aluna knew that Bryan would never forget Eliza.