Mastenges

167. Last request

"I have to go." Typhoon kissed Bella's forehead who had just given ASI to Jagat, their first son.

"Where are you going?" Bella asked as she buttoned her negligee.

"Duty" Typhoon lied.

"Oh yes, be careful" Bella said, smiling and hugging the Typhoon warmly.

"Thank you, sorry I can't accompany you. Just a few hours ago, our son was born. I promise, if I take a day off, we'll take turns keeping the Jagat."

"It's okay, you don't have to feel bad. I'm his mother and you're his father. You have to earn a living, I understand that. There's mom and mom, after all."

Typhoon breathed a sigh of relief and kissed Bella's forehead.

"Well, baby, if there's anything call me."

"Yes, um,"

"Assalamualaikum, I'm leaving first,"

"Waalaikumsalam, be careful, mas,"

"Yes dear.."

"Mom, mom, ba.. Typhoon left first. There's a calling assignment,"

"Yes, be careful.."

"Siapp's.." Typhoon smiled, trying to ward off his uneasiness. Then he stepped out of the room and walked towards the elevator, grabbing his phone from his pants pocket.

"Hello," his greeting to Antok who is across there. The noise sounded very clear and made the voice of Antok who was talking to the Typhoon sound very faint.

"Where are you?"

"Let's go upstairs, I'll be there in two minutes" said Typhoon.

"Huh?"

"In two minutes I'll be upstairs!" Again with Typhoon.

"Where above?"

"On top of the hospital building! You're this! You think a helicopter could land on a tree?" Ask Typhoon.

"Huh?"

"Allah! Just send a message! I won't hear you!" Said the Typhoon that looks upset to Antok.

Yes, Antok was assigned to accompany Typhoon to visit Pongki in Nusakambangan, Cilacap. Because of the very long distance from Jakarta, the superior of Typhoon deliberately borrowed a helicopter for the purposes of Typhoon in meeting his in-laws.

Ting!

The elevator door opened on the top floor of the building. However, to get back up to where the helicopter landed, the Typhoon had to climb a few more floors.

"Sore sir!" A man standing guard on the top floor.

"Sore," the Typhoon nodded and smiled at the person. People who have been waiting for the Typhoon to open the door to the roof top of the building.

"The helicopter hasn't arrived yet sir,"

"It's okay, I just wait upstairs" said Typhoon.

"Okay sir, I'll open it, sir,"

"Byeah," Sahut Typhoon.

The man opened the lock from the access door to the roof top. After the door opened, he invited the Typhoon to come out of the door.

"I'll just wait here sir, until the helicopter lands."

"Thank you" said the Typhoon..

His heart was pounding, so agitated, Typhoon grabbed a cigarette from the cigarette box he had just taken out of his pants pocket. Then burn it and suck it slowly. His eyes kept watching the sky around the hospital building.

"Where is the Antok!" His inner.

Shortly after, a helicopter flew in from a distance. The typhoon still smokes its cigarettes while keeping an eye on the helicopters that are getting closer to the building. Then he sent a message to Antok who was in the helicopter with a pilot from one of the air force personnel.

I'm downstairs.

The typhoon sent the message to Antok.

Shortly after, the helicopter began to move down just below the green sign with the letter 'H' on the roof top floor.

"Yinananan!" Antok waved his hand.

Typhoon killed his cigarette with the heel of his shoe. Then pick up the cigarette butts and throw them in the trash can located next to the entrance.

"Sir, I'll walk first. Thank you, yes," said Typhoon to the person who opened the roof top door for himself.

"Yes sir, be careful.."

"Thank you" said the Typhoon as it approached the helicopter.

The typhoon slightly ducked down and ran to get to the helicopter. Then he went in and immediately used a device to cover his ears and also serves for communication between fellow passengers and the pilot in the helicopter.

"Ready?" Ask the pilot.

"Ready." Typhoon and Antok.

"Ok, it's time to flight..!"

The helicopter rose into the air, and rushed to leave the sky of Jakarta.

...

"Jeung, why?" Erna asked as she looked at Berta who looked very moody.

Berta lifted his face and looked at Erna, then he smiled sweetly at the friend and his besan.

"There's nothing ma'am."

"Masa? Story jeung, if there's anything." Erna tried to convince Berta.

Berta smiled again, then he lowered his face.

"Daddy will be executed next week ma'am" Bella said.

Erna looked at Bella and then she turned her gaze to Berta.

"Is that really true?"

Berta looked back at Erna and smiled again. But this time Berta's smile looked so bitter. Everyone in the room was silent. Only Jagat's voice sounded whining because it wanted his mother's embrace.

Galang moved from his seat and helped reach Jagat from inside the baby box. Then hand over Jagat to Bella who welcomes Jagat with her sweet smile.

"Thank you ba.." Bella.

"Together with my son" said Galang. Then he sat down next to Erna who was staring at Berta who looked very agitated.

"Why so fast. Not a year of verdict?" Erna said again.

"He asked to be sped up" Berta said.

"Maybe this is the best for him, I can only give up. I can't manage him, who feels the pain inside there is not me, but him" said Berta, who looked very resigned to Pongki's decision.

Erna and Galang were still silent. They can do nothing but wish Pongki and Berta all the best.

"Did she know her granddaughter was born?" Ask Galang.

Berta shook his head weakly and returned a bitter smile.

"I'll call Mr. Pongki. I will give him this happy news. As far as I know, every death row inmate gets three final requests that must be fulfilled by the law," Galang got up from his seat and rushed to contact the Nusakambangan Prison.

"Thank you sir" said Berta.

"No problem ma'am" said Galang.

..

Pongki was silent in his holding cell. One week before he was executed, he was transferred to a special cell that only housed himself. In his hand was a piece of paper and a pen. Three requests, one of which he had submitted a few days ago. That is, he wants Typhoon to be one of the five executors who will shoot him. There are two more requests that he has not filled.

Pongki stared at the ceiling of his cell. Then he looked back at the paper in his hand.

I want to spend a day with my wife. If it can't be a day, let me just a few hours to meet my wife, Berta. Write it.

There is a third request.

Suddenly we heard footsteps from the jailer approaching his cell.

Geck! Geck!

"Father of Pongki Susilo!"

"Yes.." Pongki Sahut. Then he put the paper and pen he was holding onto his shabby bed, and moved from his seat.

A sreeekkk!

A guard opened a small hole the size of a notebook, which was on the iron door. The warden looked at Pongki who was standing looking at the warden.

"There's a phone call for dad. Please come with us. Please face the wall!" Pinta the warden's.

"Ba-well," said Pongki, raising both hands and facing the cell wall.

The warden opened the cell door and stepped in. After making sure Pongki was harmless, he approached Pongki and took the middle-aged man to a room where someone was waiting to talk to Pongki by phone.

"Please" said the prison warden, pointing at the phone handle lying on the table.

Pongki nodded, then grabbed the phone and greeted the person waiting for him.

"Hello, assalamualaikum," Sapa Pongki.

"Waalaikumsalam" Sahut Galang.

"Who is this?" Ask Pongki.

"I'm Galang, Typhoon's biological father.

"Oh yes, Mr Galang, how are you? What made you call me?" Tanya Pongki who looked curious. Because this is the first time Galang contacted Pongki personally.

"Don't worry sir, I want to give you the good news."

"What news is that, sir?" Ask Pongki.

"Today, it was morning by noon. We have become grandfathers. Typhoon and Bella's son was born. Bella gave birth to a son, named Jagat Raya Putra Alexander."

Pongki was stunned to hear the happy news. His hands were trembling, all his joints were feeling limp. Pongki was sitting on a plastic chair near the phone.

"really?" He asked, and let out tears that he could no longer bear.

"Yes sir. The baby boy was born perfect. Handsome as Mr. Pongki," said Galang.

Pongki sobbed. He no longer knew how to express the happiness he was feeling at this moment.

"How's my son Bella doing sir?" Ask Pongki.

"Alhamdulillah, Bella is healthy, even with all of us here. Sir, is it true that the execution will be carried out next week?"

"Yes" said Pongki with a voice that sounded hoarse.

"How many requests have you made?"

"Du-two," said Pongki again.

"I will help with the third request. Better, you begged to meet your granddaughter."

Pongki fell silent, slowly his smile began to expand on his lips.

"Can't you?" He asked with an incredulous face.

"Goddessa. My wife and I will help my dad. We'll talk and make that plea for the father to the person in authority."

"Thank you sir!" Pongki said with a cry.

"Together sir."

"I'll make that request. I wish I could see my granddaughter one last time."

"God willing, we will do it" promised Galang.

"Thank you, sir, thank you.."

"Sama-sama sir. I just want to tell you that. After this, let's both make a wish."

"Ready sir.."

"Yes, see you."

"Yes sir, assalamualaikum."

"Getishalight." Galang Sahut.

Pongki returned the phone to his place. Then he looked at the faces of the guards who looked ready to bring himself back into the special cell.

"I have a granddaughter.." His words were not asked by the guards who were herding himself back into the cell.

"My grandson is a boy.." Say it again.

The warden remained silent without responding to Pongki's remarks.

"I'll see him before I die" he said.

Cklekk!

Pongki's cell door opened.

"Please enter!" The warden's orders.

"I will meet Jagat, my beloved grandson."

Brakkkkk!

The cell door was closed. Without saying anything, the guards stepped away with tears that they held as hard as their hearts.

The warden, although they looked indifferent and had little to no feelings. Actually they are human beings who try not to get carried away while on duty. There are many sad stories in Lapas, and only those who know how to act without involving the feelings of the stories that invite poignancy.