Mother To Ananda

CHAPTER 5

"On what salary are you, until you just came home like this maghrib?"

Retno's breath began to wail. His gaze was blurry due to tears that were ready to spill with just one blink. The feeling is present again. The painful feeling that He had buried tightly now began to urge out.

"Dad still doesn't think the same of you. The intelligent brain cannot make you think to choose a job that can make you have a future. Have savings."

Retno growled slowly, trying to dispel the dark memories that began to appear in his brain. Pressure - pressure that makes itself helpless.

Minarsih, who had been silent in the kitchen, ventured out to calm her husband. Minarsih does not want the relationship between her husband and her son to be more distant. "That's enough." Minarsih stroked her husband's arm gently. Hopefully it will make the anger of the husband can subside.

"It's not Dad. Retno out of ..." Retno could not continue her answer. He could not have said that he had run out of the house of a disciple of his. Although it is true, and it's a job, his father will not be that easy to believe. His father was a very strict person and it was difficult to accept answers or excuses from others. He will endure the answers of his own thinking. So, Retno better swallow again the answer that will make her father increasingly railed against her life choices.

"What can you expect from being a teacher like this Retno?" Waluyo massaged the base of her nose. I don't think about the choice of her daughter.

Retno linked to her ten fingers uneasily. Cold sweat began to wet both of his palms. The series of questions that continue to be given by the father makes Retno more anxious. He continued to rub his wet palm into his work uniform.

Thats enough.

He's not strong anymore, he has to get out of here. Retno does not want her father and mother to know her current situation. Retno covered both ears, intending that the teasing of the Father no longer He heard. Before all drowning, Retno painstakingly stepped her feet to leave in front of her parents. It's not that he's rude to run away from a conversation with his father. However, Retno did not want her parents to know her condition like this. Retno ran out with a feeling of uneasiness that was getting worse. His stomach turmoil also seemed to contribute to make Retno's body more pain. He did not want such a condition to appear again. He does not want to be tormented anymore.

Retno's footsteps came to a halt, her trembling hands picking up the phone in her bag, a name she thought He would help.

"Sir, ma-af is interrupting. May I ask for a favor?"

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Zero Point, the city of Yogyakarta, witnessed how two people of different sexes, sitting in a riled up on one of the benches that were there. The atmosphere of the night lights further beautify the place with the traffic of more and more people. Car horns are occasionally heard when traffic light shows a green light. Congestion is the reason some drivers honk. They can not wait to immediately release fatigue from their entire day of activities.

     Salman gave a small smile considering that today is Saturday, which means now is Sunday night. Quickly, the streets of Malioboro seem crowded filled with several people. Young people who want to date. Couples who want to spend the night with their children, because tomorrow is a holiday. Even the singles and singles who want to have fun with their fellow singles like them. Who knows, there are bullies?

     Salman sighed in anger at Retno who was drinking water to swallow the drug *Benzodiazepine that Retno took from her bag. Retno's vibrating voice when calling her earlier, able to make Salman who was recording orders from his customers rushed to find the key of his favorite Vespa motorbike.

     Salman looked at Retno's face. Retno's puffy eyes, clearly indicates how long the duration of her crying. Salman scratched his right temple that was not itchy. Questions raged in Salman's mind.

     "Thank you, sir. Sorry I'm so ngrepotin Mr." Retno looked down not daring to look at Salman's face. Retno was deeply ashamed of Salman. How could the name of Salman befitted for His help? Why did Salman's face cross when the condition came?

     Retno sighed deeply, hoping that the weight that had accumulated in her chest could be slightly reduced. The pressure from the father again - again evokes a condition that Retno hates. The condition where Retno became an ungodly child. This condition also makes Retno look at her biological father with great fear.

     "Mom, Miss Retno can tell me anything." Salman's eyes caught Retno's subtle body jerking reaction from her words. Salman knew what medicine Retno was taking. He several times bought the drug for Dira the end - lately often exposed to Insomnia facing the final Test that he will soon face. Salman recalled that the drug was a sedative. Actually what problems Retno is facing to make herself up to this chaos.

     "My father must have known that I..." Retno gulped her hard-earned saliva. "Crazy sir?"

     Salman's turn was surprised by Retno's question. Salman shook his head in disapproval. "No Ma'am. Don't talk like that. Whatever problems you're having right now, share them with someone, Mom. Don't hold it yourself."

     Salman sighed, not thinking. How can a fellow human being with his strength say words that can hurt his fellow man. They - those with this mental condition need encouragement, need trust, not scorn, insults, or even mockery. Salman looked back at Retno who was still down. The small body, vibrating in unison with a roaring cry that slashed Salman's heart. Can Salman take it? Can Salman share his power a little with this frail body beside him?

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Angklung game from street musicians on the side of the road, in fact able to publish a thin smile on the lips Retno. Husband-husband song afraid of the wife of Sule the famous comedian homeland, became more pleasant to hear with harmonization angklung game of them the musician.

"I used to be a snitch too." Retno knitted brows inexplicably with Salman's words.

"Suami-husband is afraid of wife." Salman explained. Retno chuckled softly at Salman's words. Funny, Retno thought. The widower with him is warm. Retno who just knew him was comfortable near this handsome widower. "Taste Sir?"

"Yes, Mom. I used to be scared of my late wife." Salman remembers the past. Retno smiled at Salman's reply. Luckily, she was Salman's wife.

"Errrr..." Retno patted both cheeks that felt warm spread to her ears. What kind of thought was that that just flashed in his little brain.

Salman returned to his vespanya, when the green light was on. The roar of the machine from Salman's favorite motorbike, not the least disturbing Retno activity that is enjoying the night atmosphere of this gudeg city. The accumulated burden that Retno carried, slowly began to decrease as she slightly shared her condition with Salman.

"Bu Retno is not crazy. Just a little unlucky because of Mom's condition. Therefore, let's remove Bu Retno's misfortune. Share with me what Bu Retno feels."

Retno again smiled in light of Salman's words. Simple words that he heard for the first time. The first encouraging sentence about his condition the first time he felt. No slurs, insults, even mockery. The tightness cavity in his chest might even be reduced by fifty percent. Retno bit her inner lips to prevent her from smiling wider. He could not even count how many times he had smiled in the past hour. The night wind caressed Retno's blushed face. Minutes passed accompanied by a heartbeat Retno tempo faster than usual.

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Retno and Salman sat on one of the benches provided by angkringan owners located adjacent to Tugu Jogja Station. Not long ago, Salman's order was served by the angkringan employee. Retno frowned confused when she saw in front of him there was already coffee with smoke billowing in which there was charcoal that was still gaping. Salman smiled at Retno's confusion.

"Never drink jos ma'am coffee?" Retno shook her head in response. He never went to Angkringan in his entire life. He had only heard of the name of this legendary jos coffee.

"Cobain Ma'am! Delicious." Salman sipped his coffee. Retno nodded then sipped her jos coffee. Retno nodded her head, as she tasted the taste of the coffee inside her mouth. Retno acts like a seasoned chef.

"Nob." Salman chuckled slightly at the demeanor of this beautiful woman in front of him. The oddity that turned into a charming smile that was able to make Retno become misbehaved. Salman smiled with relief. The woman is back cheerful.

Hold still.

The woman?

Since when?

Salman shook his head, dispelling his crazy thoughts. He cleared a glance then sipped his coffee again. Think for a second, will this be the same again? The closeness that He will soon do, will have an impact like what? The closeness that either arises from when, which He knows only to be done at this very moment. Salman again cleared his throat to neutralize the heartbeat he had experienced since close to Retno. Teenagers who are feeling first love.

"Bu Retno, let me be closer to you. Can you?"