My Choice of Woman

Episode 4

Farah opened her eyes, she saw this room. Outlandish. His hand was fitted with an infusion, he felt his head still dizzy throbbing. Farah realized that this was not her room, but a hospital room. He moved his head to the right, he saw a man sitting on the sofa, a stranger. Farah's goal knew it was Inspiration. He looked back at Farah coldly, maybe he was pitying his weak state.

Before long the sound of the door opening, the man came in and approached Farah, just as he knew who it was. Mommy.

“Have been aware, since when did Farah realize Ilham?”

“Newly, Bun.”

“Why not directly call a doctor!” mother's voice slightly raised.

Inspiration according to him, he immediately went out to call the doctor. It was not long before Ilham came with a female doctor. The doctor checked Farah's condition.

After completion the doctor suggested that Farah be hospitalized a few days until her condition recovered. The doctor wrote down a prescription. Mother sent Inspiration to redeem the medicine.

“Mother, why can I be here?”

“Nak Farah don't move much first. Farah passed out, Mbak Jum who called Mommy.”

Farah immediately remembered her original purpose. He's going to the college entrance exam test. Suddenly Farah sobbed again

“Mother, it should be my college entrance test today.”

“Farah can not take the exam, Farah's condition is still weak,” said Mother while hugging Farah.

“But Mommy, it's Farah's chance to continue her education Farah,” Farah's whine.

“Continuing education does not have to go to college, there are many other ways. Farah can take the test again next year, now Farah must recover first.”

***

The next day Balqis and Jihan visit Farah. They were worried when they found out Farah didn't take the test yesterday. They also came to the house and Jum said that Farah was hospitalized.

“Mothers recognize, these are friends Farah.”

“Assalamu’alaikum Aunty, introduce me Balqis,” greetings Balqis and kiss the hand of Mother.

“I Jihan Aunt,” greetings Jihan to Mother.

“Do not call aunty, call Mommy just like Farah. Duh kok beautiful all these girls, dear Mother has a boy.” Mother feels anxious.

“Ah Mommy can be,” Jihan said.

“Mother, Balqis can bribe Farah?” tanya Balqis who had seen the bowl of ration porridge Farah still intact.

“Boleh once, from earlier Farah did not want to eat. Because there happened to be Nak Balqis and Nak Jihan, Mommy came home for a while yes, wanted to take clean clothes, all these dirty clothes to be washed Mbak Jum,” said Mother. Then Mother left them.

“Balqis, you should not have permission to bribe Farah, but the truth is that you feed Farah.” laughs Jihan who is ignorant to ask for forgiveness.

“Astaghfirullah, indeed you think Farah is a cat!" balqis was feeding Farah.

Suddenly with no door on tap, Ilham walked into Farah's room. Balqis and Jihan just looked at Ilham.

“Sorry, my bag missed so I came here to pick up this bag. Sorry to interrupt your time, excuse me,” the man said and left.

Farah simply nodded without answering a word. Balqis and Jihan were still stunned, seeing the sudden Inspiration ‘ appearing’ amid the excitement of their cheer.

“That's who Far?” Jihan asked.

“Oh that was, that's Mother's second child. His name is Ilham,” replied Farah.

“Masyaa Allah, beautiful creation–Mu yes Allah,” sahut Jihan with a pair of sparkling eyes.

“Apaanya beautiful Jihan, cuek yes, cold yes, worse the Inspiration is very economical!" farah's protest didn't take place when Jihan said it was beautiful to the stiff man.

What is beautiful, what part? What to heed from such a cold Inspiration!

“Eh, obviously he's more handsome than a movie actress. I would love to be his wife.”

“Astaghfirullah this boy. Jihan realized, your test score yesterday was true how much to try? that should be the one to worry about,” Balqis told Jihan.

“Eh Yes Balqis. But Far, why do you say his name does not use the word kak, mas, or bang anyway?” ask Jihan.

“I'm not used to it, anyways he's irony said. I was here two days ago when he was picking up the bag. Yeah, that's it. The rest is silent, can even make this whole room quiet,” replied Farah

“Farah answered honestly, Mommy once left you with that man in this room?” tanya Balqis.

“Is he the man to be betrothed to you ?” asked Balqis dissatisfied.

“Iya Balqis.”

“Congratulations Far, he seems like a good man. The mother is good too. But as much as possible do not be alone with him even though he is your rider, you are not mahram.”

Farah simply nodded hearing the explanation from Balqis.

If you had known Balqis, he was a man full of anger from his cold masked face.

“Oh yes Far, if yesterday you did not take the test, then you take the college entrance test next year dong?” jihan asked who was a little anxious because three years were always together, a triad formation. But this year will not be together anymore.

“Iya, relax. I am nothing,” replied Farah while smiling lightly without burden.

Farah had felt such a heavy loss that she could let go of the opportunity to continue her higher education, which even had months of preparation for her tests. It is so easy to lose that opportunity. Or maybe God asked to try again.

“Lantas this year where are you planning to go? Or do you want to do something? Waiting for a year is also long you know Far,” said Balqis.

True Farah has no plans at all to fill the next year.

“Maybe I will look for work and certainly study again Balqis,” kilah Farah so that Balqis does not worry too much

.

***

Farah has been in this hospital for five days. The doctor who checked Farah every day said that she had been forced to go home. Farah did not want to linger in this room.

Farah had missed her room so much, no room was very comfortable except her own room. Mother has taken care of the administration for Farah's return. He was also ready to go home. Only an infusion hose was still attached to his hand. Farah sat on the bed waiting for Mommy.

Just thinking expectantly to get out soon, the person Farah was waiting for had already come. He smiled, apparently Mother did not mind taking care of Farah. Only Farah did not take care of herself, making her own pain.

“Farah darling, be patient for a moment yes. Ma'am nurse is still doing the action in the side room, after that here to remove the infusion hose Farah,” said Mother softly.

“Iya Mother.”

“Mother, Farah wants to thank Mother who wants to take care of Farah since Papa and Mama are gone. Farah felt no longer alone, because Mother was always there when Farah was lonely and troubled. Thank you Mother,” said Farah and she kissed Mother's hand.

Mother was moved to hear what Farah said.

“Honey, Mommy did all this because now Farah is the responsibility of Mommy. Since the first Mother always wanted to have a daughter and mama Farah granted Mother's wishes. Mama Farah allows Mommy to take care of Farah as a baby. And now Mama Farah also entrust Farah to Mommy again,” said Mommy. Seen the look of the eyes of Mother glazed with tears that were about to come out.

Oh God, how noble mama. I've never heard this story either from papa or mama herself. It turns out that mama gave a small thing that may be very valuable to Mother.

Farah recalled, the other day she once yelled at mom about an arranged marriage with Ilham. Maybe this is why, mama wants to be a mother, so that Farah gets a good mother-in-law and mother gets a daughter even if only a daughter-in-law.

“Let Farah go home Mother only yes.”

“Thank you Mother, but sorry Farah went home Mama, Farah did not want to trouble Mommy.”

“Farah stay with Mommy. Mother once left Farah in the house, although there was mbak Jum but no one was watching Farah, there Farah will always remember the late mama and papa. Farah may even dissolve in sadness again. Mommy begs Farah to comply with this request of Mommy, for wherever Farah is the responsibility of Mommy.” Mother's voice is a little pushy.

Maybe Mommy is right, Mama has also entrusted me to Mommy. Then I accepted Mother's request. Maybe fulfilling her request indirectly I returned the kindness of Mother.

Farah's infusion hose has been removed. Mr. Parmin, the personal driver of Mother, picked up Farah and Mommy, he also brought Farah's bag containing Farah's clothes.

It was a long journey according to Farah. Although his house and Mother's house are still one city but the distance is very different. Farah's house is in the west of the city, while Bunda is in the east of the city.

While in the car, Mother said that clothes, books and even Farah's equipment in her room was already in Mother's house. Mbak Jum who cleaned and packed the goods yesterday.

Arriving at Mother's house, Farah is welcome to rest in the room that has been provided. Mother told Yu Minem, Mother's housekeeper, to deliver Farah.

If Farah needs anything just ask Yu Minem. It turns out the house of the Mother is large and classy. Even the room that Farah was going to occupy was much wider than the previous room.

There was a feeling in Farah's mind.

Will I stay one roof with Inspiration in this house? The house is very large but there are many empty rooms.

When Farah asked about this house and its inhabitants to Yu Minem, the answer was quite surprising. Mommy lives in a house this big only with Yu Minem and Pak Parmin, who are none other than a married couple who have served this family since 32 years ago until now. According to the story of Yu Minem, Mommy actually has three children, whereas at dinner the first Mother said she had two boys.

The first child named Damar who is now married and lives together in his wife in Ubud, Bali. After her first child was six years old, Mother gave birth to twins with female and male sex. Yu Minem told me when Mother got a baby girl, the happiness of this family felt complete. The twins' names are Ilham and Kalista.

Happiness always goes hand in hand with suffering. Ten years after the birth of the twins Ilham and Kalista, with happiness as a beautiful family this family loss event occurred. The day on which should be the happiest day becomes sorrow.