My madam, my poison

My dear mother, my poor mother

Since Prayoga's death a week ago, she has often locked herself in her room. Not infrequently he screamed hysterically while cursing at a woman named Helena, then cried as if regretting her failed marriage because God separated her from death. But what adds to the burden of my mind is the fetus that is now growing in the mother's womb. I hope that by marrying Prayoga his disgrace will be covered. But humans are just planners. All provisions are God's absolute right. What about the mother's pregnancy? Should I search for Irwan's whereabouts and force the breng*ek man to marry mother?

"How's mom doing?" asked Brother Darren that afternoon while visiting my boarding house.

"Mom still yells hysterically. Sometimes laughs and suddenly cries."

"Maybe we need to take mom to a psychiatrist" Darren said.

"Actually, um, …"

"What's wrong?"

"There's one thing you don't know yet."

"Why with mom?"

"Ehm, mothers, .. pregnant."

"Pregnant?! My mother has been a widow for a dozen years. How could you get pregnant?" ask Darren half in disbelief.

"Really, Brother. Her pregnancy is now three months."

"Do you know who made you pregnant? Don't tell me that man is Prayoga sir."

"No, Brother. That man's called Irwan."

"Where is the man's house? I'm gonna go see him."

"Free, Brother. Irwan works out of town. Some time ago I went to his house and held him accountable. But the man denied and refused to take responsibility. Irwan just blamed mother why can to concede," said I.

"Where is the man's house? I will search for him to the end of the world! Don't expect him to escape me!"

"Irwan's house is on Flamboyant Street."

"I'm going there now!" 

"House must be empty. She lived with her little sister who happened to be my friend at High School and worked at the hospital. Tomorrow we'll arrange a meeting with Mayra and have a good talk with her" I said. Darren nodded in agreement.

"Oh yeah. I want to talk about 

Fatimah. Brother still loves her, doesn't he?" I deliberately switched the conversation.

Brother Darren was silent.

"I hope Big Brother pondered over my words yesterday. Fatimah is a good wife. Don't let Brother leave her just for the sake of a girl like Widya."

"Widya is a kara now. If I leave him, who will protect and guard him?"

"Want to?"

"Maybe I'll marry her."

"What about Fatimah and Anisa?"

"You don't worry. I will discuss this plan with Fatimah."

"No woman in the world wants to be combined."

"I'm comfortable with Widya. Moreover, he had lost the figure of a father. No one else will be his friend or protector."

I smiled blandly.

"Sister thought too much about Widya to the point of ignoring Fatimah. I guarantee Fatimah will choose to separate rather than she should be combined."

"I don't care about your opinion. My decision to marry Widya is already unanimous!" firmly Brother Darren.

After me, now it is my best friend Fatimah who will feel the bitterness of being married to a partner. Is there no loyalty in this world?

*****

"I went to the market first, Mom," I told my mom that morning. I decided to take Lyra along because I was worried about leaving her with my mother at home. Mom's sometimes unstable emotions are the reason.

Arriving at the market.

I just entered a fruit stall to buy my mother's favorite fruit, the citrus fruit.

"A kilo of oranges, sir," I told the stall owner.

The middle-aged man swiftly put the orange in a plastic bag and weighed it. However, unexpected things happen. The black plastic bag was torn to pieces to make the citrus fruit inside fell and splattered on the floor. I'm holding an eight-month-old baby, of course it's hard to pick it up. Apparently one of the oranges fell right at the foot of someone who had just come to the stall.

"This is the orange, Ma'am."

Seconds later our netra sat. I was quite surprised to see that face as I recognized it.

"Pure Mother?"

"God, Miss Zura?"

"It's been a while since we met. How's the Pure Ma'am doing?" my many.

"Thank God, you and I are healthy. How's Mbak Zura's own family?"

Shall I tell you my family's news is far from okay? Or do I have to lie to my old neighbor forever?

"How about we have a chat in that shop over there?" tanyakanya.

After putting the orange scattered on the floor back into the plastic, we then walked along to a food stall that was not far from the stall.

"Dek Lyra is big now. I miss you, Nduk." I let it go when Pure Ma took over Lyra from my sling. When we were neighbors first, I often left my little daughter to him when I was having trouble doing homework.

"Lyra's age is almost nine months, ma'am."

"Oh yeah. How's bu Kinanti? He's in good health, isn't he?"

I don't know why that question made my mind feel so sore. I never knew about my former mother-in-law again, especially after me and Fabian officially divorced.

"Mbak Zura why? Did I say it wrong?" 

Ms. Pure looked confused when she found the look on my face that suddenly turned sad. Maybe it's time I revealed what I've been holding and never known to my former neighbor who I've considered like a brother.

"I haven't seen Kinanti's mother in a long time."

Pure Ma'am frowned.

"Mak Zura must be kidding. You're gonna live in a house. Where maybe Zura never met Bu Kinanti," he said.

I took a breath before starting to uncover this arguably bitter story.

"Actually me and Fabian have officially parted ways. Kinanti's mother doesn't live with me either" I said.

"Started?"

"Yes, Mom. Maybe you don't know if our household has been shaky for a long time. Even after our house burned down I've decided to leave Fabian's mas."

"I see the household of Mbak Zura and Fabian mas are fine, even fairly harmonious. Why did Zura suddenly decide to part with Fabian?"

"Do you remember that woman named Melly?" my many.

Ms. Pure seemed to be trying to remember someone.

"What does Melly mean that Melly I met in the hospital when Bu Kinanti was admitted? He's Fabian's brother, isn't he?"

I shook my head slowly.

"Actually she's not my sister-in-law, ma'am."

"Want to?"

"Name Karmila. She's Fabian's young wife."

"What?! Young wife?"

"Yes, Mom. Fabian married again without my knowledge. And when the secret was revealed, I chose to leave. For me betrayal is the only thing I can't forgive."

"Astaghfirullahaldzim says. I did not expect Fabian mas that looks good and alim it was so heartbreaking to hurt women as well as Mbak Zura."

"I'm trying to be sincere, Mom. Maybe our soul mate just got here."

"So where does Zura live now?"

"My mother and I now live in a boarding house not far from the textile industry."

"wait. Zura's mom mentioned birth mother. Is Mbak Zura's birth mother still alive?"

"Yes, Mom. A dozen years ago my mother left. But God brought us back."

"Thank God, I'm happy. Zura's mother is reunited with her family."

"Thank God, Mom. I am happy to be reunited with my mother even though my mother is now facing quite a serious problem."

"If I may know, what's the problem, ma'am?"

"My mother failed to marry because her future husband died a few days ago in an accident."

"Innalilahi wa Inna ilaihi raji'un."

"Like my mother's soul was so shaken. He often screamed, laughed and cried indistinctly."

"So many trials that God gave to Mbak Zura. But I'm sure Mbak Zura is able to get through it. Allah will not test his servant beyond his means" he said. I responded with a smile on my lips.

Our conversation came to a halt when suddenly the sound of objects colliding from the direction of the road in front of the market.

"What's up, sir?" ask the shop owner to a market visitor.

"There's a collision, sir. Car with motorcycle. The motorcyclist died on the spot.

"Male or female?"

"Male. From his ID card his name is Irwan."

Astarghfirullahaldzim aposchich. Irwan's? Is he Irwan Khumayra's brother? If Irwan dies, what about the fate of the mother and baby in the womb?

Seriate…

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