My madam, my poison
Who's Saddam?
Next morning.
"Rahma, I'm asking you ten o'clock to pick up Lyra at her school. I have to see my business partner at nine this morning" I told Rahma as she was threading her sewing machine.
"Good, Ma'am."
"How are you comfortable working here?" my many.
The girl who had been my neighbor while still living in the boarding house smiled.
"God be at home, Ma'am. The colleagues here are all good and willing to help each other. Unlike in my old workplace, not a few of them became sycophants, even dropping each other. That's the reason why I'm not comfortable working there anymore" he said.
"Oh yeah, how's Salma?"
"Mbak Salma is still undergoing treatment in a mental hospital. I don't know when his soul will stabilize. The doctor couldn't confirm it."
"The most important thing is that you do not break up do'a for the healing of Salma" I said.
"Yes, Mommy. Salma is my only brother. I want to regroup with him."
"May God grant your do'a."
"Amijn …"
"Mother, …"
I saw Lyra was tidy in her uniform. Not to forget the pink backpack pictured pony character, who became his favorite cartoon character.
"Are you ready, honey?" tanyaku while stroking his head covered with instant hijab.
"Already, Mom. The antal mother, yes," he whined.
"Mom's got business, honey. Just send aunt Mia yes," I persuaded.
"I'd like to take you with me."
Uh! What happened to my little daughter? He doesn't usually whine like this.
"Yes, Lyra's mother. But later he was picked up by Rahma ya," I said. My little girl nodded her head.
I left the production room and drove Lyra to her school on foot. Because of my busy life, I hardly ever take her to school or pick her up.
"Lyra likes to go to school?" my many.
"Happy, Mom. But there's a classmate of mine who likes to make fun of other friends."
"Why is that?"
"My friend was mocked because his heart was different from Lyla's."
"What happened to Lyra's friend's finger?"
"The right hand has four, which is six."
I don't know why Lyra's speech made me think back to the baby boy I met with his mother in the park at that time. She was only a few months away from Lyra, and I still remember that the baby's finger was different from normal babies.
Was the schoolmate Lyra in question the baby boy?
After a ten-minute walk, we arrived at Lyra's school. Some of Lyra's parents and friends had already gotten there.
"Lyra delivered mom, huh?" greet one of the mothers.
"Yes, Mom," I said.
"Mother, Lyla goes to class first."
"Learn the right yes, dear," I said as I lightly kissed her forehead.
"Assalamu'alaikum, Mother."
Lyra grabbed my hand and kissed it.
"Getishalight."
"Lyra is very good with her friends. My daughter said she likes to share food" one of the mothers said.
"My son said so too. Although Lyra is the son of a businessman, she is willing to make friends with anyone without favoritism. Even when my son cried because his lunchbox was left at home, Lyra invited him to eat his lunch together." Other mothers chimed.
"Thank God, thank goodness Lyra was kind to her friends."
"Although without a husband, Ms. Zura managed to educate Lyra well" said another mother. I responded with a smile on my lips.
"Oh yeah. My daughter told me there was a friend in her class who liked to mock other friends because she had a physical deficiency. Do the mothers know who the disciple my daughter is referring to?" my many.
"Oh, that disciple in question must be Saddam."
Saddam's? Yeah, that's the name of the baby I met in the park at the time. The mother called it herself.
"Where is the student now, ma'am?" my many.
"Saddam hasn't been to school in days. Maybe he was depressed because he was mocked by his friends often."
"If not wrong in the way of Carnations. Saddam's parents were quite. But it was Saddam's physical shortcomings that often made his mother hesitant to mingle with the parents of the students."
"Oh, yeah. All right, thanks for the information. Excuse me first, Assalamu'alaikum."
"Waalaikumsalam," answered the three in unison.
Not long ago a teacher was seen coming out of the teacher's room.
"Mr Azzura? Tumben to school," he said.
"Yes, Mom. Lyra asked to be delivered. Oh yeah, can I talk to Mom for a minute?"
"Come on, come on in."
The teacher who is often called Mrs Husna's teacher then invited me into his room.
"What's up, Mom?" tanyakanya.
"I wanted to ask a student named Saddam. Some of the guardians said Saddam had not been to school for several days because he was often harassed by his friends."
"Yes, Mom. Saddam had physical deficiencies since he was born. There are many grapevine out there who say that Saddam was not his parents' biological child because he did not have a facial resemblance to them. Some even say Saddam exchanged someone shortly after he was born in Medika hospital. But I don't know. I also did not dare to comment much because it was not my capacity," said the wide-hijab teacher.
The Medical Hospital? Isn't that the hospital where my best friend Khumayra works? Do I need to see him? Saddam's identity really intrigued me.
"Why did Bu Azzura ask about Saddam?" ask Husna.
"Ehm .. It's okay, ma'am. I just feel sad, a student is reluctant to go back to school just because his friend bullied because he has a physical deficiency. I don't know why I'd love to see him."
"Among the guardians at this school, only Azzura's mother cares about Saddam."
"Don't we care about each other?"
Our conversation came to a halt when suddenly my phone rang. I thought someone called me, but it was a reminder.
"Hour 9, at the Rainbow cafe". That's the message I wrote as a reminder.
Uh! I almost forgot this morning I had to meet Gibran to discuss our cooperation plan.
Gibran. Just remembering the name alone made my heart beat fast. What if I just sat alone with him at the cafe? I could have died a flea.
"What do you think Zura is? Focus up! Focus up! It's a job, nothing else" I murmured again.
"Bu Azzura why?" ask Husna.
"Ehm .. Ti-ti-it's okay. Sorry, Madam. I have to go now, there is still business. Thanks for the information, Assalamu'alaikum."
"Getishalight."
I left Lyra school. In order to shorten the time, I had thought about taking a taxi to the cafe. However, after I think again, I better take Mr. Amin with me.
"Sir Amin, go to Lyra's school right now, wait, wait" I said by phone.
A little while later the white man who was driven by Mr. Amin arrived at Lyra's school yard.
"Where are we going, Mom?" tanyakanya.
"The Rainbow cafe. You know, right?"
my many. Mr. Amin nodded his head.
Arriving at the cafe.
"I just wait in the car, Mom," said Mr. Amin.
"Sir Amin came into my company."
"But, Mom."
"It's okay. I'll buy you a cup of coffee."
I circulated my gaze in that quite spacious room. However, I did not find Gibran's whereabouts.
"Why hasn't he come yet? Don't-don't he forget," I murmured.
"Please, Sir." I allowed my personal driver to sit on one of the benches. I was the one sitting right in front of him.
"Good morning, what do you want to order?" ask a cafe waiter.
"I order a glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee." I then raised my head. How surprised I was when I looked at the cafe waiter's face.
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