My Soul in Grandpa's Hands

Family Gathering

After breakfast, Aleta and Devan return to Kirana's mama's place. With her husband, Aleta climbed the porch of Kinara's house. The front door opened, and at the guest table appeared a middle-aged man reading a newspaper.

"Assalamualaikum," Aleta said his greetings.

"Wa Alaikum salam" the middle-aged man was Kinanti's husband, Raharjo.

Raharjo stepped to the front door, then approached the two of them.

" Mama Kinara is there, um" asked Aleta.

Raharjo looked at them for a moment, but then smiled and let them inside.

"So, let's go in first. Call me first. Come on, please sit down."

Aleta kept Devan in her hand, then took her to a chair. Not waiting for long, Raharjo came out with Kinara and Kinanti.

"Devan.., really you son." whispered Kinanti unblinkingly looking at Devan's face.

Kinara sat down, and unblinkingly looked at Devan's face with tears. Devan just looked at her then lowered her head, and Aleta clasped her husband's hand tightly.

" Mama.., we came again ma." said Aleta greeting Kinara with a smile.

Kinara tried to smile and nodded her head but was unable to speak. Kinanti strengthened Kinara, then she responded to Aleta's greeting.

"Meet me Aunt Kinanti your mother's sister Kinara, and this is Raharjo aunt's husband. Forgive your mama son, your mama is innocent." Kinanti introduced herself

"Yes Aunty, our arrival is not to seek the wrong and the right. We're here to find Mama Kinara. Mama who has given birth to Devan mas to this world Auntie. My name is Aleta, my wife is Devan."

"Mas, let's say hello to mama, and Auntie. And this is your sister's Om." said Aleta trying to soften her husband's heart.

Devan looked into his wife's eyes, then, holding Aleta's hand, he stood up and rested in front of her.

"I'm sorry Devan ma, Devan can't believe that Mama Devan is still in this world" Devan said slowly and cried.

Kinara hugged both of the child's bodies and her daughter-in-law at the feet, then with all her might she tried to wake the two up. With the help of Raharjo, Devan and Aleta were seated on the left right of Kinara. They embrace with great pleasure. Everyone in the room was crying, and it was not long before a man of Aleta's age came from the front door.

"Anwar.., here come in son." Kinti called a man who had just arrived.

"He's your cousin's brother and his wife. His name is Devan, and his wife is Aleta." Kinanti explained about her nephew to her son.

After a while, they sat down and listened to Kinanti tell her everything. Devan listened to the story, and he finally understood that his mother was innocent. Her mother once came to Bandung to come to them, but seeing them with a familiar looking rengganis mama finally Kinara decided to give up.

And since Kinara decided to leave Atmaja, until now she did not remarry. Many times his grandfather Devan asked to get married, he always refused.

"Now Grandpa lives where ma, if Devan and Aleta can meet him." asked Devan to Kinara.

"Later in the afternoon we'll go to your grandfather's. At this hour your grandfather usually still gathers with his fellow retired friends." said Kinanti.

"Yes, Hapsoro's grandfather lives in this city as well. Don't worry, after Ashar usually your grandfather at home takes care of the plants in the yard." mama Kinara added.

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After the Ashar prayers they together head to Devan's grandfather's place. They drive two cars, with Kinara with Devan and Aleta. The other car was carrying the Kinanti family.

"Hi my handsome grandson. Tumben-tenan kesininya in many." said the man.

"Lho brought guests too yes, let's sit with his friend Anwar." he continued.

"Assalamualaikum grandfather, I Devan kek.Grandfather's granddaughter who has long been sent back to papa. And this is my grandfather's son-in-law, Aleta Devan kek's wife" Devan said, opening himself up.

The old grandfather was somewhat surprised, then looked towards Kinara and Kinanti alternately. But the two are just silent not telling who Devan and Aleta are.

"Wa Alaikum greetings, but what do you mean young man." Hapsoro is confused by Devan's statement.

Kinara was silent, but Kinanti immediately approached her papa. In a whisper, Kinanti briefly told him about his granddaughter Devan whom they had returned to Atmaja. Hapsoro was a little surprised, then occasionally he looked towards Devan and Aleta.

"Let's go young" said Hapsoro, trembling.

Aleta brought Devan closer to Hapsoro, and suddenly Hapsoro hugged the two while crying.

"I'm sorry, grandfather son," Hapsoro said.

"It's cake.., there's nothing wrong. The important thing is that we can meet now." said Devan.

"Let's all go in the house, not outside. We're seen with neighbors passing by" Kinara said.

Everyone goes into the house and sits in the living room. Many times Hapsoro hugs and apologizes to Devan, due to his selfishness in the past, he hands over his grandson to Atmaja. Though Devan's heart ached, but happiness met and the family of his mother overcame his pain.

"This is my son-in-law's granddaughter. Here son, it's closer to grandfather too" said Hapsoro calling Aleta.

Aleta followed Devan's grandfather's call, and she shifted her seat and sat to Hapsoro's right. Aleta then kissed his hand.

"I'm Aleta's grandfather., his wife is Devan" Aleta said softly with a smile.

Hapsoro grabbed Aleta and Devan's hands together, then put together on his lap. With tears in her eyes, Hapsoro hugged both of them. Suddenly from behind, a mother came out carrying a tray of hot tea. Behind him appeared Anwar helped by carrying 2 plates containing Snack. Seeing that, Hapsoro let go of his embrace.

"Come on, it's still hot. We drank the tea" he said.

They then took the tea, and began to drink it. Hapsoro recounts his pain and disappointment at the treatment of Atmaja, who was married to Rengganis when he had just married Kinara. In order to save the family's pride, they move to this town, and hand Devan over to him.

Many times Hapsoro's grandfather tried to match Kinara Mama Devan with many men, but none of them received. Kinara lived alone in this city. They listened to Hapsoro.

"Anwar here.., invite your brothers to come here. Grandpa should introduce them to Devan." Hapsoro called Anwar.

"Here the cake, they had been called by my mother last time at Budhe Kinara's house" Anwar replied.

"So my grandmother is where the cake is." asked Aleta.

"Tomorrow morning we can visit your grandmother at Mount Sempu cemetery" replied Hapsoro.

"Sorry kek, Aleta doesn't know" Aleta said apologizing.

"It's okay, son, Devan's grandma's been gone for a long time. He died of a sudden illness" Hapsoro said.

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