
"Mas, have you ever been on a plane?" mely asked in surprise, looking at her pale husband after the plane took off.
Rival nodded and wiped the sweat on his forehead with a tissue, which his wife gave him.
"How many times?" mely asked, helping her husband sweat an endless grain of corn out of the pores of her skin Rival. Even his hair was already dyed from being soaked in sweat.
"Three times. First off, go to Jakarta. The second time to go to Saudi Arabia and the third to return from Saudi Arabia." Rival said, He covered his mouth with his hands. Because he felt like vomiting.
"If it's ever been, why are you sober." Mely was worried. Right now her husband seems to be in a bad state.
Rival did not respond to Mely's remarks. He was holding himself back from vomiting. But, more and more arrested. His stomach was getting stifled.
Rival took off his seat belt and walked quickly towards the toilet.
"Is He sick?" mumbled Mely in the heart. Don't let Rival get sick after he gets to Canberra.
Ten minutes later, Rival came out of the toilet. He walked a little limp towards his seat.
"Sickness?" mely asked, paying attention to the details of her husband's face which now still looks pale.
"Yes Dek, Mas seems to catch a cold." His voice rests his back on the back of his seat.
Mely reached for eucalyptus oil from her sling bag. He also unbuttoned his husband's jacket and shirt. Then apply the oil to Rival's stomach.
Rival just resignedly received all the treatment of his wife who massaged his temple and forehead with the wind oil. Until He fell asleep.
*
*
*
Seven hours later. They arrived at Canberra Airport. The couple ordered a taxi and drove to the hospital. They want to surprise their parents. So Mely did not ask him to be picked up to the airport.
Arriving at the Hospital. They quickly walked to the room where his father was being treated.
"Darling...!" mama Maryam said in shock, seeing the Princess and her daughter-in-law standing on the doorstep. The smile of the sumringah adorned the tired face of his mother, who turned out one night could not sleep. Because of insomnia.
Mely ran small towards her mother who was still standing, near the bed Pak Ali was lying down. Mama Maryam greeted him with a warm embrace, and bombarded her daughter's face with a kiss. Mama Maryam really misses her naughty daughter, especially She will soon get a grandchild.
While Rival immediately approached Pak Ali. Rival's pale face from airsickness. Now it has turned into a face full of happiness. She does not expect, her encounter with Mely takes her to her biological family.
"Dad," he said hugging Pak Ali with a feeling of happiness. Pak Ali was no less surprised, seeing the arrival of his children who visited him.
"May you get well soon." Say Rival with teary eyes. She hugged her real father sadly.
"Yes, thank you." Said Mr. Ali with a trembling voice, because sad and happy mix is singing it. Tears dripping from the corner of his old eye were quickly wiped away. Rival also shed tears, after taking off his father's embrace. He did not think that Mr. Ali was his father.
"Dad's so glad you guys came to see Dad." Said Mr. Ali, He tried to sit down and quickly Rival helped him.
Rival was eager to say that he was Mr. Ali's son. But he didn't have the courage to do that. He's afraid Mr. Ali doesn't believe it.
"Dad.." Mely hugged Ali.
"Change, being a mother is not easy." Said Mr. Ali returning Mely's embrace.
Mery's forehead grazed. Maybe his father would say that. Her father was once a mother.
"Yes Dad. Mely will turn into a wife who is Sholehah and be a good son to Dad. Because you raised me, you want to be a good father to me." Said Mely with a sad face, grabbed Dad's hand and kissed him.
Mely's words suddenly made Mama Maryam surprised, as well as Mr. Ali. What did his daughter say.
"Dear, why are you talking so wise? usually you're not good at putting out good words." Said Mr. Ali looking at the face of Mely who had been bowed and embarrassed.
"It's all thanks to Nak Rival, he's really a good husband. And patiently guiding Mely." Mama Maryam said. He then sat his butt in the bed where Pak Ali was. She patted her husband's back.
"Actually I can go home. It's Mama's getting settled." Mama Maryam. He got up from the bed where Pak Ali was in care and walked towards the wardrobe in the room.
Mely also helped her mother clean up. While Rival massaged his father's legs, as well as talking about their company problems.
"The branch of our company here is quite developed, even though it's only been a year of his pioneering father. So most likely, Dad and Mama will stay here and you take care of our company in Indonesia." Said Mr. Ali, staring fixedly at Rival.
Mely, who heard her father say she wanted to settle in the marsupial country, finally opened her voice.
"Dad wants to follow in the footsteps of Uncle Usman, by staying here?" mely asked, stopping the action for a while to help her mother pack her parents' belongings.
"Yes." Yeah." Pak Ali replied, still staring fixedly at the face of his son Rival.
"Who is this Usman?" rival asked, He just found out there's a brother they call Usman.
"Uncle Usman is Dad's twin sister." Mely replied, as soon as He held her stomach. Her twin sons are twins after all, and there are twin descendants of her grandfather.
"Ooh... I just found out that you have twin brothers." Said Rival still massaging the feet of Mr. Ali, now his hands have moved massaging the toes of Mr. Ali. Really Mr. Ali enjoys Rival massage. The massage is very good.
"Yes, I'll have twin grandchildren soon, right? is Mely pregnant?" asked Mr. Ali, still staring fixedly at the face of Rival and this time Rival also looked at Mr. Ali.
"Yes Dad." Rival smiled.
"Son Rival, there's actually something I want to say. I hope, Son Rival, don't misunderstand me later." Mr. Ali paused his words. He took a deep breath, already He should have said that Rival was his son. If Rival doesn't believe. He's gonna ask Rival for a DNA test at this hospital.
"Is that Dad?" asked Rival with a heart of wonder. Both of his eyeballs were seriously highlighting the face of Mr. Ali who was talking.
"31 years ago, when Dad and his extended family were on vacation in the city of G. Nak Rival. At that time we were
doing mania fishing activities in the river that is famous for its big fish." Mr. Ali paused his words again, because he felt his chest tight. If you remember the incident of his son Rival who suddenly disappeared from their ship while on the water makes it very sad.
Rival stopped his activity massaging Pak Ali's legs. Because he was very interested in the story of his number from his family and found Mr. Ahmad in the river.
"It's Dad, don't be sad. The doctor's already told me not to sting." Mama Maryam said, stroking her husband's back gently. She wanted to calm her husband.
"Yes Ma, I know that. I'll tell you all the facts you've been keeping lately. You should know that fact too." Said Mr. Ali staring at his wife.
"What deed is Dad?" Mama Maryam was curious.
Pak Ali looked at Rival's face fixedly. The gaze of Mr. Ali replied to Rival warmly.
"Rival, you're Dad's son who went missing in the river 31 years ago." Said Mr. Ali with sadness and relief. At least he's been telling the secret he's been keeping for six months. Ever since He found out Rival was his son.
Pak Ali was astonished to see Rival's flat attitude responding to his words. Now the one who responded was no less excited was Mama Maryam. His wife was very surprised, knowing Rival was his stepson.
"What's? is that really what you said?" His words looked at Rival who was sitting near the feet of Pak Ali who was squawking. Mr. Ali nodded.
"God..."Mama Maryam closed her mouth that had gaping because she did not believe what she heard. Why everything is as arranged and coincidental.
"Rival..." Mama Maryam moved and immediately hugged Rival who was also sitting on the bedside.
"Thank you for coming into our lives again, thank you for marrying my useless daughter." Her speech hysterically with tears in her eyes, still hugging Rival.
Mely who heard her name said it was a useless woman, made sad. But quickly those negative thoughts were thrown out of his heart. The truth is, he is useless. He told her to slander Pak Ali's money.
"Yes Ma. Maybe this is how our family is complete. Mama, don't cry. Mely's my wife, she's a great woman and very useful Ma." Rival said to calm his mother-in-law was still in her arms.
Mama Mely nodded, Rival broke her mother-in-law's embrace.
Mely, who was still packing her father's clothes, stopped her activities. He walked over to his mother.
"If I'm his son who's Ma? Who is my real father and where is Ma?' Duarr.... Mama Maryam's eyes glared full of her daughter's words.