Mystery of Small Shoes

10

The girl was quite pretty, and Rudi felt a different feeling as she looked at the little girl who owned the little shoes. Unfortunately, Rudi never saw him again. Let alone the man, his shoes alone he never found it again.

"Why was my mind always on him? I don't know him yet!" he said in his heart.

He opened a gallery app on his phone, looking at a photo of a small shoe he got from an online shopping app.

"Hmm, you and your owner make me curious. Where are you now? Don't hide anymore, dong. Give me one more chance to see you and your owner." Rudi spoke on his phone.

His daydream was interrupted by a phone call on his cell phone. It was written by MOM on her phone.

"Assalamualaikum, ma'am."

"Wa'alaikumsalam, son."

"Why, Mom?" rudi asked curiously because they had not met long ago at Arini's house.

"Mom just wants your opinion on Arini. How do you think?"

"Beauty, Mom. But frankly Rudi has no feelings for him yet," explained Rudi

"It's okay. You get to know him more closely, he's a good boy, from a good family, his education is also high" said his mother.

"Yes, Mom. Later Rudi try to get to know him again."

"Yes already. I'll arrange your meeting again, but this time it's just the two of you, huh? Let you guys get to know each other better."

"Yes, Mom."

"Yes already. That was how it used to be. Assalamualaikum, son."

"Wa'alaikumsalam, ma'am."

Again arranged, Rudi was actually upset with the match. In modern times there is still an arranged marriage, but he is powerless to resist it. Rudi didn't want to make her mother sad. But Rudi will be frank about his feelings for Arini during their next meeting.

***

Arini tidied up the dishes and other utensils that they had used for dinner with Rudi's family.

"Mom, how are you, how to refuse Rudi mas? Arini was afraid of offending her parents." Arini opened the conversation with her mother while washing dishes.

"Aren't you going to consider it first, Ar? Looks like Rudi is a good and responsible man."

"Arini did not want to betray Dawn."

"Dawn has already informed you?"

"Already, Mom. Last night he called, he said his time there was just a little while away, but he didn't know the exact date."

"Oh so. I can only support whatever your decision is. I can only give advice, you should immediately explain to Rudi if you can not continue this matchmaking. Don't let Rudi put hope in you, later the problem will be more complicated."

"Yes, Mom. Arini also planned to arrange a meeting with Rudi mas and explain everything to him."

"That's fine, and don't be put off" said Arini's mother.

The night Arini called Sarah, she recounted her meeting with the man she was about to be betrothed to and her decision to reject the matchmaking.

"You don't want to know her any further, Ar?" ask Sarah.

"It doesn't feel necessary, Sar. I don't want him to put any hope in me."

"Do you know your decision?"

"Udah, Sar. Thank God my mother supports. Now just find time to meet her."

"Thank you, Sar."

"Oh yes, Ar. Yesterday when I was walking with my office mates, I saw Rizal."

"Huh?! Really, Sar?" ask Arini curiously.

"Yes, he's with a woman, maybe his wife."

"Rizal saw you?"

"It seems like yes, I just saw him talking to the woman, and the woman walked into the restaurant herself."

"How do you want to?"

"I ran away to my friend's apartment. I'm scared, Ar."

"Fear why?"

"I'm afraid he asked Fabio and took it from me."

"He can't do that even if he's his real father. He has neglected his duties as a father and husband. If that happens, I'll defend you."

"Thank you, Ar," said Arini.

"If you're not ready to deal with it, you better avoid it."

"Yes Ar. I think so too. I also don't want to be stuck in the memories of the past. He's not my husband, after all, and he's someone else's husband."

"You're right, Sar. I agree with the steps you took. Yes, yes Sar, now you rest. Don't think too much, your health will be ruined."

"Yes, Ar thank you for supporting me.."

"Sarah, before you called me that time to leave your son, Rizal came to my house several times looking for you. He thinks you're in my house. But he didn't tell me about your problems, he just said you were mad at him and ran away. At first I thought badly of you. I thought you had turned into an ungrateful woman and forgotten your duty as a wife. I was wrong, Sar. I'm sorry for being so bad at you."

Sarah is surprised to hear that, she is afraid that Arini has told Fabio about Rizal.

"Ar, you're being honest with me, aren't you? Did you tell Rizal that I'm in town and tell him where Fabio is?"

"I was going to tell him when you called me, but it's lucky his phone can't be reached. And yesterday he called me again."

"You told Rizal about me and Fabio?" ask Sarah full of questions.

"No, Sar. I'm not that stupid. I realize this is none of my business, only you can solve it yourself. It's about feelings. The feelings of him and you. I can't get too involved in your problems."

Sarah grew sobbing at Arini's confession.

"You rest, Sar? Don't think too much. As long as we live the problems always come close. And it will make us stronger if we can deal with it. I know you're a strong woman." Arini tried to comfort Sarah who sounded crying.

"Yes, Ar. Pray I can deal with it, will you?"

"certain. I will always pray for you. You pray for me too, huh?"

"Yes, Ar. Assalamualaikum." Sarah closes her conversation with Arini.

Sarah feels weak after hearing all of Arini's stories about her ex-husband, Rizal. He doesn't know what to do next. All he had in mind right now was the fear of losing his dearly beloved son.

"Why are you interrupting my life again, Rizal? You've dumped me, isn't that enough for you to torture me? When I let you go, why do you have to come back?"

Sarah's tears kept wetting her cheeks. Fabio was sleeping well. Gently stroked Fabio's cheeks.

"Until you'll always be with your mom, son. Mama will do anything to keep you from anyone, including your own father."