NIGHT BUTTERFLY
#86/Rianti's Return.
The rain came back after a few hours. After the meeting in the Segui area, Sulastri's car followed Mr. Sahril's car and Mr. Pratama to visit the Doyan medaran road area. For about an hour they were talking about the development of development in the region. Architects and building foremen estimate, one month in the future fifty percent of construction on the site will be completed. Sulastri emphasized the acceleration of the construction of dormitories for the servants of the restaurant who must live there. The river must also be dredged immediately and have a special room to accommodate the garbage coming from upstream. Also with greening around the riverbanks. He ordered Mr. Sahril to prepare nurseries of shade trees, as well as various ornamental plants so that the place was back beautiful.
After for some time they held a small meeting in the area of the restaurant building that had been completed one hundred percent, they agreed to continue the journey home. The rain is still pouring. Seeing the sky is still dark, maybe the rain will last until tonight. The car driven by Mustarah drove slowly because of the visibility was so short due to the heavy rain.
Sulastri noticed the screen of his phone lit up. He opened a short message from Mr. Sahril telling him that he and Mr. Pratama will go straight home.
Sulastri turned towards Mustarah sir.
"Sir, we go to the field for a while" Sulastri told Mr. Mustarah when he saw Mr. Sahril's car turn at the intersection of the road to the right. Mr. Mustarah nodded and turned in the opposite direction. Sulastri checked the bushel in the back seat of the car near Rahima. He smiled at Rahima, whose face looked worried.
"Don't be nervous like that, Rahima. You're in the car if you're afraid to see me getting hit by Rianti" Sulastri said. Rahima just sighed. He did not respond to Sulastri. Seeing how he was treated by Rianti, his chest started pounding.
Slowly the car entered the gate. Rahima took him an umbrella and gave it to Sulastri. Sulastri rushed straight to the report room as soon as he got out of his car. He pranced to avoid the puddles in front of him. Rahima watched him from inside the car with great unrest. It appears Sulastri had a long conversation with one of the officers who welcomed him.
"Wouldn't you talk outside. I'm afraid that yesterday's events will repeat themselves" the officer said. He hesitated to allow Sulastri in. Sulastri smiled.
"It's okay, sir. I'm here again because I'm ready for all the risks. You better understand when to act if there are signs that endanger my life. But I'm sure, as long as there are no weapons or hard objects that Rianti carries, I can deal with them" Sulastri said.
The officer nodded his head. He let Sulastri follow him.
Rahima sighed while continuing to watch Sulastri's body until it disappeared behind the building wall.
"Sir Mustarah, please follow mom. Maybe you need your help later," Rahima said in an anxious trembling tone. Mr. Mustarah nodded. He took a pack of cigarettes from the dashboard of the car and then ran away to avoid the rain towards the waiting room.
Rahima closed all the car glass. He then laid his body in the car seat. He closed his eyes, hoping to hear nothing from the waiting room.
* * * * *
Sulastri sighed fretfully. Even if he already knew what was going to happen, but he still felt stubborn. The pain of Rianti's blow yesterday was still felt, but he had to do it again. Rianti couldn't have killed him. There are still officers who stand by watching in the room. He believes that what he is doing right now is not a waste. This is part of his job as a wife. There must be action. This is the action he will do. Irrespective of being wrong and stupid in people's view.
The door sounds creeping. Sulastri let out a long sigh and took it out slowly. Like trying to reduce the pounding on his chest.
"Dog, what else are you doing here. Don't think I'll sympathize with you and forgive your actions" Rianti said. His gaze returned sharply. His breath rumbles. He removed his hand from the officer's grip behind him. He approached Sulastri. The officer was escorting from behind.
One hard slap landed back on Sulastri's face. Sulastri grimaced in pain. Even so, he had signaled to the officer not to hold Rianti. The officer nodded. Still can't believe what Sulastri did. He could only stand next to each other like yesterday seeing the violence before his eyes.
Rianti who again felt the opportunity to spill his remaining heartache, began to freely land his punch towards Sulastri's face. Sometimes he grimaces. The pain from the pounding blow towards Sulastri's body yesterday still hurts. Especially his wrist. The blows that sometimes hit the bones of Sulastri's face and hands made the blow not as hard as yesterday.
Sulastri sounded complaining. Rianti's punch towards his stomach made him tightly grip his stomach. He stooped to endure the pain. Slowly his body fell to the floor. Rianti did not stop there. He continued to beat Sulastri's body. Feeling that both hands were no longer able to hit, he grabbed Sulastri's hair. A few strands of Sulastri's hair, which had slipped from his head due to the strong pull of Rianti's hand, filled his hand. Not only plugging, Sulastri's face was raised. His saliva he spilled out on Sulastri's face.
Sulastri still did not want to ask the officers for help. He knew Rianti was getting tired. Just waiting for time so he gave up and had no more strength to hit him.
"Dead you, Sulastri. Mampus." this time Rianti again overlapped Sulastri's body. Alternately, both hands hit towards Sulastri's face and chest. Fresh blood flowed from his nose and lips. Rianti started to look weak. But he kept hitting Sulastri in the face. This time crying. Sulastri smiled. When he saw Rianti's hand stop hitting him, he grabbed Rianti's hand and smacked it into his own face.
"Come, Rianti. Hit as much as you. Come on, take your revenge. I'm here, Rianti. Come on, don't stop" Sulastri said as he continued to smash Rianti's hand into his face.
"Why, why are you silent Sulastri. Why are you being tortured like this. Why did you let me hit you. Why!" yelled Rianti suddenly. Tears of Rianti appear to flow. Sulastri smiled. He knew something had changed from Rianti. He knew Rianti was getting tired of his grudges and resentments. He knew that when tears could still come out of one's eyes, it meant that his heart was still open to receive the truth. Sulastri stared fixedly at Rianti's teary eyes.
"I just want you to recognize me as your mother, Rianti. I'm doing this because I want to live alongside you, like a mother and her child" Sulastri said. He raised his hand and wiped the tears on Rianti's face. Rianti just shut up. Not trying to push Sulastri's hand. I don't know, he suddenly felt like the hand was wiping his tears.
"But your efforts are in vain. I will never consider you my mother. You are the one who has taken away my family's happiness,"
Sulastri. His smile remained soft.
"I never planned it, Rianti. It is God's will" Sulastri said. His hand kept wiping every time Rianti's tears flowed down his cheek.
"But you can refuse it. You can refuse when papa wants to marry you."
"I love your father not for his wealth. I love him because he loves me. You'll never understand that, Rianti. You'll understand if you've found your true love,"
Rianti pulled out his hand as Sulastri continuously smacked it into his face. His hands were covered in blood that kept flowing from Sulastri's nose.
"Stop, stop!" Shouted Rianti. But Sulastri's grip is very strong. He kept hitting her in the face.
"Stop!" shouting Rianti. Her tears are flowing. He pulled his hand hard. So hard, his body crashed and lay weak beside Sulastri.
Rianti covered his face with both of his hands covered in blood. He was crying so much.
"I'm tired. I am tired of this life. I am tired of this revenge. I never calm down because every second of my life is filled with hatred for you. You better kill me Sulastri. I want to die. I don't have anyone anymore. I don't have anything else either. You have all been taken,"
"No, Rianti. I didn't snatch it. I'm just looking after her until one day you're ready to take her back,"
Rianti. With a sigh, he looked at me towards Sulastri who seemed to smile happily looking at him. He was silent again when Sulastri's hand flicked his hair that covered his eyes. Not only that, the blood that stuck in his hair, was cleaned slowly by Sulastri. Instantly Rianti felt peace in his heart. There was something stuck up, which seemed to come out from the tightness of his chest. Sulastri's gentle eyes soothed his feelings.
"Why are you doing this, Sulastri. What's for?"
"The termite will not harm himself burning in fire, otherwise he likes the light of the fire itself. If not for love, only a fool would torture himself like this. I did it because I love you, Rianti. Of course, I really want you to love me like your own mother. That way, complete the message that your late father gave to me. He wants me to look after you and love you as much as I can. That's what a wife should do after her husband dies,"
"But why do it have to be this way."
Sulastri smiled. Rianti still does not understand and needs an explanation.
"Sometimes we have to go through many dangers and obstacles to get true love. Proof of one's true love is not enough with words. You'll never understand this, Rianti,"
Rianti was crying more and more. Sulastri gently rubbed Rianti's hair with the rest of the energy in her hand. He let Rianti dissolve in his tears as he continued to pray, may Allah open the door of Rianti's heart to be completely changed.
The guard who was just standing saw the two lying covered in blood, turned his body and sat on a chair. He shook his head in amazement at Sulastri's struggle to soften Rianti's heart. Mr. Mustarah who was still dumbfounded to see what happened in front of him was shocked when Rahima touched his shoulder from behind. She placed her index finger on her lips, signaling for Rahima to be quiet. Rahima looked shocked to see Sulastri and Rianti lying weakly with blood filling the faces of the two. He shook his head. His face looked more anxious.
Sulastri tried to get up as he felt his strength slowly starting to recover. He then held the back of Rianti's neck and lifted Rianti's body slowly. Sulastri looked at Rianti's face with a smile. Like not feeling any pain. Rianti who was looked at, lowered his face. Sulastri held Rianti's chin and raised his face slowly. After that he hugged Rianti's body tightly. At first Rianti just fell silent closing his eyes while holding back his cry that was about to break again. But not long after, he returned Sulastri's embrace tighter. The loud crying broke again. The officer, who seemed to be moved, chose to leave them.
Sulastri grabbed his bag that was lying behind him. He took a bottle of water and tissue out of it. After opening the lid, he drank it into Rianti's mouth. After that, he slowly began to clean Rianti's face with tissue. Rahima was crying. Sulastri's struggle was not in vain. She's a really great woman. Sulastri indeed deserves all the goodness because of his faith and his never-ending struggle.
"Come, I'll help you sit in the chair. I have to clean your hair" Sulastri said as he tried to lift Rianti's body. Rianti nodded and refused. But Sulastri insisted.
"Have, you can't argue with your mother" Sulastri said. Rianti finally tried to stand up. His body strengthened each other with Sulastri's body in order to stand up. Then he sat on the chair.
Sulastri took out a comb, a small mirror and some hair ties from inside his bag. He then started combing Rianti's hair.
"Look, how beautiful you are. I'm proud to have a girl as beautiful as you" Sulastri said as she began to put a hairband in Rianti's hair.
Rianti grabbed Sulastri's hand and wrapped it around his neck. He then took the mirror on the table and pointed it at Sulastri's face.
"Mother is beautiful too. I'm also proud to have a mother like you" said Rianti Lirih. Her tears are melting again. Sulastri hurriedly took a tissue and wiped Rianti's tears.
"Already, Son. Don't cry anymore. It's time to smile,"
Rianti nodded. He put the mirror back on the table. Both silent. Sulastri seems busy dressing Rianti. The makeup that was inside her bag was taken out all. Rianti really looks beautiful.
"Mom." Rianti turned towards Sulastri. Sulastri lowered his head and now stuck to Rianti's face.
"What, dear," whispered Sulastri softly. Rianti smiled.
"How many years will I be in prison" Rianti said. Rianti. He sighed long but slowly.
"Give it to mom. I'll talk to Mr. Sahril. I'll try to have your sentence lightened. I don't want to wait too long for you to come home. I want to sleep with you every night" said Sulastri trying to strengthen Rianti's heart.
"What's important now is that you keep being nice while you're in jail. Hopefully with that, the court can ease your sentence,"
"Mom, every Friday night, I always hear a lecture from an ustadz who is assigned to speak here. I'm glad to hear it."
"That's a good start, Rianti. God still loves you,"
"I thought God would never forgive me for the mistakes I made. But that ustadz lecture gave me hope to improve myself,"
"Yes, God. You'll be a better person, son. Even better than me" Sulastri said. He hugged Rianti's body from behind. He kissed Rianti's face.
