Not a Choice
06
...******...
...“The dark past let it be an experience and lashings so that in the future we can look at ourselves to achieve happiness.”...
...~Arunika Pramesti~...
...*****...
A car stopped right in front of the Madang Resto. Soon a six-year-old boy got out of the car, followed by Runa who did not stop nagging because of the child's behavior.
"Mother, Khan first, yes," said the boy, then ran into the restaurant.
"Pay through the application, yes, sir," Runa said to the online taxi driver he was riding.
"Ready, Mom. Thank you." Thank you."
"Khan, don't run!" runa shouted as Khandra began to move away, then soon caught up with her.
Seeing how agile Khandra, immediately reminded Runa at the first time he met Khandra. The plain little baby that had already managed to captivate his heart and give him the strength to always endure.
Now, Runa is so proud of Khandra. At school, Khandra always got a class champion. Many teachers and guardians praised Khandra's level of intelligence.
Besides being smart, Khandra also grew up to be a person who cares for others, especially Runa. In fact, Khandra once helped Runa to provide menu books to customers when the restaurant was crowded. Unexpectedly, many visitors were staring in admiration at the figure of Khandraya.
Arriving Runa in the kitchen, he immediately searched for Khandra's whereabouts. "Khan?" call her knocking on the door, "are you in the toilet?" tanya Runa made sure, when she saw Khandra's bag lying in front of the toilet.
"Yes, Bun, just a second," cried Khandra.
Initially, Runa was so calm playing her phone while waiting for Khandra. However, he was so disturbed when he heard the screams of a woman in his restaurant. "I told you, I'm here to find Runa. Don't cover up the woman, yeah!"
Hearing her name called, Runa immediately ran forward. How surprised he was when he saw who was standing in front of the cashier table with a haughty style and expression that was already burning with emotion.
"Mr –Sekar?" said Runa terbat.
"I want to talk to you!"
"Mbak Wati, please take care of Khandra, yes! Runa wanted to talk to Nek Sekar for a while," Runa pinta on Wati who was still standing in front of the cashier's desk.
Wati who saw the anger of Sekar felt worried for Runa. He seems reluctant to leave them both.
"Not what, Ma'am," said Runa with a smile as if understanding about Wati's concerns.
Wati nodded, "Well, Ma'am."
After Wati died, Runa invited Sekar to sit in a meeting room. He also asked other employees to prepare a banquet for him and Sekar.
"Just go ahead, yes, Run," said Sekar. "I know what your intention was from the beginning to approach my granddaughter. You want to use Sandy to enlarge your efforts, right? Please, you, right, beautiful, just find another man who can support you, not Sandy who you make a victim. Let Sandy have the right companion. You love Sandy, right? If it's love, you leave him and let him live happily!"
"Sorry before, Grandma. Runa and Mas Sandy have nothing to do. From the beginning we were friends."
"If pure friends, how can this restaurant business exist? You're just a stranger who suddenly entered our family. And you must have intentionally done all this just for your benefit."
"You don't need a lot of excuses in front of me. Maybe you can fool all my family. But I can't be lied to."
Hearing all of Sekar's accusations, Runa could only silently bow while squeezing both of her hands. It is free that he denied it, because the assessment of Sekar against him was already negative. No matter how good it is, it will always be considered wrong.
"Well, I'll make it easy. This restaurant will be yours. I'm not going to ask Sandy to switch this resto on her behalf. But you don't come near my granddaughter anymore!"
Hearing Sekar's request, Runa immediately looked up and looked at him. "What does Nek Sekar mean? Indeed Mas Sandy who gave capital to Runa to build this business. But the capital has been Runa returned, and this has become a business for both of us," said Runa held back her tears.
Tok tok!
Runa took her breath in. "Just enter!" said it. Seeing Wati's arrival, Runa immediately shifted her gaze so that the employee did not feel worried.
Wati immediately prepared all the dishes according to Runa's request. "Khandra where, Ma'am?" ask Runa to Wati.
"Khandra's still playing, Mom."
"Yes already, Ma'am. Ask for help for a moment to take care of Khandra, yes. Sorry to bother you," pinta Runa.
After Wati died, Runa again tried to strengthen himself. She understood, being a single mom is not an easy thing. There will be a lot of scorn and slander that comes in turn. "Please, Grandma, eat the dish first. This is the best seller menu at this restaurant. Mas Sandy said, if Nek Sekar likes grilled gurami? This is Runa's favorite, too." Runa rearranged the dish in front of him, gave a plate of rice to Sekar, then took a serving of grilled gurami.
"No need! I don't need your cooking. All I need is for you to leave my granddaughter. From the beginning my intention here was just that, because I was not willing yes, Sandy my favorite granddaughter married you. If you are a smart woman, you should understand what I say. Unless what I've been thinking about you is true. It's hard to leave Sandy. You just want to take advantage of Sandy with your body and beauty.”
Runa took her breath back. "Runa had explained to Grandma, that Runa and Mas Sandy had nothing to do but co-workers. It's Grandma's right not to believe Runa's explanation" explained Runa.
For Runa, enough Khandra remained beside Runa. Besides Runa doesn't need anyone anymore. Because Khandra is everything to Runa. He also tried to restrain his emotions so as not to overflow. He just didn't want to be disrespectful towards Sekar.
"Mother ...."
Khandra's voice in front of the door made Runa's attention distracted. Especially with soft and watery eyes make it even more unbearable. Runa immediately stood up and approached Khandra. Hugged him and kissed him.
"Khandra why are you here? Didn't you play with Wati?" runa asked by trying to stabilize her voice. He did not want Khandra to know what was going on between him and Sekar.
"Mother crying?" ask Khandra.
This is what Runa did not want to answer. This question is precisely what makes Runa increasingly not strong to shed tears that he had previously endured.
Runa hugged the boy again. Trying to find strength from the warmth of Khandra's embrace. "No, honey," she lied.
"Just have my warning today with you, yeah, Run!" said Sekar while standing, then approached Runa.
Runa got up and held Khandra's hand tightly. Guiding the child to take shelter behind him.
"Once again I will reiterate! I don't want Sandy my favorite granddaughter to marry you. She's too perfect for you who's just an ordinary woman or maybe, cheap!" Sekar emphasized the word ‘mahahan’ that firmly makes Runa grimace in the corner of his heart. After saying his last sentence, Sekar immediately left Runa and Khandra.
“Dark past let it be an experience and a lash in order for the future we can be introspective to achieve happiness,” Inner Runa while hugging tightly Khan.
...****...
...To be continued...
