Not a Substitute

2 Paid Actors

A yellow flag fluttered in front of the house with a red-gray paint bearing the house number E-07. Plastic chairs neatly lined up under an old ijo-colored tent that was installed since yesterday afternoon. Some of the fathers dressed in white cocoa and black squatting stood in front of the house welcoming some mourners who came to grieve.

Inside the house, the mothers wore a robe dominated by white, sitting on a blue carpet. They chanted Surah Yasin together.

From a distance there was the sound of ambulance sirens. For those who are grieving, his voice is very heartbreaking.

Ambulance sirens were turned off right in front of the funeral home. The ambulance drove the pilot's body home. Sobs welcomed the return of the deceased.

Right in front of the living room door, there was a woman wearing a bone-white dress with her matching hijab. Quiescent. No sound, no sobbing. But it was clearly a pale face with puffy eyes, which indicated he was after crying. He only looked at the coffin that was lifted to the dwelling place before the deceased was buried.

"Mas, as your request. I welcome your return with the white robe you gave. Look at me beautiful, right?"

Now she is sitting beside her husband's coffin. He sits beside his two best friends, Rianti and Andini.

"You kept your promise, Mom. You came home on our anniversary. Today we're supposed to be celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary, Mas." The crying began to break.

"Sing patient yo, Nduk. Atimu kuatno. Iki ngunu pancene wes destiny. Death ki ora iso rejected you uga ora iso in suwun. Istighfar sing akeh yes, Nduk." (Be patient, Nduk. Strengthen your heart. It's already destiny. Death cannot be denied or asked for. A lot of Istighfar yes, Nduk.)

It seems that one of the female mourners tried to give advice to Himeka to sincerely and patiently accept destiny.

Himeka just nodded weakly. She did not expect that her husband would return home on the day of his wedding in a state of corpse. Only 5 years of marriage. A short soul mate.

"It's 10:00 WIB. Time for preparations to bury the deceased to his final resting place." Said Mr. Engky, the chairman of the local RT.

"I'm coming along." replied Himeka briefly

"Nduk, as sampean ora strong, until omah ae. Mesakne bojomu lek sampean even nangis ndek grave. (Sir, as you are not strong, you are at home. Pity your husband if you cry at the tomb)" said one of the mourners

"I'm strong, I won't cry at Mas Dana's grave." Himeka replied strengthening his heart

"I'm going to accompany Himeka, Mom. God willing it is okay" said Rianti, a friend of Himeka.

"I'm home, looking after Navya. If at any time Navya wakes up, there is me beside her." Andini said and was greeted by a nod by Rianti.

"Yes, let's go hunting later in the day. Kasian the deceased if not immediately buried." Mr. RT also began to command to immediately lift the coffin and leave for the tomb.

***

The red earth invitation still looks wet. 10 minutes ago the body of the pilot was buried with a smooth procession.

Himeka sprinkled flowers on the one-meter-long dirt pile. After sprinkling flowers, accompanied by one of his companions, he sat in front of the grave of the deceased.

Himeka rubbed a headstone with Danadyaksa Jayandaru's full date of birth and date of death. As he promised, he shed no tears. Now he looks more strong.

I don't know if he's really tough or if he just covers it up. Only he knows.

"Mas, I promise to take good care of our son, Navya. I really did not expect that the words you said yesterday were the will you gave me."

Rianti wrapped his arms around the body of his best friend. He was worried that Himeka would not be able to support his body properly.

***

The sun is directly above the head. This afternoon, the weather was very hot. Himeka was still standing in front of the grave of her late husband. Beside him, Rianti faithfully adored him so that he was not so hot.

Himeka did not answer. He puffed his body forward to kiss the white marble headstone.

"Mas, I'm going home first. Assalamu'alaikum, dear."

Himeka slowly stood up with the help of Rianti. His feet felt numb. For a moment he was silent while stretching the leg muscles that he used for too long to rest.

After feeling comfortable enough to walk, he began to step on his feet. They began to walk away from the tomb of the deceased towards the exit of the tomb.

Luckily the tomb is not far from his home

It only took 10 minutes for him to return home.

***

"Mother." little Navya ran towards Himeka.

Himeka lifts Navya's body and kisses her.

"Mother's out crying, huh?" Navya's little hand rubbed her round cheek.

"Mother, this is candy for Mother, so Mother is not sad anymore. This is Aunt Andini who bought it for Vya" said Vya while giving her favorite vanilla milk lollipop

What a stifling sight for anyone who sees. Even a child as small as Navya has lost her father. Several pairs of eyes that witnessed the interaction of the mother and child also dissolved in sadness.

"Mother, which father." Vya circulated her gaze, looking for her father's figure among the several mourners who filled her yard.

Baffled. Nervous. Don't know what Himeka has to say to tell her daughter that her father is dead now.

"Said Aunt Andini, the Mother was driving the father away." asked Navya who made Himeka just silent. He did not have the courage to answer his daughter's questions.

"Navya dear, here Navya carrying Aunt Rianti first yes. Mother is still tired. Let your mother go into the room first yes, rest in the room."

Rianti took the initiative to replace Navya.

"Yes, aunt." answered Navya obediently.

Himeka with Andini's hand, now slowly entered the house. But not until the terrace of the house, suddenly Himeka felt weak. The view immediately blurred. Himeka was unconscious.

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Happy Reading gaes🤗

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