Not a Substitute

A4 Valuable Lessons From Dad

The sound of birds chirping merrily. The rooster also crows. They do not want to lose welcome the arrival of the morning sunshine.

The atmosphere this morning looks brighter than yesterday. There was no mist in the morning. But it is inversely proportional to the mood of human children who are still rolling under the blanket. He seemed reluctant to welcome the morning.

He's still grieving. The death of her late husband left her devastated. At a very young age, he felt not ready to bear the status of a widow. But he also has no power to resist the predestination of the Almighty.

There was the sound of the door being knocked and the door creaking opened alternately. Rianti stepped slowly into Himeka's room. He went to the big window in Meka's room. He opened the window curtain so that the morning sunlight into the room.

Last night Rianti didn't sleep here, he slept in Navya's room. After reading the storybook to her, she lay down next to Navya and fell asleep there.

"Let's get up." Rianti shook Himeka's body slowly to wake her up.

Himeka blinked his eyes. The sunlight made it a little glare. After successfully opening his eyes, he sat leaning against the bed rest as his hands hugged the bolster.

His face was very messed up. Not only because he just woke up, but his eyes were involved with a pale face. It indicates that he has been crying all night.

"Navya is awake?" ask Himeka with a raucous voice typical of people waking up.

"So when I came here, Vya was still sleeping" replied Rianti as she offered a glass of warm water.

Himeka's hand reached out to receive the glass. But he did not immediately drink it, he looked at the glass with a sad face

"Usually Mas Dana who always gives me warm water every morning."

Himeka habit is to drink a glass of warm water in the morning after waking up. And all this time her husband always gave her the drink.

Rianti did not give a word of response. He just sat himself in bed near Himeka. His hands moved gently stroking Himeka's shoulders, as if channeling strength.

Slowly Himeka lifted her glass and began to drink it. Once felt enough, he immediately put the remaining glass half of it in the naci near the bed.

"Himeka, sorry. I think today I should go to Bandung. Because my novel is about to launch soon. There will be something I have to finish there." said Rianti. Rianti is a novelist whose work has been published.

"Yes, Ti. Good luck always to all your works." replied Himeka with a smile on his face.

"Yes, I want to go down first. Who knows Mak Tum needs my help preparing breakfast." Himeka simply responded with a nod of his head.

Rianti immediately stepped out of Himeka's room. When it was just up to the third rung there was someone calling out to him.

"Tante." call Navya while her right hand rubs her eyes and her left hand hugs her beloved hello kitty doll.

"Yes, dear." replied Rianti approaching.

"Where's mother, Tan?"

"Mother just woke up, honey. Maybe now the mother is taking another bath." replied Rianti with a smile ending

"Vya, let's go with the aunt down," he continued, holding Navya's tiny hand

"Yes, Tan. Aunty make Vya good milk huh."

"Yes, honey."

As they were about to walk towards the kitchen, Navya's gaze fell upon a person sitting on the back porch of the house holding a newspaper in his hand.

"Grandfather. Good morning, Kek." exclaimed Navya and immediately splashed on the lap while kissing the left cheek of the grandfather.

"Good morning is also my grandfather's beautiful grandson." replied the grandfather as he pinched Navya's cheek, anxious.

He walked in the right corner near the fish pond. He grabbed a jar of fish food and opened the lid. His outstretched hand took the fish food and slowly sprinkled it into the pond. The fish swim happily to welcome the food sown by their masters.

"Navya." call Himeka.

"Yes, Mother." answered Navya with eyes still fixed on the fish in the pond that was busy eating his food.

"This milk is drunk first" said Himeka as he held out a small glass full of his daughter's favorite vanilla-flavored milk.

Soon Navya also gulped it down to not be left. Seen remnants of milk at the corner of his tiny lips.

"Yes now Vya has the same bath as Sister Rina used to" said Himeka while rubbing the tip of Navya's lips clean the rest of the milk.

"Yes, Mother." Navya replied as she kissed the right cheek of her mother and immediately ran towards the standing of Mbak Rina.

Himeka cleaned a jar of fish food and put it back on the shelf near the fish pond. Afterwards he walked towards Mr. Dhirga and sat down on a chair beside Mr. Dhirga.

Knowing his son-in-law was sitting next to him, immediately Mr. Dhirga folded the newspaper he was holding and kept it on a newspaper shelf not far from where he was sitting.

"Sir, what's your next plan?" ask Mr. Dhirga while taking off his glasses.

"Not yet to know, Pa." replied Himeka with a head bobble

"How about you guys come and stay in Jogja?"

Himeka shook her head again. "Sorry, Pa. They can't. Meka still wants to stay here. Here Meka feels close to Mas Dana."

However, she did not want to part with her late husband. In Surabaya she felt close to her late husband because she could visit his grave at any time.

"Yes, if that is your decision. Papa can't force it either." said Mr. Dhirga as he folded the newspaper he had read and placed it on his right shelf.

Himeka nodded and reviewed the smile on her lips. He is grateful to have in-laws like Mr. Dhirga who always sincerely love him. He considers her his own daughter.

"Sir, you don't have to worry. For your living expenses let papa bear it."

"Thank you, Pa."

"Or if you're willing, you can help Papa. There are empty positions you can occupy."

Himeka shook his head. Not that he is lazy to work, but he has no experience to work in an office.

"Sorry, Pa, for now Meka wants to be like this first."

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