Papa To Kirana

Chapter 1 Old Love

I watch television that broadcasts football events even though it's not really my favorite team game. My eyes were half sleepy, but lazy to move from this soft sofa.

Next to the seat, lay the dirty plates and glasses from my dinner last night. I'm not very diligent in making up the house. But believe me my brother, Rama, is much messier.

By the way where is that silly little brother? He hasn't been back to the apartment. It was almost midnight.

I glanced at the window that had been making noise from the strong night wind. Looks like it's going to rain. I searched through my cell phone which I finally found under my own body.

I opened the cell phone, apparently half an hour ago Rama sent a message that he would not go home to my apartment. He will stay at his friend Doni's house because he is too tired and worried about rain when he returns to the apartment. He promised to come home tomorrow morning.

Yes, my sister and I live in an apartment not far from where I work. I work as a financial manager at a fairly well-known manufacturing company.

From my salary as a manager, I was able to finance my sister's college and buy a patch of rice fields in the village so that my parents could farm on their own land. I once asked my parents to move in with me. But they are more comfortable in the village.

In the eyes of people, my life is almost perfect. Just find a partner and get married. But I still put the marriage plan at priority number one thousand in life.

Every few months, my mother came to the apartment to see the situation of her two sons and lectured me to get married quickly. Mother told me endlessly about the single girls she knew.

“You remember Dara, your childhood friend. He has now become a successful teacher. Do you still have contacts? Try you call him. Just say hello," my mother said while knitting.

She always carries her raft tools wherever she goes, “Oh yes, mom yesterday met mom's friend. He has an unmarried daughter. It's beautiful, polite, meek again. If you want, I'll try to introduce you.”

 Rama always mocked me as an abnormal man. I don't care about Rama's jokes or about mom's story. I always pretended not to listen. I really enjoyed my free time.

The cold began to enter the room. I pulled the blanket and curled up under it. That's when my phone rings. There was a call coming in from an unknown number. Ignored him.

Letting my phone ring at will. It will also stop on its own. I do often ignore calls from foreign numbers. But my phone kept ringing until it made my ears hurt.  Looks like the caller really wants to talk to me.

I wonder who wants to talk to me this late at night. So I picked up the phone.

“Halo, Balin," said a voice across.

My eyes were already five watts, as if getting a large power supply when I heard the sound.

I knew who was across the phone. It can't be wrong anymore. That sound. The voice of a woman who once filled the recesses of my heart.

Is this a dream? This must be a dream. I fell asleep on the sofa in front of the television and dreamed of calling Karina.

“Halo, Balin. You there?” karina said once again to make me flinch.

I'm cleared my throat, “Yes, Karina. Tumben you called me. What's up?”

“Can't you meet me at the Pigeon Park right now.”

The pigeon park is a long way from where I live. Why did Karina ask me to meet her there?

Wait up! I heard from my sharp ears a small sobbing and the raucous sound of Karina. Is Karina crying?

“Please, Balin. I was in desperate need of help" Karina said.

“Iya. Yes, you wait a minute, I'll be there soon.”

“Quick, Balin! I wait.”

I hung up. Huft. It turns out I'm still the old Balin. Can't resist if Karina asks for help.

Five years was not enough to wipe Karina out of my heart. I took a thick jacket from the closet and the car keys in the nightstand drawer. It was raining when my car just came out of the apartment.

Ah yes, husband. I just remembered Karina had a husband. Where is Karina's husband? If I meet Karina in the middle of the night like this, won't it cause slander?

I'm afraid Karina's husband misunderstood me. Or maybe Karina is having trouble with her husband. If so, why did Karina ask for my help? Why me? Why not Karina's father?

Those questions kept repeating in my mind as long as I drove the car to the Pigeon Park. I hesitated for a moment, but there was a great belief in me that Karina was not doing well.

The squealing sound of my car when it stopped at the Pigeon Park shocked a woman who was sitting limp on a park bench. I got out of the car and approached him.

Karina wears a kimono-style nightgown wrapped in a black jacket. Dropped limp while holding his large stomach. He immediately rubbed both cheeks as I was in front of him.

I looked around. There was no one but the two of us.

“Karina, what's wrong? What happened?”

Karina still sobbed. He tried to catch his breath so he could talk. I felt the anxiety she was experiencing. I rested in front of Karina while clasping her two cold hands.

Fuck Karina who is married. Ignore what it is to move on.

“Balin, take me away from here. I can't take it anymore" Karina cried hysterically.

I sat down beside her, hugged her and gently rubbed her arms to make her a little calmer. If Karina's husband came at that time, it would be more complicated. But I don't care.

If the man deserved to be called a husband, he would not have allowed his wife to cry alone in the garden of these nights.

“Quiet, Karina! Cool out! What's the story to me? Why are you here alone? Where's your husband?”

“Balin, actually I..” Karina's face frowned like she had swallowed a bitter pill. “I escaped from my husband.”

“What? How could? Why?”

“She's a bad boy.”

“Wicked how do you mean, Karina?”

 Karina did not answer. He was even moaning in pain. Karina's two hands directly touched her stomach. He bit his lower lip. Signs he's enduring the pain.

“Karina, are you okay?” stupid questions that just come out of your mouth.

“Later I'll tell you what really happened. Now my stomach hurts. Aauuw.”

“Abdomen?” my eyes were fixed on Karina's big belly. “You mean your content...”

Karina nodded and complained once more. His breath goes up and down. Karina's pale face was clearly visible in the darkness of the night. I panicked and confused.

Marry not yet, let alone have experience dealing with pregnant women in pain. I looked left right. No one passes by to be called for help.

“What can I do, Karina? Do we need to go to the hospital?”

“Please take me. I think I'm going to give birth, Balin," said Karina.

“What?”

I panicked and trembled violently as I watched under Karina's nightgown flowing blood. It empties into Karina's feet and drips down on the grass.