Renjana Dusk Kala

Chapter 64. The Crossroads of Dilemma

The Crossroads of Dilemma

(taken from the title song by Nora, a Malaysian singer)©©

***

Jakarta

Pocktail

He was folding the newly lifted laundry from the clothesline, when the phone on the table vibrated the call sign came in.

Brother Anjani calls ....

He exhaled a deep breath as soon as he saw the name on the screen. Then glanced at Sasa who was sleeping. After a long day of exhaustion waiting for his two brothers to return home.

"Where the hell are you going, Ma?" Sasa ruffled his waist with a sullen face. "Aren't you coming home?"

"When Sasa has been playing a bicycle, have read the gift book from om Tama, it's bobo noon." Sasa was getting sullen. "But my brother hasn't come home yet."

"What don't-don't ...." Sasa put on a suspicious face. "Any picnic but no sasa rhyme?"

"If you're sasa sesel, ah!" Sasa started sulking. "Saturbs!"

He glanced at the wall clock. It's past ashar time. But Icad, Umay, and Mr. Agus never seen the trunk of his nose.

While the session earlier, Tama sent him a number of photos while in the playground.

Boys day out, as Tama wrote, just below the photo that was riding the bomb car.

Tama and Umay both put on a big smile with both hands held up high. While Icad only put on a flat face.

Brother .... His mind while breathing a long breath.

Also a number of other photos taken by Tama when Icad and Umay were busy playing motor racing, car racing, shooting. In the photos it is clearly visible, Icad's facial expression is loose and cheerful. He spoke with Umay as if without burden. Much different from what Icad showed when taking pictures with Tama.

Brother Anjani calls ....

He was snapped from the daydream. Get the phone on the table immediately. Because this becomes the third ring after the previous two calls are not raised.

"Assalamu'alaikum?"

"Not slept?"

He shook his head at Tama's no-nonsense speech.

"Pocuts? Hello?"

"Not yet" he replied, glancing at the wall clock. It's eight at least a quarter. It's too late to sleep. His homework is not finished either. Still have to fold clothes and tidy up the kitchen.

"What are the kids again?"

He sighed. From the direction of the living room, there was the sound of the clanking of spoons clashing with plates. Backed by the sound of television. And my mother reminded me,

"Umay, please lower your voice. It's too hard."

"Abang and Umay are eating" he answered briefly.

"Sasa?"

He glanced at Sasa who was sleeping soundly while hugging the purple little pony doll.

"It's sleep."

Earlier, when Icad and Umay finally appeared on the porch of the house, Sasa who was playing Barbie dolls with Zhie immediately ran over. Welcoming her two brothers.

"Yetoo!"

Then ruffled his waist with an annoyed face. "Kok came home in the afternoon? Her teeth are long. But Sasa was not invited. Cheating!"

Sasa was already about to cry from anger. Fortunately, Icad immediately held out a purple colored horse puppet as tall as Sasa's body.

"This ... make Sasa."

The cry that was already at the tip of the horn instantly did not flow. When he saw the doll Icad had stretched out.

"Separkel?" Sasa instantly grabbed the purple colored horse puppet from Icad's hand and hugged it tightly. "Thank you, Brother .. already bring Sasa a doll as dark as a gedeee .. hihihi ...."

"It's not from Abang" Icad murmured indistinctly.

"But a gift from om" said Umay in a voice that was too loud. "Om Tama."

That instant also Sasa's cry instantly broke. Run up to him sobbing. "It's not invited! Huaoo! Huaoo! Huaoo!"

"Don't you like the doll?" Tama's voice sounded smiling. "Umay said, it's Sasa's favorite doll after Barbie."

He looked back at Sasa who was hugging the little pony doll tightly. "Alhamdulillah ... Sasa likes it a lot. Thank you very much."

"Shouldn't bother. The gift of a book in the morning is more than enough."

Tama took a breath. "Did you always talk like this to everyone?"

He didn't answer.

"Please don't act like we're someone else."

He breathed a long breath. "Sorry ...."

Tama laughed a little. "And don't apologize if you haven't done anything wrong."

He shrivels. "Sorry .. I ...."

"Hey." Tama's voice sounded soft. "Come, we're getting married tomorrow?"

"Sorry ... I .. what?" He gasped when he realized the last question posed by Tama.

Tama laughed again. "We're getting married tomorrow."

He just kept silent and did not answer. Feeling careless in the way Tama joked which she thought was not funny at all.

"Silent means yes" Tama continued.

He still does not answer.

Then across there was a long breath. "Icad no, Umay yes," muttered Tama. "Sasa and Mama .. absolutely yes ...."

He closed his eyes.

"They're still gray." Tama's voice began to weaken. "I'm asking for time. Maybe new ... next week can go to Surabaya. Talk to the designer."

He nodded. Tama couldn't have seen it.

"Do you mind?"

"About?"

"Wait until I'm done talking to Reka?"

Again he nodded. "It should be."

"Our relationship is quite complicated. It could be .. it takes more time to give an understanding to the Design."

"So much better." He certainly understands the situation they have to face. Because until now, Icad has not been able to like Tama.

"Don't like it either." Icad Gel when handing paperbags with the logo of a famous cake company as a hand to him. "Don't mean you have to like it, right?"

"I want all the problems resolved before we start."

"Yes." Yeah."

"Ah .. can not wait it feels, bring you together Reka."

He smiles. Remembering the figure of a boy the age of Icad, who had met him at the dining table of the house of Niar maam.

"So ... when do we walk three together Sasa?"

His smile turned into a frown.

He never thought that this would be their last conversation.

For more than a week, Tama suddenly disappeared like swallowed by the earth. No more calling, let alone texting just asking for news. As has often been done since their meeting on Eid.

It was precisely Umay who always gave him information. "Ma, there's om on TV!"

"Police finally managed to subdue the perpetrators of the gold shop robbery and murder in Tubagus Angke, Tambora, West Jakarta." ®

"7 The perpetrator was arrested." A man very similar to Tama suddenly appeared on the television screen.

"3 of them were shot dead against the officers."

"From the hands of the suspect was obtained evidence of 15 firearms, 14 pipe bombs, 34 rounds of 9 mm caliber bullets, 2 units of motorcycles, 10 kg of gold and 7 pieces of motorcycle keys."

He swallowed. That's a real Tama.

"Om cool, Ma?" Umay glared in front of the television screen without blinking.

Furthermore like a subscription, almost every time Umay called him from the front of the television screen.

"Ma! It's got om!"

"Kapolres Jakarta .. asserted that the case of land mafia who dragged the names of land officials of DKI and Ministry of ATR (Agraria and Spatial Planning), has now been handled by Polda Metro Jaya." ∆

"It's been delivered to the Metro Police." Tama's face appeared on the television screen. "It is handled by a team from Jakarta police .. and Metro Police."

But the most attention-grabbing and shocking national news is the murder of a supreme judge.

"Jum'at morning, the Shafiudin supreme judge was killed in 4 rounds by unidentified people, while passing on the Jalan Kemanggisan Utama, Palmerah, to his office." ✓

"The great judge died on the spot after hot lead penetrated the right arm, chest, and jaw."

"Two days ago, a new Syafiudin judge sentenced the Paramayoga Insurance corruption case, which cost the country up to 10 trillion rupiah."

"A team has been formed with Polda Metro." Tama reappeared on the television screen. "We are moving according to the direction of the leader."

He took a long breath. Yes, it seems Tama is indeed being preoccupied with many tasks. The main reason why not be patient for up to a week more. Communication between them suddenly broke down in the middle of the road. And when he saw Tama's face appear on the television screen he felt, if they were two strangers who never knew each other. Separated a much different world.

"Why nervous?" It was as if she knew his heart.

He just kept silent and did not answer. Feeling careless if mamak finds out his anxiety is caused by Tama. How humiliating. They don't even have any ties yet. But he already felt neglected.

"Maybe this is the way .. so you can better prepare yourself." Mom smiled.

He immediately nodded. Is this what is meant by Tama's speech about,

"You need to be ready. I could not go home for days. Or go home but stay the name."

In the silence of the night, the heart began to ask if it was worth falling asleep while hugging the book of the man she loved so much. But the heart goes to another man?

She felt like she was a heartless woman.

But apparently, it's not Tama to worry about. Because a few days later, the real problem came.

"MA! There's guests!" Umay shouted this Sunday morning while cooking in the kitchen.

And never thought, would find a smile Mr. Raka at the door.

***

Rabbet

After the family reunion, the mother suddenly limp and falls in the dining room.

"There is a blockage in the brain (ischemic) that is triggered due to hypertension, high cholesterol and blood clots" explained the doctor who handles mama.

My hypertension has been suffering for ten years. While cholesterol reaches the number 443, from the normal standard a maximum of 200. This means that it has doubled above the normal limit. While blood clots due to lack of drinking water.

The first stroke resulted in the right limbs, hands and feet experiencing paralysis. Unable to move.

Talking is difficult too. Mama even takes a long time to understand and respond to his words. And for a week, you can only communicate using gestures.

He delayed his return to Jakarta. Submitting duties and responsibilities related to Persada's Appetite to Iren. Including finding an invalid nanny for Shaina. Because he had to stand by caring for and waiting for his mother in the hospital. Because his two brothers who settled in Munich and Brussels could not go home this year.

The tenth day after the stroke, you can finally move your right toe and right index finger. This is certainly very happy. Gives hope that mom can get well soon.

On the thirteenth day, the mother is allowed to be treated independently at home. But still have to take antihypertensive drugs, anticholesterol, blood thinners, brain nutrients, and vitamins. Including a number of physiotherapists.

Slowly but surely, my mother's condition improved. The combination of drugs consumed and therapy began to bear fruit.

Little by little, my mother's speech began to clear even though clean and flattened. You can also move your hands up, albeit with great difficulty. And eager to learn to walk using aids.

"Before mom left ...." Mama spoke stammeringly while looking at him with glazed eyes. "Bring someone into this house."

"Someone you love. The woman you want to marry."

He smiles. "Mama healed first. Don't think about it."

But my mom grabbed his arm. "Mama's son is now just you, Raka. Your two sisters chose to live far away not caring about Mama ...."

"Mama wants before leaving .. can see you happy ... Shaina gets a good stay-at-large mom .. let Mama calm down ...."

He breathed a long breath. "Mba Galuh same Mba Sari not leave Mama. But it does have to settle there ...."

"Mba Galuh same Mba Sari .. every day always worried about Mama. Ask the news and progress of Mama. Sending a fee for your recovery ...." Her baby is trying to smile.

But Mama looked at him with tears in her eyes. "But they are not like you, Raka .. want to buy (take care of) Mama .. to the point of sacrificing your own life ...."

"Come .. bring it here ... Mama's blessing whoever she is ...."

He certainly did not get the heart to tell about the intention to propose to Pocut. In good health and fresh fit, mama does not like Pocut. Especially in unstable conditions, have not recovered, and undergo various therapies.

"What woman have you ever met at Setyo's mas house?" Mom's guess made her fall.

Could this be the ..this is the way for her?

"Mama remember?"

Mama rubbed her arm slowly. "Mama don't want you to choose wrong, Raka. Mama doesn't want your life to be bad just because of women."

"Mom wants you to get the best."

"Now ... Mama trusts whoever your choice is."

"If it is already steady .. bring it to this house to see Mama ...."

He smiled with relief. "Including Pocuts?"

Mama nodded. "So ... Her name is Pocut? Who's just a SMK graduate and housewife?"

He could only laugh and shake in disbelief. Hugged my mom with a burning feeling. Relieved to be amazing.

He still lives in Malang until the condition of the mother is more stable. At the same time select two of the most reliable and trusted nurses to care for your mother. Before returning to Jakarta. Finishing business and tasks in Persada's taste that had been delayed. And visit relatives of his late father who still have Aceh bloodline.

Om Hasan, so commonly called. Is the husband of the father's cousin's sister from the grandmother's lineage. I don't know, he doesn't understand detailed genealogical sequences. To be sure for him, om Hasan became the only person who was hired and could help him propose to Pocut.

"Are you sure, huh?" Om Hasan still ticked it. Because they had met several times accidentally at official events, when he was holding another woman, certainly not Pocut.

He smiled widely. "100% sure, Om."

***

Pocktail

He was stunned when he saw Mr. Raka and a man had been standing in front of the door.

And increasingly confused because Mr. Raka immediately look for the existence of mamak.

He had to ask Umay for help to call the mamak who was teaching tahsin in the madrasah.

"I'm sorry in advance, if our arrival here is surprising enough." The white-haired man sitting next to Raka sir began to speak up.

"Include .. My name is Hasan. Born and raised in Bireun. But since twenty years ago it has been settled in Jakarta."

"Same as it seems to be with the mother's family ...." The man turned his head towards Raka sir who whispered something.

"Like Cut Rosyida's mother's family .. who also came from rencong land."

Mamak nodded reverently.

"I ... still counted relatives with this Raka." Then smile. "My wife is the cousin sister of Raka's late father."

"Maybe ... this is enough as an introduction."

"Now ... as the representative of my older cousin's son, Raka. Want to convey goodwill to the family of Cut Rosyida's mother ...."

"To ask for a mother's daughter named ...."

"Pocut Halimatussadiah ...." Replied Raka sir smiling.

In that instant, he also felt like he had crashed into the middle of the ocean. Floating in between the ferocious waves that are able to destroy the coral. Then it sank into the depths and could no longer appear.

He was in the same position as he is now. Even repeatedly. But not for two men who have a kinship. With one of them has left a deep enough despair, Tama.

Mama looked at him. Before speaking with caution. "Sorry before. But we have to deliver."

"Some time ago .. no one ever came here to convey good intentions."

He looked down while weaving his fingers restlessly.

"Is it officially accepted?" Ask Mr. Hasan.

Mamak looked towards him. "Newly conveying good intentions."

"That means you haven't asked?" Mr. Hasan started to have a serious face.

Mamak sighed. "Not ...."

"Yes." Yeah." Mr. Hasan nodded. "We understand and understand. Ethically, the proposal that comes before must certainly be preferred."

"But if the new form of goodwill .. has not been counted officially as we do now?"

Mamak. "Rubber. We just want to convey .. so that Mr. Hasan and Mr. Raka know the real situation."

"Thank you so much for this openness." Mr. Hasan smiled with relief. "We appreciate it very much."

"Now may ... just wait for the answer to our proposal ...."

He knit his fingers restlessly. His breathing changed one by one like a burden. And his head was filled with unsettling worry.

"I ...." He looked at the mother who was also looking at him.

"I ... requires 100 mayam ...."

***

Remarks :

©©. : title of the song was taken because it corresponds to the contents of the chapter, there is no connection with the actual meaning of the song.

®. :quoted from the news Liputan6.com December 2013 edition

∆. :quoted from detik.com news on June 2021

√. :quoted from mnews news of July 2020 edition, with slight adjustment

Mayam.: can be interpreted as dowry (jeulame), a unit of gold count in Acehnese society.

If converted by grams, one Mayam is estimated to be worth about 3.33 grams. So, like gold per gram is valued at Rp 500 thousand, then one Mayam is around Rp 1.6 million.

There is no provision to determine how much dowry to ask for Acehnese girls. But some people believe, the number of dowry is determined from various sides. Starting from level, heredity, education to social status.

Mayam tradition contains many values. One of them is a symbol of the seriousness of a man in getting the woman he loves.

(explanation of mayam: from various sources).

***