Replacement Ribs

12. The arrival of Baraka

Kirana hung up her phone and just put it on the bed. Her mother-in-law just called her. Of course to ask for his whereabouts. Kirana actually refused to come clean. But it should not be parents as good as Bu Ratih should be affected by the impact of his problems with Tristan.

The news that Mentari always asks about him makes him sad. Mentari does not want to go to school and always confine himself in the room. Every moment I ask him something. The longing for the little girl was even more unstoppable.

Kirana stared at the wallpaper of her phone. Pictures of him, Mentari and Tristan. The only photo sent by Mentari to his phone. Kirana believes Mentari will be fine. They never knew each other before. Mentari grew up well with her father. Now it will be, Tristan will definitely do his best for his daughter. So what should Kirana be worried about? Whether or not he was beside Melati, everything would still be fine.

"Sir, in front is Nak Baraka. He said he made a deal with you." Her mother's voice made Kirana gasp.

Kirana has indeed made an appointment with Baraka. But he did not expect that the man was still consistent with his habit of always being on time. Discipline that is always applied in his daily life.

Kirana snatches the home veil before meeting Baraka. The man seemed to be chatting with his father in the living room. Accompanied by two cups of tea and one jar of snacks. Baraka's manners did entice the parents to make him a son-in-law. Moreover, the clever male Baraka has even managed to build some business. One of them is the cultivation of organic vegetables that supply famous supermarkets in several cities.

Seeing Kirana appear from inside the house, Mr. Restu left the two of them to chat in the living room. Because Baraka had already told about the meaning of his arrival.

"How are you, Na?" The basa of Baraka after Kirana sat opposite him.

"Good, Mas. It's a little different to see Mas Baraka now."

"Different where?"

"In her glasses" Kirana said, commenting on Baraka's cross-section with her glasses.

Baraka also chuckled. Kirana's a joke she knew a long time ago. It was precisely now that Kirana became more reserved than when she was still in high school.

"So how's Na, about the planning I said yesterday?" ask Baraka.

Kirana did not expect. If Baraka comes up with a pretty careful planning. They are planning to reactivate the long-running TPQ. The village children who spend more time playing gadgets knock on Baraka day. In the past he and some of his friends including Kirana established a place to teach by using an empty house which was eventually granted to be made TPQ. The place is now abandoned after they finally continue their higher education out of town.

Baraka asks Kirana to help recruit the teenage princess. Because Baraka knows facing children is one of Kirana's skills. He hopes Kirana can become a mentor to provide knowledge on how to respond to children later.

"OK, Mum. Let's make a list first of the names of teenagers who can help us teach."

"Well that's him. I don't understand the kids here who can help us."

Kirana rolled her eyes. "Don't you understand, Mom? So arrogant. I'm the one who comes home twice a year."

"Yes, you did. All contact numbers. I'll make the invitation.online only."

"Still have time, Mom? Don't you want help, too?" sarkas Kirana's.

"Yes placed. Yes, I asked you to do it too. You have a lot of work, Na. I don't even feel good about you. I made the program even you are busy."

"No, Mas. My job is nothing more than Mas Baraka's. This is me being an unemployed."

Baraka chuckled again. "Ok Bu Sekre, ask for help if you can. But I don't mean it, yeah."

Kirana laughed crisply. It feels like they are going back in time. When Baraka becomes the head of the mosque teenager and Kirana becomes his secretary. Even at school Kirana had to be the secretary of Baraka who had been the chairman of OSIS.

"This serious Baraka wants to go home?" kirana asked to confirm Baraka's words on the phone at that time.

"Seriously, Na. It's up here still being asked."

Kirana chuckled again. "Yes, I may suddenly go to Surabaya again."

"Well, the smells want girly kades, nih!" seloroh Kirana's.

"Yes, can. You'll be the Miss Kades."

Kirana. But the laughter changed an awkward smile. Is this the story of Baraka shooting him? Kirana. But Baraka was now laughing at Kirana who suddenly became nervous.

"Na? Seriously, his face?"

"No. No papa. So what's the next plan, Mas?" Kirana deliberately switched the conversation to the original topic.

"For a while that was it. We'll talk about it again at the meeting with the kids. We'll arrange it as soon as possible. Hopefully this week will be clear. And next week it can start. You will have to rush back to Jakarta."

"No, Mas. I think I've been here a while."

Braka's head nodded. "How many weeks off?"

"Maybe forever."

"Seriously?!" sahut Baraka with frown.

There was a sense of happiness that appeared on the man's face as Kirana nodded in agreement.

Kirana was actually still in doubt. He will either return to teaching or quit. But he has already written a resignation letter. He was determined to send it. Next, either he would return to the city or not. But considering Tristan has been so rudely evicted, Kirana does not want to be too hopeful to return to the house. His heartache still felt so painful. It was as if he had no pride in front of Tristan. He also did not know where his hick will go with Tristan. Kirana was tired of pedaling it herself even though it was still in a matter of days. It turned out that she was not that strong against a husband who was like a heartless human being.

Baraka said goodbye after nothing else was talked about. Kiran escorted the man out of the fence. Recalling Baraka's serious-sounding joke earlier, there was suddenly a sense of pity that flashed by. Kirana doesn't know why she feels guilty for Baraka.

Kirana went back inside and brought the empty teacup to the kitchen.

"What is it like to laugh?" mother asked as Kirana washed the cup.

"That's Mas Baraka ngajakin Nana to teach TPQ again."

"Ooh, great. Mothers here are also often on vent. They complain of children who are now difficult to say. Mostly hp. At home there is no quota, they rame-rame gather at the village hall," explained Mother.

"Well, that's what makes Mas Baraka concerned," Kirana replied as she placed the cup on the plate rack.

"The boy has not changed. Ms. Sharif is indeed great at educating her son to be a person who cares deeply about others. Luckily he became Baraka's wife later. Already handsome, well mannered, still young but well established."

Kirana did not intend to recite the words of her mother who always praised Baraka as high as the sky. It is not wrong also because Baraka is indeed worthy of praise. It's just that his mother's praise is accompanied by hope that Kirana and Baraka can unite. And that's something that's still a secret. Because Kirana's status is still Tristan's legal wife.

"Who's it from, Mom?" kirana asked to look at the box of cookies on the dining table.

"From Bu Syarif. Baraka brought it."

Kirana. Ms. Sharif, Baraka's mother.send that much cake for what? The romance is not pleasant. But Kirana also picked up a piece of brownie that was also being eaten by her mother. Her mother's cake Baraka is delicious. Because he is good at making cakes.

Kirana sat down in front of her mother while chewing on the cake.

"Your husband doesn't intend to pick you up?" The sweet taste of the newly chewed cake Kirana suddenly became bitter at her mother's question.