SET DUSK

The Part 23

When she opened her eyes, Ida was lying in a hospital bed. Several hoses were attached to his body. As his eyes scoured the entire room, a nurse came in.

"Yes, you're a human?" the nurse was surprised.

Ida notices the nurse's desk, which turns out to be Ros.

"Ghhh ...." Ida's voice couldn't get out.

"You don't talk first, I'll get you the same pen paper."

Without waiting for Ida's answer, Ros came out. He soon returned with a small book and pen.

"Why are you here, Ros?" Write Ida.

"A month ago I officially became a nurse at this hospital" replied Ros after reading Ida's writing.

"You know how long you've been unconscious, Da?" ask Ros while checking Ida's condition.

Ida shook her head stiffly, the bandages on her neck as well as the hoses attached to her body made her movements limited.

"You've been unconscious for a month, right when I was put in this hospital," Ros said, continuing to check Ida's pulse and writing it down on the paper she held on the flip-board.

"You wait a minute, I'll call a doctor. I was just in charge of checking your condition this morning. I have to report your progress." Ros's smile grew. The happy hue was evident from his clear eyes.

Ida's waiting. The room was quiet, only the sound of a monitor located next to his bed was heard. He was still trying to digest the last incident he remembered. He slashed his neck. Immediately, his hand felt the part he said. However, on his neck was a bandage and a hose that seemed to be planted in the neck towards his throat.

The doctor came just as Ida was trying to get her body out of bed.

"You can't move much yet" the doctor said.

Ida turned her head back. The doctor checked Ida's condition. Checking the monitor attached, glancing at Ida a little while ago he said,

"Later this time I got a patient with injuries as severe as you can still survive. It is God's miracle." The doctor continued to check Ida's condition.

"Your condition is good, other than the wound on your neck, no other problem. Let's see this afternoon, if there's no problem, we unplug all the tools" the doctor continued.

Ida listened carefully to all the doctors explanations. After the doctor left, he asked Ros to stay with him because it happened that Ros's shift schedule was over.

"Oh yes Da, your sister Tini came home first. It's been three, today he accompanied you here. She wanted to see how she was going home."

Ida simply responded with a weak nod.

In the afternoon, after Ida's health condition was re-examined, finally the tools and hoses attached to Ida's body were removed. However, he was still not allowed to move too much.

Shortly after the assistive device installed on Ida's body was removed, Tini came.

"Well! The union is dead." Tini hurried over to Ida.

Tiredness was clearly reflected on Tini's face but he tried to keep smiling. Ida took a little book of Ros's giving, wrote something down.

"How's amai doing, Tin?"

Tini read what Ida wrote.

"Amai conditions began to decline a bit again, but still want to eat. Each day amai regrets letting ninik mamak continue the application procession without asking for your consent."

"I'm sorry yes, I didn't mean to disturb the heart of peace, it's just that I didn't have another way at that time" Ida wrote.

"Actually, if only the Union would open its eyes. The Union should be able to see Burhan instead of what the Union had expected. Indeed, he often hangs out with parewa, but according to the news I heard, he was only carried away by association."

Ida silence. Trying to digest what Tini said. Indeed, all this time he himself did not see Burhan's behavior with his own eyes, he only heard from the speech of the villagers. However, his heart still could not accept someone he did not know very well.

"Over this time, the Union was just busy thinking about the ego of the Union. The Union always thought we didn't love the Union, but it was the uni's own attitude that kept the Union away from us."

Tini seemed to spill all the strands that may have been held so far and he did not convey to Ida.

"Sorry Uni, if my words are too spicy. But I feel this is my chance to talk, so that the Union really wants to hear with the heart of the Union, not just by the presumption of the Union."

Ida was stunned to hear Tini's words. All this time he had never heard Tini talk to him like this.

As if turning back all her memories together after the departure of her parents, Ida tried to remember all the events of her childhood.

He remembered, after his parents died, Ida and Tini who had been to be taken care of Mak Dang, was taken by amai. Amai asked that they both be taken care of by him. Then when the economic conditions began to deteriorate, Ida who was then seven years old was asked by the family of Chinese merchant amai subscription to become his adopted child.

Amai handed Ida over to the family of the Chinese merchant, but on one condition he was still allowed to visit Ida once a week. He remembered the message of peace when he wanted to leave it at the merchant's house,

"Da, we're forced to separate for a while. Not amai not dear to you Da, but the condition of amai who can not give you brothers and sisters to eat with the current condition amai. Ko Akong family is a good family, amai sure you will be treated well by ko Akong."

"You know Da, why don't I give you to your mama?" ask amai one time.

Little Ida just shook her head.

"Mak Dang you also have family dependents, many children. Amai doesn't want to burden Mak Dangmu. Amai also does not want you to feel like you will be born in their family" Amai explained.

Ida was unable to endure the tightness in her chest. Her crying broke, but without a sound. How is it possible all this time that his ego shuts all the kindness and amicable attention to him.

"I'm sorry, Tin." Ida wrote again what she wanted to tell Tini.

"No need to regret Ni, all this has a silver lining. At least now Mak Dang can also realize his mistake, not always all problems can be solved by coercion," said Tini. A warm smile expands from her thin lips.

It was only fitting that Tini was dear to everyone, the words that came out of her mouth seemed well-ordered. Ida did not feel patronized or judged by the sentence Tini said.

Tini took the wooden bench that was under Ida's bed. He sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing the back of Ida's hand.

"Now the Union try to think again, whether the Union still wants to maintain the choice of men of the heart of the Union or still carry out the plans that have been prepared by our extended family" said Tini softly.

Ida's not budging. Gaze upon. But her little heart seemed to consider what Tini said.

"If the Union is still willing to maintain the feeling of the Union and still choose the man of choice of the Union, the consequences of the Union will be ostracized by the extended family, because it has been considered to tarnish the name of our mamak ninik. However, if the Union chooses to continue what has been arranged by our extended family, the Union only sacrifices the feeling of the Union which over time will also be treated. Not many hearts will be disappointed, " continued Tini.

That night, Ida could not close her eyes. In addition to the wound on his neck that was painful, his mind was also filled with Tini's words this afternoon.

That night Ida was not accompanied by her family in the hospital. Ros volunteered to accompany him. Tini returned to the village, considering amai always felt bad if taken care of by Mak Tuo.

"You haven't slept yet?" ask Ros when he sees Ida's eyes still open.

Ida shakes. He took a book and wrote, and,

"I can't sleep Ros, maybe because I've been content to sleep for a month." Ida laughed silently as Ros read what she had written.

"Do I want to add pain medication? Let's get some rest?" ask Ros.

Ida shakes her back. Then he wrote back,

"You sleepy not Ros?"

"Yet. Why?"

"I want to hear your story after I'm not in Lubuk Begalung. I heard you married Amir huh?"

"Ah yes! You must know from Shamsyir, right?" gelak Roses.

Instantly it was like someone was pulling his heart out when he heard the man's name. However, he ignored his feelings. He continued to ask Ros.

"How's Amir doing?" Ida continued writing.

"Amir is now undergoing Military school in Jogja."

"How do you guys get married?" A smile spread on his lips.

There were too many questions he wanted to ask Ros. Two years of not meeting, made Ida want to hear the story of her best friend as long as they are not together.

"Hahaha I'm also confused as to where to start the story." Ros laughed covering his face.

"When the first Dutch military aggression, our headquarters was attacked by the Dutch. Many have died. I was one of the victims shot at the time. I was treated for a month. As long as I was treated, Amir always came to see me. Showering me with his attention. Her name is female, it's easy to melt if every day is showered with such attention," Ros stopped talking, he looked at Ida who was smiling looking at him.

"Haha.. If you remember now why I'm so ashamed of myself," said Ros.

Ida gestured "It's okay, move the story."

"Then, when I'm healed. Amir proposed. But at that time I did not immediately accept Amir. The wound I got from the shot made my uterus have to be removed. The bullet was lodged right through my lower abdomen. I feel like a disabled woman. I don't want Amir to marry a disabled woman." Ros stopped the story. He looked at Ida, biting her lips as if looking for strength.

" But Amir told me that for him his happiness was enough with me. He doesn't want anything bigger." This time Rona happily emanated clearly on Ros's face.

Ida smile. It was as if he felt the happiness that Ros felt. He remembered, Amir, a cheerful but unpretentious youth. He is always careful in doing everything. Matches with a rather sloppy Ros.

"Oh yes Da. Actually when you were in a coma, Shamsyr came to see you several times. He looks hit once. He left you a letter. I'll take it for a second."

Upon returning to the room, Ros carried a white envelope in her hand.

"This is Da," said Ros handing a letter from Shamshir to Ida.

Ida's heart beat irregularly. He did not know what Shamshir thought about the stupidity he had done. Trying to strengthen his heart, he tore the envelope wrapping Syamsyr's letter and read it.