SET DUSK

The Part 33

After going through the tough period of early pregnancy, Ida began to get used to all the changes in her body. That afternoon, Ida frowned in front of the glass while stroking her stomach. Seven months is her age. His stomach is growing. A little anxiety also began to spread in his heart considering the labor process later. The face that had been bright, turned moody.

"What's the matter, Da? I just saw you smile, why did it turn so moody?" ask Burhan.

"E-eh, sir, when was he there?" Ida asked a little embarrassed because her husband saw her strange behavior.

"Haha ... Since you've been circling in front of that glass" Burhan said.

"Ah, sir makes me ashamed" Ida said.

"Haha ... I don't mean to embarrass you, Da. I'm just afraid to surprise you." Burhan still did not stop laughing.

Ida replied to Burhan by bending her face and sitting on the bedside.

"Already, don't sulk like that. I just wanted to tell you, Sunday next week I'm going to be here with some family from the village." Burhan sat down next to Ida.

"Oh, what's the show, sir? What should I prepare?"

"This month is your content has been Seven months, amak want to carry out babatiah-batiah events [1] for you."

"What should I prepare?" Ida repeated her question.

"You don't have to prepare anything, let Isah do the preparation. Oh yes, Da. I bought you new clothes, you try." Burhan got out of bed and picked up a package from the top of the closet.

Ida opened the parcel Burhan gave her, unfurled Burhan's clothes. A brackets and scarf of silk pink with kapalo samek embroidery [2] floral pattern. Then Ida spread the cloth as a subordinate to her clothes made of red-colored weave.

Ida hugging Burhan's clothes is like getting a very valuable object. The most beautiful clothes he ever had. Unknowingly she shed tears.

"Da, what's wrong with you? Is there something wrong with my gift?" burhan asked with a worried tone.

"No, Mister. Thank you for the gift. I like it so much, I'm too happy to see this shirt. Isn't it too good for me?" said Ida with a smile and tears are still floating.

"Haha ... I thought you were crying because I bought you a dress you didn't like" Burhan said in a relieved tone.

"No, Mr ... No ... I really liked it, "Ida's crying broke. Somehow the sense of happiness is too much to shake that he feels, making it crowded.

"I'm sorry, Da. All this time I didn't want to buy you clothes, I was afraid it didn't suit your taste," Burhan said, wiping Ida's tears.

"I'm the one who should apologize to you. All this time I was not nice to you, but you did not give up on my hard attitude" Ida said still sobbing.

"Here, don't cry anymore. Do you remember the Amak message? Pregnant women should not cry." Burhan rubbed his wife's eyes again, sweeping away the tears that hung there.

Ida patted, revealing a smile on her lips. A warm feeling began to creep up in his heart.

------------°°°°°°°--------------

A sunny Sunday morning in the small town located at the foot of Sago mountain, a thin fog still hangs between the trees. Dew drops attached to the foliage look glittering over the morning sunlight.

In a house not far from the banks of the Batang Agam river, Ida has begun to prepare for the arrival of mak Halimah, her father-in-law. The clothes given by Burhan attached Beautiful to his body. Her hair was neatly curled, covered in a pink scarf. Ida re-patched herself in front of the glass. Fixing the scarf on his head and tidying up the cloth he was wearing.

"That's so pretty of you, Da," said Burhan as he walked into the room.

"Master is too much" he said with a blushing face.

"I'm not making it up, you're getting more beautiful in that shirt."

"Thank you, sir." Ida smiled, making the dimples on both sides of her cheeks visible, adding to her charm that day in Burhan's eyes.

By noon, the guests they were waiting for arrived.

"Assalamualaikum ..." there was the voice of mak Halimah at the front door.

"Ah, amak has come," said Burhan.

They rushed to welcome their guests to the front door. Apparently Isah had opened the door for their guests.

"Waalaikum salam, Mak," said Ida and Burhan simultaneously, hurrying to greet the mak Halimah and his other family.

"Ow ... Be more beautiful you, Da," praised Madah's brother Burhan.

"Thank you Uni, how's the Union? Long time no see."

"Alhamdulillah, you look well, Da. Glad my heart sees you now."

Ida gasped at the sound of peace, she did not realize that her grandmother also participated with her family entourage.

"Name ... Ida did not expect Amai to come here. Alhamdulillah Amai also looks healthy," Ida said equalling with respect.

"Haha ... Amak deliberately did not tell you, if amak will also invite amai," gelak mak Halimah.

"Thank you, Mom," said Ida. The tears in his eyes began to float.

"Ah, why am I so easy to cry now," Ida grumbled in her heart while wiping away her tears.

Ida smiled again to welcome the guests who came. Her heart was warm surrounded by people who loved her. The house that had been quiet, that day was so crowded with laughter and an aura of happiness from those who gave prayers for the baby who would be present.

"Well, Da ... Here you sit near Amak" call mak Halimah.

Ida edged closer to her in-laws. Sitting hard beside her in-laws holding trays containing various foods they brought from the village.

"Well, you choose. Want to eat the chicken waist [3] which part?" ask mak Halimah.

Ida pointed to the wing part of the chicken waist that was on the tray. Deftly mak Halimah cut the part that Ida appointed. Put it on a plate that already contains rice. Mak Halimah then fed Ida carefully.

"May you be given God smoothness until labor yea, Da. Blessed is the child who can be a coolant of your heart and you love each other until death separates," said mak Halimah full of hope.

Those present also agreed to the speech of Mak Halimah. The happiness that Ida felt increased. The presence of the family changes the atmosphere of the house that is usually quiet to be crowded. Making a sense of loneliness that always resides in the heart of Ida began to pull over.

"It looks like your son, Da," said Madah as she approached Ida, who was watching the children of Madah, who were joking with Burhan.

"Oh ... How did the Union know?" tanya Ida looked at Madah with interest.

"From the shape of your belly, it's a bit pointed. Hehe ..." kekeh Medah.

"Haha ... Is that the sign, Ni?" ask Ida still curious.

"Konon said so. When containing Fikar it is like this," said Medah while stroking her sister-in-law's stomach.

"You and Burhan wish this first boy what a girl, Da?" midah.

"Haha ... Unthinkable, too, Uni," joked Ida a little awkwardly.

"Aah, yes ... What matters is that your baby is born healthy."

"Yes, Uni."

"You look tired, if you want to rest, just rest, you don't have to worry, Da. When pregnant it's easy to feel tired, don't get sick."

"No, Uni. I'm not so tired. I'm just not too ordinary with the crowd" replied Ida honestly.

"Haha ... Right said amai ya, Da. You're not very good at decorating words," jelak Madah heard the honesty of her brother-in-law.

"Hehe ... What's the story, Ni?" tanya Ida blushed in embarrassment.

"Yes ... About your nature that can not mince words," said Madah honestly.

Ida just smiled at the words of her sister-in-law. Her heart was a little calm, at least her husband's family accepted her situation.

"Union, I'm going to the place of peace first." Ida left her sister-in-law.

"Yes, you haven't met anyone since you moved here, have you?"

"Yes Uni."

Ida left the living room to the room of mak Halimah, where she rested. Since amai came, he has not had time to talk a lot with amai because it serves the questions of the Burhan family.

"Amai," said Ida as she leaned her head against the door.

"A, Ida ... Sorry amai is not strong sitting too long in front," said amai.

Ida approached amai who was leaning against the iron bed in the room of the Halimah. Although the body of amai increasingly looks bent, amai's face looks so bright. There is no burden that has been seen hanging in the eyes of the shade.

" Thank you for looking at Ida" Ida said while massaging her legs.

"I miss you, Da. That's what made me strong enough to make the trip here." Amai smiled gently at her grandson's face, which looked more fresh than the last time she remembered him.

"I'm sorry Ida never visited Amai after moving here, Mai."

"You are two-bodied, Da. It's hard to get to the village."

"Yes, Mai. Just two months ago Ida's body began to feel good. Mr. Burhan also has not dared to take Ida to travel far," Ida said.

"Alhamdulillah, I'm glad to see you now, Da. Your face already looks radiant, unlike before like there's always a black cloud rolling on that face." Amai pointed at Ida's face, smiling back at her grandson's face.

The gray eyes behind the eyelids that resemble a veil that almost closes it look teary.

"Why is Amai crying?" Ida rubbed amai's hands gently.

"I'm happy, Da. At least if I die, my soul can calm down." Amai started sobbing.

"Amai don't say that, Mai. Ida became sad," said Ida also sobbed.

"You're the one who said you have to prepare your heart to let the person you love go. You forgot what you said, Da?"

"Yes, Mai," replied Ida softly as she wiped her tears.

-----------°°°°°°--------------

The next morning the Burhan family along with Amai and Tini pamit returned to the village. The house that was crowded was back. Ida felt heavy taking off amai. His premonition said the meeting was his last meeting with amai.

"Have .. You can't be sad, Da. Later affect your content," entertain amai.

"Iya Mai, please forgive all of Ida's mistakes so far to Amai. Forgive Ida has not been able to repay Amai's services," he pleaded.

"Seeing you happy like this I've calmed down, Da. After Tini gets married, there's nothing else I want in my life."

"Thank you, Mai. Thank you for taking care of Ida since Amak doesn't exist. Ida owes a lot to Amai." Ida tightened her embrace on Renta amai's body.

"Do not feel indebted to me. You're my grandson, my flesh and blood, it's my duty to take care of you." Amai gently rubbed Ida's back.

"Union, we're leaving first. God willing, if the Union gives birth, we will come here again" Tini cut.

"Thank you, Tin." Ida took off her embrace on amai.

"You come in, pray for a smooth ride. I pray you should also be smooth when giving birth later," said amai.

"Yes, Mai."

After all the family members left. A sense of loneliness immediately ambushed Ida. It is not usual for him to feel quiet in his solitude. But this time, the loneliness began to eat away at his heart.

-----------°°°°°°°--------------

A month after his visit to Payakumbuh, Ida got a wire message from Tini, that Amai had closed her eyes forever. Going in his sleep, smilingly leaving the mortal world.

Ida's hunch is proven, his embrace with amai is the last time he hugged the body of a woman who has contributed greatly in his life. He was only able to cry about the loss of amai in his room alone, Burhan did not allow him to go to the village, because of the condition of his stomach that had grown bigger.

"*Amai, thank you for all that Amai has given Ida. Forgive Ida for not being able to take Amai to the final resting place of Amai.

Lord, give my grandmother the best place. Give him a throne in your heaven*," isak Ida in prostration.

All the memories with amai, as if played back. Ida is increasingly sobbing considering how hard his attitude towards amai used to be. However, he realized there was no point in regretting everything that had happened in the past. At least he knew he had ended his duties happily. He is the only one who must continue living, carrying out all the tasks God has arranged for him.

Seriate.....

[1] Babatiah-batiah \= event seven monthly pregnant women. At this event, the wife's family-in-law will bring various kinds of regional specialties such as seven kinds of lepat, fruits, cooked side dishes, rice and yang. For side dishes, usually those carried a chicken waist (roasted chicken).

In this procession of babatiah-batiah, the in-laws will have her daughter-in-law choose a section of chicken to be eaten by her daughter-in-law. After the daughter-in-law chooses the part of the chicken to be eaten, the female in-law will feed her pregnant daughter-in-law.

There are things that are believed at the time of the procession of mambatiah-batiah, if pregnant women choose the chicken wings later the child they contain will slash far away from home. If pregnant women choose the head and legs, a sign that the child is conceived will be strong to make a living.

[2] Kapalo samek \= embroidery type embroidery using a technique to form embroidery from threads wrapped around the tip of the needle so that when pulled, will form a gusset resembling a pin head (samek).

[3] Roosters \= chicken that is grilled after being boiled with spices.