SET DUSK

The Part 44

Ida's concerns are not proven. At this time of pregnancy, he is still able to live his days without many complaints like previous pregnancies. Nine months did not seem to have passed. Waiting for the day of the baby's birth.

Near the day of labor, Burhan began to restrict his travel to Kuantan Bay. Unlike Ida's previous pregnancies, this time Burhan with all his worries spent more time at home, accompanying the children with all his fanfare.

"Amak, sister when was born?" Laili brought her ear closer to Ida's stomach.

"Awhile more. Laili will help amak take care of sister, yeah." Ida gently stroked the hair of her little girl who was starting to impatiently welcome the new members of their family.

"Yes, Laili won't be naughty later" said the girl with a smile on her face.

***

On Sunday morning, Ida took Burhan and the children with her for a morning walk around the house. The children were so excited to walk, bringing them to the banks of the Batang Agam river that divides Payakumbuh.

The air of Payakumbuh that morning was quite warm, the edge of Batang Agam was crowded by locals who washed clothes. The water is not too heavy because it is in the dry season. The rocky riverbed is clearly visible from its edge. Many children play cheerfully on the edges. Their screams and laughter add to the warmth of the morning atmosphere.

"Abak, Ima also wants to play with water," Fatimah's pinta looked up at Burhan.

"Sir, have the children play, I'll prepare breakfast home."

"You okay going home by yourself?" burhan asked doubtful of his wife's request.

"Yes, it's okay."

"I want to come home with Amak," Pinta Laili clasped ida's hand.

"Laili doesn't want to play with Ima?" ask Ida wonder. Usually Laili is the most excited if invited by his brother to play water on the edge of Batang Agam.

"I'm tired" Laili replied briefly.

They split up on the small road to the house. Burhan and Fatimah walked down the path to the edge of Batang Agam, Ida and Laili continued their way to the house. Getting closer to home, Ida's stomach began to feel uncomfortable.

"Mak why?" tanya Laili noticed Ida's face change.

"Amak is just a little tired" said Ida covering up what she felt.

"Then we will buy lontong tek Jum only, Mak," proposed Laili.

"Laili doesn't want to cook?"

"Later Amak got tired." Laili looked up at Ida. His eyes looked serious.

Ida was moved to hear the sentence that came out of her little girl's lips. That little boy was already willing to understand his condition.

"Later I want sala lauak [1] its a lot yes, Mak," said Laili expectantly.

"Yes, later we buy a lot, Abak also likes the salt Tek Jum."

After buying breakfast at a neighboring stall, Uni Jum, Ida returned home. Just entering the house, Ida's stomach increasingly feels uncomfortable, as soon as the water rupture.

"Why wet the bed?" laili screams at the wet floor around Ida's feet.

Just now Ida was about to answer Laili's question, the baby in her regime just pushed out without a hitch.

"Li, ask for help call Tek Jum here, say your sister is born," said Ida stinged. He did not expect the birth of his fifth child would be so fast.

Without answering, Laili ran outside the house, panicking at her rampage. Before long, Laili returns with Uni Jum. The middle-aged woman snorted as she looked at the floor, a red baby lying just like that between pools of blood.

Ida Pias's face, she still tried to remain conscious by leaning on the leg of the chair in the living room.

"Astaghfirullah, Da!" Why did you give birth to yourself like this!" yell uni Jum panicked.

"I'll call a midwife, yeah." Without waiting for Ida's answer, Uni Jum splashed out of the house.

"What should I help you with, Mom?" tanya Laili was scared.

"You just wait outside." Ida saw that Laili's tears had begun to pool. He did not want to add to Laili's fear. Getting Laili to wait outside the house was the only way that the little girl could ease her fear.

"Yes" said Laili, leaving Ida alone.

Not long after, Uni Jum came with the midwife. Ida noticed with almost half consciousness, midwife and uni Jum cleared up all the chaos of the sudden birth process.

"Union, the baby tried to breastfeed yes, his body began to turn blue from the cold," Nita's midwife ordered when Ida had been moved to the room.

Ida looked at the tiny baby girl in front of her. His face looks bruised, his lips blue. No crying sounds were heard. He brought his ears closer to the tiny lips of the baby he had just born, feeling his breath so weak.

"Assynnnya ... What is this Jum?" Burhan's voice was startled when he entered the house.

"She has given birth, Han," said Uni Jum.

Burhan entered the room.

"Astaghfirullah, Da. Why is this all of a sudden," exclaimed Burhan with a pias face.

"ah! I let you go home alone" Burhan said.

"I didn't feel the signs either, sir." Ida tried to get rid of Burhan's guilt.

"Male or female?" ask Burhan later.

"Female. Mr. Iqomatkan lah," pinta Ida handed over the baby in her arms to Burhan.

Fatimah entered the room eagerly wanting to see her sister.

"Where's sister, Mak?"

"It's again carried by the brother," pointed Ida.

"Sir, look at sister." Fatimah jumped up and asked her brother to show his sister.

Meanwhile, Laili stood at the door of the room. His face still looks pale.

"Blog ... Here near amak," take Ida.

Slowly Laili approached. Sitting next to Ida.

"Laili's still scared?"

Laili just nodded small.

"Amak's hurt?" Finally the girl opened her voice.

"No."

"There's a lot of blood, I'm afraid Amak got hurt." Laili looked into Ida's eyes. Trying to make sure the rampage is okay.

"That's blood from the stomach, where the sister had been sleeping on the stomach, amak" said Ida.

"So, isn't Amak the one who got hurt?" Laili tried to make sure to come back.

"No, amak's fine. Laili need not be afraid." Ida smiled gently at Laili.

"Da, I'm home. Later if there's anything you call me," said Uni Jum in the doorway of the room.

"Thank you very much, Uni. Sorry to bother you" said Ida.

Burhan handed back the baby he had just committed to Ida. Take uni Jum out. Shortly after, Nita's midwife went home.

Burhan also joined his children who had swarmed Ida. Fatimah was most excited to ask, because she finally had a sister.

"It's a good thing you didn't give birth on the street, Da." - Oozed Burhan's voice.

He seemed to think of something. Looking at Ida with a pushy look. His forehead wrinkled.

"Master thought about what?" asked Ida, astonished to see her husband.

"Hhhh ..." Burhan exhaled, then scratched his non-itchy head.

"It looks like I should have Fahmi deliver the merchandise to Kuantan, I'm worried about leaving you alone" Burhan said later.

"Don't you worry about me ...."

"Children worry me more, fear you'll be alone at home with the kids" Burhan said.

"Master has prepared a name?" Ida tried to divert the conversation because Burhan's face seemed to start to tangle.

"I'd like to name Salma a girl." Burhan smiled, slightly dispelling the impression that had hung on his face.

"Have you wanted her to suckle, Da?" burhan asked then after a pause of a while.

"Alhamdulillah Salma is healthy, son." Ida pokes the tiny cheeks of a baby that starts to blush.

"It's a very small sister, Mommy," said Fatimah looking in amazement at Salma.

"Yes, Ima used to be small like this. Isn't that Li?"

"Yes, Ima used to cry a lot too," said Laili, her face began to look cheerful again.

After a stressful morning, the little family was finally able to laugh happily welcoming the presence of their new family members.

Desperation began to wet Ida's dry heart. He no longer wanted to fill his mind with fear of the future. Today he just wanted to fill his heart with the joy they had presented.

****

[1] Sala/Sala lauak \= is a kind of small ball-shaped Minang fried food made from Rice flour mixed with salted fish mashed. In addition to being a snack, Sala is also commonly eaten with ketupat/plantable spoon.