SET DUSK
The Part 51
"Mom, when can I go to school?" salma asked when they had just returned from Laili's school.
That day Laili had successfully completed her education in elementary school, so Ida had to come to school to take her completed education letter and complete all administrative affairs at Laili school.
Ida choked. The burden of living for three years living in Pematang Siantar, makes him forget that his youngest child has entered school age. Laili has just graduated from elementary school, of course, requires a lot of money to continue to advanced school.
"Later if Salma's hand can reach the ear like this," said Ida wrapped her arm over the head with the palm covering next to the earlobe.
"My hands are up, Mom." Salma imitated Ida's movements with a face full of vigor.
Ida's back was blown. The reason that he was presented was no more just to make Salma resist his desire to enter school in the near future, but was denied. He then thought of another reason that made more sense.
"Later try to see first our savings, yes." of course Ida lied. The needs of everyday life make him unable to set aside the money he got from the results of his hard work throughout the day.
"It's okay if Amak doesn't have money to buy clothes, I only wear uni clothes, the important thing is that I can go to school" Salma said expectantly.
Among his three children, Salma was the highest interest in learning. Salma often joined Laili to school just because he wanted to steal Laili's teacher explained the lesson in the classroom. Salma could also write and read only by listening when Laili taught Fatimah.
Ida began to think about where the money she would get to pay for Salma's tuition fees.
"Mom, Amak doesn't have to worry about my tuition. I already have for registration later," Laili said when she saw Ida roaring in the kitchen.
"Where's the money, Li?" ask Ida was-was. He was afraid that his son would do a bad job.
"The money that Amak gave every day I could sell until it ran out the same fried sticky rice every day." Laili sat down near Ida, giving her a rubber-tied bundle of money.
Ida was unable to hold back her tears when she received the money Laili had handed over to her hand.
"Then you've never been a prankster?" tanya Ida stuck.
"I brought the rest of the endless merchandise for me to eat at school." Laili smiled widely.
"I'm sorry, son. Amak can't make you happy yet." Ida's crying broke. Defense's collapsed. The guilt towards the children that had been piled up in his heart was shed with tears.
"It's not wrong for us to be like this, Mom. Amak, do not be sad. Amak had tried to support the three of us with all his might," comforted Laili who was also unable to hold the clear circles in her eyes.
For Laili, Ida is a strong mother who never gives up. Laili knows how her charitable struggle to meet all their needs. Amaknya work tirelessly from morning to morning again, the rampage only rest a few hours after returning from the market, after which back to work on anything that can make money. Sometimes there is a sense of worry that Laili feels when he sees his rampage working so hard. He was worried that his wrath was getting sick. I don't know how many times he expressed concern, but never ignored Ida.
"You want magrib, you call your brothers home, Li. Amak prepare our dinner," said Ida after their cries subsided.
"Yes, Mommy." Laili moved out of the house while rubbing her eyes.
Ida looked at Laili's back with a sore heart. The boy had grown up beyond his age. At first Laili and Fatimah could not accept their difficult conditions, because they had become accustomed to the all-round life. They reject foods that are not in accordance with their tastes, but gradually they are able to learn to understand life that is no longer easy.
Ida let out a long sigh, not wanting to linger regretting fate, she only hoped that all the bitterness they lived through would end
****
"Mom, how do I look?" salma asked as Ida was about to go to the market. He twirled his body wrapped in elementary school uniform that was still loose on his tiny body.
It was Salma's first day of school. The round-eyed girl looked excited. Her eyes looked bright.
"O Allah, the son of Amak is grown" praised Ida, his eyes warmed.
The crush of the burden of life they live, making him forget the growth of his son. The time that did not want to wait, suddenly presented the little girl who was about to enter the school period in front of him.
"Why are you crying? " ask Salma in wonder.
"Amak was sad to not be able to deliver Salma to school" said Ida.
"It's okay, Mama. I can go with Uni. Uni Laili said, later he will deliver to school," said Salma with a cheerful face showing off gums that had lost some teeth.
Ida smiled bitterly. In the midst of his misery, he still felt lucky to have children who would understand his situation. Sometimes there was a sense of giving up, but when he saw the sinless faces looking at him expectantly, he seemed to gain strength from the look of their clear eyes.
"Amak is leaving, yes. You learn diligently" Ida said before leaving home.
There is a pain that Ida feels every time she leaves her children, but circumstances force her to do so. If he does not pursue any effort to raise money, his children will starve. He would not ask for mercy from his mother to meet the needs of her and the children.
The cold wind hit when Ida stepped out of the house, she grabbed a knit warm clothes that began to wear, put her arms on the chest to just warm her body, he said, through the cold morning air that began to be crowded by those who both scavenged the windfall with him.
***
Seven years Ida had a hard day in Pematang Siantar. There is a longing that he feels in his hometown, but that desire he patis far away. In addition to their economic situation that still has not improved, his heart is still not able to make peace with reality. In a corner of his heart he still hoped that when he returned to his hometown, he would meet again with the man who had taken half his soul away.
That afternoon, Ida had just dropped out of Salma and Fatimah schools, after taking a report of their learning results for one semester. He was really happy to see the results of learning Salma. From the beginning of school, Salma always achieves. The achievements he recorded made Ida more eager to work so that her children could be educated to a higher level.
"Make money?" salma asked with a surprised face, not usually amak offer them to buy food at the market.
"Alhamdulillah. Thisiak gave amak more money today," said Ida smiling warmly.
Although Ida works at her mother's place, it does not mean Ida can get money easily there. He still receives payment like other workers. He can not blame his mother, because the one who takes care of the finances in his mammary family is tek Risma his mother's wife. Ida also did not want to hope for help from her mammoth family, because from a small she was taught by amainya not to be too hopeful for the help of others.
"Mom, I want ombus-ombus, not enough money? " ask Fatimah with a hopeful face.
Ombus is her children's favorite food. The typical food of North Sumatra is made from rice flour mixed with brown sugar and in banana leaf packs. They used to eat it if anyone was holding a celebration because they could not afford to buy food other than their staple food.
"Yes, enough money to be able to buy four packs" said Ida.
Fatimah and Salma cheered in joy. They walked excitedly out of the school grounds.
"Did you?" greet a heavy voice of a man behind Ida.
Ida's heart rippled, the voice felt familiar to her ears. He turned his back, finding a tall man standing before him. Although the man's face has changed with age, but the eyes of the owner of the almond eyes are still the same. It was as if reopening the memory box he had buried for twenty years in the deepest recesses of his heart.
"Ah, it turns out to be true ...." The man reopened his voice, the corner of his eyes wet. There was a bias of relief and longing from the look in his eyes.
"Mr ... Syamsyir ..." said Ida choked.
Ida never expected to meet again with the person who had held her heart decades ago, in a place she did not expect. The clenching of forgotten memories as if jumping back to occupy a vacuum in Ida's heart.
"Well, I didn't expect to see you here. How are you, Da?" shamsyr extended his hand.
Ida did not immediately welcome the hand of Shamsyir. He still has not been able to harmonize his thoughts between past memories and the reality that lies before him. The smooth swish that once made his heart unable to pump properly, again began to tease.
"Da?" Shamsyr broke Ida's daydreams.
"G ... Sorry, I'm just a little surprised to meet you here," said Ida welcome Shamsyr's hand.
The sturdy palm of Shamsyr's hand clasped tightly onto Ida's hand, which Ida quickly retracted.
"And ... This, your children?" tanya Shamsyr pointed at Fatimah and Salma.
"Yes ... Ima, Salma, this is my friend when Amak goes to war first. Let's say hello" Ida told her children.
Fatimah and Salma saluted Shamsyr with respect. Shamshir warmly welcomed the small hands with a smile.
"You been here a long time, Da?" shamsyr asked in a tone that still did not believe in their meeting.
"It's been seven years" Ida flat said. He tried to hide every taste that began to re-occupy the place that had been left Shamsyir.
"Well, it's been a while. I've only been moving here for two months. Where are you guys going?" shamsyir asked as if he realized when he saw Fatimah pulling Ida's hand.
"You go to the market" Ida said briefly.
He still could not believe that the person who had been stored in his memory would meet him in such a condition. Although Syamsyir has begun to reach the age of half a century, his past good looks are still printed on his face. Make Ida try all her might to dismiss any confusion of the past that suddenly flowed like a flood.
"Let's go with me. I also want to go to the market." bargained Syamsyir.
"No, sir, we're taking the bentor." declined Ida. He did not want the story of his past that he had buried to disturb his days.
"Do you not want to exchange stories, Da? We haven't seen each other in a long time." There was a slight disappointed tone from Shamsyr's voice.
"There is nothing interesting about my story, sir," said Ida coldly without seeing the face of Shamshir.
"You still haven't forgiven me?" Syamsyir's words succeeded in making Ida turn to him.
"I'm sorry for what mistake?" ask Ida not understand.
"On my departure I left you" said Shamsyr with a wounded eye.
"Mak, come. It will be too late at noon to reach the market." Salma pulled out Ida's hand, already impatient to buy her favorite food.
"At least give me a chance to explain everything, Da. Ever since I left Bukittinggi, I have not been able to forget you one bit."
"Already, Sir. It's just an old story. I still have business with my children" said Ida in a hurry to stop the passing bentor. Make him hastily, let Shamsyr who is still glued in his place stand.
Ida looked at the tall figure of Shamsyr not budging from where he left him. Forcing it to ease any sudden suffocating gurgle. Somehow the sudden presence of the figure was able to disrupt his blood circulation. It turned out that twenty years of time was still not able to make him behave habitually towards the man's re-presence. Ida sighed deeply, throwing it away violently, hoping that the uncomfortable feeling that had suddenly appeared soon passed.
