SET DUSK
The Part 59
Ida lived alone for a year since Salma moved to Padang. Fatimah and Laili take turns to invite Ida to stay with them. But Ida insisted on staying alone.
It was quiet always ambushed when he came home, no children were as welcoming as ever. At that time, he always remembered his life in Siantar, when he returned home there were children who welcomed him with cheerful faces. No matter how tired it was, instantly the feeling disappeared.
One afternoon before magrib, the sun was still visible to go down. Unlike the previous afternoon, the afternoon was quite bright when Ida reached her house.
"Assalamualaikum, Mommy."
The sound of greeting from behind him made Ida aghast.
"Astaghfirullah, Sal! Why did you suddenly come home?" asked Ida astonished to see her youngest child had been in front of the house.
"Let me tell you later, Mom. We prepare to pray magrib first" Salma said with a warm smile.
"Sir, I want to take the civil service test, the registration is closed tomorrow" Salma explained after they finished performing the magrib prayer in the mosque.
"Then have you signed up?" ask Ida with interest.
"Not ...." Salma took a drink and sipped it slowly.
"Why did you come home if you haven't signed up?" asked Ida astonished by her son's behavior.
"I want to ask for a prayer from Amak first, I'm not so sure I can pass." Salma sat near her rampage. "That lists thousands, Mother. That one person will accept" he continued.
"It's okay, you try to sign up. Do you know that position is prepared by God for you" kekeh Ida.
Salma simply nodded her head, permeating what her tantrum conveyed. That night they told me all the things they experienced when they were not together. The longing for Salma seemed to be treated. This is how it feels when children have their own lives. Storytelling for a while is enough to get rid of the longing that often arouses.
The next morning, Salma decided to return to Padang.
"When you don't have to go home, Sal. Pretty money for the cost you can save," paled Ida as Salma kissed her hand. However, in her heart, Ida is happy her son is willing to take a two-hour trip just to ask for her blessing.
"Something feels less if you don't ask for your blessing directly, Mom." Salma also chuckled this time smirking her amber cheeks that began to sag. The remnants of Ida's beauty have consumed her age and life's struggles.
Ida reached into the box where she put her trading money. "You take it, this ... Not much, at least for your fare to leave." Ida offered some money to Salma.
"No need mak, I still have money," Salma refused, "If later this money is used, tomorrow amak can not sell."
"It's okay, Sal ... You bring. May your path be paved" forced Ida.
Salma was silent for a long time looking at her amused face. "Sir, I'm actually still not sure to be accepted, afraid that later only spend money for capital to trade," he said later.
"You can't be pessimistic, Sal. Even if only one person accepts it, if it's your destiny, no one will be able to take it." Ida tried to convince Salma. "Well, you go, amak always wishes you success."
Salma walked hurriedly to stop the city transportation that passed in front of the house alley and waved her hand from inside the angkot towards Ida.
Ida rubbed her eyes as Salma passed. Mumbur again mingle prayer so that Salma and her two brothers do not need to feel back the bitterness of life that he experienced.
***
That afternoon, Ida returned to her room after performing the prayer. Like the previous days, that day was not so many buyers Ida. Just as she sat down, Salma came up with a facial expression that Ida could not guess.
"You why Sal? Just arrive? " leaning Ida wonder.
"Sir, believe me not? ...." Salma's eyes began to get wet, but her lips revealed a smile. His lips trembled as he said the next sentence, "I was accepted as a civil servant," his screeches then jumped up and down in excitement.
"God, Naak. Thank God for granting our prayers" roared Ida, attracting the attention of market visitors and other traders.
"What's the matter, Da?" asked Lena, one of the merchants whose field was next to Ida.
"My son was accepted as a civil servant" said Ida.
"Ah, so glad you are. Civil servants' lives are hard" Lena said.
"At least not as difficult as living amaknya," interrupted Ida.
"You don't have to listen to anybody, Sal. You don't need to be discouraged. May your path be better than amak," comfort Ida to Salma who suddenly looks discouraged.
"Yes, Mom," Salma said slowly.
"Well, where are you assigned?"
"On the Bayakumbuh, Mommy. So the administration in the school."
"Aah, it seems like the city is always calling to come back huh, Sal," said Ida.
"Later let me just go to the motto house, no need to deliver," said Salma when he saw his face look a little gloomy when he mentioned the city.
"It's okay, Amak also wants to meet your mom. It's been a long time since I didn't go to Payakumbuh, and want to go to the center of your Master and Union," said Ida with an expression that Salma could not read.
Longs. That's what Ida felt about the city. For almost two years he did not set foot in the city where he began his married life. That day he and Salma went to Payakumbuh by bus. From where the bus got off, they simply walked to the house now occupied by Madah.
Change began to be seen at some point in the city. Payakumbuh has begun to crowded compared to the last time Ida visited him. Along the road he took to the house of Madah also has many newly established houses, has begun to look solid.
"Are you, Da?" greet someone from behind Ida.
"Ni Jum!" tekik Ida when she saw her neighbor who had helped her during Salma's labor.
"Well, where have you been. I've never seen you here."
"Who is this?" tanya pointed at Salma.
"This is Salma, who Uni helped call a midwife when she was born in the middle of the house" said Ida.
"God, it is great. Just yesterday it felt like I ran to Nita's midwife's house in a panic that you gave birth."
"It was this time that helped amak give birth to you, Sal," kekeh Ida.
As they were engrossed in nostalgia, suddenly the door of the house opened, "Is there?" a heavy voice at the top of the stairs.
Burhan's figure stood in the doorway, wearing a white T-shirt and a brown sheath. The mature sapodilla skin has loosened. Half of her hair is white. The necis impression that had always been attached to the man had completely disappeared, leaving only an old man who seemed to lose his passion for life.
"Yes ... The Union exists, sir?"
"There, uni is praying, you come in" Burhan asked. "Salma, let's go in," he continued.
"Ni Jum stopped by first?" tawar Ida's.
"Ah, no need, I will interfere," declined Jum. "If you stay here, you stop by my house, yeah."
"Yes, Uni. I'll stop by."
There is a sense of awkwardness created, so many years did not make Ida and Burhan come back like dealing with a stranger.
"Salma's getting married, huh?" burhan asked, removing the awkwardness.
"No, Bak. I was accepted as a civil servant at Labuah Basilang" Salma said.
"Well, Alhamdulillah. Great you're Sal," praise Burhan in amazement.
"Alhamdulillah, thanks to the prayer of amak."
"Ah, yes ... It's great you can raise her alone, Da." A clear liquid layer appears to hang on Burhan's eye pellet.
"Mom, I'm going to go to the water first" said Salma to make room for her brother and brother.
"How are you, Da? I'm sorry I never visited" Burhan asked after a moment of silence.
"Alhamdulillah is quite good," said Ida raised her face to look at Burhan.
"I'm sorry I let you take care of the kids alone." Burhan.
"No need to keep apologizing, sir. I've been used to taking care of them long before Master returns." Ida tried to smile.
Somehow the pain returned when faced with the man.
"How's Ana doing?" Ida does not want her togetherness this time damaged by the scolding of Ana. For some reason, this time Ida wants to enjoy a little together with Burhan. Only this time.
"Ah, he is still like yesterday-yesterday, nothing has changed," said Burhan bitterly, "But you take it easy, he is going to Padang," he said as if to answer Ida's concerns.
Ida laughed awkwardly. Confidence is re-created.
"Laili and Fatimah how are you?" Burhan is back.
"Thank God they are healthy, their children are being rough" Ida said with a happy face remembering her grandchildren from Laili and Fatimah.
"Ah, what kind of grandfather am I. Even meeting my granddaughter is rare" Burhan said. "It's not good to be ingested, Da. We become as bound. There will never be enough words to pay for it" he continued, his mind as if back in the body.
"Yes, it is heavy" Ida said.
Again she looked at the face of her ex-husband, a load of weight as if hanging there.
I don't know what Ana did to the man in front of her, until he turned into someone else. Ida seemed to no longer know the figure of Burhan now.
"It's not wrong that I chose you first, Da. You are a strong woman. I didn't think you'd be able to raise kids by yourself."
"Children who are my source of strength, sir. I don't know how many times I want to give up, but every time I'm at my lowest point, they give me the strength to get up" Ida recalls.
"Ah yes ... That's why I'm such a mentally ill man, Da. I lost my whole soul when you weren't around."
"Awha ... Mister is too much, "ida's voice seemed to repel the pain that immediately appeared when Burhan brought up their past.
"I'm not overdoing it, you asked Medah. My rice eats chaff, my water drinks thorns. As if my stingy's gone."
"Oh my God, please strengthen my heart not to be broken listening to this man's words. Let me remember the past as just a nightmare that has passed. Why should I hear back the twitch of the past that cannot be replayed," Ida said.
