Sharing Love: The Suffering of the Second Wife

Different Circumstances

"True what Ruby said, we should look for Nadia instead of arguing. Nadia is our shared responsibility, she lives in our environment. What if the mother comes looking? What answers will we give"

"Come, Brother Ain, Mas Ikram, is not self-introspection better than debating unimportant things like this," said Yuni who was also disturbed by their loud voice. She held her crying baby.

Looking at the two people facing each other with various feelings. Maybe he was aware of all his actions.

"Please, you have to remember here there are babies who need quiet time," he concluded before moving back to leave them.

Ikram and Ain were both silent. Ain turned away as Ikram's eyeballs were pointed at him. The man sighed, he rubbed his face and dropped himself on the sofa.

"Astaghfirullah al-adhiim! O Allah, forgive me my sins!" Ikram lowered his head to pull his own hair while his lips unceasingly said Istighfar followed by his heart as well.

Ain left behind Ikram who continued to mutter begging for mercy. He went into his room and cried in bed. No matter what she cried, no one knew what her heart was like.

Ruby returned to see her two younger siblings after advising Ikram and Ain. He glanced at the students who eavesdropped inside the mosque. His eyes were wide-glowed threatening everyone. Seeing that, they dispersed in haste. The sound of crasak crusks was clearly heard.

"Sister? Did Umi and Abi fight again?" asked Nafisah who was waiting on the porch of Nadia's house while standing with Bilal.

An hour from the promised time, Winda had not yet appeared to pick him up. Ruby called, but the number wasn't active. Rima was so, they seemed to compactly turn off their phones.

"Sister, where's Aunt Vinda? He said he wanted to pick me up, I wanted to meet Mommy" asked Nafisah again with a twinkle of hope that was almost dimmed.

Ruby grimaced in her heart, unbearable to those who so wanted to see her mother. He smiled, rubbing his sister's head.

"Patience, yes. Maybe Aunt Winda is working and has not had time to pick up. We will wait a little while longer" he said, who was called Nafisah.

They sat back in the chair, waiting patiently for the Winda who was coming to pick them up. The door of the foundation opened and I saw Mom coming out of it.

"Sister!" Bilal nudged Ruby's arm as soon as he saw the woman who stepped closer.

The smile that often adorned his old face, now no longer seen. Only the look of a gloomy face decorated with wrinkles began to appear. Ruby raised her gaze, waiting for the almost old woman to approach.

He stood up, shaking hands with her, followed by his two younger siblings.

"What are you waiting for? I see you guys sitting here all the time" I asked in a raucous voice. Like someone who cried all night.

"We're waiting for Aunt Willa to pick us up, ma'am. Want to go to the Hospital to visit Mommy," replied Ruby honestly. His voice was slightly stuck in the throat when saying the word Mother.

Mother rubbed Ruby's shoulder, the teenager looked fragile. Unlike usual, the cheerful and friendly. I like to smile and joke with the kids. All that is lost with Nadia who has not yet opened her eyes.

"Maybe the aunt is busy so can't pick up. Why not go alone with angkot or ojek?" mother's suggestion smiled bitterly because she could not leave the foundation to visit Nadia. He had to take care of the children in the house.

Ruby lowered her head, she also wanted to be like that, but ....

"I don't have the money to pay the fare, ma'am. My savings are over" he said regretfully.

Mom chuckles at hearing it. He reached into his shabby negligee pocket and took out one hundred thousand pieces of money.

"Why not ask Mom. Even sitting here waiting. Take it, you guys eat it later there. Quickly go maybe Mother is awake. Let me tell you, yes," he said, holding the money in Ruby's hands.

Ruby had not yet raised her face, she looked at the money in her hand. His lips reviewed the smile because with this he could immediately leave without waiting for Winda to pick up. Let it be, when at the Hospital later he will contact Winda.

Ruby hugged Mom and cried.

"We're saying goodbye, Mom. Assalamu'alaikum!"

"Wa'alaikumussalaam! Be careful!"

Ruby nodded, she left with her sisters after shaking hands with Mom. The old woman smiled at the departure of the three children. Instantly his smile vanished as soon as Ikram came out of the house and looked towards him.

Mom rushed back to the foundation and closed the door. It also locks it. No sound was heard from inside. Silent, lonely, like a house that the owner left behind.

Ikram frowned at the attitude of Mother who was not as usual. He stepped slowly as he continued to look towards the foundation gate.

Usually there, in the hall of the foundation Nadia was teaching the children to make handicrafts. Laughing and joking, he looked happy. But for a few days he did not see that smile. I didn't hear that laugh.

The foundation looked gloomy in her eyes without the presence of Nadia's sweet smile. The face that was never sour, now he could not see again. Something was missing from him. Missed who wanted to see a face that was always as bright as the sun that morning.

"He's dead!"

Unknowingly his lips muttered. True said Bung Rhoma, if nothing new feels that his presence is precious. Nadia is precious to him. Not just for her, but for everyone in her neighborhood as well.

Ikram turned around with his longing heart. He picked up his motorcycle and returned to search. She did not know that Ruby and her two other children went to visit Nadia at the Hospital.

"Mas, where are you going?" yuni asked as she saw Ikram take the jacket and put it on.

"I'll find Nadia." Ikram rushed out after putting on his jacket.

"Mas!" Yuni called back to him. He approached Ikram and gave him fifty thousand rupiahs.

"It's to buy gasoline. I know Mas has no money," he said to Ikram.

With doubt Ikram's hand took the money and looked at him. Right, he no longer has any money.

"Thank you." Yuni nodded her head. She kissed Ikram's hand and stared at his departure from the porch. Smiling, inwardly muttering only he knew. Yuni remained standing there until the Ikram motor was lost outside the gate.

He was surprised when he turned to find Ain standing with eyes glaring at him.

"Why did you let him go? Do you want that woman back? Remember, Yun! Our plan is to get rid of Nadia from here, but why are you turning around to defend her and seeming to fight me?" smirk Ain with a burning grudge in his chocolatey manic radiance.

Yuni sighed, she looked at Ain lazily.

"After a few months of living here, I saw it all. I watch everything, I judge everything. Nadia is a good person. Doesn't he see if people are bad or good? He never hurt me as long as I live here, often helping me when I'm in trouble." Yuni looked at Ain's rippling face.

"I'm sorry, Ain. You know how fucked I am, you know how bad my behavior is. After meeting with Nadia, I realized everything turned out to be wrong. I can no longer carry out our plans, I can't afford to hurt people as well as Nadia. I know who he is, maybe you don't know. I'm sorry, Ain. I'm backing out of your plan. What are you going to do next?" yuni continued to ignite Ain's already heated heart.

He turned around leaving Ain who was looking at him with clenched hands.

"Well, if that's your choice. Just look what I'm gonna do, Yuni!"

Yuni stopped the steps for a moment before returning to continue. Ain's anger peaked, his face red. He wanted to destroy the house.

"Damn!"