Sharing Love: The Suffering of the Second Wife

The Dark Days Ikram II

Side story's Ikram II

"Uncle, I'm going home. It felt like I had left Abah too long" I said that afternoon. I want to go home today too. Don't want to postpone it anymore.

"Why so sudden?" ask Uncle with his forehead folded.

I don't know why I suddenly got nervous. I'm afraid someone will come looking for me at Uncle's house. Before that happens, I'd better get home.

"I-I will continue my schooling in the boarding school only at Abah's request. I realized, I was Abah's only son and I would be Abah's successor. Uncle, can you take me today?"

I whine, I'm only eleven years old, but people say I'm a big bully. They thought I was in high school, but I was still in elementary school.

"Wouldn't he graduate here? Are you hurt because Auntie is angry every day?"

Why even run there. I've never felt the pain of hearing Auntie's babble every day. Ah ... Never mind, Uncle does not know the real reason.

"It's not like that, Uncle. I don't want to leave Abah alone. He's getting old, and I'm all Abah has. I'd like to accompany Abah, "let me again. Come, Uncle. Don't ask much more. I want to go home quickly.

Uncle sighed, he sipped coffee in his cup before saying, "Alright. Pack your clothes, we'll go home right now. Coincidentally Uncle there needs to be there too."

I hurried to pack my clothes. That heart also Uncle took me home despite having to go through the drama of Auntie's apology that thought I was angry for her chatter, and hated her.

Arriving home, I agreed to enter the boarding house. School and study religion. Abi does not know, my habits while in Jakarta can not be eliminated easily. I often steal time to get away from the pesantren and do what I used to do in Jakarta. Honey, now just be alone. Not as good as when they gather with them.

Years passed, and my age kept moving forward. I will be quiet while in the neighborhood of the house and cottage. Act like the son of a lodge leader who will be his successor. Cute and impressed. But outside, I am free to do whatever I want. Luckily, I never got close to Zina.

Every day I have to learn to be a leader with Abah and ustadz who are his representatives. Damnit damnit! It turned out to be difficult, I thought being the leader of the cottage would only be a foot barge. Sit back and wait for the students to line up to shake hands. Money will flow easily, without getting tired of working.

In fact, I had to learn all the lessons. What the fuck? I also had to fill out a lesson, and began to learn in place of Abi's lecture. I too had to obey. It all started with a growing compulsion, I became ordinary and fluent.

I convinced Abah not to worry about the cottage anymore. I can be a leader now and will behave like an ustadz who is a role model.

I wanted to refuse, but seeing Abah's face getting older I couldn't bear it. I finally married the widow. I wouldn't be satisfied like this.

Ain his name, gentle temperament, beautiful as well as his person. We were married and didn't touch each other for a long time. Until Abah got sick, and he asked me to have a child. I had to do it too. Abah was healthy when Ain was declared pregnant. It turns out that mine is also though loveless, but I can make her pregnant.

"Cream, be a responsible leader. Who is wise and becomes the role model of all santri. All your behavior will be imitated by them. Beloved Ain, she's a good wife to you" Abah asked before life fell off her body.

I just nodded my head while holding back my tears. How can I live this, if love is not in my heart. However, seeing Ain who was so obedient and patient. I promise I will never leave her even if I have to live without love. Maybe it'll show up later when we have kids.

Years passed, three of our children got. During that time, I never again remembered the fateful events of the past. Forgot the presence of my little family. Abah has followed Umi.

"Sir Ikram, please promise us to always take care of Ain. Never leave Ain because he has no one in the world but you. We will calmly leave this world after Nak Ikram promised us" my father-in-law asked at the time.

This what does it mean? They want me to promise as if I'm going to leave their child. Look, there are already three children that he gave birth to. There's no way I'm just leaving. However, I nodded and promised them. Ain loved me so much, he was patient with my sometimes cold attitude. From there I began to grow love in my heart. Love for the woman who has been patiently with me for many years. A taste for the mother of my three children. He deserves it.

"Abi, Umi heard that there is a newly built convection factory in our city. How about we just take our clothes from there. Umi heard the price is cheaper and the model is more attractive," she told me.

"Abi will try to go there" I said. I opened a Muslim clothing store in Rangkasbitung traditional market. The store is quite large providing various types of clothes of different ages. From baby to adult.

I went to the factory, big enough indeed. I heard from the residents of the owner moved from Jakarta. Hearing the name of the city, it reminded me back to the fateful incident first. An event I want to erase from my memory forever. I just wanted to be amnesiac and forgot what happened.

The workers at the factory were very friendly to me. I finally became their customer. During my time as a loyal customer, I had never met the owner of that factory. It's okay, just his secretary and treasurer alone has made me very satisfied. The mechanism they offered was not burdensome to my side.

Until that time, the day on which I was given the opportunity to meet in person with the owner. She was a middle-aged woman, beautiful and elegant when stepping. That face reminds me of someone's face.

I remember where I met that woman's face. Honey, my brain memory is not working. I can't remember that face clearly. Until a memory of the accident suddenly burst to the surface. I remember, she was a pregnant woman who was crying over her husband whom I hit. Yeah .. he's the one. Why did he come to this town? He wants revenge on me.

I will break this cooperation relationship with his side if he only mentions the fateful events in the past. However, after several times meeting the woman never mentioned it. It turned out that he didn't recognize me, of course, because I was wearing a helmet that covered my face. I can be a calm customer.

But something is strange. The baby she was carrying is she still alive? If he lived, he would have become a strong boy. Born without a Father.