THE BARA OF THE PAST

Who Becomes the Marriage Guardian

Sometimes there are people who are only present in our lives, not destined. Liodra was being shrouded in a happy fog, finally the night of the proposal he was waiting for arrived as well. It was not in vain that the beautiful bride-to-be sacrificed her savings to make the application night become what she dreamed it would be. 

"Princess, Devano and his family are hard to come by. Downhill!" Ela peeked out of the window of Liodra's room on the second floor. Liodra rushed down flanked by Ela and Sashi. 

Liodra smiled to see his future in-laws looking younger with cloth and light purple embroidered kebaya. Devano more dashing wearing batik in line with himself. Om Ridwan, Eva's sister also wore batik with twin gunung motifs that look right on her body. 

Some of Devano's relatives were also present carrying Liodra's prepared shipment. Everyone was in the middle room. Officially the Devano family represented om Ridwan asked Liodra to be Devano's wife. 

"The arrival of our family here wants to convey an intention to ask ananda Liodra Audrey to be the wife of our son Devano Pramudya," Ridwan said. 

Hernowo answered politely, "if our two sons and daughters already have good intentions, then we as parents can only bless and pray for a smooth marriage." 

"Thank you very much Mr. Hernowo, we can proceed with the exchange of rings. Think of this as a symbol that Revano has tied Liodra, until the wedding day arrives. Come on, Devano, put the ring on." All eyes looked towards Devano whose appearance was very neat.

Devano took the ring box out of his pocket. Liodra reached out his left hand, Devano grabbed it and put a white gold ring decorated with diamonds. They stared at each other meaningfully. There's a glass in Liodra's eye. The two smiled at each other exchanging happiness. The look was like saying "we finally got to this point." 

"Alright, from today Devano and Liodra have agreed to tie themselves to each other. Hope everything goes well until the wedding gates."

Ridwan ended his speech. The event continued with dinner with various appetizing dishes. There is Betawi soto in the corner of the room, chicken satay with abundant peanut seasoning mouth-watering, as well as mandhi rice whose aroma is appetizing. After eating Hernowo and Ridwan came out to the back porch, looking for fresh air while lighting each cigarette.

"So his father Devano has been dead since Devano was how old was Mr Ridwan?" Hernowo started a chat trying to get along. They sat on the back porch, by the pool. 

"Well, don't call me Sir, I'm younger than Mas Her. I'll just call Him Her, yeah. Devano's been orphaned since fifth grade. His father died in an accident. So ask for guidance if Devano might be a little disappointing. A boy who grows up without a father is like a weed that grows in a meadow. Strong-rooted, very difficult to remove, maybe habit." Ridwan answered while occasionally smoking his cigarette.

"So does Liodra. I hope that when they get married, Liodra can become dew dripping with weeds. It does not need to be revoked, because weeds have many uses, one of which is to overcome the heat in. Even though I loved Liodra like a child, sometimes like there was still less, there was a wound in his heart. Yes it may be like a deep heat" Hernowo joked with a laugh.

"Ha ha, Mas Her could've." Ridwan carried away. They continued chatting while occasionally gulping down the ginger wedang brought from inside the house. For a moment Ridwan quietly permeated Hernowo's speech. So Hernowo was not Liodra's real father, then who would be the guardian of marriage for Liodra? 

"This Punten Mas Her, sorry if I was considered presumptuous. Means this Mas Her isn't Liodra's real father?" tanyanya tried to convince. 

"Follow Mr. Ridwan, I had to convey this from the beginning that I am not the real father of Liodra, but my affection exceeds the love of the real father. Liodra and Sabrina have never been different from my childhood. They we educate in the same way." 

Almost Ridwan inquired about Liodra's real father, as Dewanti's voice approached. 

"Well, at home outside, let's go to Mas Ridwan, outside it looks like it's going to drizzle, it's cold here." 

The voice of Dewanti broke the silence. Ridwan conferred his intention to ask about the marriage guardian to Hernowo.  It's the first meeting, it's not appropriate for him to ask that.  There is still a month left to prepare for marriage according to the agreement of two families. The two of them entered the living room, continuing the small talk while enjoying the milk pudding.  

The dukanti went back inside the house. A beautiful woman at the age of almost fifty approached Devano's mother. 

"Let's Eva Mother, please try this favorite pudding Liodra," Dewanti said. Eva nodded with a smile.

"Punten Bu Eva, Liodra is our eldest son, so this will be the first wedding party in this family. Since her father has many business relationships and I am also a working woman, we agreed to hold a wedding reception at a five-star hotel. I hope Miss Eva can understand."

Dewanti smiled at Eva and deliberately pressed the tone on the sentence 'working woman' to assert the position.  Eva was not stupid enough to know the implied meaning behind those words.  Female councils work, have income. Liodra also has its own boutique. She's the only woman now supporting Devano's life. Laundry care is just a homework. 

Lung disease he suffered often makes his chest tight, in addition to the symptoms of stroke that ever attacked him. The burden of squeezing the chest for years had gnawed at his body.  Eva is actually still beautiful, if only she was healthy like other women. Obviously this iron candidate is insinuating him. 

"Sa-me .. of course we do not mind if indeed from the Jeng Dewanti family has planned everything. We'll just follow, "he replied stammeringly.  

"It's better that way, Miss Eva. I'm not asking permission, but telling. Oh yeah, all our wedding expenses are bearing. We don't want this marriage to be a burden to the Devano family. My husband and I understand the salary of a car salesman. Let this be our burden. Sorry I have to go back a minute."

Dewanti left Eva who had to swallow all the scathing words of Dewanti.  If it wasn't for Devano's happiness, it would have been impossible to continue with a marriage plan similar to an insult plan for his family.

Tonight Eva wakes up, Devano is facing something big and dangerous. With Liodra, Devano's life would not be okay if Dewanti continued to interfere. Feeling uncomfortable, Eva wants to leave Dewanti's house immediately.

"Devano, let's go home. Mom's body suddenly feels bad." Eva finds her son talking to Liodra on the front porch. There's Sashi and Ela who's in an exciting conversation. Sometimes they laugh cheerfully. 

Liodra who saw Eva's pale face became worried.

"Mother why is she so pale? Devano, I think I'm sick, do we need to take her to the doctor?" liodra asked worriedly.

"No need, dear.  Mom is fine. Maybe a little wind because of the cold air. We better go home now," Eva replied in a trembling voice.  

Devano, who saw his mother's face as pale as paper, rushed to the hotel and brought his mother home.  After saying goodbye, they left Hernowo's residence.  Dewanti smiled meaningfully to let go of Eva and her entourage. 

"Mom wants to go straight back to Bandung. I don't want to stay at the hotel" Eva orders, holding back her anger. 

"Mom is sick, we rest in the hotel first, tomorrow morning Devano take me home," Devano replied while driving. 

"Devano, I only asked for this once."

Devano looked at his mother from the rearview mirror hanging to the left of his head. From his mother's attitude when he was at Liodra's house, Devano already knew something was wrong. What the hell is going on?  Moms look healthy and happy when they just come. Why is it changing now? Questions suddenly filled his head.

At the moment Devano can only guess. Free to ask, his mother would not answer if in this situation.  Eva's body shivered. Ridwan covered her with a scarf that was in the car seat. Ridwan also knew something was wrong with his brother.

He swiftly hugged his brother whose body was trying hard to withstand the shock of a sad cry. The shock on this back that Eva had been hiding for years from Devano. Only Ridwan understood the meaning of Eva's silent cry.