The Bond of Our Love

CHAPTER 13 - A Kara

"Since childhood, he never got affection from his father. Because she was born a daughter. His father wanted a boy. That's why he never wanted to accept Chika. Though Chika has done various ways, so that her father can love her, but everything is nil.

Especially after knowing she had cancer. He hated her more and more. Been born a daughter, sick again. That's supposition. Until she finally leaves Chika and her mother, and leaves with another woman. Not long after that, his mother died. Neither side of the family wanted to take care of Chika. They all decided to leave him in an orphanage"

"Oh my God, how could there be such a father in this world! what is wrong with Chika if she was born a woman? that's not his wish!" Rahul was emotionally shocked to hear it.

"Yes, that's what life is called. Not everything will happen according to our wishes. And that's what I wanted to explain to you the other day. If you are not the only person in the world, with the toughest problems of life. There are still others who are far more miserable than you. But they never complain.

That's what I saw from Chika. Amid the trials of his life that berbubi tubi, he can still show his cheerful smile. He always told me that he believed that God never sleeps. Life is like a spinning wheel. There's a time when we're up, there's a time downstairs. The key is just one, stay grateful in any situation. Life will feel beautiful"

"I'm sorry about that again. I am really ashamed of my childish attitude." said Rahul Lirih while bowing his face. I was embarrassed by his attitude the other day.

"I've already lost? I've forgiven you..."

Their conversation stopped as Chika approached.

"Sister Zahra, Brother Rahul. Let's go there (pointing balloon decorations in the middle of the park). Accompany me with a candle and a cake potog"

"Yes dear" said Zahra and glanced at Rahul

"Come on Hul"

"Yes" Rahul got up from his seat with Zahra. The three stepped towards the table between the colorful balloon decorations. The three male friends and one female friend Chika and a middle-aged woman, with simple looks and hijabs were already there.

"Eh Sister Zahra" the woman smiled kindly greeting Zahra.

"How are you, ma'am?" Zahra returned a friendly smile and shook the woman's hand. It seems that the two women of different generations already know each other.

"Thank God" the middle-aged woman then glanced at Rahul who was standing next to Zahra.

"Oh, so this is Rahul?"

"Iy-iya" Rahul answered nervously.

"I'm Restu, the caretaker of the orphanage where Chika and her friends live"

"It's nice to go with you, ma'am" said Rahul.

"me too. True these children said, your face is very handsome. May your heart be as handsome as your face" Bu Restu also threw his friendly smile when praising Rahul.

"Thank you" Rahul seemed misbehaved with the praise given by Bu Restu. He was so confused as to what kind of behavior he should be. Although he felt a sincerity that contained from the words they made. But still, they were still strangers to him.

"Mom, Brother, you said it. Let's cut the cake, my stomach is already very hungry" said Doddy, one of Chika's friends who was a bit fat.

HUUUH....!!" the cheer of his four friends.

"The round base, the diner" Ronny reproached.

"Iri says boss" snorted Doddy with a sour look.

"HUUL...!!" Doddy again gets cheers from his friends.

Rahul and Zahra just smile while shaking their heads at the behavior of the children.

"Of course, you guys are working noisily. Not ashamed of Rahul and Zahra?" lerai Bu Restu then glanced at Rahul and Zahra.

"Rahul, Zahra"

"Yes ma'am, his name is also children" Rahul replied understandingly.

"Yes, let's get started" Zahra said.

"Yes, come on"

Gleefully everyone sings a happy birthday song to Chika. Which looks very cheerful with

her sweet face that continued to emit a wide smile, while blowing out candles in the same letter shape as her age. 13 Years, and cut the cake.

Chika thrust the first piece of the cake in a triangular shape to Rahul and Zahra with both hands.

"This is the first cut for Kak Rahul and Kak Zahra"

"Make me and Zahra?" asked Rahul confused.

"Yes. As a thank you, for all this time Brother Zahra has been taking care of me. Besides, he has helped me a lot. Make Kak Rahul who sang at my birthday party. Brother's voice is very sweet. Plus the face of Big Brother is very handsome, like Salman Khan"

"Salman Khan?" Rahul looked increasingly confused to hear the name of the man Chika mentioned.

"Chika's favorite actor. I love the Bollywood drama. We even like to watch together on YouTube via my phone. Is it pretty?" timpal Zahra with a smile on his beautiful face.

"Yes dong Kak" Chika replied enthusiastically.

"Toss first" Zahra pointed her palm at Chika, who excitedly stomped her palm against Zahra's.

"Chik, the first piece has been given to Kak Zahra and Kak Rahul. The second one for me. We're best friends" Doddy smiled wooingly.

"Yes Chik. Cut the cake again. Then give it to Doddy, all the same plates and balloons. Let him get round" ledek Rere who was greeted with everyone's laughter.

"Hahaha!!"

**********

"Yesterday was really very fun huh"

"What makes it so fun? Those kids? the first piece of cake? Or, the enthusiasm of the women who are smitten with your good looks while singing?" zahra asked half-jokingly.

"Euuu.... Why? How come I smell like jealousy here?" Rahul Goda.

"Oh.... Are you insinuating me?" gerutu Zahra's. While his hands are cool to work wiping and polishing wounds that are almost dry fused Rahul with cotton that has been tested for antiseptic drugs.

"So you admit it? Or maybe my hunch is right"

"What hunch?"

"You have more feelings for me"

"Oh..a cold and temperament man, in an instant can change drastically into a humorous and rancid man huh. I think you have a disorder" Zahra smiled furiously. His hand was attaching a plaster to the gauze to cover the wound on Rahul's left.

"Difference, you mean?" Rahul scrunched his forehead.

"Yes, it looks like you have a dual personality"

"If I say anyway. It's the effect of meeting and befriending a girl who is clumsy and chatty. So I caught the virus" Rahul said with a look.

"Yes, keep insinuating me. You think I'm a disease whose virus will spread to others? I didn't expect, it turns out you're a lot more annoying than I thought" Zahra said.

"of course. To deal with such an ugly and annoying woman, I should be able to put myself on equal footing with her" Rahul still did not want to lose to that joke. She really enjoyed teasing Zahra. If he could see, surely the look on the girl's face would make him so anxious funny.

"Yes, whatever you say. Oh yes, there is good news for you" Zahra began to get tired of the joke and chose to divert the conversation.

"What happy news? I was wondering, are you saying, if I've won the lottery?"

"Is your head just money? Is there anything else that makes you happy?"

"Of course there is"

"What?"

"You" Rahul said instantly. Whether intentionally or not, whether it is pure joke or indeed the contents of his heart. But it seems that Zahra was not affected by his words. Maybe he responded it was just part of the joke.

"Waw, it seems like combing is one of your skills besides singing. Tell me, how many women have been your victims?" zahra's Scorn.

"Euuu. I don't know, I don't remember either. I remember what someone said, forget yesterday and focus on today and tomorrow. Oh yeah, by the way, what good news did you want to say?"

"Oh, so you're curious?"

"Euum. pretty"

"You're forcing me to tell?"

"More or less"

"Well if you force. I don't want to make you die of curiosity either. So the doctor who had been treating you here told me that today you can get out of this hospital. You must be very happy, right? I still remember what your hard head was like yesterday when you wanted to leave this place. Now you can get out of here without arguing with the nurse here. Hehe"

Zahra chuckles. It's still very fresh on his head, memory a few days ago. When the two are still in conflict. Rahul insisted on leaving the place, in the midst of his condition that was still recovering after waking up from his long sleep.

Unlike Rahul who seems not passionate, hearing Zahra's statement just now. The face that had previously looked bright, full of jokes and seemed to be rancid suddenly turned grim.

"Hey, what's up? Why did your face suddenly turn so sullen? Shouldn't you be happy, getting out of here?How do you look disappointed? Is there a problem?" cecar Zahra quietly with a probing look.

"I. i"

"Why?"

"If I get out of here, I'll definitely have to pay for all the maintenance costs while I'm here. I don't have a penny" explained Rahul.

"You can call your family, and ask them, to pay your hospital fees. They must be.." suggested Zahra empathize.

"I don't have anyone anymore. I am a kara. All my family is dead" Tukas Rahul with a reddened face.

"Have your family been the victim in the accident?" ask Zahra lirih.

"Y-yes, all my family's been dead since the accident. And now I have no one else in the world. I also don't know where to go when I leave this place. I don't have anything or anyone"

Answer Rahul. His heart felt doubt and guilt, for making up a bad story about his own family.