The charm of Vegetable Kang

Abandonments

Anyala bit the spoon after swallowing her soup. The savory taste that comes from the chicken combined with the fragrance and warmth of ginger, is one of the girl's favorite dinner menu.

"Don't bite the spoon, Anyala. When did you break that bad habit?" remember Mama firmly.

My mom doesn't like anything unusual. Do not like irregularities, let alone strange bad habits in the house.

"Sorry, Ma."

Anyala remembers when she was a child, Mama taught her many things. Never let Anyala eat chocolate before going to bed. However, Anyala still did it secretly with Kak Nita.

Kak Nita often keeps candy or chocolate under her pillow. Then, when the lights in the house have been turned off, he will sneak into Anyala's room.

"Sister, let's play the doll" recalls Anyala recalling the events in her childhood.

"Inyala. Nita has to learn now. You play with Auntie, yeah."

At that time Mama pushed Kak Nita's back away. Which Anyala can remember, Mama always told Kak Nita to study. Sometimes, Mama invites people from outside to teach Kak Nita.

"Ma," call Anyala.

"Yes, Honey?"

"Why didn't Mama ask Anyala for a stand? Or a private teacher?"

"Do you really need that? Mama, you don't think you need to. Later after the evaluation turns out your value decreases, maybe you will consider."

"It's not like that, Ma."

"Then?"

"Anya means, why is Mama's treatment of Anya and Kak Nita different?"

"Him! Don't talk about Nita anymore."

Mama looks really upset by slamming her spoon. The woman took a glass and drank the filling. When Mom drinks, Papa comes home.

"Good night, sweetie."

"Night, Pa."

"Night, Papa," said Anyala to the man. Papa's face looked very cheerful.

"Anyala, how was your school?" asked Papa while rubbing Anyala's head.

"Good, Pa."

"Goody! Don't disappoint Papa. Anyala is Papa's proud son."

Anyala nodded, sure. While the anger on Mama's face has vanished.

"Eat, Pa," hail Anyala.

"Thank you, Papa's been eating with the local government."

"How did it go, Pa?"

Mom seemed very curious when she asked that.

"Of course Papa managed to get a computer procurement project for the West Java government office. Now, Papa is one step closer to Papa's goals and ideals."

"All of West Java, Pa? Whoa! Congratulations, Pa," exclaimed Anyala enthusiastically. He wanted to look very concerned for his parents. It is important to point that out, because Anyala wants reciprocity.

"Yes, already. Have a good meal if that is so. Papa's gonna take care of some work."

As soon as Papa passed, Mama also got up from her seat. Following Papa.

"Spend your meal, Anya," Mama's message answered a nod by Anyala.

Convinced she was out of hearing Papa and Mama, Anyala wanted to go to her room.

"Ann's done. Please clean up," said Anyala giving a warning to the waiter who was standing behind the dining table.

"Good meal, Ma'am."

The person called Ma'am, is a special waiter who provides food in Anyala's house. The woman was not too old, so Anyala called her Ma'am. The woman felt sad, because Anyala's plate was still filled with rice. The soup bowl had also only halved in content. Anyala doesn't really eat.

"What's wrong?" ask Anyala wonder.

"I brought some fruit for Miss."

The woman brought him a plate, which was full of slices of fruit. Looking at her, Anyala felt a little touched. It would be bad to refuse it.

"Thank you" said Anyala, taking the plate from the tray.

"If you're done just put it here, miss. I'll take it later."

In front of Anyala's room was a small table made of ceramics. The table, used to put the decoration. Also as a marker that it is Anyala's room, because there is a photo of him located there.

"Good, Ma'am. Thank you." Thank you."

After the woman died, Anyala came in. He continued studying. But Anyala's mind can not be invited to work together. He kept thinking about Nita. Longing is a disease that is difficult to cure. Because the longing is separated by two different worlds.

Anyala looked at the photo of her young self, next to her stood Kak Nita smiling loosely. Nita's broken teeth look funny. Anyala remembers her sister having fallen from a mango tree behind their house. After that, Papa decided to cut it down.

Anyala was drowned, in the fading memory of Kak Nita. In those very few memories, he found a great deal of love and affection.

In the not so long time, Kak Nita managed to fill Anyala with warmth and laughter.

"Sir Nitaaa ...."

Anyala cannot continue learning. He decided to cram the earphones, listening to his favorite playlist while eating the fruit.

***

Since getting married and moving to Om Randi's house, Mama has rarely had time for Queena. Every night, they would be in the room and rarely go out.

Queena tries to understand that they are a new, loving couple. It's just, if that way Mama can just ignore Queena.

Queena needs to adapt. He can't do it alone. Or, could? Queena really needs Mama's presence.

He wanted to tell me a lot about the new school. About Anyala and all her disbelief. Also about Azka and all her ordinary outflows. Queena needs to be heard.

Queena came out of her room and was very happy to see Mama sitting in the living room. Queena will soon pour out her heart.

"Mama," said Queena.

"Here, Queen."

Queena sat on the couch with Mama. The woman rubbed her daughter's head dearly. Queena almost forgot what it was like, being noticed by Mama.

"Ma, Queena wants a story."

"About?"

"About Queena's friends, Ma."

"All right."

How glad Queena's heart got that answer. However, suddenly Om Randi came out of the room. He looks very neat.

"I'm ready, Hun," he told Hesti.

"Alright, Queen. Now Mama's going with Om Randi. You can tell me sometime. Sorry, Queen."

Mama got up, peeked at Queena's forehead to say goodbye.

"Om go first, yes, Queena," said Om Randi while embracing the wife he had not long married.

Now, Queena's view of Om Randi has changed slightly. In the past, Mama always introduced Om Randi as a good person and will make Queena and Mama's life happy. However, now Queena only sees Om Randi as the one who snatched Mama from her side.

So did Mama. She prefers to be with Om Randi. She'd rather be with a new person, who might give her everything she needs than be with the ever-difficult Queena.

Queena felt her chest tight. He wanted to find open space and free air. Then, Queena remembers Azka's favorite place.

"Ashka ...."

Queen: Malem, Azka. Busy, huh?

Queena ventured to send Azka a WhatsApp message. Then with a pounding heart he waited. Minutes by minutes passed.