THE MENTARI FOR ESTUARY SEASON 2

CHAPTER 41, THE HOUSE OF CHILDHOOD (SPECIAL RIRI-GANESH)

    Malang City is the city of Apples, as well as the cold city of East Java. And in this city also our favorite character was born; Riana, also her sister, Ganesha. And now, this pair of brothers set foot again in this cold city. Finally, after all this time...

“Mbak, ki-we want to go home huh?” ask Ganesh. His face implied unwillingness and fear.

“Just a moment deck, just for the inauguration of the new papa company branch.” replied Riana slowly while still holding her sister's hand.

“Later, if there is Sister Lisa how?” asked Ganesh who suddenly slowed his path, as if buying time to quickly get to where he was going.

“Nesh, come..” invite Riana.

“But, mbak..”

“Ganesha!” whether due to desperate circumstances or what, Riana yelled at her sister, then pulled her hand.

“Detach, mbak,” says Ganesha cold. Riana stopped her steps, then...

“I walk alone. I remember the way home. The direction is still exactly the same as before, before I left so only I.” he said while carrying a backpack that had been one in his brother's trolley, he said, then walk ahead with the stick in his hand. Ganesh opened his phone, ordered an online motorcycle taxi to go home.

***

“Lho, Nak Ganesh, Nak Riri, you guys go home together but not one vehicle? How about tho?” greet a woman who seems familiar with them, even though they have never returned to this house again for a long time. Positive thinking, maybe there is someone who tells about them to this woman.

“Iya... By the way, whose aunt, huh?” ask Riana.

“I Sarah, mbak..”

“She's papa's new wife. Why are you guys coming home? Are you still recognized and have a place in this home and family?” Lordy! The disaster finally came. And that's Lisa, sister of Riana and Ganesh.

“Let them enter first, Lisa, they are tired must have traveled far.” said the woman again. Riana took a step forward, entering the house with a looked up to – this part of the haughty attitude she made to people like this older sister of hers ; and also maybe the woman named Sarah, who has not been known the contents of his heart. But in contrast to Ganesha, the boy instead chose to retreat and move away from the door, so Riana had to be forced to once again pull her hand.

“Log in!” he cried a little while pushing the body of the sister. There was no other choice, even though his heart was very sick, Ganesha still accompanied the footsteps of the older brother. The older brother who had to harden himself back here, in the place of their childhood. Not because of anything, this is done solely to protect himself – and Ganesha self as well, from the pain that comes attacking them so suddenly. Lisa left them with a haughty look and full of scorn, meanwhile, Sarah – the father's new wife, trying to serve the middle and the youngest as she should.

“You guys are coming home soon. Can you wait in your room or have lunch? Aunt cook rib soup today.”.

“Neither aunt, we go to the room first to rest. Eat it later when papa comes home. Excuse me,” said Riana politely to the mature woman who looked quite classy. The woman named Sarah nodded, then let the two children rest in their room.

***

“Why mbak? Don't cry... Mbak Riri is strong, yes, do not cry mbak..” persuaded Ganesh while stroking the shoulders of his beloved sister.

“Mbak snapped at you, mbak nyakinin you. Mbak...”

“Ssssttt, already mbak, already. I can understand. The important thing is not to be here with me now, while there is mbak here, I am not afraid to face anything. Yes, yes mbak, ayok dipake again the mask. Because I will also wear the same mask over here.” said Ganesh. Riana said yes, then immediately wiped her tears clean, and patted her sister's shoulder.

“Rest, one more hour, mbak will be back here.” Her speech. Ganesh nodded.

***

Night, deserted. This is how it feels to be a stranger in your own home. And worse, who feels like it is not just one person. And that made the two people who were at that frequency decide to go to the back garden, contemplating everything there.

“This is also your deck?” ask for a voice. All he asked was a nod, then decided to sit on the swing.

“What the hell have we been through in this house?” Ganesh breaks the silence. Riana tapped her fingers on the swing iron pole first before finally answering.

“Well, much, Nesh, at least until..”.

“Until before we both go, and or Sister Riri who goes first,” Ganesh completes the sentence of the brother with an injured expression.

“What is my mistake that cannot be forgiven, Nesh?” riana asked while sighing tiredly.

“Pardonable may be possible, but if forgotten... Mm, sorry, I can’t do that for now.” says Ganesh. Riana assented, understand. In the past, there were some things that he had not been able to explain to his younger brother, but he was emotionally hunted, so he chose to leave at midnight raining it ; the night where he saw Ganesh crying while locking the doors and windows. Riana sees it all, before an online taxi car takes her away to Milia's house. That day was not his usual departure; that day he decided to leave, and may never return. Until finally two years ago, Bali, hotel ballroom, and heartbroken reunite with his sister. In an accidental moment but carrying the blessing, awkwardness is certainly felt both. But that awkwardness eventually dissipates over time, and then perfectly disappears.

“Im sorry mbak..” Og Riana.

“All has passed, ma'am. Importantly, now I have been able to meet and together mbak mbak again.” said Ganesh while smiling, and stroking Riana's palm.

“Yes, sleep yuk, it's night. Or do you want something again?” riana asked while stroking her sister's head. Although sometimes Ganesh is uncomfortable to accept the treatment (yes yes, it is eighteen years old you know it is a child), but Riana is still happy to do it.

“Mm, I've got warm chocolate milk made by mbak. Can not?” ask Ganesh slowly.

“Sure can dong. Yes already, yuk, enter yes, later milk mbak anter to the room..” said Riana. Ganesh nodded, smiled, then grabbed the brother's hand and invited him to enter the house. Yes, this is their home; a childhood home full of stories and memories, especially about their mother (they call her mama), who was already lying quietly in the navel. About mama... Ah, mumpung the two of them again here, maybe tomorrow is the right time to shine and’akan there, tomorrow, just complete the longing and share the story.

(BBC).