The River House

I. New Sheet

Time passes so quickly. Almost a year since the tragedy of the burning of the river house, the house of the Rich Man. Now the land with an area of hectares has changed and improved.

About a month after the tragedy, a wealthy family of businessmen claimed ownership of Mr. Zainul's land. This is evidenced by a land certificate, as well as a letter delivered by a lawyer.

Since then, the land in the middle of the forest has been better built. The road that was originally a footpath, now can be passed by cars with special offroad tires. Although the road is still steep and uphill, but it has been widened and the scary impression is slightly reduced.

The burning debris of the house was left unceremoniously. As if to be an inscription of a tragedy that is still shrouded in mystery. In addition to the rubble of the house, two new houses have been completed. Two-story house with minimalist design. While the other house is a simple one-story house.

And in May, when the rainy season should have ended but the water speck continued to fall rapidly, three jeep-type cars and two pick-ups were seen parked in the courtyard of the riverfront house. The big family of the cloth businessman, Ferry Lawanto, decided that day to occupy the newly completed house.

Ferry's wife, Anggun, got out of the car wearing a black umbrella. Graceful Eka Hasmi, a beautiful woman, pale white, with a pointed chin and nose. The woman is now twenty-eight years old. He wears a black shirt. His thin body, with its blackened hollow eyes as if hinting that his body is not okay.

"It's our home dear," Ferry approached, holding his wife's hand tightly.

Ferry Lawanto is a cloth entrepreneur who owns a number of large shops in several cities. Her hair was curly and a little gray. His stomach seemed to bulge as if confirming that his age had reached the head of three. Ferry was not a wealthy man from birth. He was a hardworking man, who managed to achieve success with his own sweat.

"Mas sure, didn't pa pa move from our old house to the middle of the forest like this?" Gracefully asked. His voice was so soft, that it could always make Ferry's chest rustle.

"What matters is that you are comfortable. You need this and you deserve it" said Ferry, with a kiss on his wife's forehead.

"Thank you," replied Gracefully briefly.

Eagerly gazing at the minimalist house in front of him. So beautiful, with white paint and several types of ornamental plants that bowed in the rain. Gracefully turned her gaze to the rubble of the charred house, the house that was on the river bank.

Recalling, when Anggun heard the news of the house of the rich writer, Zainul Rikhman burned down. A few days later, two men arrived, one a police officer and the other a lawyer. 

It turned out that Zainul the RichMan, through a letter brought by his lawyer, handed over all his wealth to Anggun. Because Anggun is the only family owned by Zainul. Anggun is a cousin of Zainul Rikhman. 

Anggun's parents were the younger siblings of Zainul's mother. Both Anggun's parents and Zainul's parents work at the same place, in a plastic factory in the next town. Every morning they leave with a travel car. Until finally, on Friday a few dozen years ago, the travel car had a great accident.

All the workers who were taken by the car were killed. Including Anggun parents and Zainul parents. Anggun and Zainul become orphans at the same time, with the same fate. 

In the end, Anggun and Zainul are adopted by different people and live each other's lives. Grace has long forgotten Zainul Rikhman. But now, arrived Anggun rest on the land given by his cousin.

"Why are you quiet, baby?" Ferry patted Anggun's shoulder slowly, breaking his reverie. 

Gracefully smiled at a glance, then walked to the terrace of the marble-floored house. Ferry followed behind him.

"As your request, the marble is ground brown," Ferry smiled with satisfaction. Graceful just be quiet.

"I'm quite surprised actually, it turns out that the rich writer is your brother. Moreover, all his treasures are inherited for you. I was quite shocked at first" Ferry said again. Gracefully not responding, he was busy watching the sky of the terrace of the house with a realistic blue sky.

Bu Rofida was a good type-in-law in front but became a bully while behind her daughter-in-law. One of the reasons Anggun asked her husband to build a new house on the land given by Zainul was to be able to avoid her in-laws.

But who would have thought, Miss Rofida even asked to move with her daughter-in-law. Gracefully could only agree to it.

"Geez, this land is all yours, is it Nduk?" Bu Rofida stroked the back of the Graceful hand.

"Yes Buk" answered Anggun briefly.

"But we live in the middle of the forest, like Tarzan," Vivi chimed in.

Gracefully rem*s the edge of her shirt. Wanting to grab the thick lips of his sister-in-law then silenced her with fingernails. No one asked them to move in, Anggun just wanted to start a new sheet of his life more calmly.

"It feels like another holiday in the villa" a young man joined the conversation.

That man was Erwin Soemarwan. Niece of Ferry Lawanto, who was raised by Bu Rofida from childhood. His skin is white, with a sharp nose, athletic body, and has beautiful long hair. Ferry never liked his nephew that long ago.

"Have your school finished?" Ferry asked Erwin with a ketus.

"Already Mas, just waiting for graduation," replied Erwin cengengesan.

Two people and a toddler got out of the car. They are a couple and their son. The gardener Mr. Nyoto and his wife who is also a household assistant Mak Surti. And a 5-year-old boy named Miko.

They walked to the terrace of the house. Mr. Nyoto carried two large suitcases belonging to his master. Mak Surti is seen holding Miko and carrying a cardboard biscuit.

"Pak Nyoto, Mak Surti, and Erwin live next door" Ferry said, pointing to the one-story house next to the main house.

"Okay sir," replied Mr. Nyoto and Mak Surti compact.

"Lhoh son, Erwin why not just come with my mom?" Ask Bu Rofida a little protest.

"He's not my mother's son" replied Ferry coldly. No one dared to argue. Bu Rofida went silent. While Anggun lazily caught up in the family debate her husband.

Gracefully reached into his shirt pocket. A golden door lock was in his hand. Slowly, he opened the door to his new home.

"Assalamualaikum, "said Anggun while pushing the door of the house.

Gracefully close your eyes for a moment, take a deep breath and step inside the house. He prayed in his heart, that he might find peace in his life. She was made a palace in the middle of the city by her husband. However, Anggun never get the peace of being at the Lawanto Ferry palace. Gracefully experiencing severe insomnia. Memories of bad memories in the past, as well as the life he is now living feels far from a sense of inner satisfaction and happiness.

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