The Shah of First Love

STRIDE

Kani leaves after her mother allows her to, the girl goes to see Abah but Abah is silent. Kani called Mother Sri her number could not be reached let alone Amarendra's phone number. Kani until calling Vishnu, Vishnu did not know, last met when they went to Malang. Kani asks for his help to see at the house of Lusi and Amarendra with Mommy is also not there.

Kani can only stare while waiting for Raihan to come home to ask him because Raihan is difficult to contact aka avoid Kani.

“Amarendra, I'm looking for you.” Kani cried and stroked the circular ring.

“This ring is valuable after you wear it. It's a fastener between me and you.”

The praise went off and made Kani's tears fall.

Raihan who saw Kani in front of his house immediately turned away, out of nowhere the boy knew he was coming home today. Kani chases after him and Raihan brushes his hands rough.

“What do you want, Kani?” She screamed loudly and Kani sobbed.

“I searched everywhere, asked anyone, he disappeared, Rai.” Kani continued to stare and Raihan hissed.

“He purposely deprived himself of that shameful life of yours!” raihan and Kani were shocked to hear that. “After your marriage failed, you needed it again? I'm even grateful he left, I don't want my best friend to waste time taking care of you who always bother.”

“Rai, you hurt me,” Oozing Kani and Raihan laughing complacently.

“Sick? Then what about the pain he holds just to be with you even though you are often annoying, tol*l, confused, lying again and again, and your last lie is the most painful for him. You don't even deserve to see Amarendra again, let him decide his life and not always take care of you. You've grown up, not the rash girl you used to be, don't get in the habit of bothering others. He not only left you but all of us who will always make him remember you.

“If he comes back just for you, he's really stupid! There are still plenty of other girls out there who are worth fighting for and are more deserving of her. You're devastated by your own attitude, you're left out of being too arrogant, you feel Amarendra loves you so much and does everything in his power to make you happy when you can't live without him, he was even fired from the restaurant for going back and forth to visit you and also got angry with his brother. You know what he's working on to buy you this ring?” He pulls Kani's hand, sees the ring still in use and makes her even more annoyed.

Kani tries to let go of her hand because Raihan's grip is very painful.

“She works as a construction coolie just for a stupid girl like you, she even intends to work abroad in order to marry you soon, even he thought your education would willingly work far away but when he told me, we saw you with Kalingga, I almost lost my mind just to persuade him to hold back, prefer Kalingga only because he is already established but look what happened.” Raihan deliberately hung up his sentence, he sneered mockingly and continued...

“He dumped you! The man who can patiently face you and accept you is only my best friend but you are a fool for wasting it.” She throws the girl's hand until Kani staggers back and Raihan goes to her house.

Whether his honesty will make Kani aware or not, the bodo period, he does not care.

Kani cried so much, slapped herself and kept calling the man's name, she was left out, Amarendra did not want to see him, even the most painful thing was that the man had really gone WITHOUT SHOWING OFF.

Wailing and grieving, confining himself and hoping for Amarendra to return, he will not bother Amarendra. He just wanted to apologize to the man for all his mistakes.

For weeks, Amarendra had absolutely no news, the man went with his memories and his departure made a deep wound in Kani's heart. The girl can't do anything now, wait for it to be useful or not. Where is that guy now? Is she okay? Her heavy voice and gentle touch, Kani misses everything about her.

“Where are you going?” Dahlia blocked Kani's neat path while carrying a sling bag. His short hair was tied up. The color of his sister's face vanished and was just a misery he caught.

“I have no choice but to find a job, I cannot go back to Bu Shahnaz and Mr Satya because they have found a replacement.” He passed by Dahlia and pulled his shoes. Ms. Ismi in the room with an increasingly enlarged stomach can only cry bitterly.

Kani gets a job in a cracker factory, hot, sweaty, she always wants to cry when she's at work. His sister was born and was waiting for him. Kani was silent looking at the baby boy's face and then he called him 'Evening, which means closing, he hoped the name could be a prayer and shortly after, he heard the news of grief.

“Meet her, Kani. It's been seriously ill, just wanted to see you and apologize.” Mr. Muji stared, persuading Kani repeatedly to meet Mr. Ganda who is now very ill after being confronted with the great shock of his life. A year ago his biggest son, a woman, worked in the city tofu came home with a big belly. It was no longer shame that Mr. Ganda felt, but it was impolite and now his youngest son Rere who did the same, spilling dirt on his face, disgrace on the family and the whole village.

“Kani is not an important person until they want to meet with Kani.” Snorting sharply, he passed but his mother held back.

“If Uwa you have no age, what can you do if it is?” said Bu Ismi and Kani turned her eyes away. He felt he could not meet them. Coincidentally meeting him also chose to avoid. “Mother between.” Grabbing Kani's hand gently and Mr. Muji saw clearly Kani was forced.

Arriving at the house, Kani was speechless to see a weak skinny body lying on the floor mattress, sunken eyes staring at her expectantly for her to approach.

“Kani.” His wife Pak Ganda pulled Kani's hand slowly and Kani shifted closer.

“Uwa is afraid of no age, forgive Uwa, sorry for all that Uwa and family do with you. Forgive Rere.” Her voice could barely be heard until the girl leaned in and felt her tears nurture a clear circle. His heart that was so hard in the beginning is now softened. That apologetic and regretful expression continued to sound until it stopped after he nodded in forgiveness, held onto that powerless hand and wished healing for the old man who continued to stare at him with wet eyes, breaths screeching.

Kani asked what the disease that hit Pak Ganda, his wife Pak Ganda who explained, even they did not get a loan from anyone because they already had it and could not pay. Kani's forehead shriveled, all this time where do the students work the results to? Instead of being a tailor in for a salaried boutique? Living many styles but not according to existing abilities, income does not support will remain exhausted as well. Not thinking ahead, savings, and others until Kani finally asked his mother for permission to give a loan. His mother expressed her intention, it was up to her son to help or not.

“Kani will come again later in the afternoon.” Kani looks down, they both cry, more guilt then Kani with her mother comes home.

“Do we make a mistake, Bu?” said Kani and Bu Ismi rubbed his sweaty forehead. Both of them continued to walk home.

“Mothers feel wrong, cuss them back then.” Bu Ismi with a hoarse voice chimed in and Kani wiped her eyes. Why did everyone turn to that family? He did swear it, but not like this, he did not have the heart and knew what it was like to be scolded by many people, denounced for slander and now...Kani massaged her chest, biting her lips, regretting having said crazy things. He is a dirty man whose prayers cannot be answered but God is the owner of the universe and its contents, all will turn to himself, that is why humans are obliged to continue to spread goodness even though they have been hurt many times. The punishment of God is often ignored when it will obviously come only time will determine, when, and what will be like.

***

After Dahlia graduated High School, she got a better job, the family economy was greatly helped. At her workplace, Dahlia meets her heart patch but her intention to get married must be pushed back because there is no way she can step over Kani. Kani never showed the movements she wanted to establish a relationship again, she was traumatized and lazy to serve the men who approached. Dahlia begins to worry because her lover Bashir is ready to get married even often to the house. Mr. Muji and his wife are confused, everything is awkward until Kani realizes it and Dahlia decides to slowly deliver.

Kani is relaxed and Dahlia feels it's the right time. Dahlia hesitates and glances at Kenanga who glances at Kani with the tail of her eyes. Code him to talk quickly.

“What's up, Dahlia? You keep standing looking at me.” Without looking over, Kani spoke, she was feeding Pamungkas on the sofa.

“I..anu.” She was shocked when Kani turned her head and made her not continue.

“What?” ask Kani and go back to feed her little sister.

“I want to get married, Bashir and his family have kept asking.” Dahlia lowered her head, her shoulders limp as Kani got up and approached. Kani held her chin up, looking at her in disbelief that Dahlia was this big. “Teh..” Dahlia is about to cry.

“Married.” Kani smiles. “You've been great, your relationship with Bashir has also been going on for a long time, he's been good. I'm glad to hear it and don't think of fear stepping on me.” She hooked up and Dahlia hugged her, crying in her chest violently. Kani replies and glances at Pamungkas down then runs hugging his legs.

Kenanga smiled, wiping the wet corners of her eyes. Dahlia's marriage begins to be negotiated but the traumatized Mr. Muji doesn't say much. Dahlia looked down miserably and Kani clasped her hands, promising her to take care of everything.