The Shah of First Love

PICKING EX

Amarendra is busy with his laptop, he searches for Kani's social media account but does not meet. He's already used a nickname, his full name, still nothing. She doesn't have a social media account other than Facebook and she hasn't used it for a long time.

Amarendra picked up the phone and immediately wrote down someone's mobile number. He turned off the call and called the number. The sound of the men he heard. He smiled and got up from his seat.

“Halo...this who? Hello?” Sewots.

“Rai..” Amarendra called and Raihan in his place fell silent.

“Ren, Maren?” Sounds heavy. “You're alive?” the question was unexpected and Amarendra glared.

“I want to meet as soon as possible. Many things I want to ask.” Amarendra paced in his room. “It's not hard to get your number, I have to call some people .”

“We haven't seen each other in a long time, come to my house. My wife is good at cooking, don't hesitate.” Raihan was so happy then gave her home address. He settled in Jakarta. Amarendra is happy and will come home from the office. Raihan will wait and he asks not to be so because he has asked his wife to cook.

Amarendra smiled and after he came home from the office. He went to that address. Amarendra was looking around. A housing complex and he retreated when the door opened. Raihan was in front of her but the man looked at her confusedly.

“Who to look for?” Raihan watched the man before him who was toting a lot of groceries.

“Elo crazy, Rai? It's GUEEEE!!” amarendra and Raihan laughed. He did not recognize Amarendra and the two hugged.

Amarendra sat down and his wife Raihan made a drink. Raihan's sleeping children woke up. Raihan was embarrassed to see his three children so excited to dismantle what Amarendra brought.

“Sorry, yes.”

“Apaan, anyway! Relax just the next time. Naturally, his name is also children.” Amarendra smiled and patted the cigarette he was smoking, making his ashes fall into a special place. The two chatted casually first, exchanged stories, laughed, and reminisced about school days as well. Back to the original intention. Amarendra wants to know about Kani.

“If the number...I do not have, I just go home once a year, Lebaran doang. Sometimes I see him sometimes. But there's a number Syamsir if you want.” He put down his phone and Amarendra shook his head.

“Gue wants to know, he's fine or not.” Amarendra lowered his head and Raihan swerved uncontrollably.

“Can-can elo lie to me. I know why you haven't got married, Kani is still alone. She's the only unmarried girl in her family.”

“Both of her sisters are married?” Amarendra was surprised and Raihan nodded then told her about the moment she scolded Kani. Amarendra was silent to hear Kani searching for her. “Gue was very similar to Kani at that time. So I'm kind of leaking out, talking about what makes you leave. Let her think!” Raihan is fed up and Amarendra is silent.

“My advice, if it's really dear, chase! Kani is not married, no one likes him, he rejects all men who have intentions, I'm sure he's waiting elo back. Don't lie to your own feelings, Ren. The loss of elo, do not let because of your ego each become into his own torment. Now elo ngaca, elo still want to be with him or not, if you want yes snobs do not sell expensive. I'm not old-fashioned, you two are not teenagers like that anymore. Now he works at Toko Ayas Tamales, the market area on the sidewalk where we hang out first. Search there, it will not be difficult, it's the biggest store.”

Amarendra gulped down his drinking water and pensive for quite a while. Raihan grabbed Amarendra's jacket which was placed on the empty seat. He watched her, feeling her material. Very nice jacket with Olive color.

“Good elo package, Ren.”

“Take, deh, if you want.”

Raihan nodded and immediately tried it. He stood up and looked at his reflection in the window pane.

“Elo wear, really good, Ren. My turn to wear, keep it this way.” Raihan keep on styling.

“Serah, Rai, whatever!” he chimed in and Raihan chuckled.

Amarendra's been at Raihan's house long enough. At ten o'clock in the evening she had just come home and Mother was waiting for her to walk away, Mother just wanted to make sure Amarendra was okay.

“Munda.” Amarendra called and Mommy stopped. “Mother wants to see me married, right? Please pray, Bund. In sha Allah this year.” Amarendra was sure and Mommy turned to look at the astonishment. His son must have lied so he would talk to him again. Mother snorted and went to her room.

Amarendra breathed a rough breath into the air. When he arrived in the bathroom he took a shower. Not sleeping and looking for social media account @ILY. Raihan said it was Kani's social media account, he did not believe it and immediately checked it.

His eyes were round looking at a photo, it was Kani but from behind. His head was wrapped in a Hoodie jacket.

A year after her departure, Kani posted the photo with Caption.

“She went ‘Without Pamit' and I just realized that I always hurt her feelings, incised invisible wounds until she got tired and took the best decision to leave me.”

Weeks later Kani posted a ring and Amarendra fell silent looking at the ring.

“You're the best, and I'm starting to stop wanting you back.”

“ILY...i really want to hear it again and reply then apologize.”

“I'm a source of disappointment for everyone around. If death could be requested, I would file it.”

“Then, when I was devastated you came to reach out and defend me loudly. Now, I'm trying to do it myself so you don't get too disappointed and know that you managed to teach me a lot.”

Kani stopped posting obscure photos in distressing words after three years of Amarendra's departure.

Amarendra got up and pulled the white curtains in his room. He paced back and forth, then opened the closet and took the watch and sat on the floor with his back resting on the edge of his bed.

Amarendra opened the inside of the clock, taking out a memory card that he wanted to erase long ago but was not strong enough to do so. Just wanted to. Amarendra stood up and took his laptop.

Amarendra silently stared at the screen that took turns displaying his photo with Kani, from the beginning to get to know while at school and capture many beautiful moments every encounter. His eyes, his smile, Amarendra could no longer bear it and folded it.

He stared at the clock Kani gave him. His eyes were reddened and wet, his face slowly lifted and he stared out the window along with his tears dripping down his cheeks. His sobs rang out, followed by a heavy sigh, he shook his head loudly on the promise to pull the girl back into his arms. He won't hold onto his anger constantly, he'll meet the girl and apologize and ask for an explanation.

***

Everyone just popped out of the meeting room. Kirana who stepped with her secretary was chatting and Amarendra followed.

“Bu Kirana,” call her and the two women turn their heads. Amarendra hesitated and the understanding Kirana asked her secretary to leave first.

“What's up?” kirana asked as she pulled her hair back.

“I want to meet your mother.”

Kirana shook her head, “Mother was taken by my sister. Anything important?”

Amarendra was silent for a moment and had no other choice.

“Then it's okay but I need your help. It's very urgent. I need to go for a few days and it'll create obstacles because I won't attend. It's about my life, Kiran. I brought with me all the work inside the laptop and some files I will give you, I really need help.” Amarendra sighed and Kirana seemed to be weighing.

“Ke Bandung?” Kirana guessed and Amarendra nodded. “There's news about the girl? And it's not that she's married.”

“He's not married, just like me. I have to finish a lot of things with him and I'll tell you later. Can?”

Amarendra clenched his lips tightly and Kirana nodded.

“One Week is enough?”

“I'll get everything done faster.”

Kirana suddenly chuckled until she pressed her stomach and Amarendra glanced in annoyance. “You really love her, Maren. Go, finish, I hope my help is not in vain.”

Amarendra developed a smile, he was relieved, will be leaving tonight as well. “Thank you.” He nodded small and passed away. Kirana watched him and gawked because never before had she gotten such a wide smile from Amarendra.

“Love can really change everything.” Kirana kicked while stepping towards her room.

The next night, Amarendra packed up, he stared at the screen of his mobile phone which he put back his picture with Kani as Wallpaper. Once ready, she tote her clothes bag and briefcase. Mother was asleep when she wanted to leave. Amarendra could not delay and kept going.

“Where are you going, you?” Luci made her stop and she looked over. Lusi's eyes were squeaking suspiciously.

“Pick up the former,” replied the original Amarendra and Lusi who was drinking choked, coughed. He was in a mess but when he got outside, his sister was gone.

“Which was it?” Lusi was very curious and tried to guess.