The Substitute

The Poor Rangga

Rangga sat daydreaming in the room contemplating his fate. Disappointed, sad, angry, melted into one. There was no word that could describe how painful the wound in his heart was.

Trial came to him. Not dry one wound, already added new wounds. Wanted to vent his anger, but I don't know who. Fate is really playing tricks on him. If life gives him a choice, then only one thing he wants most, forgets everything.

Aliyah entered the room, hesitatingly, she approached Rangga. He immediately knelt before his son.

"Rangga.." The voice of Aliyah called out to Rangga.

Rangga turned his gaze out, feeling reluctant to look at the woman who had raised him affectionately.

"What's my fault, Mama...? Why are you doing this to me?"

"I'm sorry Mama, Rangga..." That was the only sentence that could be spoken from the woman's mouth.

"Mom knows...? All my life I have always wished that I was not the son of a great Hendri Darmawan. And destiny made it happen. So now, should I be happy or sad?"

Whether to answer what, Aliyah was only able to cry. Begging Rangga to open the door to apologize for him.

"Wake up, don't kneel! I'll feel guilty." Pinta Rangga.

Finally Aliyah got up from her kneeling position, she then sat on the chair staring at the back of Rangga who was behind her.

"Mama's guilty, son... We separated you from your real family." The woman wiped her tears, her voice sounding soft. "Our married life is just a note on paper. We have nothing more than a status. He lives in his obsession with revenge. Destroying his own life."

Rangga sculpted, she knew the suffering of Aliyah all this time which was never considered by her husband. Even Hendri was always cold to her.

"Why did Mama survive?" ask Rangga.

"Mama survived because she had you. He threatened Mama once, he would take you if Mama dared to leave this house" said Aliyah. The woman resigned if Rangga would hate her.

Rangga clenched his hand until it shook, trying to dampen his anger at Hendri.

"Why didn't he kill me? Doesn't he want revenge on my biological parents? He even wants to kill Ozan."

"Because he loves you just like Naura. He forgot who you were, and made you his son."

Rangga was grieving in heart. Although he realized, that Hendri really loved him. But Hendri's actions have hurt him deeply.

Until I die, I will not forgive him. He kept me separated from my family. He wanted to kill my brother once, and now, I'm sitting in this wheelchair because of his hatred.

"Mama, please leave me! I want to be alone." Pinta Rangga.

Aliyah fell silent, only her stuffing was heard. With tears, he left Rangga alone in the room.

***

Ozan tells Ameera everything, about Rangga who turns out to be Deniz and also about Ameera's match with Deniz in the past.

Unexpectedly, Ozan who thought Ameera would be disappointed, it looks very relaxed. Even he was very happy after knowing that Rangga was his sister-in-law.

"I'm sorry, Ameera. I really separated you from Rangga. I'm so sorry." said Ozan.

Ameera was suddenly upset, she pursed her lips, about to protest.

"What's? Regretted? You want to say you're sorry to marry me?"

Ozan is caught off guard by Ameera's words, "Bu-not that he meant, Yank... I just..."

Ozan's words were immediately cut off by Ameera, "What's all? Look at me now. After Mas made my stomach so this way, now want to say sorry? Ask for hajar, huh? I can still beat people in this state !!"

Ameera had already prepared her five-finger union style, making Ozan shudder in horror, staring at the fist that had once often landed on her face.

He did not expect that Ameera would easily accept all these facts.

"Aren't you disappointed?"

"Why be disappointed? I'm glad that Rangga is my sister-in-law. Now, I'm gonna have an ally in our family. If Mas mess around, I'll have Rangga beat you up."

Ozan chuckled at Ameera's words, which seemed to be giving him a serious threat. He then pulled Ameera into his arms. His entire fear faded away instantly.

"Ask what?"

"Why don't you and Rangga look alike? You are bule like mama, while Rangga. although his face has bule levels but he looks more like an Indonesian."

"Who do you think Rangga looks like?"

Ameera then imagines Rangga's face and examines every inch of his best friend's face in his memory, he only realized the resemblance of Rangga with his father-in-law.

"Papa-like neighbors, huh?"

Ozan nodded slowly, "I just noticed it too."

"Then how did Rangga react after knowing everything?" ask Ameera. He knew Rangga would not accept that fact easily.

"The ladder needs time, Yank. He must not have been able to accept it. He's the one who's hurt the most right now."

"I know, Mas. But, did you know?"

"Maybe you're calling papa now." Ozan then stroked Ameera's increasingly bulging stomach. I can't wait to see the birth of her twins.

"Now you sleep, yes. It's late at night. I can be mad at Mom if you stay up late."

"But I'm not sleepy..."

"I said mama, if you stay up late."

"Yes, yes." said Ameera, he finally resigned.

Ozan lies down and fondly caresses his hair until Ameera falls asleep.

***

In a distant place, Hasan, who had just received a call from Zarima, became very angry with Hendri's actions.

He decided he would soon leave for his home country and make calculations with Hendri who had separated him from his youngest child for a dozen years. He even thought his little Denis was dead.

In that room, he wept through the fate of his poor youngest son. Rangga has always been a victim of Hendri's evil deeds. And now he's experiencing what his brother has experienced. Sitting helplessly in a wheelchair.

"You will pay dearly for all your deeds to my children" he said, clenching his hands.

He then called his men to prepare for his departure to Indonesia. I can't wait to get back together with my family.

He looked at the picture of the little boy he had taken from the desk drawer, "I'm sorry Papa, Deniz... Papa doesn't recognize you. You were so close to us."

***

The next day...

Ozan finds his mother crying in a room that contains all the memories of Deniz in his childhood. The middle-aged woman had just tried to meet Rangga, but again Rangga refused to meet him.

Ozan recalls that when Deniz was missing, Zarima was devastated, just like now. After knowing everything, Rangga refused. Ozan then approached, and sat down next to his mother.

"Mama... Don't cry anymore, we should be happy right? Deniz is still alive. That's all that matters."

Zarima was still crying looking at the photo of little Deniz. "He refused to see my mom, Ozan. Does she hate mama?"

"The ladder just takes time, Mah..."

"Name Deniz, Ozan.not Rangga."

Ozan embraces Zarima who hasn't stopped crying since last night. Ameera was silent behind the door.

***

Sorry new up... 😃😃😃

Rangga is indeed the most unfortunate character, yes, in this story.. pity... please, does anyone want to adopt Rangga??? let his misfortune decrease😂😂