The Substitute

Tears of regret

Since arriving at the house Ameera more silent. That night he was wandering on the balcony of the house. Look at the star-studded sky.

A trace of the shadow of the past danced in his mind.

Not long after, Rangga came to him. He sat down next to Ameera, staring at the sad face of his best friend.

"If you're here to ask me to forgive him, forget it. Until I will never forgive him" Ameera said, sobbing.

"No. I'm not here to ask you to forgive him. I'm here so there's no more regrets." Rangga grabbed Ameera's hand and grasped it tightly.

"There's nothing I need to regret, Rangga."

Rangga wiped away Ameera's tears, "You know, Ameera... I hated him too. He was the first one to separate us. He separated me from my parents for 18 years. Even I'm the one who sent him to jail."

"Teach me, Rangga! Teach me how I can forgive her like you, "Ameera sobs.

Remembering all Hendri's actions made his soul burn. Even his blood seemed to boil considering the day his father was shot.

"I can understand him because I experienced what he was going through. Not being able to have the person we love is painful. "

"But you and him are different, Rangga. You didn't sacrifice anyone while he was? He killed my father,"

"What's the difference between Ameera? Much the same. It's just a different way of venting it."

"You're defending him?"

"Not really... At that time I could not forget you. I continued to live in your shadow, until I forgot there was someone who had been waiting for me for so many years patiently. Because of my selfishness, I unknowingly hurt him deeply. Now he's gone, and I'm sorry. I didn't kill his physique, but I killed his feelings very cruelly."

"You still have a chance to change it,"

"That's what I want to say, Ameera... Papa is sick now. Since knowing everything, Papa can't eat right. Papa was quiet and locked himself in the room, so I often took Elmira and Erzan there. Sorry if I took them without your permission. I asked brother's permission."

"I have no feelings for that person other than hatred" Ameera said in a trembling voice.

"Ameera's... You only see from one side. You don't see everything from papa's side. If you look at it from Papa's point of view, I'm sure your anger will disappear."

"I just know he's a bad guy."

"If someone takes your most precious possession, what do you feel?" ask Rangga.

"What do you mean?" Ameera asked back, though,

"You must be angry, right? That's what papa's natural. He was angry that he felt his own was taken away. Ameera, try to take a closer look. You will understand. I know, papa's mistake was huge. But, he had already made up for everything with his suffering all this time,"

"If you were in my position, what would you do?" ask Ameera.

"If I were in your position, I would see papa from Kak Naura's glasses. He's the same as you, Ameera. His mother suffered a lot because he was ignored by papa. But he chose to look at Papa from a different point of view. That's why now he can forgive her."

After the conversation, Rangga left Ameera. Ameera pondered her fate alone, in deep sorrow.

***

That afternoon, Ameera came to Hasan and Zarima who were playing with Erzan and Elmira in the back garden of the house. They were having a picnic together, sitting on the carpet with various snacks.

The daily life of two people is only busy with playing with his favorite grandson.

"Papa, can we talk for a second?" Ameera.

"Of course my son. What's up?"

"But just the two of you" Ameera said.

"All right."

Hasan then embraced Ameera towards a chair in the corner of the park.

"What's up, son?" ask Hasan.

"Papa, can you tell me about the friendship between Papa, my father and Om Hendri?"

Hasan smiled remembering his two best friends. A friend whom he considered more than a brother.

"Your father, Hendri and Papa... We were friends since childhood. Hendri was born into a wealthy family. But he wasn't shy about being friends with your papa and your father who were just ordinary people back then."

Ameera's eyes began to tear up hearing the story.

"We grew up together, feeling the rigors of living together. Hendri and your father are very close. They share whatever they have."

"How did you know her?"

"Your mother and father were best friends from childhood. Like you and Rangga. As a teenager, Hendri got to know Ratna. Then they dated for a long time. Rudilah was the one who introduced the two of them."

Ameera leaned on the shoulder of her father-in-law, Hasan then embraced Ameera.

"Dad took care of mom like Rangga take care of me, right?" ask Ameera.

"Yes, like that, kid. Your father is exactly like Rangga. They are both hard. That's why, they take care of you the same way."

"Yes... All her life, she could only love one person, your mother. They love each other. Unfortunately, fate only unites them for a moment, then separates them."

"But why did he do evil?"

"That's because his heart is weak, my son... Bad people are good people who feel hurt. Hendri is not as strong as Rangga. Rangga can still live well after losing you. But Hendri is not. "

"But why did he kill my father? Aren't they good friends?"

"My son, he is destroying himself, not anyone else. You know, after your father's death, he was the one who regretted the most. He has lost everything. The woman he loves, his best friend, and... " Hasan hung up his words, Ameera dropped her tears even more profusely.

"Now he has lost his son." Hasan continued. Ameera cried in the arms of her father-in-law.

Now I understand, Papa... This is what Rangga wanted to tell me. I'm totally selfish.... I just saw it from my point of view...

***

Meanwhile, Hendri's health condition worsened. However, the middle-aged man still refused to be hospitalized. He prefers to spend the rest of his time at home with his wife and children.

Naura and Aliyah could only cry. In his sleep, Hendri continued to mutter the name Ameera. He was drowning in deep regret.

"Father, eat a little" persuaded Naura.

The already very weak Hendri only replied by shaking his head.

"Come, Papa. Otherwise I would have forced Papa to go to the hospital" Rangga said.

"Ba-gaima-na A-meera state?" ask Hendri.

"Ameera's fine, Papa. He's gone home. Now Papa's eating, yeah..."

"Strong... Nauras... If Papa leaves, please take care of your sister. Ameera... He suffered a lot because of Papa's mistakes" Hendri said in a disjointed voice.

Naura's cry broke even more, "Don't talk that way, Papa... Papa will heal. I'm looking for the best doctor to take care of Papa."

"Papa, now Ameera is just angry. He will definitely receive Papa someday," said Rangga who continued to try to cultivate the spirit in the man's heart.

Hendri has resigned. His longing for Ameera was held in his heart. The great guilt was slowly killing him.

Aliyah was only able to cry, seeing her husband's condition getting worse and worse.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Aliya immediately wiped her tears and opened the door of the room.

How surprised Aliyah was to see who was standing in the doorway. Ameera came with her husband and two children.

"Ameera.." muttered Aliyah.

"Aunty, can I come in?" ask Ameera.

"Of course, son... Come in." said Aliyah.

Rangga and Naura glanced at each other when they realized Ameera's presence. While Ameera was standing in front of the door with a trembling body.

"Come, brother. Ameera definitely needs space to talk to papa alone" whispered Rangga in Naura's ear.

Rangga embraced Naura leaving the room. Ameera stayed with Hendri.

Hesitating, Ameera approached Hendri's bed. While Hendri who had not realized the presence of the youngest child, still closed his eyes.

Ameera then sat on the side of her father's bed. Looked at his pale face. Tears are back.

"Papa.." call Ameera.

Sayup-sayup Hendri heard a voice calling out to him, with the rest of his strength, the man opened his eyes. His eyes watered suddenly, realizing that Ameera was by his side.

"Ameera.." murmured Hendri in a weak voice.

Ameera grabbed Hendri's hand and grabbed him.

"Lad..."

"Ameera, don't forgive Papa... Papa doesn't deserve it. Punish Papa with all his weight. Papa wishes you were always happy" Hendri tried to finish the sentence with great difficulty.

"Don't leave me, Papa... I lost my mom and dad. Should I lose Papa too?" Ameera leaned against Hendri's shoulder with unstoppable tears.

Hendri was seen smiling in his tears.

My boy, Ameera... Live with happiness. Forgive Papa's mistakes that have hurt you a lot and made you lose a lot of things...

****

CONNECT*.

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