
Happy reading....
"Assalamualaikum, Mr. Ratih ... Mak," call Elsa at the door of Mak Ratih's house. In his right hand was a row.
Elsa has promised to immediately return Mak Ratih's dormitory to the house. Elsa should have returned the thing to Mak Ratih yesterday. But because her house was satronized by debt collectors, Elsa could not go anywhere.
Elsa's life is always under attack from excessive fear. Although the debt collectors are no longer in front of his house, Elsa forbids Rian strictly not to go out of the house at least until tomorrow morning.
Mak Ratih is cooking in the kitchen, hearing Elsa's voice calling out, Mak Ratih immediately went outside to welcome Elsa's arrival.
"Girishalah, Sa. Come on, get in here. You actually returned the structure of Mak, yes," kekeh Mak Ratih while opening the door wider.
"Yes dong, Mom. I promised to return it to Mak Ratih. Already given vegetable lodeh at the same time as rice and side dishes, time does not want to return rantang, Mak."
Amidst the confusion caused by financial problems that did not end, Elsa could still show a thin smile. But Mak Ratih already knows how Elsa and Rian live, but Mak Ratih does not want to discuss it.
The middle-aged woman took Elsa into her kitchen. Elsa looked at the ingredients on the table that had not been processed. Elsa saw there was cut chicken, as well as seasonings in one medium-size container.
"Make it cooking, huh? Can I help you?" Elsa gulped at the sight of the marinated cut chicken.
Elsa has never eaten such good food as chicken and fish. The food that Elsa consumes every day can not be separated from tofu, tempeh, sometimes if the money is not enough to cook, Elsa will buy crackers in stalls. Elsa can't pick food because she has no income. As long as he is not hungry, eating rice and salt is not a problem.
"You helped Mak cook, how about Faqih at home? She's alone again?" mak Ratih asked, he put his bushel on the plate shelf in the kitchen. "It's fun if anyone wants to help."
"At home there is Mas Rian, Mak. So Faqih someone is guarding. So, can I help Mak cook?" pinta Elsa again.
People may call Elsa as a mumpung aji. Elsa helps Mak Ratih cook just wants to get rewarded. No need for money, just given the side dishes when he came home alone Elsa was happy.
The money given by Mak Ratih yesterday has been bought Faqih milk. That is also the smallest size. Maybe it's enough for five days. Elsa had to endure hunger again today because she had no rice or food ingredients in the kitchen. Therefore he offered himself to help Mak Ratih cook.
"Yes you can help, Mak," Mak Ratih said later.
Elsa was very happy. He eagerly asked which one he should do first.
"Please cut a carrot like a cabbage, Sa. Mak wants to wash the chicken before cooking," said Mak Ratih grabbed the chicken container from the kitchen table.
"Ready, Mom!" exclaim Elsa enthusiast.
Wrestling in the kitchen has become the daily work of Mak Ratih. Considering the middle-aged woman makes a catering business, no wonder Mak Ratih is always busy cooking in large sizes, as well as a variety of menus. Mak Ratih is a widow, his children are grown, and some are married and then follow their partner. There is another youngest child Mak Ratih who is single, but works out of town. Only able to send monthly ration money, but rarely return home.
Everyday Mak Ratih himself at home. Working to make a catering business, even though Mak Ratih's money can be said to be quite a lot because it gets remittances from his children. Mak Ratih is a hard worker, so Elsa is very impressed with him. Because other than hardworking, Mak Ratih is a kind person, never gossip like most mothers in this village.
"Why, Mom?"
"That, please see if the rice is mature or not!" exclaim Mak Ratih is making mi bihun.
"Yes, Mother," said Elsa obediently.
***
Faqih suddenly cried when he woke up. Rian who was in the middle daydreamed in surprise. He looked to the side, then grabbed his son into a sling.
"Sttt, don't cry. What's wrong with you, son? Must be thirsty, right?" tanya Rian patted Faqih's hole slowly.
More than an hour later Elsa left, but hasn't shown her nose until now. Rian let it befallen to calm down the crying Faqih. He had already carried his son, taking the baby out of the room because he thought it was cramped inside. But Faqih did not stop crying either.
"Elsa where the hell! Not going home from there. He went to Mak Ratih's house to return the bushel, what's the stay anyway?" rian's nagging. Elsa didn't come home from that day. Though his permission went to take the bushel to the middle-aged woman's house.
Rian panicked himself because Faqih did not remain silent. Rian who never helped Elsa do homework, or just make Faqih milk, explained Rian confused. How to make milk for baby?
"If you wait for Elsa to come home, Faqih can faint! Where did Elsa put Faqih's milk? Looks like Elsa bought her milk this morning." Rian laid Faqih on his living room mat.
Rian immediately went to the kitchen to cook hot water. While waiting for the hot water, Rian looked for Faqih's milk. She did not know where she kept her son's milk.
Rian was too strong to pull the kitchen cabinet door over. Faqih milk was kept there. But Rian even made a noise until finally Faqih milk fell to the floor, until the contents scattered on the kitchen floor.
"Ouch!" peekik Rian panicked. He stared at the milk powder under his feet. Rian pulled his hair rough. "If Elsa finds out, I could get scorned again." Rian complained long, I was just about to bend my back to tidy up his milk Faqih. But the sound of knocking on the door outside made Rian undo it.
Rian sontak. He thought that the person who knocked on the door was a loan shark yesterday. Rian gulped roughly, he refused to open the door.
Until finally a voice of a man called out to Rian. "Rian! This, I ... You're home, aren't you?" call someone outside.
Rian recognized the voice. Feels familiar .. but, Rian is not sure if it's his friend's voice.
"rian ... Ian ..." That voice is still heard.
Rian is still in doubt whether outside is really his friend or just a trap of loan shark messengers. Slowly Rian walked towards the door in a way to sneak. From behind the window curtain, Rian only saw a pair of shoes wrapped. Rian raised his face upwards, his heart fluttering. Then, Rian was surprised when the figure also stared at him.
Seriate....