The White Heart Jasmine

Chapter 42 - Elvan Is Coming Home

Azka still continues to search for Elvan with the help of the SAR Team and the rangers. This is the last day they're looking in the woods. Some try to search for settlements that are not too far from the forest.

About 10 am Azka and some people walked through the area near the forest. There are several houses that are far apart in the area. The houses they went to said they did not know about the young man they were looking for.

The house is not too big. Surrounded by a rather tall bamboo fence. One of the guards approached the house.

"Sir Karno!!" call the forest guard. "Sir Karno!! What's at home?! Miss Nanik?!" The forest guard went into a large yard. There are several kinds of vegetables grown there.

An old man came out of the house and approached them.

"Eh, Mr. Grace. How many come here? Is there a problem, sir?" ask Mr. Karno to the ranger. The real one can still be called a child by Pak Karno.

"Sir, did you go to the forest yesterday? We're looking for this kid?" Grace asks for a picture of Elvan from Azka's hand.

Pak Karno looked at Azka and then at the picture that had moved hands in the hands of Grace. "Hmm, missing? Poor thing. That's your brother?" ask Mr. Karno to Azka.

"Really, Sir. My sister," replied Azka. "I Azka. And my sister's name is Elvan."

Mr. Karno looked at Azka. "Today I'm not going anywhere, sir. I don't know if anything happened" Mr. Karno said.

"If you ever find out, tell me, sir. Pity his parents," said Rahmat.

"Yes, yes." said Mr. Karno short. While still looking at Azka.

"Then we'll excuse you." Mercy pamit. Azka nodded to Mr. Karno. Then they left the house. Azka still turned to look at Mr. Karno a few moments later continued his steps.

After they left, Mr. Karno returned home. Luckily his wife was in the backyard, feeding their cattle. If his wife had met them, it could have been discovered that the handsome boy was here. The name is good too, Elvan. Elvans. Ah, Nice name that is more worthy of him, inner Mr. Karno.

"His parents will not be sad for long to lose their children. They still have their brother. I only have one son. And he's gone. Elvan, no, Nice, he's his successor," muttered Mr. Karno to himself.

Mr. Karno headed to Elvan's room. Elvan was sitting on the bedside. It's true that boy has a guardian angel. Today he looks fresh. He could even get up and go to the bathroom. I can eat by myself. Just don't remember anything.

*****

Five days already, the search had no results. And the search was stopped. Azka has to go home and take care of her work and papa's office. It can't be left out for too long. Eventually Azka makes a report of the loss to the police station.

Azka just entered the house. HP reads. There's an unknown number.

"Hello.." said.

"Hello, Brother Azka. It's Jasmine." Melati contacted him. Azka took a deep breath.

"Yes, Mel," said Azka.

"I called Elvan from two days ago can't, brother. Is she all right?" Melati asked with a slightly anxious tone of voice.

"Mel, can you go home?" Azka did not answer instead asking Melati to come.

"Now, Brother? Is Elvan sick?" ask Melati.

"I'll explain first" said Azka.

Phone's done. Azka went to her room. He took a shower to make it feel fresh. Then he took HP and made contact with some people to check the work.

Not until an hour has Melati come. Azka led Melati into the living room.

"Sit down" said Azka. Melati is confused by Azka's stiff, unfriendly welcome as always. Melati sat on the sofa, Azka sat next to her.

Azka turned her body to face Melati. "Mel, I'm sorry, had to tell you something really bad." Azka took another breath. "We lost Elvan."

"Why, Brother?" Melati doesn't understand.

"Elvan.. fell into the abyss.and we couldn't find him..." Stagnating Azka said. Her face flushed. Eyes glazed.

Jasmine raised her eyes. He didn't hear wrong, did he? He looked at Azka, sharp, unblinking and asked for an explanation.

"We've been looking for him. Repeatedly exploring the forest. We searched the area around asking all the houses, who might have seen or instead found it. Nought." Azka's tears have already been shed.

Bada Melati instantly tight. Cry exploded. Is this real? It's not a dream, is it? Not a week ago he said he loved the young man. Elvan is always full of surprises. No, it's impossible.

Azka hugged Melati. She was crying too. His heart was also broken. He was the last person with Elvan. He should have been able to prevent that from happening. But he didn't even feel anything.

"Sister, I'm sure Elvan is alive.... She must have come home." said Melati amid her slowly abating cries.

"I also convinced myself that. Before we found the body, I was sure Elvan was alive. I've already done a report to the police. Next they'll handle it." Azka took off her embrace. He rubbed his eyes. "We must continue to hope. Can't stop looking and praying."

"Sir Azka..." Someone called.

Azka lifted her face. Adista is there. Looking at Azka with a face of grief. Azka immediately rushed into Adista's embrace. The crying gets stronger. If with Melati he tries to hold back his emotions, in Adista's arms, he overflows all his feelings.

"You're from the hospital?" asked Azka, after her crying had subsided.

"Yes, brother," replied Adista.

"How's Papa?" ask Azka again.

"Today will go home. I came here to make sure the house was tidy" said Adista.

"Om Tirta in the hospital?" Melati.

"Yes, Mel. Papa dropped immediately," said Azka. He's calmer now.

Melati could understand if Tirta immediately fell ill. This is a huge shock to him. His son is missing in front of his eyes.

"Have you eaten?" adista asked while looking at Azka.

"Food like can't get in" Azka said.

"I'm with you, yeah... Brother can't be sick. You have to be strong and stay healthy." Adista rubbed Azka's shoulder.

Adista is an amazing woman. He remained calm despite the deep sadness on his face as well. Adista to the kitchen. Bi Wanti just finished cooking. Adista invites Azka and Melati to eat. Azka's right, it tastes like food is stuck in the esophagus.

Some evening, Tirta and Erika came. Almost the same time Farel came home from school. Farel doesn't want to go to school yet. But his mother told him to stay inside, so as not to dissolve in sadness.

Tirta looked very sad. So did Erika. But they resigned. Tirta lay in her room. Azka, Adista, Melati, Farel and Erika accompanied him.

"We don't know what God means by all this. It doesn't feel fair. Elvan's a good boy. She just finished school and is ready to pursue her goals. Why do you suddenly have to experience this?" Tirta stared one by one at his wife and two lovers.

"God sometimes we cannot understand. But if He allows for sure we will eventually know the good behind all of this. As long as Elvan's body hasn't been found, he's alive. There must be someone helping him. In time he will go home," Tirta continued.

No one in the room spoke. They expect the same thing. Elvan must be home. Then Tirta led them to pray that Elvan would be handed over to God.