The White Heart Jasmine

Chapter 93 - Calamity and Misery

Bondan with an anxious face looked at Elvan and Melati. I hardly dare to see my father. His school bag was hanging on his shoulder. The uniform is shabby, the shoes are butut. Sweat still occasionally dripped down his forehead and neck.

"Bondw..." Melati stood up and held Bondan's arm to take her sit. The little boy sat on Melati's side and looked down deeply.

Aaron looked straight at Bondan. He can't see his face, because Bondan keeps his head down.

"Bondan.." call Aaron.

Bondan folded his hands and clasped tightly, not daring to raise his face.

"Bondw..." Calling is louder. Bondan lowered his head and became stronger squeezing both his hands which continued to clench.

"Have you heard me call you?!" aaron Sentak.

"Yes.." - Bondan replied.

"Look here!" Aaron stand. His face began to tense.

Bondan forced himself to look at his father. Obviously he was scared. Tears began to gather in his eyes. He'll hold on as much as he can or he'll get hit.

Aaron looked in Bondan's direction. Anger mixed with pity wrestled in Aaron's heart. Obviously, his son was afraid to see him. His face is black because too often overheated, his body is thin dry because it rarely eats, his clothes musty because he washes himself as much as possible. Suddenly Aaron's heart was torn to shreds.

Elvan's words revolved around his head. "Is the child happy with his parents?" Yeah.where might Bondan be happy. He even lives in fear. He never played with a kid his age. He never smiles, let alone laugh.

"Do you want to go with them?" Aaron's voice softened.

Bondan, who was still trying to see his father, looked down. Yeah, he wants to go with Melati and Elvan. At the House of Garuda he found love abound. He can be himself in full, without fear. He was accepted as is. He wants to be there.

"Say me, you want to come with them?" ask Aaron again. His voice was firm, but he didn't sound angry.

Without daring to look at his Father Bondan nodded slowly. Aaron fell down. He clenched his hand. It's done, complete already. He's a failed man. Even her son now refused.

"Take him away" said Aaron Iirih.

Melati and Elvan look at each other and see Aaron.

"Take him out!" aaron Sentak.

Instantly Bondan holds Melati's arm seeking refuge.

"Mel, take Bondan out. She must be hungry. Buy him some food" whispered Elvan.

Melati looked at Elvan, her gaze meant the question did she not come out? Elvan shook his head.

"I will be fine. Just go.." whispered Elvan again. Elvan hands Melati the car keys.

Melati took Bondan and took her out. They headed for the car that was parked some distance away from the house. Melati takes Bondan to a not-so-distant depot and buys him food there.

While at Aaron's house...

As soon as Bondan and Melati leave the house, Aaron cries. He clenched his mouth with his right hand, while his left hand clenched hard and hit the wooden table many times.

Pity runs through Elvan's heart. He just silently looked at Aaron who was venting his emotions. Until the man then calmed down. The crying began to subside.

"You must feel like you're winning, yeah... A father rejected his son and chose to go with someone he just knew.... I'm a useless man." said Aaron. He tried to smile, cynical.

"Sir Aaron, what we are doing now is not about winning and losing. We're talking about a child's life. The child God gave to the family. How do we fill his life?" Elvan looked at Aaron.

Aaron still occasionally rubbed his eyes. Clearly his heart was in turmoil, agitation, and there was an implied regret there.

"Keeping my wife and children alone I can't afford. What's the point of all this?" Aaron shook his head hard. Again he smiled cynically.

"Up to whenever Bondan is the son of Father. He should respect the Father as his parents." Elvan was still watching the man who had dared to show his frail side. "If we take him, sorry, we see you're not giving him what he needs. And we got a chance to give it to him."

"I'm unemployed, drunk, gambler, unworthy to be a father." Aaron's words grew weaker. "If you know, it all started when my rich boss fired me. A slander from my co-worker, reversing everything. There is no place I can go to work. I'm tired of everything. I'm tired of dealing with moneyless people with no heart. Just making its employees slaves to enrich themselves. Satisfied if they can see a little person like me is down."

Hearing that Elvan begins to understand what is really going on with Aaron. From his words Elvan knew Aaron was not an uneducated man. But his disappointment with life made him choose this life.

"Life will be good or not because of our choices. Sometimes difficult situations we cannot control. The choice is we want to get stronger and overcome it, or give up and don't care what it will be" said Elvan.

"Father still has a chance to get up. Prove to Bondan he has a father he can be proud of. I am sure, Bondan has a great talent in music, must have been born from parents who also have the same talent," continued Elvan.

"I'm handing Bondan to you. I knew I didn't deserve to be his father" Aaron said softly.

Elvan stood up and reached out to Aaron. Aaron raised his head to look at Elvan.

"Thank you, sir. I promise to help Bondan pursue his goals." Elvan's hand is still outstretched.

Aaron stood up and welcomed Elvan's hand.

"Go away." said Aaron.

"I'd better wait for Bondan..."

"I don't want to meet him. Later when I'm ready, I'll find him." Aaron looked at Elvan.

"Good, Sir. Bye then. Garuda's house will always be open for you." Elvan took off his hand and left the house.

Aaron is back. He's quiet, not moving. Distraught and regretful singing in his heart.

Melati and Bondan...

"Are you afraid of your father?" ask Melati.

"Sometimes, uh. often." replied Bondan.

"Then you are not your father anymore. Are you happy?" Melati saw Bondan. His fear is beginning to disappear.

"I'm happy at Garuda House. But I also pity you, brother. I often remember Mom. He was angry that Mom left and left us. What if he himself? Are you not going to cry more often?" Bondan said it was a piteous.

"We can look at you once. It's okay" said Melati.

Bondan. He continued to finish the fried chicken in front of him. Melati and Bondan kept talking. Melati wants Bondan to let out all the hurt in her heart. By talking to others, he will be more relieved. The pain will decrease.

Melati looked at Bondan, relieved. Aaron didn't force Bondan to be held back. They don't have to deal with the police.

Drrr... HP Melati shook. Elvan called.

"Yes, hello." said Melati.

"Where are you, Mel?"

"In the Asih depot. I'm done eating, anyway. Am I going there?" ask Melati.

"Fetch me. I've been walking to the front of the alley."

"Yes, fine. Just a minute.." Melati hung up.

He invited Bondan to pick up Elvan and continue to the Garuda House. The Kasih Lidya Foundation. They invite Bondan to meet Lidya and Hadi. Both parents were thrilled to see Bondan. They take Bondan to the dorm room and tell him to take a break. The children cheered excitedly as Bondan would now stay with them.

Elvan told Lidya and Aaron everything. Also on Melati that Aaron won't be looking for Bondan until he's ready.

"Thank you, God. It can finally be solved well," said Lidya.

"I think Aaron was a good man at first. Unfortunately, failure made him angry with the circumstances and made his life chaotic," said Hadi.

"Really, Sir. I guess that's what happened." Elvan nodded.

"Mas, can't we do something for Mr. Aaron?" ask Melati.

Elvan looked at Melati. Melati continued, "Will Mr. Aaron have no trouble getting a job after so many years of not working? Besides, his age is quite a lot. It will be harder to compete with the young and have a better education."

Elvan smiles. "Your heart is white, Mel." he murmured.

"Yes, Mom?" Melati felt Elvan speak, but she did not catch it clearly.

"Let me think, " said Elvan.

"Thank you, Mum." Melati lifted her smile. He knew Elvan would definitely act.