Three Years Different
103 (1)
H-day walimatul'ursy. His mens calendar guess is never wrong. Right after the dawn prayer Mardiyah felt something uncomfortable around there. By the time he checked, the blood was flowing. If Lutfan found out, the man must have been disappointed. She said there were many ways to make her husband happy. But apparently, Lutfan would not believe it.
Mardiyah came out of the room directly to Lutfan who was busy with a laptop. And slowly he lowered his body a little, then approached right in Lutfan's ear.
"I'm menstruating" whispered Mardiyah
The surprised Lutfan spontaneously kept his distance. "Astaghfirullah, Mar! You are ... ngagetin know. That whisper, horror knows!"
"You're a coward" mocked Mardiyah.
Lutfan bulging. "What-what?! I'm just surprised, yeah! I'm not scared."
Mardiyah was speechless watching her husband who felt he could not accept being said to be 'fearful'.
"Keep the shit you said, 'I got my period' where the whispers are. Nakutin knows, Mar. You can say while we chat or what cake I'm not surprised," continued Lutfan.
Mardiyah leaned against Lutfan's front desk. "Announcement for you. Not to be disappointed."
What kind of announcement? inner Lutfan who avoids the eyes of Mardiyah. If disappointed maybe. But, slightly. Because all of this is also the determination of Mardiyah as a woman. How to do it, right? Inevitably he must be sincere and especially not to make Mardiyah bad mood. "I told you, didn't I? When was the day I asked. You said fourteen days less. Yes it means true. You're menstruating today, right?"
"Yes." Yeah." Mardiyah looked into the eyes. "Aren't you disappointed?"
"Little bit. But not pa-pa."
A thin smile Mardiyah showed. It seems Lutfan forgot that he had said, that it would give pleasure in other ways. "Yes already. When do you go to Jyotika Ira?"
"Our way will be zuhur. Eleven o'clock to go, Mar," replied Lutfan.
Mardiyah nodded. "Yes already. Now what are you?"
"The same revenue chafing is the expenditure of new outlets, which Banyu manages," replied Lutfan.
Around ten in the morning. Mardiyah and Lutfan left for Jyotika Ira on orders from Umma Sarah. He said to prepare. Salad can be in mushola. So inevitably have to obey.
But either in the name of luck or bad luck. His eyes caught the figure of a middle-aged man who was none other than Gautama Adiwangsa, standing in front of the entrance. The man seemed to be waiting for his arrival.
"You go down first?" ask Lutfan.
Mardiyah. "Just like that."
"That's Mr. Gautama waiting for you." Lutfan looked out the window. "I'll be helping Cak Sur not pa-pa, Mar."
Mardiyah remained unmoved and chose to stare straight. When the car was completely parked, he went out and helped Lutfan. The intention of wanting to dodge also seems to be unable to.
"Right ... Papa wants to talk," said Mr. Gautama when he had faced with Mardiyah.
Mardiyah stared expressionlessly. "Where?"
"In the park near here."
Mardiyah slightly lowered her head, then brought her lips closer to Lutfan's ear. "Inter, huh?"
Mr. Gautama took the road first. Mardiyah chose to follow behind. And not long while walking, there was a wooden seat on the edge neatly arranged with real flowers. Mr. Gautama invited himself to sit first.
"What do you want to talk about?"
There was a sigh from the middle-aged man. "Hearing you mention Papa with the word 'you' really feels weird, son."
Mardiyah.
"Papa heard you were going to do a wedding reception today." Mr. Gautama paused, for fifteen seconds. "What do you want for a gift?"
"I don't want anything."
"Mardiyah .. Can you not act like a child who loves his father today, son?" Mr. Gautama looked at the child from the side. "Papa's a presumptuous human being. Wishing more on your love as a child. Papa won't demand anything else. Papa just wants to feel that you really think this Papa exists. By simply asking for something you want."
Mardiyah replied, "I've assumed you exist, sir. But to ask you something, I don't think I want to."
Mr. Gautama was silent for a moment. Be ill. But he can only accept. "What do you think of Cecilia, son? You've been very close to Papa's wife lately" he asked.
"He was good" answered Mardiyah briefly.
A thin smile Mr. Gautama showed. "Papa is glad you received him well. But why ... Papa feels you love him more than you love Papa, son?"
"Does it look like that?" Mardiyah. Netraannya fight each other. "Then what about you, sir? You love another woman, when you have a perfect wife like her."
"The other woman you call is your mother, son," explained Mr. Gautama.
Mardiyah broke off her eye contact. "If my mother were still alive. Are you sure, my mother will accept you?"
"You should understand. No woman is willing to marry a man who has degraded her. I'm sure my mother won't be that stupid" Mardiyah said.
Mr. Gautama looks to nod slowly. "Zanitha does love me. But what you said is true."
There was silence for a moment. Until Mr. Gautama said again, "Papa has tried to find your mother's grave. Until now, nothing has been heard. Really, Son. Papa wants you to be happy. Papa even .. wants to hug you. Papa wants .. to hear you tell me all the things Papa has missed so far. Papa wants you to feel that ... Papa really loves you, son."
A liar! Mardiyah's net has runny. He chose to stay up. These fucking tears can't fall!
"But it seems impossible. Because all you see, all that makes you happy is that man." Mr. Gautama closed his eyes as the wind swept across his face. "Lutfan is his name?"
"Papa does not know what is special about him, until you can feel very happy," continued Mr. Gautama.
Mardiyah rubbed her eyes.
"Lutfan it .. It's obvious to love you, son. Papa's grateful you have a husband like him--"
"You seem to have forgotten. Who used to talk, that marrying Lutfan would only hurt me?" mardiyah.
Gautama breathed. "I'm sorry Papa."
"You need to know. Even ... advice from Lutfan that made me realize to respect you as a father," said Mardiyah.
[.]
