Three Years Different

64: Early Discussion

At one in the morning Mardiyah woke up and realized that one of her hands was tied tightly, like using handcuffs on one side of a hook in a drawer pull. Seeing all this really made him sick, yet he was helpless.

Crying will not solve the problem. He could only stare blankly at her hand, as the room was cold, he felt his throat dry. Thirst. Will he get a drink after trying to escape? Do Manggala and Gautama still care?

If you no longer care. Even dead is no problem. Not giving up, he tried, but failed. Lutfan will not find him and Abhimata, Abhimana cannot be expected. The kindness of his two sisters is not enough, if only for pity. Loneliness plagues himself until he feels useless to live.

Perhaps what his peers used to say is true, if he is an unwanted child. Then his departure might be a good thing for everyone. Including, Manggala and Gautama.

"Are you awake?"

That voice, belongs to Gautama. He was not aware since when the door of this room was open.

"Papa is waiting for you to wake up, son."

Gautama's three-second pause said, "Why do you want to leave here? To break the window glass? If only the one who knew was your grandfather. He won't forgive you, son. He'll lock you up more and if possible, he'll take you out of the country."

Mardiyah did not respond.

"See. Your leg is hurt. You are really careless. Papa is trying to fulfill your wish to meet Lutfan. But you're defying like this." Gautama. "Or have you changed your mind? Don't want to see Lutfan anymore?"

"I'm tired. If you are finished talking. Please come out," replied Mardiyah flatly.

Gautama. "You didn't hear Papa talk? You really don't want your wish Papa to fulfill?"

Mardiyah was silent.

"Mardi."

When he heard the call his name given Umma Sarah called, Mardiyah immediately looked at the father. "I feel the same, either Mr. Manggala or Mr. Gautama who caught me. You'll both lock me up."

"The proof now ..." Mardiyah asked Gautama to follow the direction of her gaze fixed on one of her hands. "You're further confining me, by tying up one of my hands."

Gautama.

"You shouldn't just protect me from Mr. Manggala, and Rajendra alone. You should also protect me from yourself, sir." Mardiyah was still staring at his hand. "Because in my view, you are the same as them. You hurt me too."

Gautama immediately realized and said, "Son, Papa really has no intention of hurting you. Papa just doesn't want you to go anymore."

"If you let me live happily with my husband. Maybe ... I won't feel you hurting me, I might as well welcome you, sir. But actually? ... All this ... what? You can't give a father's love to his daughter. You're showering the world's only happiness on your own daughter. You make your daughter feel that dying is more ba---"

"Mardiyah! Stop over. What are you saying, son?"

Mardiyah looked at Gautama. "Couldn't it, sir? Just so you know. Rajendra once asked, Why don't I just die with my mother?"

"Enough."

"It turns out that Rajendra was right. Better I die or if possible better I wasn't born just--"

Mardiyah just looked flatly at Gautama who shouted to ask him to stop.

"Lutfan, you want to take this matter on the legal track?"

After reading Mas Jafar, Lutfan shook his head. "Free, Mas. In the end, their alibi will just say that Mardiyah is the son of Gautama. Part of their family."

"At least we're trying. The law will be fair to the righteous" wrote Mas Jafar.

Lutfan nodded, again. "The law that you speak of can sometimes be bought. It is not that easy for a judge to try something that can harm himself. Except, the judge is strictly religious, and has a high humanity and justice side."

"Lutfan, you're wrong. Why do you seem to generalize all the judges can be bribed easily? Yet I am sure out there are still so many enforcers of justice, who actually swear to human justice itself. It's not just about money like you're talking about."

It turned out that twenty seconds had passed Mas Jafar wrote this whole thing. Lutfan greeted his cousin with grief. "I'm not generalizing, Mom. I also believe that good people exist. But if ... our opponent Adiwangsa. Even good people will be weak if the threat is family."

"So I don't want to involve anyone. I'll find Mardiyah myself, Mas. I-i can. I can take him home, ", added Lutfan.

Jafar nodded and wrote. "I believe it, Lutfan. But if your efforts do not produce results, legal assistance is needed. Our family is not equal to Adiwangsa. But if you talk about equality Grandpa was equivalent to Mr. Manggala in business and fame. People will help to judge from the religious and humanitarian side. Even ordinary people know, what is done by the Adiwangsa family is wrong."

Lutfan just nodded.

"Have you eaten?" write Mas Jafar.

"Udah, Mom. A little but."

"Eat a lot. When Mardiyah comes home, she'll get angry if she sees you skinny, Lutfan."

Reading what Mas Jafar wrote, Lutfan spontaneously laughed lightly. "Belvin. The guy I like to see he's angry. Gemes. Let him take care of me, Mom."

Mas Jafar smiled faintly.

"The ukhti is still sleeping, Mas? How do you live alone?"

Mas Jafar nodded and wrote. "Usually he'll wake up around 2 a.m. So it's still at this hour, I'm going to your room. And it turns out you haven't slept."

"Where can I sleep, my mother? No one can be hugged anyway," replied Lutfan cengengesan.

"I go to sleep. Mumpung is still half two this, dawn is still far away. I'll wake up" Jafar wrote.

"Later si ukhti nyari. Think I'll kidnap till we get back."

Jafar shook his head and moved his lips. "No."

Lutfan lay down on the pillow where Mardiyah used to fall asleep. The aroma of shampoo the wife is still left there, the scent of perfume as well. Mar, it's been two weeks. I miss the same lo. I want to hug you. I want to cure my injuries. By God, Mar. If you ever come back to me. I will never refuse you again. I want whatever I fulfill. I promise, her mind involuntarily shed tears on the pillow.