Two Rings

A Hope Begins

Bandung, 04 June 2020

19:00 AM local.

In a white house, where Dion and Melati live.

Dion was deliberately decorating his house according to the wishes of his wife, he would do anything as long as his wife was comfortable.

This is where the harmony of Dion and Melati was created, there was never any disagreement during their marriage.

Tonight the atmosphere felt so cold, outside the rain fell hard.

While lying on the bed, he felt very tired on his body.

Melati also felt her head swirling, making her unable to stand and walk.

Dion, who had just finished cleaning himself, immediately approached his sleeping wife.

"Darling, wakeup. Let's have dinner first," Dion asked.

Jasmine wriggled, she turned her body against Dion.

"Hemm, I'll just eat here. I was lazy to go down to the kitchen" replied Melati.

"Lazy kok? Why, do you still feel nauseous?" Ask Dion.

Melati nodded, "my head feels dizzy too, Mas."

Dion groped his wife's forehead, his hand now turning towards his wife's neck.

"But you don't have a fever" said Dion.

"Yes, bring your food here. Tomorrow morning, we'll go to the doctor. I don't want anything to happen to you" added Dion.

"Hemm, okay. Thank you," said Melati.

"Yes. Mas into the kitchen first," said Dion and nod by Melati.

***

Dion came down the stairs, headed for the kitchen.

At home they lived three, Dion, Melati, and one household assistant.

"Bi, what's cooking today?" Dion asked Bi Ai.

Bi Ai turned her head, and approached her master.

"Auntie cook fried chicken, capcay, same sambal terasi. Aden wants to eat now?" Ask Bi Ai.

"Yes, Bi."

"Yes already, Auntie prepare first," said Bi Ai.

"It's not necessary, Bi. Let me be," Dion's words stopped Bi Ai from preparing food on the table.

Dion took a plate, he filled the rice and side dishes with a portion quite a lot above it.

"Den, did the tumben eat that much?" Tanya Bi Ai was astonished to see her employer who took the portion of two people in one plate.

"The food I brought to the room, Bi. Melati is lazy down he said," said Dion.

"Well, why is Non Melati? Sick, Den?" Ask Bi Ai again.

"Come, Bi. He was vomiting at the restaurant" said Dion.

"Vomiting? How can you, Den?" Bi Ai was still curious, because Melati was very rarely sick.

"I don't know either, Bi. He said he smelled a strong smell of cooking" Dion replied.

He did not hesitate to talk to his house assistant. Bi Ai has been a family trust since Dion was in his first school.

"Are Non-Jasmine pregnant?" Guess Bi Ai.

Dion was silent for a moment, trying to remember one of the early features of pregnancy.

"What time, Bi?" Ask Dion.

"Kok time anyway, yes said aamiin dong Den."

"Oh yes, Bi."

"Have you been taken to the doctor?" Ask Bi Ai.

"Yet, Bi. Tomorrow morning the plan is to go to the doctor" replied Dion.

"Take it straight to the gynecologist, Den. Who knows if she's really pregnant." Bi Ai suggested.

Dion nodded, "yes, tomorrow I take Melati to the gynecologist" he said.

"May Non Melati really get pregnant well, Den." Bi Ai prayed.

"Aamiin, pray for Bi."

"Surely, Den."

"Yes, I went to the room first. Melati must have been waiting" said Dion.

"Yes, Den."

Dion left the kitchen, and walked excitedly to the room.

***

Arriving there, Dion eagerly awakens his wife.

"Darling, this is the food."

Jasmine wriggled and stared at the menu inside the plate, instantly the look of her face changed as if it was tasteless.

"I want another meal" said Melati.

For a moment Melati thought about the food she wanted, and the choice fell on the food she had never tasted before.

"I want to be hooked" said Melati.

"Caredok? Are you sure you want to eat that?" Ask Dion.

Melati nodded, her long face making Dion powerless to resist.

"So much time is there still someone selling karedok?" Ask Dion.

"I don't know," replied Melati innocently.

"If you don't want to find a car, I won't eat." Melati.

Dion moved from his place, quickly leaving Melati and intending to buy a car.

Melati looked at her husband's back, "why would I suddenly want to eat a slob? I don't like raw vegetables very much" he said in his heart.

Melati put her body down again, waiting for her husband to come home with his order.

Dion looked puzzled, he was about to ask Bi Ai the place that sold karedok.

"Bi, this hour is there still anyone selling karedok?" Ask Dion.

Bi Ai momentarily thought, "it feels like nothing, Den. Why the hell?" Ask Bi Ai.

"Dear to care, if I don't buy him he won't eat" Dion said.

"Well, Non Melati cravings?" Ask Dion.

Dion fell silent, he scratched his non-itchy head.

"Come, Bi. So how?" Ask Dion.

"Auntie is not sure if there is still a clock like this that sells karedok, but how about..."

Bi Ai's words stopped for a moment, making Dion curious.

"What if, Bi?" Ask Dion.

Bi Ai smiled triumphantly, making the master even more confused.

"If Bibi alone made it, it happens that the vegetable stock is still in the refrigerator," Bi Ai said.

Dion thought for a moment, "The ingredients are complete?" Ask Dion.

"Aunti's gonna take a look."

Bi Ai walked towards the refrigerator, she checked the remaining vegetables inside.

"Long weasels exist, cucumbers exist, touge exists. Hemm, it seems complete."

"How, Bi?" Ask Dion.

"She, Den. Complete all," Bi Ai replied as she closed the refrigerator door.

"Goodoo. Emm, spices?" Ask Dion back.

"Easy, Den. There's ready-to-eat peanut seasoning, cayenne pepper is still there." Bi Ai smiled happily.

"Alright then, make it Bi now."

Bi Ai nodded and immediately picked up the necessary vegetables, then washed them first.

"What did I help you with?" Ask Dion.

"Help prayer, Den." Bi Ai chuckled.

Dion laughed, patiently waiting for his assistant to act.

Nearly fifteen minutes passed, and the work was finished.

"Den, try it first. Less what?" The Pinta Bi Ai.

Dion grabbed a small spoon, and put a mouthful of karedok into his mouth.

Dion's tongue is now swaying, feeling the sensation of taste that is raised.

"Big, Bi. Spicy," said Dion.

"Hopefully Non Melati likes," said Bi Ai while giving a plate of kared to Dion.

"Yes, hopefully, Bi. Thank you" said Dion.

"Yes, same, Den."

Dion left the kitchen and rushed back to the room.

Arriving there, he walked up to his wife who was lying on the bed.

"Darling, wakeup. His charred meal first," pinta Dion patted his wife softly on the cheek.

Jasmine squirmed, yet she was still asleep in her sleep.

Dion tries to reawaken Melati, but his efforts still fail.

He put the plate he carried on the nightstand, and sat down on the bed with a face look relaxed.

"So ask for karedok, already made even sleep."

Dion grumbled in his heart.

He looked at the plain face of his wife, his disappointment disappeared when he remembered Bi Ai's words about the characteristics of pregnancy.

"May there come soon a little angel in our midst, dear."

Dion kissed Melati's forehead slowly and enveloped his wife's tiny body.