VILLAGE END

15

Hasan was speechless digesting Mak Sanah's ambiguous words. So is Mak Sanah who is still silent.

Mak Sanah touched Hasan's shoulder patting him slowly while holding back a cry.

"Father of tilar dunyo,"

[Tilar dunyo: Died]

Hasan was stunned in disbelief looking at Mak Sanah.

"For a long time Aden, about a year after Aden went to Jakarta," Mak Sanah continued as if understanding with Hasan's gaze that demanded an answer.

"How can Mak?," he said he was eager to ask a lot of things but his throat seemed choked. Just a wet look of eyes staring at Mak Sanah full of questions.

"Many things have happened Aden, many very many," he said and Hasan cried powerless to hear the reality.

He did not know his departure left so many stories there, he seemed to be kept away from those closest to him.

Feeling angry, why the big event did not reach his ears. Where the loss of news is, where the disappearance of the man who sought their existence, why can't they know something as important as this.

Or could there be someone who is indeed covering all this?, Or is there still something to do with the death streak?, If Yes, who is behind it all ?.

Hasan rubbed his hair and looked at Mak Sanah who was trying to calm down even though he was not okay.

"Where is my father buried Mak?, let Hasan visit him,"

Mak Sanah smiled as she rubbed Hasan's hair, then she shook her head. His eyes looked very sad.

"Rest Aden, Aden must be tired,"

Hasan just nodded and according to him, he knew Mak Sanah was not ready to tell him what really happened.

"Mother is also resting" she said, and a housekeeper approached her.

"Antar Mak Sanah to the room and prepare his needs," he ordered Hasan then left after Mak Sanah went from his room.

*****

Gremicik rainwater adorned the silence of the darkening afternoon, in the corner of the room there was a woman sitting staring out of the window.

From behind him there was a man watching his every move, he did not care every day just looking at the window no matter what he thought.

"Sir, the big lady is coming" said a female servant.

The man turned his head and just nodded and then he hurried away.

"Daren" said the woman who was quite old when she saw her son coming. He put down his cup of tea and looked at his son.

Daren sat on the sofa facing her mother.

"What's wrong?" he asked directly.

"How is he doing?" he said without looking at Daren.

"No change?" He went back and then the corner of his lips turned sideways.

"It's unfortunate that the money you spent on that crazy woman was wasted" he said.

"Ma, he'll be healed" he replied, leaning back.

"Cured?," he asked, chuckling "Are you stupid?, how long has he been treated but there has been no progress, leave him and look for another,"

"Ma, where might I be,"

"Grandfather's will?," The cut left Daren speechless.

"Ma, I have to keep Grandpa's promise,"

"You took care of her already kept the promise, there is no prohibition to marry again is not it ?,"

Daren frowned looking at his mother.

The woman moved from her seat she rushed to Daren's wife's room, and Daren rushed after her mother.

"Ma, don't be weird" he said as he chased.

His mother stopped right at the half-open door.

"Ma," he said, following her.

Daren stopped when her mother stopped seeing the woman sitting staring out the window.

The woman turned her head to look at the person who came to her room, there was no sound just a brief smile and then looked back out the window.

"Is this how you welcome your in-laws" said Daren's mother.

"Ma," forbids Daren but intercepts her mother's sharp gaze.

The woman looked at her surprised look but soon she smiled again.

Well-favoured.

Her pretty face plus her very sweet smile, will bewitch anyone who sees her.

"Mother," he said gently looking at the person in front of him without moving. Then he stared at the person behind him as he looked down.

His eyes met with Daren he did not dare to look at the man, immediately he folded his hands to the body in fear.

Daren's mother smiled wryly and looked at Daren and then out of the room.

Daren calls his maid to appease his wife and she soon catches up with her outgoing mother.

"Ma, stop" Daren said as her mother opened the door. He closed the car door and looked at the boy.

"Ma, be more gentle to him" she pleaded with her mother.

"Mama has been on the verge of Ren, mama is embarrassed, until when will mama be carrying has a crazy daughter-in-law," he said pressing his voice softly and then he threw his breath away.

"Ma, I'm also dizzy if mama keeps this up,"

"Compose him, and find another woman,"

"Where maybe ma, mama knows for myself I have to keep my grandfather's promise" elak Daren insisted.

Her mother Daren held her forehead, "Then hide her and find another woman, easy is not it?, Mama does not want to have a crazy daughter-in-law Ren, understand the reputation of our family," he said then turned around.

"Ma, uh,"

"Rena Wardana, you still have a relationship with her don't you?" she said as she turned and looked at her son. Seen as Daren is speechless he knows his son is shocked by him knowing his secret.

"Mama bless you, and bring your future daughter-in-law" he said, then got in the car.

Daren was still silent staring at his mother's departure. Then he rubbed his face violently.

"How could you know about it" he was afraid his extended family would find out then it would backfire on him.

Especially towards his grandfather, how would he explain it if it happened. He finally returned home.

"How is he?" asked the maid who took care of his wife.

"It's quiet, sir,"

Daren was just a glimpse of mangut-mangut then entered into his wife's room. The face of his wife sleeping in bed.

Well-favoured. Her face was beautiful and when she smiled was very sweet.

He sat on the bed staring at her for a long time. Daren kept thinking about his mother's words.

"Married again?," He then chuckles at his life laughing at his destiny. He remembered a few years ago how he was tempted by the creature of God before him and was met at an arranged marriage by his grandfather.

Fate seemed to be playing tricks on him, he was irritated but also not, he was confused over all of this.

Should he keep this crazy woman while looking at himself he's scared. Should he marry again as his mother requested.

He is also a normal guy like everyone else. Should he withhold everything when the wife cannot carry out her duties ? Should he force him continuously ?.

He was also embarrassed when he met his friends.

Crazy wife.

Daren again chuckled and rubbed his face rough.

"You hear?, if you don't get well, maybe I'll get married again according to what my mother, Nafisa, said,"