When Potatoes Fall in Love

1

The sound of the rain hid the cry of the little girl who was carrying her shoes towards the house. Actually, the house that is used as a shelter is more properly referred to as a place where the wives vent anger to their mothers who are sometimes referred to as “pengod”.

Slowly but surely, the little girl walked in the middle of a puddle of rain that was no longer able to be absorbed by the ground. Sometimes he can be seen grimacing in pain as his injured left leg steps on the pebble. His lips began to turn blue after a long walk in the rain.

Blaaaarrr……

“Huaaaaa, ibuuuuu,” shouted the little girl ran to call her mother when she heard the sound of thunder. His injured left leg felt nothing more when running out of fear. Suddenly, though…

Bugs…..

The little girl tripped over a rock as soon as she entered the courtyard and finally fell face down with a direct kiss on the ground that had become mud. He immediately stood up and rubbed his eyes that felt sore on the ground. Meanwhile, his cry grew louder when he heard a rumbling sound roll right over him.

“Ibuuu…. Huaaaa,” the little girl kept screaming for her mother on the sidelines of her moans.

Not long after, a woman named Damara was seen running from inside the house and breaking through the rain to approach the little girl.

“MyBoy…! Why are you like this, son ?” damara asked directly holding the little girl while trying to clean the mud on her face.

“Nadin ta-tadi fell in si-here, Mom. Ma-mata Nadin pe-perih.. huaaaa,” replied the little girl who turned out to be named Nadin.

Once in the bathroom, Damara immediately washed Nadin's face. Nadin felt comfortable with the warm well water flowing through his face.

“Open your eyes, Son. Do not close, so that the water can clean the soil in your eyes,” Damara pinta in a crouching position and continue to focus on the face of his son who is washing.

Nadin followed his mother's words, his cries slowly subsided and now he even hiccups because of crying too much.

“What's still sore ?” damara asked, looking at Nadin's face.

“Su-already no more,” replied Nadin on the sidelines hiccups.

Damara immediately took off one by one Nadin clothes and bathed him. In the bathroom it was just the sound of water flowing profusely from the tap that was just repaired yesterday. The atmosphere became silent as Damara rubbed the bath soap on Nadin's body without saying anything.

“Aduh,” ringis Nadin when his mother rubs the sole of his left foot.

Seeing Nadin in pain, Damara immediately washed Nadin's left leg. How surprised he was when he found a wide wound there.

“Your leg is hurt because of what, Nadin ?!” damara asked with furrowed brows.

“Beling,” replied Nadin lowered his head not daring to look at his mother's gaze.

Moments later, Nadin sat on his bed after finishing his bath. Feeling cold, Nadin got off the bed and walked to the closet. With a face that looked elated, he picked up the long-sleeved pajamas. The skirt-shaped blue pajamas she currently wears are her mother's 10th birthday present. That said, it was his favorite pajamas. He sat back in his bed when he finished getting dressed.

Creek

The sound of his bedroom door that sounded made Nadin turn his head in that direction. She found her mother walking towards her and then sitting next to her.

“Against mom, son,” pinta Damara who is currently removing red medicine and gauze from the medicine box he had brought with him.

Now Nadin sat facing his mother. In his heart he prayed that his mother would not scold him for being hurt.

“Why did Nadin's leg get hit by the shard ?” damara asked who started examining Nadin's wounds.

“Vas flowers in Nadin's class broke, Nadin accidentally stepped on his shard,” replied Nadin who helped see the wound.

“Other times be careful. Do not take off the shoes before returning home,” said Damara and then began to smear the wounded Nadin's feet with red medicine and then wrap it with gauze.

“Iya, Mom,” Reply Nadin. He did not dare tell his mother that he accidentally stepped on the dagger while fighting with his male friend. Actually his male friend whom he fought also stepped on the shard. So, they're both hurt. The boy immediately cried as soon as his leg was injured. Not with Nadin. He cried from fear of the sound of thunder as he went home alone.

“Mother why have you come home from the stall ?” tanya Nadin who had since observed her mother's deft hands while treating her legs.

“Mommy wants to pick you up to be invited to the stall. But soon it will be night, your feet will also be hurt. So, we don't have to go there. Later the mother will ask employees to close the stall,” explained Damara and then put the red medicine and the rest of the gauze into the medicine box.

Tick. tick...

A clockwork sound that had shown at 19:00 forced Nadin to open his eyes. He woke up slowly when he realized his head was heavy and painful.

“Why can it hurt like this?” nadin asked himself. His stomach suddenly rang making him come down from the bed.

“Momuuu,” call Nadin while sucking his snot without permission out of both nostrils. He then headed to the kitchen when he could not find his mother in the bedroom or in the living room.

“Ibuuu” call Nadin on the kitchen doorstep whose curtains are made of small-sized snail shells.

“Nadine. Sit down, son. Soon mom finished cooking,” said Damara who had just turned her head for a while towards Nadin.

Hacchihs…. Hacchihs….. Haaacciii….

Nadin immediately wiped the clear liquid coming out of his nose while sneezing with the tissue he was carrying from his room. Meanwhile, his mother smiled when she heard him sneeze. In fact, Nadin's sneezing voice that is not at all graceful is an entertainment in itself for his mother. Every time he sneezed, he sounded like he was screaming.

“Let's eat, son,” take Damara while putting the chicken soup that has just been cooked.

“Iya, Mom. Let's eat together,” said Nadin then take the plate and spoon in front of him. Almost the plate he was holding fell when he felt his mother's hand suddenly touch his forehead and cheek.

“Honey, you must have the flu after the rain. You have a fever too. Let's eat, after that take medicine,” Damara said while taking vegetables and chicken thighs for Nadin. After that, he sat in front of Nadin whose face looked flushed with fever.

“Yes, Mom,” says Nadin. However, he continued stirring his rice without any intention to eat it. Chicken thighs that look plump was not able to attract Nadin's decreased appetite.

“Nak, let's eat. How to take medicine if you have not eaten,” said Damara who has since seen Nadin play his spoon.

“Nadin, think about it. If Nadin does not want to eat, Nadin also should not take medicine. If I don't take medicine, Nadin will continue to be sick. But, if Nadin eats and takes medicine. Nadin's pain could go away. Try, Nadin choose which one. Want to stay sick or want to be healthy ?” damara asked after speaking at length.

“Nadin wants to be healthy,” replied Nadin then took his spoon and began to eat the food on his plate. After he finished eating, he immediately took the medicine provided by his mother.

“Just leave the plate there. Let mom settle it later. Nadin is sick, do not hold water first,” Damara said when he saw Nadin was about to wake up carrying his plate to wash.

Hearing his mother's words, Nadin put his plate back on the dining table.

“Bu, can Nadin borrow hp ?” nadin looked at his mother.

“Boleh, now I'll get you after driving you to the room,” Damara replied and then sipped a glass of water after she finished her meal as well.

“Nadin can go to his own room. Nadin wait in the room yes,” reply Nadin moved from his seat then to the room.

Damara let out a deep breath when he saw Nadin walking with limp legs. He continued to look at Nadin until he could no longer be seen at the door.

Did Nadin sleep ? damara muttered inwardly as she realized two hours had passed after she lent Nadin her phone. He also turned off the TV that he had watched since then moved from the sofa to Nadin's room next to his room.

Two hours earlier

“This is the phone, baby,” Damara said while putting her android phone on Nadin's desk.

“Thank you, Mom. Nadin will return it when it is finished.” Nadin turned to his mother.

“Iya darling. But, what do you want to learn ?” damara asked as she stroked Nadin's hair that began to dry after shampooing earlier.

“IPA,” replied Nadin started opening his package book.

“Oooh, why not study tomorrow ? Better Nadin go to bed immediately to recover quickly,” reply Damara.

“Nadin will sleep after learning. Mom can go watch TV, Nadin is fine,” said Nadin without looking at his mother.

“But, Nadin still remembers mom rule right ?” damara asked and looked at Nadin's face.

“Still, Nadin promises not to open up if you are not with mom,” replied Nadin with a face full of confidence.

“Alright, don't push yourself too much baby,” Damara said kissing Nadin's forehead that feels warm on his lips.

“Mother,” call Nadin while clenching his wiggly fingers.

“Yes. What's up, son ?” ask Damara who still remains next to Nadin.

“Do Nadin really have a father ?” nadin asked, looking at his mother.

Damara was surprised to hear Nadin's question. He wondered why his son suddenly asked again about his father. He himself told me that he had a father. However, he became an orphan because his father had died.

“Of course Nadin has a father. Previously I had told you too right,” said Damara.

“Yes, Nadin knows. But, do you have any photos of Nadin with dad?” nadin asked with eyes that radiated hope. However, his hopes instantly dissipated when his mother simply shook her head in response. Nadin noticed that there was water beginning to pool in his mother's eyes.

“Actually, Nadin wants to show it to friends because they don't believe that Nadin has a father. They always thought Nadin was lying. Nadin does not like,” said Nadin looked down sad.

Damara's heart was broken after hearing Nadin's story. Tears that had been pounding directly spilled without being able to hold anymore. He grabbed Nadin's body and hugged him.

“Im sorry mom, son. Your father, your father died while driving mom to the hospital to give birth. We had an accident then. That's why you don't have a photo with your father,” Damara said in between sobs.

“Mother, why are you crying and apologizing ?” tanya Nadin looked at the face of his mother who was already covered in tears. He took a tissue and wiped his mother's tears.

I'm sorry for giving you such a hard life, son Damara replied inwardly.

“Mother, mother don't cry. Nadin will tell them that Nadin does not have a photo with his father,”, Nadin said again when he realized his mother did not answer his question.

“Nadin, son. You can show them a picture of Dad. They will definitely believe that Nadin does have a father, because the father is very similar to Nadin,” Damara said so that Nadin was not discouraged.

“Ah, correct. Then, Nadin's bringing a picture of dad tomorrow so they can see it. They certainly do not think Nadin lies anymore,” said Nadin cheerful again.

“Iya, darling. Tomorrow I give you the picture. Now quickly learn to quickly rest too,” timpal Damara.

“Iya, Mom,” said Nadin while smiling.

Damara then comes out of Nadin's room, worried about what lies he has to tell to answer Nadin's questions relating to his father or other family. During this time, she and Nadin have only lived together in her hometown since she gave birth. Actually, he also has parents. However, they had already died while he was still in High School. He survived without the support of his family because he did not have relatives in that place.

At this time, Damara stood at the door mouth and saw her son asleep at the study table. He then lifted Nadin and put him to bed and covered him. Damara grabbed the tissue on the study table and wiped the sweat that started to appear on Nadin's forehead and temples.

 

“Why is she crying?” damara asked herself when she saw the tears that were soaking her cheeks.

“What are you crying about, son ? May you recover quickly,” Damara again kissed Nadin's forehead. He then stood at the side of Nadin's bed and picked up his phone on the table. Then, as usual Damara opened the history of the exchange on his phone to ascertain what was opened by his son. He continued to focus on his phone screen and nodded because it was true that Nadin was looking for some of his subject matter. However, his eyeballs seemed to want to jump out when he saw what his son first sought.

“Pe***r, ja**ng, bastard.” Damara seemed to be in disbelief and really did not expect his son would look for those words. His knee immediately felt limp until he slumped to the floor. In an instant the words of the wives who had smashed him appeared in his memory. Damara closed her mouth immediately so that her tears that would break were not heard by Nadin.

“Son, did you hear what those women were saying to mommy ? Why do you have to find out about this ? What do you want to know ? Forgive mom. Because of mom, you have to hear all those inappropriate words,” Damara inwardly and then hold and kiss Nadin's hand.