Suddenly a Husband
Request Or Coercion

"Your father left behind a wife and a child. Alif, currently nearing the age of three years. He is growing, needs the love of parents and a complete family. The boy is a good boy, he is the successor of our family. Although Sigit cannot be replaced, but for us, Alif has been prepared by God to replace him who will leave this family." Mother is back crying. "Sigit's departure also makes us grieve because there is Alif, we are sad, afraid to imagine how this child grew up without a father figure. Ben, two weeks ago came his uncle Yohana, he expressed his intention to bring Yohana and Alif to their village in Sumatra. Of course we are surprised Ben, we are not ready to lose Yohana and Alif at once. Although the era has been sophisticated, can communicate by phone, but still the same. It will only cause you to worry. Especially later, Yohana must work to meet Alif's needs. Yohana is a single parent. If he works, who will Alif stay with? It's sad isn't it, Ben?" My mother looked at me, but I kept quiet.

I'm not being quiet means I don't feel sorry for Alif, he's an orphan right now, he's also my niece. With orphans who have no blood relation I pity let alone my own nephew. But I can what? Come closer I dare not for fear of Abah's prejudice. It may not get better even more messy.

"Ben, will you help Abah and Mommy?" Pinta Mommy with a vibrating voice.

"Beni should have done that!" Abah. "It is also if he knows religion."

Astagfirullah. I can only hold my anger in silence. Why is Abah so sensitive to me. Everything I do is always wrong. I don't even know what Mother meant I don't know but I've judged me that way.

"Ben, you're our only remaining boy at the moment. You're the only one. Abah and Mommy want you to replace the role of Sigit for Alif." said Mommy.

"Yes, Ben will try to talk to Alif." I said.

"It's not just that, Ben. But ... marry Yohana." Pinta Mother.

"Me married?" I was surprised to hear my mother's request. Married to Yohana who was already my sister-in-law? Actually it is natural, often also happens in my confinement. His name's off the bed. But why should I marry her now, after such a deep wound in my heart had been inflicted, I painstakingly treated her, yet now forced to reopen. I was pensive, unable to answer.

"How's Ben?" ask mother again.

"Ben doesn't know, Bun." I said.

"Why Ben?" Mother kept asking for clarity.

"I need time to think, Bun." I said again. "Marriage is not easy."

This is what I told you, Bun, it's useless to have his help this one child. He's a dud. It's just a burden in this family. Where can he be relied on like we rely on Sigit. Even if he really became Alif's father later, I don't know somehow the fate of my favorite grandson later. Let alone even wasted like himself whose life is not clear. If only I had another son, I wouldn't ask her for help. Just ask for horns to the cat!" firmly Abah.

Pain, Bah. It hurts all the words Abah said. Why is Abah always like that? I have the right to rethink my future. Marrying a woman who broke my heart is not easy. Moreover, there is an Alif that we will guide both while we have transformed into two humans who do not want to know each other anymore. Why can't anyone understand my heart. Am I worth nothing like that?

"So Abah still thinks of me as Abah's son?" My toot. He whispered to himself not to cry. I'm not a crybaby, I'm a strong boy even though Abah keeps hitting me. I'm a strong boy.I can also be like bang Sigit.

"What do you mean?" She looked back at me.

"Well, this is not a problem can replace the position of bang Sigit or not. Ben knew Ben wasn't as good as Abah's firstborn. Ben is an urgency, has no bright future, crybaby. What else Bah? Everything Abah said was true. But does Abah know, it's all because of Abah. Abah made Ben a boy like that." I said. "Change too hard on Ben. I destroyed Bah because of Abah!"

"Whatchu mean? Are you the real Abah? You and Sigit get the same treatment, Sigit can be a good child but you why not? It was you who was troubled, not Abah's upbringing." Abah Resist. "If you were obedient and had a brain, you wouldn't be like this Beni Mulyadi!" snapped Abah.

"Mental people are different, Bah." I said. If Abah knew, in the past, every day I always tried to be a good son of Abah, but indeed I could not. There were many things that my heart could not accept until I rebelled. I actually said it in a good way. But Abah is the type who does not like to be denied. He wanted to be obeyed until Abah judged me a son of dissident.

"I don't want to know, you should get married early next month with Yohana.I'll get everything ready, you should too. Don't break it or I'll kick you out of this family. period!" abah said, then left the dining table.

I could only look at Abah's departure with many question marks. Although I'm a child, but I can't understand Abah's way of thinking. Why is he so stubborn and stubborn.

Getting married, it's not easy. Why decide without knowing its readiness. At least there was agreement between me and Joanna. But how would you agree, these six years, let alone talk, look at each other just yesterday. That was unintentionally.

I thought to myself, what was Abah like in the past so that it could be like this to me. Is Abah that good?