The Sand Palace II
The death of Nek Rina
Rina went down the stairs, she had just finished the ritual inside the secret room. A secret door was hiding in his closet. Rina smelled of frankincense, approaching Rita who threw all the objects towards Arun. The man just covered his head, standing waiting for his wife's growing anger. The words divorce, insults and insults. He could no longer live in a house with that man.
“Rita, are you sure you parted from her? Hahhh..” a strange voice screeched his ear.
“Shut! I said shut up demon!” rita shouts shut her ears.
“Nduk you why? Not good like this in front of your son Riky!” rina reminded.
“Bu, my heart hurts! Arun brought another woman into this house ma'am. How am I not angry? Arghh!” Rita ran in and locked the room.
Rina forbids Arun from chasing after her, she asks to keep Riky while she persuades Rita inside. She asked for help, saying sorry to the point of prostrating herself in front of her mother-in-law. “Bu, please forgive me. Don't separate me from Rita.”
“If it wasn't for my grandchildren and children, I would have killed your barbaric son-in-law!” he put on a calm face.
“Ya mom will try to help you.”
While Mr. Yosep asked for permission to return home, he feared for the safety of his family. Plastic-plastic groceries he brought into the house. “Father apologizes yes ma'am, big madam asks in between to his hometown in-laws.”
Sobs hugged Rita, she knew how her son felt. Rita's sadness is her sadness. The woman's body trembled asking Rita to stay strong for Riky's sake. Patience at the tip of a fingernail, or a dew at the tip of a leaf. Nothing else could cure his heartache except the word farewell. Rina did not agree with her son's words and neither did she oppose him.
Right at the turn of the night, Rita goes inside riky packing her son's belongings into a suitcase. Riky only saw the activities of his mother, the boy did not fight or pull the bag that he used to do if Rita put all the items, especially toys, in the bag and suitcase.
“Riky, listen mom yes. You have to be a strong man. I don't want you to cry, ask to take a bath and eat in a bribe again. Understand?”
“Ya__bu” replied Riky stamped.
Not the same day, all night power outages due to heavy rain along with strong winds knocked down trees. Riky removed the ABM (A hearing aid) from her ear. He dipped his face with a pillow. Resist the pain until it sleeps on its own. Who would have thought that the night had brought Rina. He felt the pain until he lost his life. A pair of eyes and mouth that are still open as if to deliver a delayed message.
“Rita! I want you to take good care of yourself. Don't lose that meeting. Keep your household!”
Between conscious and not, Rita sees her mother Rina asking her to speak at the door. The clothes were black, there was mud and drops of blood between the glare of his sharp eyes.
“Mother! Mother why?” rita shouted awake.
Duar__
The sound of thunder boomed, Rita opened the door checking on Riky. She turns on the emergency lights, seeing Riky almost lose her breath from covering her face with a large pillow. Tidying up the blanket, closing the wide open window. She steps into her mother's locked room the sound of her calls not being answered thinking her mother is asleep.
The sky was dark, the sun was covered in black clouds. The sound of Rita's scream hugging her mother's stiff body. He did not expect that fast in the stay of the mother he loved so much. Recalling last night as if the last message, Rita was forced to undo the intention of asking for a divorce with Arun.
“Nek__” Riky crying shaking strongly Rina's hand.
Grandma was very affectionate and attentive to him. Riky saw that Rina did not move in the slightest, the child was getting stronger shaking the body until Arun pulled away. “nak, grandma has returned to Rahmatullah. We do’akan grandma calm in nature there ya” whispered Arun releasing ABM so Riky heard his words.
Rita fainted, she's not strong if she has to lose her mother. The sound of Riky's crying woke him up. Looking where his mother is, thinking if it can be saved in any way. He falls down following Arun's steps towards the grave. The location of the grave ground in the backyard of the house, at the turn of the afternoon there are still many people who visited the funeral home.
“Mother, mother please take me away with you.”
From behind, Bilqis hugged Rita in tears looking at her grandmother's grave. He came home from the dormitory to pick up Mr. Yosep because he heard the news of the deceased. She also hugged Riky, rubbing her back to strengthen that the boys should not cry.
One month of Rina's departure forever.
Bilqis has not yet returned to the dormitory, Rita starts to go crazy in the room often talking to herself. The bustle of Bilqis takes care of Riky and prepares food. After the incident that hit Emon and bi Sumi. No new worker dared to go to that house. Now all that remains is Mr. Yosep and Mr. Surip, both come to work in the morning and come home when it will be evening.
Bilqis writes a letter to the village, reporting the news of the late house and the school leave letter taking care of Riky. Hani's face turned wry, he frowned thinking whether his son would be made a maid in the house. It was true that he had expected in the past years to bring her home. He was arrested by Rina on behalf of the fraternal rope and the agreement to finish Bilqis school.
“I have to pick up my son” muttered Hani packing his luggage.
On a late night so that the husband or child does not follow then he went out of the house while sneaking. Leaving behind a letter so no one would catch up, Hani walked for miles waiting for the bus stop. The quiet stop, the creepy atmosphere he tepis planted a strong determination in the intention to bring his son home.
One day and one night trip. Savings money, spending capital is only enough for the fare to go. Right in front of the gate, Mr. Surip opened the door. “Sorry whose mom is looking for? Looks like from another city ya a lot of luggage.”
“I'm Bilqis' mother. Mang Emon who used to be on guard here must know me sir.”
“Oh, sorry mom. Mang Emon is dead.”
“Innalillahi wa’innailaihi rojiun. If you may know, mang emon is sick sir?”
“Dia__ duh I'm afraid to say it. I'll just ask ya later with Miss Bilqis. Let me drop you in the ma'am."
Mr. Surip brought a walking bag behind him. He allowed to sit as usual every guest who came to be on the terrace chair. This time Bilqis dropped a plate over the sink while washing overheard her mother coming.