Adult Zone
15. The Mystery of a Husband

...THE MYSTERY OF A HUSBAND...

...Author by: David Khanz...

...—---- o0o —----...

"Geek! Faizal! Hurry, we're going home now!" mother exclaimed as my sister and I were weeding the garden. He seemed to rush up to us, breaking through the leafy vegetable foliage that was ready to be harvested.

"What's up, Mom?" I was amazed while watching his approaching figure. Mother replied with an anxious look, "Don't ask much first. Quickly, take your sister and go home right now!"

With the mind still wondering, I immediately complied. Pulling Faizal's arm while carrying the garden we picked that afternoon, followed Mom's quick footsteps towards the house. Sometimes I see him looking in all four directions as if he was being frightened.

"What the hell is it, Mom?" I came back as soon as I got home. Mother did not answer, but hurried to get dressed and put in a big bundle. "Mom, are we going again?" I'm getting confused about it.

"Alright, Brother! Don't talk much first" Mother said without glancing at the two of us. "Hurry and help me pack up, before they come to this place!"

Them? Who do you mean by them? Are those people again? A group of fierce-faced men who often come to see Mom, wondering, and then say the same sentence, namely; "Remember, the, don't try to do anything stupid or we'll do something you never expected!"

What kind of stupid things don't they want us to do? For years, the question has often colored the contents of this mind. So far no one will answer, even Mother.

"Here you go, you're a little girl" said Mother every time I asked her. "We better shut up. You ask, don't wonder about it anymore."

Can't do. I am no longer a child. Look at this body. Now I'm growing up. Even the height alone has exceeded the length of the mother's body. This means that the answer must be known immediately.

"What's in it you want to know about Mom's business, sister?" I started complaining when I was pressed. "Mom is tired of this kind of situation. Mom's tired. If it wasn't for the two of you, it'd be a long time ago that I'd like to give myself up to them. Whatever, whatever happens, I'm resigned."

I'll approach Mom soon. Wiping away his tears and staring at the face that looked increasingly old. I asked in a soft, slow voice, "This has something to do with Dad, right, Mom?"

Mom glanced at. Not surprised, but there is another gaze that I'm afraid that indeed I have now grown up, gradually the question must be able to translate itself.

"Call right, Mom?" I asked, back a little urgent.

Indeed Mother did not immediately answer, but her gaze could no longer deceive me. At least delay until this oral stop asking questions and asking questions as before. No. gabe. This time, today, everything should be open soon. No longer hear the same story and it is never known when the mother's words ended clearly.

Yes, I still remember the words from Mom, ten years ago Dad came home from a long trip. Delivering the tidings of joy and sorrow for the three of us; mother, me, and the youngest Faizal. "Your father got a job offer. The place is far across the island," said Mom when I was a teenager at the time. "Say, this is the greatest opportunity he has to accept. The salary is quite large and enough to finance your life and education and Faizal until college later …." For a moment, I stopped telling stories. Wiping first a puddle of tears, taking a deep breath, then continuing the story. "But ..Your father said again, maybe for a period of a year or two, he can't go home at all. He thinks your dad should focus on getting the job done right. Because it's a big project and it'll be your father's work for life."

"Continue .. Why haven't you come home yet, Mom?" I asked innocently, but even so, I can also calculate how much Dad has gone and promised. "Hasn't this been five years?"

From Mom's story, I know that Dad was a famous Engineer at that time. Many years of service to the state by working as a teacher in a government High School, but with less than enough income. Then in order to change the fate and economy of the family, another job offer that is competent with the background of the scientific path was accepted.

"This .. save and hold by Mom," Dad said before leaving us. A small, thin, and ID-like object, I saw pinned into Mom's hand. "All the salaries you get later, will be transferred to your account. Just take it every month at the beginning and use it as wisely as possible, yeah."

"Daddy himself how? Where can I meet your life needs there?" mother asked with a voice that sounded choked, like she was holding back a cry of sadness. Replied Dad tried hard, "If the problem is, easy. Dad has other benefits. Yes, it is not too big, but I think it is enough to just eat everyday. Most importantly, your situation can be fulfilled as long as I stay away. Just pray yes, hopefully everything goes well and smoothly, until you can return home."

We hugged him together before Dad left, then he boarded a four-wheeled vehicle with four men who were introduced by Dad as work friends. Really so? I don't know, because I think at that time, the posture of the father who is small and thin, not comparable to their body that is stocky and looks muscular leg.

There is one thing that makes us confused, since the departure of Father, almost all family photos with Dad and his valuable letters, suddenly disappeared somewhere. Not a single one left. Including certificates and educational diplomas also disappeared. Dad brought all that with him? Even Mother did not know and was astonished.

A month, two months, until almost the first year since Dad's departure, the situation and conditions are still felt normal. Postal mail through the Post Office, we always receive after a week in the first month. There are so many stories written and it seems that Dad is happy with his new job. But so far also, never once told about the type of work or accompanied by a photo sheet as one of the evidence. In essence, I only write, tell stories, ask news, but have not been deigned to answer questions from the letters that I sent. It was as if we could only hear Dad's voice, but the reverberations from the family never made it across there.

"Maybe your father is busy, so he has not had time to read the letters from us," said Mother comforted our whimpering every time the letters from Dad were read. "Just pray, hopefully Dad is healthy always and can come back home together with us yes, children."

I believed Mom's words. But some time later, accidentally, I found the letters we sent were always back and never reached the destination address. Wh why? Is there a writing error there? No. gabe. There's a stamp on it; DESTINATION ADDRESS UNKNOWN. Along with that, I often caught Mom crying alone.

"There's nothing, brother," answered Mom every time I asked. "Mother is just missing again, keep praying for your father, uh .. really, it doesn't feel. He-he."

No. gabe. I don't think Mom was crying because she missed you. There must be something new. The latest news, of course, is possible. Specially? That's since our house was often watched by someone we didn't know. Wh who? I don't know. They looked like the faces of old friends of Dad when he was about to leave. Spooky and scary.

Once upon a time, I saw someone from them preventing Mom from leaving the house.

"I want to check my husband's remittances at the Post Office, sir," Mother explained. "There have been no remittances from my husband for three months. Even the letter we used to receive, now it's never again until."

The creepy figure instead smiled wryly, aiming. He said heavily, "Mother is not allowed to leave the house. For daily needs, we will deliver enough for supplies a week ahead."

"Yes, God! What's the matter? Why am I being blocked? What was my fault and who are you?"

"Mom don't need to know who we are" they answered. "For sure, if you do something stupid, you have to do something you don't want. Understand what we're saying, right?"

"Except for Mom, both of Mom's children, please go to school. But if you make a mistake, the three of you will get punishment from us. Understood?"

She was terrified and went back into the house, locked the door, and told us to always be careful of strangers outside.

"Who are those people, Mom? Why did they forbid Mom from traveling?" I was surprised and scared too. Mother replied in a trembling voice, "Mother herself does not know, Brother. Suddenly they come and always watch over us. You guys don't go anywhere, yeah. Stay home if you don't want to go to school."

"Yes, Mom."

The news finally reached my listening room. Someone said that Mother had visited a local government official for a business. I don't know what the problem is. But since then, the movements of our family suddenly always monitored by people like that, alternately and almost at any time.

Only now, Mother is willing to reveal what she has been damning from me.

Before I spoke, Mom offered me two drinks and made Faizal.

"Drink, before we get ready to get out of here," Mother said with a soft smile.

"Yes, Mom."

Later ….

"Inadvertently, I got the news ..." Mother continued the story while occasionally looking out of the house, using your father's treasured papers and diplomas to occupy his current position, Brother."

"How did you know?" I'm starting to think too. Answer Mom slowly, "Of course I know, Brother. I remember exactly; the name, birth, faculty, and the photo of your father as a young man were listed there. But why is it that all of a sudden it's being held by the official just now?"

"Mom sure it belongs to Dad?" I asked back still can't believe Mom's words just now.

"Mom sure enough. How can a wife forget her husband?" Look into Mom's eyes looking furious. "Is it because your father's appearance is similar to the look on the official's face? Ah, I don't think it's entirely so. Why is his name even similar? I thought he was your father who disappeared for ten years. It's not really."

Nah! This is impossible! Obviously something very unreasonable. Dad left, disappeared along with personal documents, family photos, a reply letter that never arrived, people with the face of the sangar, and now appears a male figure who — said Ibu— look alike, Ibu<TAG1>, although I myself have never seen such a person's true form.

For years we moved around to maintain safety, avoiding people who were often threatening. So the connection of everything we've been through with Dad, what? Well then, there is someone who wants to 'travel' Dad and deprive him of certain benefits. Really so? Just for that reason? Ah, this head suddenly dizzy buzzing. Then slowly put the drink glass that was grasped earlier. Simultaneously, watching Faizal was already well-drawn on the bed hall.

"Mrs Mariana!"

Someone shouted from outside the house.

"Yes, God! Is that them, Mom?" also, I was flabbergasted in the middle of a painful pulse testing the entire headstone. "I-mom .. I-muuu …."

I saw Mom smiling and rushed out.

"Aaahhh, Dodo Subiandono .. why did you pick me up so long, dear?" I heard you saying hello to someone.

"He-he .. You still remember my real name, dear Mariana. Doesn't my name now turn into Dodo Wibowo, humm?" This one's a male voice.

"Ah, that's the name of my late husband, Mas Dodo. Hi-hi."

"What about those two boys, Mariana?"

"Hhmmm, you take care of it as you please. Besides, I took too long to take care of my stepchildren. Now, it's time for me to come back with you, isn't it, honey? What about Irene?"

"I sent him with your poor teacher's husband, my dear Mariana. Now is the time, we both continue the previous relationship that had been cut off, because both your parents prefer the damn Engineer than me. He-he."

"Ohhhhhh, iapanggg. I can't wait to be Queen to your people, Mas Dodo. Now ... You already have it all. Me and your title. Hi-hi."

"He-he. It's not in vain that I've been waiting for you all these years, dear. It turns out you're smarter than I thought."

"Me too, dear."

I still clearly heard the chatter of the two of them between the endless grunts. But concerning Mother .. a-I. I. by no means suspected, b-that .. b-that ….

"Abuehh …."

I don't know what happens next!

...DONE IT...