Almahyras
Section 18

...18 : The Withered Flower...

" ... cause no matter how much you try to say, if you're all right, it'll be for nothing. Because Ummi, can clearly see that lie in your eyes."

Alma was silent and could only duck deeply. What Umm Salamah said was true, because she really did not feel okay until now.

"A-alma what should Ummi ... ?"

Ummi Salamah was getting closer and took a plate containing rice team with chicken milk he just made. "Ummi asked you to eat, Alma."

Alma's right hand slowly took the food and devoured it by leaning against the side wall of the bed.

"Want a drink?"

Alma nodded.

"Ba'da magrib we will go to your aunt's house, son," said Ummi Salamah.

Alma looked up at the netra Ummi Salamah as if asking why should this evening depart? Didn't ... the next morning Aunt Maryam and Uncle Idrus arrived?

"Your uncle called Umma Sarah again. That the flight is today. And he said, you can come early to welcome your Aunt" explained Umm Salamah.

Welcome to Aunt's arrival?

What did Uncle mean by welcoming Aunt's body?

"Yes" replied Alma.

Again he could only sigh, and remove the remains of tears on his cheeks. This loss is repeated, even his current state is almost the same as the day his biological mother left. But different he has a shelter and leans from sadness. There was even still someone accompanying her in the painful times of grief.

Not like before.

But the pain is almost the same as before.

In the end one flower filled his days for almost eight years, following the withering of the flower that first left.

Aunt Maryam is going to see her mother, Anggraini.

"You want to take a shower?

Alma.

"If you change clothes first. After this Ummi pick up again, you magriban here the same Ummi," explained Umm Salamah.

Alma nodded. "Yes." Yeah."

Ummi Salamah. And Alma remained unmoved, as if she could do nothing. Even again his tears fell without cueing, his left and right hands squeezing the black robe used simultaneously.

"Why do these tears keep coming down?"

Rubbing his left and right cheeks, Alma muttered again, "Alma. No need to be this sad .. no need, Alma. No need to."

"You've done this a few times, haven't you? La-lu why do you have to be this sad?!"

Alma shook her head strongly.

"Stop crying Alma ..."

The voice of azan magrib rang. Alma only realized, that he was really too long mourning sadness, until dusk before arriving he had not changed clothes like the request of Umm Salamah earlier.

Spontaneous Alma stood up, and immediately fell on the bed. He forgot his leg was injured as a result of falling on the ground. Then again he stood up slowly and headed for the wooden cabinet, opened it and took the black abaya and brown veil and immediately put it on by sitting on the bed.

"elma ... "

There was the sound of knocking on the door with a call from outside his room.

It must be Ummi Salamah.

"Son, Ummi's coming in?"

The door opened slowly, Ummi Salamah had changed into a black abaya and a matching veil. He stepped closer to Alma and prepared to rest his alphabet beside Alma's bed.

"Have tayamum, again?"

Magrib prayers were also performed in imami by Umm Salamah. Fifteen minutes passed, Mukena Alma was hanged again by Umm Salamah, while her mukena was placed on the table of Alma's dorm room.

"You were here first. Ummi wants to go to Umma's office, let Mardiyah pick you up on a motorbike" said Umm Salamah.

"I'm bis--"

"Ummi knows. But your legs still hurt, so better get on the bike. You wait here!" ummi Salamah.

Alma resigned-following the wishes of Umm Salamah. He could only wait, in front of the dormitory room and stay there. He tried to step slowly closer to Kirana and Inayah - rooms that turned out to be quiet with no one.

Maybe they're out.

Tin-tin is!

The sound of a horn suddenly sounded from the left direction of the road, and it turned out that Mardiyah had come with a matic-motor - which she was wearing earlier, belonged to Lutfan.

"I'm aiding--"

Alma refuted, "No need, Mar. I-I can."

"OKAY. Be careful riding it," said Mardiyah by watching Alma who slowly climbed onto the bike by holding his back.

"Have you?"

Alma had sat down comfortably. "Here you go, Mar."

...🌺...

At about 20:15 AM local time, an ambulance and a black BMW arrived at Uncle Idrus's residence, where the ambulance contained the body of Aunt Maryam. Alma, Umm Salamah, Umma Sarah, Jafar and Lutfan mourn the body of Aunt Maryam who was brought down from the vehicle, after Uncle Idrus and his family descended.

Alma tried to stay strong, seeing Aunt Maryam who had been lying weakly helpless. But again he was only human, tears again wet his cheeks one by one.

"Auntie," muttered Alma quietly.

His right hand was held tightly by Umm Salamah, as if giving strength to him to be able to get through this.

Aunt Maryam's body has been placed in the family room. Then soon Alma's netra meets a glare with Uncle Idrus-whom he paints a fake smile upon meeting his adopted son.

Mother ...

Auntie wants me to call Mom, right?

I beg Mother ... Wake up ...

Alma was unconscious, after her view with Uncle Idrus was cut off, she kept on addressing Aunt Maryam. And as it turned out, Uncle Idrus had been sitting nearby by again painting a smile that Alma saw so painful.

"Uncle's daughter, the more beautiful she is" said Uncle Idrus.

Alma's tears escaped the second time. With a loud shake he said, "Dad, don't call yourself Uncle."

"Dad ..."

Uncle Idrus' hand raised gently rubbed the top of his head that was wrapped in a veil. "Daughter Father .. Please do'a mother, son."

Alma could only nod.

Uncle Idrus pulled out a white envelope, and a red spot. "This, from your mother."

Alma's right hand took it slowly. "Letter and ...?"

"Marriage ring."

Spontaneous course Alma's heart beats faster. Even those who ask him to marry not only his real mother, but Aunt Maryam-A surrogate whom he loved and loved gave the trust to him as soon as possible to carry out this worship.

"At least, he didn't force you to get married as soon as possible, son. He just wants, you get married, so there's someone he can trust to take care of you ..." Uncle Idrus paused. He turned his eyes to his wife and said, "And as for the wedding ring, it was your surrogate mother's choice, son."

"Please put on a cin---"

"Alma wants to get married now" Alma argued immediately.