AWAKENED
Twenty-Nine: Heroes and Heaven

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This story is just fictitious. All events that occur are free authors' essays, not actually occurring in the places and locations mentioned......

A man was looking down in a standing position that was already very weak. His strength was exhausted to wriggle from the chains that were digging his hands and feet. His head then looked up, then looked to the left right, because there was something he heard. Daughter's voice. So soft, then followed by the sound of the youngest child. Begged, begged him to come home.

"S-salfa? A hero?"

Dody's already weak body again thrashed but what power, he could not go because the genie who brought him here had locked his movement. Oh my God, if this is my end, then give me back to my family. Don't let me stay here.

A woman's careless move takes over Dody's focus. A woman he had not seen in eleven years. The woman he gave the feeling wholeheartedly, but it was precisely that feeling that brought him here. A feeling that puts his beloved daughter in distress. "Darling…?"

In front of the iron bars that became the room where Dody was placed, the beautiful woman with the pale face looked silently. Pay attention to how bad Dody is for what Widji did. Mayang's hand held the iron bars, he stared at Dody with a glass. Actually the place is not there, but he came just to apologize.

"I'm sorry, Mas.." - she said, but Dody could hear. "I didn't think it would all be like this. I'm sorry…"

Mayang cried, shed his sorrow over everything that happened. He wanted to help Dody get out of there, but he had no power over it. "Sorry," that's all he kept saying, and then slowly walked away.

"MAY'S? THE MAYANG?" call Dody with the volume up. "EXCUSE ME, MAY! PLEASE HELP ME GET OUT OF HERE, MAY! MAY…?!"

Dody came back crying, shedding all the wounds he felt. Remembering all the things that were missed and all the foolishness. Naturally, if Mayang did not want to help him, because he had been so outrageous to leave Mayang eleven years ago. "I'm sorry, May.." Her tears broke all the time.

●●●●

Kyai Sa'id and Pak Aji wipe their faces after the procession is complete. Salfa and Wira had returned and when they opened their eyes, the two immediately hugged each other with tears as they lamented the failure of their efforts. Although Mr. Aji has repeatedly confirmed that it is not their fault, it is predicted to succeed on a small percentage scale. Moreover, if you enter the door, even more risky.

At least Dody has listened to his children, now just leave it to God, to show the way home for Dody.

Nilam rushed over and grabbed his children. Her tears are over. Now he is only trying to calm Salfa and Wira because after all, strengthening his children is his duty as a parent. "Sister, already, sister.don't be regretted again, everything has happened…"

"But. S-Salfa failed, Buk.." replied Salfa stammeredly because his chest felt very tight. Moreover, seeing the sister who did not say anything, just silence with tears that have not yet subsided, even more sad.

Salfa's eyes then glanced at Genta whose position was not far away. Her red wet eyes shone on Genta with a radiant pain. Soon Genta comes and takes over the girl he loves into his arms. Rubbed the messy hair of Salfa, with eyes closed. Even in this matter not only he lost, but also Salfa. They were two people who were both injured.

Seeing that, Kinara was carried away until she finally returned to crying in her mother's arms.

It takes time to calm down for everyone. Mr. Aji glanced at his watch which showed ten o'clock at night over five minutes. Although Dody no longer thrashed, but his spirit had not returned. Pak Aji then approached Kyai Sa'id who looked very tired. The teacher rubbed his beard, with a gaze that seemed to be thinking hard and serious.

Kyai Sa'id then looked up. "There's a last way."

Here it is, Mr. Aji was relieved even though it was not much. "How, Kyai?"

"You must have expected it, Ji, too" replied Kyai Sa'id and went to meet Nilam, Salfa, and Wira. "We do the last thing. We're doing the supernatural prayer."

What happened to Mr. Aji's head was right. He who had followed next to Kyai Sa'id, realized and understood the meaning of everyone's confused gaze. Soon he took the initiative to explain, after getting the approval code from the teacher.

"Look, everyone," said Mr. Aji began, "by performing the supernatural prayer, it is the same as we have mengikhlaskan Dody. Hope is always there. If we are sincere, the genie can also lose, and Dody also gets a way to go home," he continued. Pak Aji's eyes scanned everyone one by one including Salfa's loyal friends who were still in this house. His gaze stopped on the brothers whose eyes were puffy. "Salfa and Wira, you love your father, right?"

The question seemed to catch both. They begin to think that this is God's destiny and power, which they can no longer deny. As Kyai Sa'id said, this is the last way, so it is clear that it is obligatory for them to be sincere, to accept everything.

"But you also have to be prepared for any consequences later. That..." Pak Aji hung up his sentence which was immediately taken over by Kyai Sa'id.

"That maybe Dody can go home, but his wits are gone."

DEG! The sentence made everything jump in shock, but Kyai Sa'id, whose character was always calm in any situation, continued. "It's the only way and the last way. Remember, Mother Nile, Nak Salfa, and Nak Vira, in fact every human being is born to die, and returns to the Creator. So come on, let's get Dody…"

Kinara who was next to Wira covered her mouth with both palms shaking. However, he also knew that it was impolite to cry while the three people who were Dody's family just tried their best to endure their grief. Yes, life never goes well. Everyone must have trials that certainly bring sadness. His trial, is his father's crime and revenge. And the ordeal of his best friend—Salfa, is with the mistakes of the father's past carried back in this period.

Preparation is immediately made. Everyone took turns taking ablution and docked into the living room. Apparently, in addition to Dody's family, and Salfa's friends, as well as the santri, there were also some neighbors near the house who contributed to the business. A final tribute to Dody Hartanto who they know is friendly, commendable, and always maintains good relations with the people around.

"YARRGHH…!!" scream Dody. Oh, not Dody. Precisely the genie who seemed to already know that he would lose. Dody's body thrashed out violently, yet everyone let it go despite looking on in horror.

Kyai Sa'id leads the prayers. There, Nilam, Salfa, and Wira, asserted to themselves time and time again that they should be sincere. Seeing such a Dody, they were made heartless and perhaps, by mengikhlaskan, Dody would not continue to be in such pain. Nilam who was next to Salfa, looked at his daughter with a knotty smile while rubbing her head, kissing the top of Salfa's head. God willing, they are equally sincere.

After the prayer is over, everyone sits back down. Salfa looked at his father, lying limply. No more thrashing, and like a fainting man. At Kyai Sa'id's request, Genta, Vin, and Novan raise Dody and take him to Wira's room. Salfa and Kinara followed, followed by Wira and Nilam. There, Kyai Said still chanted the prayer silently. After that, he invited everyone out and returned to the living room, closing the door.

"What's the plan to go straight back to the boarding school, Kyai?" ask Mr. Aji later.

Kyai Sa'id nodded. "It's all done" he replied. Then he looked at Nilam, and his children, "Thank you for opening your chest. Now, me and the santri will be back."

Looking at each other's eyes hints at the same misunderstanding. There, Wira came forward and approached Kyai Sa'id. "I'm sorry, Kyai, what... My father has come home?" tanyanya doubt.

Although the sentence should be a relief, somehow Wira felt there was another, which seemed to be hidden by Kyai Sa'id. It felt like he wanted to ask the truth, but it was too late because he had already walked out of the house. Wira just clucked, glimpsed by the brother, who seemed to have the same guess.

"Gue hasn't calmed down yet, Wir," Salfa said before Wira said what she felt.

"Gue too, Brother... Mr. Aji, can't we see Dad now? Dad... Really come home?" ask Wira to Mr. Aji after having time to reply to his brother. "But, why is Dad his eyes still closed? That's all right, sir?"

Not immediately replied because Mr. Aji first sighed slowly. One hand patted the shoulder of the hero. From there, it is enough for the Hero to know that the father is not okay.

●●●●

That night, everyone rested their bodies and minds. All gathered in the living room, sleeping in a position that felt comfortable by each person. Salfa, sleeping by sitting on the floor and head leaning on Genta's shoulders. Vin and Kinara were leaning side by side on the sofa, Nvan was sleeping on the carpet, and Nilam was holding Wira's head by staying awake.

His thoughts were only on Dody, the man who had been his life companion for many years. Who, though he had once scratched the wound in his heart, still with his chest he forgave. Nilam who always understood Dody's mistakes and still loved him. Unknowingly her tears were dripping. He was sincere, really. Ready to work on their children's futures alone. He only remembered all the happy memories that had ever happened. However, they have built household arks full of twists and turns, but still defend each other.

"I'm sincere, Mas. As a wife, I have many mistakes. Forgive me, as I forgive you. Thanks for everything."

I don't know, Nilam also doesn't know why he said those words. It was as if there was something in his heart that he could not explain, but it felt real.

The mother of two children was kept awake, while stroking the straight hair of Wira. Until it was not felt, the morning prayer rumbled that made everyone in the living room wake up, because the house was adjacent to a mosque. Mr. Aji, who was sleeping on the terrace, with the scabbard lent by Wira, immediately entered. It was time to open the door to the room where Dody was.

Actually in addition to Dody still unconscious last night, the reason Kyai Sa'id asked everyone to meet Dody in the morning so that they all set aside time to torture themselves no longer, with rest.

"Early morning?" asked Salfa who had just become fully aware of the drowsiness. "Can we see Dad now, sir?"

Mr. Aji nodded, then started walking and directly diekori Salfa and Wira. Others are aware to give the brothers a chance, so they keep waiting in the living room. Of all, it looks like Genta is the most agitated. Since yesterday he has been determined to meet his parents today. Later, when the day is light, he will go straight home. Salfa himself was also willing to accompany him facing his parents.

Slowly, the door to the room opened, and Mr. Aji invited two of Dody's children to enter first. The two looked at each other when they found their father standing facing the window. As Salfa approached his father, he realized that the gaze was empty.

"Dad?" call him soft and smooth. The tone that he had not spoken to Dody in eleven years. At that moment, Salfa thought his eyes were hot.

No response from Dody. It made Wira come closer as well, standing on the other side of her father. "Well?" call later.

However, equally. Dody doesn't listen to them. Not even get. Confused, the two then highlight to Pak Aji who just entered. Of course, the man understood their confusion. Immediately he sat on the edge of the bed, staring sadly and deeply at the brothers who were still waiting for his explanation.

"Right now, Dody has come home. As Kyai Sa'id said, his common sense may be lost. That's what's happening now" said Pak Aji who made the eyes of Salfa and Wira round. "I understand, it's hard for you. But remember again, the intention of all of us performing the unseen prayer last night, is to convert Dody. Right now, Dody is like an empty spirit. Don't remember anything, don't remember anyone."

After listening to the explanation from Mr. Aji, both Salfa and Wira immediately turned to the father. The curly haired girl had even hugged Dody and cried. The father simply resigned without reacting to anything. Stay with a blank look, and be quiet without a sound.

The hero followed into that embrace, crying along. His eyes closed, feeling a rushing clear liquid slide down his cheeks. "Dad.." That's all he could say.

Can Salfa feel, Dody's head that was originally upright, falling on his shoulder. Shocked in surprise, but Salfa was still silent on the spot with a sudden cry stopping that very second. His father's body felt heavy, like a collapsed person who lost balance over his body.

"Dad? Daddy?!" the call made Wira take off her embrace and found her father in a closed state. While the elder brother was still trying to maintain the strength of the body to support their father, Wira patted the pale cheeks, calling out to him many times.

"yeah? Daddy's? Wake, Dad!" call him. "Sir, what's the matter with you, sir?" asked the Hero anxiously who occasionally turned his head to Pak Aji who immediately moved.

Mr. Aji brought a finger closer to Dody's nose. No breath. Immediately he took over the body of Dody which is still held by Salfa. Slow down, put Dody to bed on the floor. Mr. Aji's hand touched his chest. No heartbeat felt there.

"MY FATHER WHY, SIR?!" salfa asked in a high-volume voice, inviting the curiosity of his friends in front. They flocked to the room with Nilam. There was a startling sight where Dody lay helplessly on the floor. "Dad?!" call Salfa again.

Genta immediately ran over, followed by Vin and Novan, while Kinara who was about to enter was restrained because Nilam was still in place. "Aunty?" call him because Nilam his body is shaking violently. "T-Tante why, Tan?"

She covered her mouth with one hand. Her tears are flowing. What he felt seemed right. Eve lose.

Mr. Aji who has made sure for the umpteenth time, raised his face with an undefined look. "Innalillahi wainnailaihi roji’un."

The sky of Jakarta that began to clear because the dawn had greeted, overshadowed a deep sense of loss in the family. Genta, who had never moved near Salfa, grabbed the girl who was crying without a sound. Undeniably, the sense of loss he also felt. Although sincere, but tears always have a reason to flow, as if asking everyone to understand that a loss must be side by side with sadness.

Salfa with great regret, now found one thing that made him slapped. The words of the Hero at night some time ago, who said that all could still be fixed, ring in the ears. However, humans do not escape sin, including the elderly. Good for your father, he's still your hero. Bad of your mother, she's still heaven to you.

●●●●

Okay, check check, how's he feeling? Are you crying? Feel nyesek? Or sad? For your feelings when reading this part dong^^

Huh, it is not hard to arrive at part 29, where only the EPILOG lives after this. Can't say much other than reminding to vote and share this story

The EPILOG, which is the closing story of AWAKENED, will be posted tomorrow. After that will update cast and part-part bonuses, just look forward to it!

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