Before 365 Days
74. Father's Advice

Marsel returned home with a bad feeling. He did not calm down after hearing the story of the Rose.

Marsel rested his body on the chair still in his work uniform.

His mother came from the kitchen and brought him warm tea and his father who is still performing Islamic prayers.

His mother sat next to Marcel with a smile.

"Yet home again, are you overtime or playing, son?"

"Obsually ma'am, stop by Adam's house. Where's dad?" marsel replied while twitching his throbbing forehead.

"Still praying. You why? Dizziness?"

"It's okay!" marsel answered while confirming his sitting position and sipping tea made by his mother.

His mother looked closely at the look on Marsel's face.

"You got a problem with, Rose?"

"No! My relationship is fine. Just ...."

Marsel hung up his sentence. His mother was waiting for him curiously.

"Would it be better if I told my mother and father everything? Who knows, they can help," inner Marsel.

"Koq you shut up, son! What's up?" ask her mother again.

His father who had finished praying then appeared and joined the hoard. Apparently, his father heard the last conversation between him and his mother.

"You have something you want to say, just say it, rather than your mind being tormented. Who knows, the same father can give you a solution, yes, Mom?" his father said while sitting on the bench and sipping tea.

"Mother seems to be able to see my worries well. It's true, there's something Marsel thought about from yesterday. It's about the family, the Roses" said Marsel.

Ahmad's mother and father, the name of Marsel's parents, looked at each other. They both seem to know something. But, they are self-serving.

"What's that say, son?" ask Mr. Ahmad.

"With the return of the Roses, many strange events occurred at his house, sir, Mom. Marsel himself often experienced it. Marsel's going to get straight to the point, sir. According to Roses, on the day of the proposal, when she was dressing herself there was someone who suddenly appeared to resemble her. Then later, it turned into an old grandmother, after which, it turned into the form of Ndoro Kusuma. Demit's locked up the rose,"

Pak Ahmad and Bu Ahmad were shocked to hear the words of Marsel. However, they did not interrupt at all. They remained silent and focused on listening to Marsel's story.

"Grandma looks scary. He said that he would exchange the soul of the Rose for his grandson. He will be a sinden. His granddaughter who will be married to me. After that, his grandson who will take half the ari-ari that he had not had time to get. That's about it, sir. According to my father, what should we do? Grandma was really unsettling. He can change the form, like everyone as he wants," said Marsel with a worried look.

Ahmad took a long breath.

"Well, from the first father and mother into the house, there was something strange. However, we are just silent," said Mr. Ahmad.

"You mean, what?" marsel didn't understand.

"Did you see something?" ask again.

Marsel was wide-eyed, unable to believe that his father could see and feel the strange happenings in the Rose house.

"Seriously sir?" ask Marsel.

"Did you seem to be lying?"

Marsel shook his head and smiled at his father's question.

"There's only one way to get around this, son! That grandma you said, she wouldn't have died if the ari-ari was alive,"

"I mean father? Marsel doesn't understand, sir! You know where the ari-ari came from, Marsel didn't even talk about ari-ari,"

"Your father knows what you don't know, son! If you're not honest with us, we'll be quiet too. We just want you to be open whenever there's a problem. Long ago, the time of its disappearance, the Rose. We'd love to help, we know, Roses all over. But you just keep quiet. Just saying it's okay. Luckily, you're being honest with Wulan, and she's helping you. If not, the rose could not have survived" said his mother.

"Geez, I'm sorry Marsel, sir, Mom! Marsel really doesn't know. Marsel is guilty to you" said Marsel, holding his mother and father's hands in turn.

"Yes, it's over. If there's anything, you tell us first, we're your family, we're your parents. If you are not open, we feel that we are someone else for you. Although we can not help financially, but we can still help in other ways that we can," said Mr. Ahmad who has a job as a teacher in his village.

"Yes, Sir! Marsel's sorry. Marcel will not repeat. How to solve this problem, sir! Marsel wants the marriage of Marsel and Rose, to run smoothly without any interference," complained Marsel was sad.

"We have to deal with this with the family of your future in-laws because the ones who have homes and cases are them. We can only help. You already know what to do. Just waiting for a deal from your future in-laws. Better, you and Rose, have a chat first with Mr. Ruman. If they are both open and relieved, you are ready to help expel the grandmother" said Mr. Ahmad steady.

"Good, Sir! Soon Marsel, will call Roses and discuss the matter. Hope there's no obstruction, sir!"

"Amin, hopefully. We can only pray for the best for you. Your wedding is counting the days, son! You must act quickly, before you marry another soul yourself,"

"Yes, Sir! Marsel was cleaning up first. Thank you, sir, ma'am" said Marsel, kissing the palms of his father and mother.

Marsel then headed to his room and picked up a change of clothes. He cleanses the body with a feeling of anxiety but a little relieved because his father knows the conditions that affect him. In fact, his father knew what to do with Jamilah's grandmother who was troubling it.

***

Two days passed, Mr. Ruman seemed very busy with his work to prepare his son's wedding. Marsel and Rose had no gap to meet Mr. Ruman at all. Every time I want to talk, Mr. Ruman always goes and dodges. Marsel and Rose were confused as to what to do.

Ms. Saras has told all the events in her home 22 years ago to Roses and Marsels. He agreed that he had to negotiate with both of Marsel's parents. Ms. Saras wanted the matter to be resolved quickly before the wedding began.

"Your father was busy meeting with his important guests, son. Even though he knew for himself, there was a big problem that had to be quickly resolved. He was even indifferent," said Ms. Saras growled.

"Can't you persuade me, Mom?" ask the worried rose.

"Mom told you, but your father pretended not to listen. Like someone's clogging his ears. Every mother talks about this, she doesn't listen. But if I talk about something else, your father hears me" said Ms. Saras upset.

"That's right, it's not safe to talk about this at home, ma'am. You should get out of here. Then we talk outside. Better, the deliberation's in your house, Sel!" rose glanced at Marsel.

"Yes, you're right, War. Ma'am, if there is a time gap, immediately take Mr. Ruman out. Take it straight to my house" said Marsel.

"Yes, Son! Sure is!" said Ms. Saras, worried.