Behind The Lies
Keep Your Voice

Aruna was not making a defense, but there was a feeling of relief in her chest as she managed to express all her feelings.

After asking Iyash to come home, Ashilla returned to Aruna's room. He sat down next to her without saying anything and just rubbed Aruna's shoulder. Ashilla lost all her best words. He was still shocked by Aruna's heart.

“I'll go to the hospital now,” Aruna said as she wiped her tears.

“Later, I know you haven't eaten. Bi Sumi said that your food is ready and maybe now it is cold.”

“I am hungry, but now I am lazy to eat.”

“Don't do that, Run. After you reveal all your heart contents, I guess your problem is finished.”

Aruna stared at Ashilla who then let out a long sigh. “Leave my unfinished problems. Opa company may be going bankrupt soon because of me.”

“Means?”

Instead of answering, Ashilla nodded. “Opa was admitted to the hospital because of it.”

Aruna stupefied.

“You know for yourself how Opa loves his company more than he loves his own children,” Ashilla added.

Aruna nodded. He realized that they were not religious families, but he knew that the company that Ganjar grew up in could not pray as a child prayed to parents.

“I'm confused as to what to do,” Ashilla said as she dropped her body onto the bed. Aruna turned her head and looked at the Big Brother who was laying down his body while looking at the ceiling of the room.

“Angkasa might be able to help.”

“I hope so.”

Aruna got up. “I go to hospital now.”

“Eat first.”

“Iya.”

“I couldn't sleep last night. You can, ‘kan keep Opa until Mother comes.” Ashilla turned around, then closed her eyes.

“I'm working on.”

“Mother may be persuading Brother Edgar to come with her. I don't know we can only give more understanding to that one person.”

Aruna smiled wryly. For ten years he returned to his father's family, only five times he met Edgar. It is also the day of the celebration of Eid al-Fitr and eid al-Adha only in the first three years. After he lived in Germany Aruna never again saw that sturdy face again.

***

Nearly forty-five minutes into Iyash's drive he finally reached the front of the house. On the doorstep Ira smiled to see her son, despite not keeping the promise of going home soon, but at least Iyash did not come home late at night as often happens.

“Thank God you're home. Nadine doesn't want to eat, she says she wants to wait for you.”

Iyash looked annoyed at the mother.

“Why you?” ask Ira wonder. “Mama has been friendly with your girlfriend, but, why do you even think so? Mama already brought him to eat, but he wants to wait for you.”

Iyash took a breath and took it out slowly. “I want to talk to Mama,” said Iyash as he stepped in.

“Shut up,” says Ira behind Iyash.

Iyash turned around. “Mama knows, ‘kan actually Aruna is still alive?”

Ira's heart went out, she was surprised to hear Iyash's question, after ten years and after a few months of knowing Ashilla, why did Iyash just ask about this?

“Iya, ‘kan?”

Ira nodded.

“I'm disappointed with Mama. Why is Mama doing this?”

“Do what? He himself chose to go from you.”

“That's because Mama told me.”

“Ngak,” argue Ira. “It is precisely he who asked Mama to tell you that he is dead.”

“Iyash, Mama seriously.”

“Long!” Iyash's breath is hunting. “Mama knows how I feel with Aruna how, why Mama could do this.”

“Mama did what a mother should have done.”

“A mother?” Iyash gave a pause. “What kind of mother can take away the happiness of her own child!” peekit Iyash's.

“Iyash!” Ira's eyes are breaking. “Mama never taught you to shout same Mama.”

The resting Nadine was aghast until her head throbbed hearing Iyash's scream. Slowly and slightly staggered he got up, then came out of the room.

“I'm disappointed with Mama.”

“Yash, Mama did not lie, Aruna herself asked Mama–”

“Enough!” Iyash. “For all the lies Mama did, I can't trust Mama anymore.”

Ira was shocked, her tears fell upon hearing the snapping of the son she had been so proud of.

“Iyash,” Nadine approaching.

“Pack your stuff, we go from here.”

Nadine stunned. Iyash's sentence is quite simple, but what he does not understand Iyash's annoyance with his mother.

“Yash, don't go. We can talk about this carefully,” persuade Ira.

“Speaking what else? Mama deliberately kept me away from the woman I loved.”

“All for your good.”

“Ya.” Iyash nodded his head. “Kepaan. According to this selfish woman kindness.”

“If Mama doesn't tell Aruna to leave, are you sure Aruna will be like now? You see her being a successful woman and being able to take care of a big company, although in the end she prefers Angkasa, not you.”

“Mama!” Iyash only realized that Ira had always thought Ashilla was Aruna, it means that all this time the mother was just pretending.

“You must be aware.” Ira lowered her voice. “He doesn't love you anymore. If indeed he loves you, he will go home and come back with you, not even have children from other men.”

Iyash shook his head, his ears were hot to hear his mother keep saying so. “I can prove that Aruna still loves me.”

Nadine bowed while wetting her throat.

“For what? After all he already has Angkasa and even wants to get married.” Ira was silent for a few seconds, but Iyash did not respond, until Ira thought he had managed to resuscitate the child.

“Mama is glad you introduced Nadine and Mama hope you no longer discuss about Aruna, after all you have to appreciate Nadine.”

“Don't switch talks, Ma.”

Ira cringing. “From the moment we talked about Aruna, Mama just slipped Nadine so that you realize and stop expecting a woman who obviously does not love you anymore.”

“Enough, Ma!” Iyash groaned in frustration.

“Mama admitted that Mama asked Aruna to go away from you, that's all Mama did so you can focus on living your own life, focus on reaching your goals. Mama doesn't want Aruna to burden you.”

“Aruna is not a burden!”

“Iyash, keep your voice down,” pinta Nadine slowly, the article since Iyash yelled at his mother.

Iyash pointed his index finger in front of the woman. “You're silent. This is none of your business!”

Nadine surprised.

“Nadine is right, Mama this is the woman who gave birth to you. Do you deserve to talk in a high tone with your own Mama?”

“Why is Mama still defending herself? Though obviously what Mama did was wrong.”

“Iya, Mama knows Mama is wrong, Mama is sorry.”

Iyash. He knew that the apologies he heard were not accompanied by sincerity. The twenty-eight-year-old man left immediately and no longer responded to the mother's arrogance. Though the fruit fell not far from the stalk, as well as Iyash, at least he also has arrogance like the mother.