CUTS
I Don't Know...
A long debate ensued when Cut reached the provincial military headquarters. The only doctor who dared to do it was none other than Doctor Widia.
“Anyone has no right to prevent us from doing country duties including Doctor!” said one of the soldiers at the headquarters office.
“I don't mean to get in the way but my patient needs a check-up first. Gentlemen can not treat it like this.” replied Dr. Widia firmly.
An officer with greater rank came to break up their subordinate's debate.
“We ask for his cooperation, Doctor. The sooner we get the information the sooner we catch them.” said the officer.
“The fathers can catch them but what about my patients? He would feel depressed to the point of being fatal to his condition. Do you want to take the risk?” doctor Widia replied that she would not lose.
“So what doctor would you like?”
“I'd like some time to talk to Cut. I have to make sure first how he is at the moment.”
“Alright! Please follow our subordinates!”
Doctor Widia held Cut's hand tightly and then followed a soldier into the room.
The two entered the room with only one table and two chairs. “Please!” the officer said and left them.
“How do you feel Cut?” asked Dr. Widia while sitting Cut on one of the benches.
“Is any part of your body injured?”
“No, Doctor.” Cut's answer made Doctor Widia surprised as well as happy.
“Are you scared? Or are you having trouble breathing right now?”
“Iya, Doctor. But I can breathe well.” again Doctor Widia smiled.
“Alhamdulillah,”
Doctor Widia pulls Cut in her arms. “I'm so glad you're back with a cure.” said Doctor Widia.
“Forget all memories when you lost, understand?” whispered Doctor Widia then broke her embrace then looked at Cut with a fixed gaze as if hinting at something.
“Time is up, Doctor!” an officer came and followed another officer.
“Do not be afraid! I will wait for you here.” said Dr. Widia and then out of the room.
The door of the room is closed. Cut now lives with an officer there.
“Quiet! I'm not gonna hurt you. We just need some information about Muhammad Khalid. A rebel official who kidnapped you. Can you describe his face to us? How's the feature?”
Cut looked down while squeezing his fingers. He was scared and worried. How should he answer their questions while he also knows the impact of what information he gives would be like? Coupled with a whisper from Dr. Widia earlier.
“Where have you stayed?”
Cut raised his head to look at the officer. “Hutan.”
“Hutan? In which blood? What's the name of the village?”
“I don't know. There's no one there. Only the rebels.”
“Can you explain how the features or faces of Khalid are? You must know because he is good friends with your brother, right?”
Cut looked back at the officer. “Her skin is black, her hair is wavy, her nose is pointed and has a sideburn.”
“Only that?” Cut nodded slowly.
“How many are they?”
“I don't count.”
“How many people kidnapped you?”
“I don't remember.”
“Before being taken to the forest, where were you taken?”
“I don't remember.”
“You go by what vehicle?”
“I don't remember.”
“You came home yesterday riding what?”
“Becak.”
“Where did you guys find rickshaws?”
“On the road.”
“What path?”
“I don't know.”
“From the forest to your city ride what?”
“Street.”
“I don't know.”
“How long will it take you to leave here.”
“I don't count.”
“You get here at 7 am. Then you leave the forest at dawn?”
“No azan noise when I leave.”
“How about the sound of cock crowing?”
“I didn't hear it either.”
“Can you tell me where you have been all this time?”
“The place is far from the city, many big trees there. There are hills, the way up and down.”
“How many houses are residents there?”
“No?”
“Didn't you guys find any army post while here?”
“Yes, their posts are almost in every village there are. Even on the roadside.”
“What is your leg not hurt?”
“No, just hurt a little.”
“What did you guys eat during there?”
“Bisans, yams, vegetables are there.”
The answer to the answer Cut gave felt unsatisfactory to the officer so that the time that passed for almost two hours was wasted. They end the investigation and let Cut go home with his exit.
“How, Dan?”
“Stay watch! Looks like there's something he's hiding.”
“Why not be forced?”
“We can't do that. He's a mental hospital patient. The evidence is gray. Not everything is right or wrong. No one believes the word mad. We can deal with the law if we force it. Moreover, the doctor's husband is a provos.”
“Owaste! I'm sure he recognized Khalid.”'s face
“Siap, Day. Is it possible that he himself is under Khalid's threat?”
“Can be. We don't know for sure what she experienced during the kidnapping.”
“It seems my decision to allow him to talk to the Doctor was a mistake.”
“Why, Dan.”
“Entah. My hunch says like that.”
Meanwhile, Umi hugs the newly arrived princess. “Already, Umi. Cut is fine.”
“Umi, let Cut rest first.” Doctor Widia's advice.
“So how next is this Doctor?”
“Tomorrow, I'll be here again to confirm his condition. For now it's better he's in the shophouse. I'm sure both sides are watching him.” said Dr Widia.
“Iya, Ash. It's better Cut doesn't come out of the shop just yet. For security, God willing, there will be someone watching. The military would have been dissatisfied with Cut's answer. They won't take Cut off just like that.” Doctor Widia's husband.
“Then we excuse you first, later in the afternoon I come again.” said Doctor Widia back.
After delivering a couple and his sister, Abu again closed the shop. Today was exhausting for their families. Abu chooses to rest on top, while Mae plays with Rendra.
Every now and then, Umi who was cooking tried to visit the princess who was lying in her room. A flash of Khalid's memory sprung up in his mind.
“Have I done the right thing?” inner Cut.
Various words of Khalid that could be true continue to emerge and his promise to Ilham.
“Cut... We eat first huh?” tanya Umi approached the princess.
His hands gently stroked the head of the princess whom he had longed for all this time. “Did he treat you well?” ask Umi doubtfully.
“Good, Umi. He only fulfilled his promise to Bang Ilham to keep Cut from Rendra. Bang Ilham doesn't like soldiers, Umi. So, she doesn't want Cut to marry Rendra.”
“Promise does not always have to be kept if it results in harm to others. Promise me not to be like them. Rendra has returned to Java. Before returning home, he meets with Abu to apologize for failing to look after you.”
“Be at rest! God willing, all this sadness and distress will soon end from our family.” continued Umi again.
“Amen...
***
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