Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 80

"Dad!" he shouted when he saw Dad's body coming out of the car that had just stopped in the yard. His hand waved a gurgle that managed to invite Daddy's smile.

"Assalamu'alaikum, Father's daughter," said the father with warm greetings and greetings that he had rarely heard.

"Wa'alaikumussalam, Father," he answered and kissed Father's hand. Also landed a short kiss on both of his father's cheeks.

"Where's Mommy, son ?"

"In, Dad. Making food for my sister."

"Have you eaten this father's daughter now ?" ask Dad and flick his nose with a squash.

He only serenum wide featuring a series of white teeth nan gingsulnya. "Dad, sister can ask for help, can't you ?"

"By, Son. What do you want to help ?"

He turned his head towards the neighboring wall. Look at the mango tree whose fruit is very thick.

"Sister wants the mango, Dad," he said shyly.

Dad looked at her confused. It's not usual for the youngest child to ask him for something.

"Dad, may, yes," he said seduce.

"Please Mother, yes, son."

"No, Dad. His sister wants to be picked up directly by Dad. Don't want anything else."

Dad put his hand on his son's forehead. "You're okay, aren't you, Dik ?"

He looked at Dad annoyed.

"Come on, Dad." Eyes glazed.

I can't bear to see her daughter. I don't want Dad to fulfill his son's strange wishes. "alright. But, I changed clothes for a moment. After that, I will ask the young mango for you."

"Thank you, Dad," he said cheerfully.

While waiting for Dad to change clothes. He sipped little by little the sweet tea that Mother made for him while enjoying the orange tinge that slowly disappeared.

"Why Dad is so long," he chirped in annoyance.

He stood his gaze fixed on the mango tree with the bushy fruit. He swallowed his saliva slowly.

"Why, Dik ?" ask Mother who suddenly and successfully surprised her.

"Sister was looking at the mango, Mother. It seemed delicious, "he replied without taking his eyes off the mango tree.

"That's young mango, son. Not a ripe mango fruit that tastes good and is sweet when eaten."

"Yes, Mother. My sister also knew that it was young mango. But, sister wants to eat young mango now," he said adamantly.

"You pregnant, Dik ?" ask the father who just came out after changing clothes.

He looked at Dad with an incomprehensible look. "No, Dad. My sister is not pregnant. My sister just wants to eat young mangoes. That's all."

Dad and Mommy throw each other a look and smile happily.

"Dad wait especially ? Let's go to the neighbor's house."

"Yes, Son. Aye." Yeah."

"Mother's coming ?"

"No need, Mother. Mother just stay at home. Let brother and father go."

Dad's steps he followed to the neighboring house that he did not know his name at all.

"Assalamu'alaikum!" father said in a loud voice.

A man of Father's age came out in his casual clothes followed by a girl with a deathly pale face walking over and holding on to the man's arm. His body was thin and left only a tulan. He bit his lower lip looking at the girl's condition.

"Wa'alaikumussalam, Mr. Yudha. Whoa... Tumben came here, sir," the middle-aged man replied politely and intimately.

"Sorry, Mr. Danis. I'm interrupting Father's time."

"Oh it's okay, sir. Let's sit down first" said the man called Mr. Danis, allowing to sit down.

"No need, sir. I just want to fulfill my daughter's wishes. Looks like he's cravings, sir. He wants a young mango, Father."

He looked at the father who spoke timidly.

"Oh so, sir ? Please just pick it up. Indeed women if pregnant want it strange, yes, sir."

"Yes, Mr. Danis."

"Come, Sir. I helped to pluck the young mango" said Mr. Danis. While the girl who was with him he was sitting in his front porch seat.

"Come, Son. While waiting for Om and Dad to pick mangoes. Just sit here with Raya. He's Om's firstborn."

"Yes, Om. Thanks."

"Hey! I'm Nadhira," she said subtly.

Raya looked at him with my eyes and a faint smile. "My name is Raya" Eaya replied in a weak voice.

"Are you sick ?" his question was without further ado to answer his curiosity since he saw the gadia.

Raya laughed a little hearing his question. "I was always sick. In fact, I've forgotten what it's like to be okay."

"You mean ?" ask her again with eyebrows adrift into one.

"I have heart disease" replied Raya with a smile that caused her eyes to narrow.

"It's this disease that makes me helpless and always bothers Papa and Mama. It also made me bury deeply into all the minds and love I ever had."

He's stunned. Her mind flew away towards her husband who was also suffering from the same illness as Raya. She imagined that her husband would be like that.

With lightning fast he brushed away his foolish thoughts. He shook his head many times. "No! No!" whispered.

"Are you okay, Nadhira ?"

"Oh yes. I'm fine" he replied.

"You've never had an operation, Raya ?"

"Earlier. But not all operations will work. And I'm one of those heart failure patients. There's a mismatch between me and the donor. That's the biggest lie I've ever encountered in my life."

He breathed his rough breath.

"To find other donors is also not easy. It takes a long time to wait. That's also if it fits again," Raya accompanies her sentence with small rings.

From some stories he heard from Raya. She understood why her husband didn't want much hope.

"You're married, Raya ?" his question shifted the topic that made him grimace himself imagining the position of Raya. Also Reyhan's position.

"Almost. I almost got married. Two days before the wedding I am anfal and my condition worsens. My future husband can no longer accept my situation like this. And he just left. Unilaterally decided the marriage we had designed in such a way."

He caught a tinge of sadness that was printed clearly on the bead of my eyes Raya. There's a puddle created there.

"Since then I stopped wishing for anything. I follow wherever the flow takes me. I'm reluctant to carve out expectations that end up hurting myself."

"But, you must have hope to heal and return as usual," he said quickly cut the sentence uttered Raya.

"You're the one who doesn't know how much to say that to me. And thank you for encouraging me" said Raya with a smile concluded.

He returned Raya's smile with a sweet smile.

"I've never seen you in this compound. Are you a resident of the newcomer ?" tanya Raya's.

"I've been married a few months. And I'm coming with my husband. But since yesterday I've been here. Because, my husband is out of the area to take care of office work."

"Oh, I deserve to have never seen you. I moved here a month too. I used to live alone in an apartment. But, because of my condition like this. Papa and Mama forced me to stay with them and my two sisters."

He nodded in understanding.

"Sik, let's go home! I've picked you this young mango."

Eyes sparkling. "Gee... Thank you, Father."

"Don't thank me Dad. Thank you to Mr. Danis who has kindly given you."

"Thank you very much, Om."

"Yes, Son. You welcome. May you always be healthy. Also your baby candidate."

"Nadhira isn't pregnant, Om," she argued loudly.

Dad, Mr. Danis and Raya just chuckled at her adorable behavior.

"Dad, sister's not pregnant, is she ?" ask him innocently.

"May you get pregnant, dear," replied Father and stroked the top of his head gently.

"Ah... I hope so."

He looked back at Mr. Danis. "Thank you again, Om."

Mr. Danis just nodded.

He approached the still faithful Kingdom sitting in a chair. "Chealing soon. Do not lose hope and hope. God knows what's best for you. Hopefully, up ahead, we are given time to meet face to face again. Share the story" he said sincerely.

Smiling to hear it. "Hopefully I can arrive at the time of your birth, Nadhira. Be a friend to me."

"of course. As long as you are not discouraged. Then I'll be a good friend to you. I pledge. Sometimes I'll come visit you here with my husband."

"I'll keep that promise, Nadhira."

He nodded for sure. " Remember, there is always a way for people who have a desire and are willing to try. I'm sure you can. I'm saying goodbye."