ENDLESS HALLWAY
CHAPTER 100: RANTI'S HELP

"Didn't have any trouble with Erick?" wrath Vishnu.

"Ooo sir Vishnu. No sir. It's mediocre."

"There's an old friend of mine I need to introduce to Erick's. Perhaps it could be to star in our new ad film," Vishnu said as he pointed towards Balqis.

"Maybe the man, too" murmured Erick.

"Let's go see him."

Vishnu.

Erick Pratama nodded. They walked over to Balqis.

"Include Balqis. It's the director of the ad film here," Vishnu said.

Balqis and Erick shake hands with each other.

"Erick Pratama."

Erick.

"Balqis."

Balqis also introduced himself.

"Have you been in a drama?"

Ask Erick.

Balqis shook her head.

"Main movies?"

Ask Erick again.

Smell again. Erick watched from the tip of his foot to Balqis's jet-black hair. Then Erick nodded. Presumably it can indeed be worked on this woman Her elegant and beautiful face is very charming.

"Okey, everything can be arranged. The important thing is that you are not too fussy when you take the picture" Erick said with a laugh.

"But I never did drama."

Balqis.

"There will be rehearsals before the shoot."

Erick.

"You don't need to be inferior, Balqis. Try it first if you can't just give up. Isn't that Erick?"

Vishnu.

"Rubber."

Said Erick.

"Welcome to work again."

Vishnu patted Erick on the shoulder, then took Balqis to leave the study.

"What matters is that you have the will, it will work."

Vishnu.

"If it doesn't work?"

Ask Balqis.

"It's just a model photo."

Vishnu.

"Any work is possible. What matters is that my heart is happy."

Balqis Reply.

"From tomorrow you can be active here."

Vishnu.

"Thank you, Nu. I'll see you tomorrow." Balqis.

"Don't need me to take you?"

Vishnu.

"No. The guests waiting for you are already in line."

Balqis reminded.

"good. I'll see you tomorrow."

Vishnu.

Balqis walked past the guests who had been waiting since. All their eyes were on him. Both all guests who want to apply for a job as a photo model or who have business dealings with Vishnu. The radiance of their eyes admires the charm of Balqis. The elegant and beautiful.

The scorching sun stung her delicate and soft skin. He's headed to a stop. Then take the city bus home.

***

Cevin's workroom looked less lively. Cevin works in the room only to remember Balqis' smile. His hospitality. His grace and everything that was in that woman. They felt the sadness and destruction of the woman. Because all this time they knew that Balqis and Cevin loved each other. But their romance was broken because Cevin married the girl of his parents' choice.

And since these few days Vani's secretary in the office where Cevin worked secretly has always paid attention to Cevin's attitude. This attitude of his superiors is always silent and rarely talk. Facing the work of lacking spirit was at best left to Vani to finish it. Unless the matter is too important, it is resolved on its own.

How devastated Balqis felt. The destruction of any other mana that could match his life. The one who was so loved ended up marrying another girl. It is so sad, Vani lamented in his heart. Now what you want to say, all of that has happened.

"Balqis never called here?" ask Cevin.

Vani stuttered because he was daydreaming.

"Ti. no, sir." Vani.

"Try me to call Ranti and tell her to come here."

Say Cevin again.

Vani immediately dialed the home number of Ranti, Balqis' best friend and her current High School and College student who happens to be working in Cevin's office as well. Cevin lounges in the face of work.

''Can I talk to Ranti?"

Vani.

"So soon I'll call."

The old woman whose voice sounded.

"Is the guy at home?" ask Cevin impatiently.

"Called by her housemaid."

Reply Vani.

Vani is still waiting for the voice of Ranti. A little too long. Later, Ranti received the call.

"Who's this?"

Ask Ranti.

"Vani's. Ranti's sister was told by Cevin to come to the office right now."

Vani.

"Wait," interrupted Cevin. "I want to talk to him myself." Then Cevin picked up the phone on his desk. Veni put the phone handle to his mother.

"Good day, Ran," Cevin's voice was weak.

"Good day newlyweds. How are you doing?"

Ranti.

"Bad news. By the way this afternoon we chat in Warung Sate Mbak Rina want to? I have so much to talk to you about."

Cevin.

"okay boss. When?" Ask Ranti.

"Now we meet there."

Reply Cevin.

"Take Balqis. I miss him."

Reply Ranti.

"He hasn't been to work in a few days. That's why I want to talk to you. I'll wait there, okay?"

Cevin.

"Good."

Reply Ranti.

Cevin put the phone to his mother. Then pack his work on the table.

"Vani, I'm out for a second. If there's any important business, please finish it."

Cevin.

"Good, sir."

Answer Vani.

Cevin stepped away. Vani took a deep breath while observing the departure of his superior. He knows very well what Cevin is thinking, who is now a beggar. Kasian, indeed.

***

Cevin sat side by side with Ranti under the tent. For a moment they sat there enjoying the young coconut ice. A gentle breeze blew, reminding Cevin of Balqis. He used to bring the girl here. But now he's coming with another woman. Her best friend, who knows all the love between her and Balqis.

"After you've been married have you met Balqis?" ask Ranti.

"Not yet."

Answer Cevin.

"Because you've ruined his hopes. If I were him, I would do that too. Why stay with you when you're married to another girl. Even if he lives to suffer it will be taken away from the tormented feelings."

Obviously Ranti.

"I know how she feels."

Cevin.

Ask Ranti.

"Because Balqos still rejects me."

Answer Cevin.

Ranti frowned, astonished him.

"What is the reason he still refuses?"

Ask Ranti.

"I can't explain."

Cevin.

"Why?" Ask Ranti.

"Don't force me to say it now."

Reply Cevin.

"You're still hiding something from me?"

Ask Randy again.

"Yes. Someday you'll know for yourself."

Reply Cevin.

"But what about the stain left in him? You must remember that your chastity was forcibly taken away. Do you have a life so uncertain?"

Ranti.

"That's why I wanted to ask you for help."

Cevin.

"What?"

Ask Ranti.

"Meet him at his house."

Cevin.

"Want to?"

Ask Randy again.

"Whether he still wants to see me, ask him. And if he has not got a job, help him to work with your acquaintances. Just so you know, Balqis is already pregnant with my fetus," said Cevin, who was hoarse.

"Oh my God," lamented Ranti sadly. "You've made her more miserable and miserable, Vin. How ashamed if his son was born without marriage. Mother and son will get ridicule and insults. I can't believe you're a cowardly man," Ranti said fiercely.

"Whatever you say to me. If you already know the background of his life will be able to understand." Reply Cevin.

"Why don't you just go see him?"

Ask Ranti.

"I'm afraid of being rejected."

Cevin.

"That's a risk as a cowardly man"

Reply Ranti.

Cevin breathed heavily.

"I plead guilty, Ran. Your accusation is like an incantation that slices my heart. Because I have been trying to get her to live together, but she always refuses. He has a reason I can understand. So, by asking for your help, you might find another way. We can live together. I'm really asking for your help, Ran. I have so much hope you'll help me."

Cevin.

"If for example I managed to persuade Balqis, then what about Nabila? Does Nabila want to accept the presence of Balqis in his life?"

Ask Ranti.

"Our wedding was just a formality. Actually between us just keep each other's family's good name. You may believe it or not, that between us every night his sleep is separate. Since the first night we've never touched each other's bodies."

Cevin.

"It's a weird problem, Vin. Well, I'll try to help you. But where can I find him?"

Ask Ranti later.

Cevin writes Balqis home address on a piece of paper.

"Meet me at this address. Everything will be clear."

***

Dusk just shifted coming night. Ranti who was driving the car looked towards the left and right of the road. He's looking for an address Cevin wrote about. Address of Balqis. And the house number was found Ranti, then stopped her car.

A very simple house. In Ranti's view can feel that the residents are less harmonious. Then he got out of the car and headed to the door of the closed house. The door leaf was knocked on, but for a long time there was an answer from the occupants. Ranti knocked again.

"In a moment," came the voice of a man whose tone was hoarse.

Male voice? Who lives with Balqis? Not far away Ranti guessed, the door of the house was open. A man stood wearing a stick. Ranti was half flabbergasted.

"Se. good night," said Ranti nervously.

"Night" Sigit answered coldly.

"I want to meet Balqis. Is he home?"

Ask Ranti.

"Not yet to go home."

Answer Sigit.

Ranti. Not home? So what's outside the house now? Ranti smiled to avoid the man's suspicions. Because the man's eyes looked at him suspiciously.

"May I wait until he gets home?"

Ranti.

"Please come in."

Reply Sigit.

Ranti stepped in and sat down in the guest chair. Sigit sat in his wheelchair.

"You're Balqis' best friend?" ask Sigit.

"Yes." Yeah."

Reply Ranti.

"Boy at the salon?"

Ask Sigit make sure.

"No."

Reply Ranti.

"Where do you know him?"

Ask Sigit.

"Former school and college friends," said Ranti.

Momentary silence. Ranti gave a glance to the living room. It is unexpected that Balqis' life is this poor. He just wants to work hard for his life.

"It's been a few days that Balqis came home tonight. Is his energy in the salon much needed?" ask Sigit.

"Perhaps," Ranti began to suspect, that Balqis had not told her that she had quit her job at the salon. He had a question mark, who was this man. There must be something behind the truth.

"Oh yeah, we haven't met each other yet" Ranti got up and shook hands with the man. Sigit coldly greeted him.

"Replace."

Ranti introduced herself.

"Sigit."

Short Sigit reply.

"Are you Balqis' brother?"

Ask Ranti.

"No."

Answer Sigit.

"Still family?"

Ask Randy again.

"No."

Reset Sigit.

"Want to?"

Ask Ranti to know.

"His husband." Reply Sigit.

Ranti.

"It's appropriate to note the wonder, because the beautiful Balqis only have an invalid husband like me"

Obviously Sigit.

Ranti was stuck in her seat while observing the man sitting in the wheelchair. It is unexpected that behind the reality of life Balqis has a bitterness.

She has to work hard to support her husband and herself.

"How long has Balqis lived in a household?"

Ask Ranti.

"It's only been a month." Answer Sigit back.