Father's Status On My Son's Deed
51. The heart of Khairi

Aji had to make up a story about his separation from Asha. It was also impossible for him to tell Khairi the truth. The child is too young to understand adult affairs. After all Asha had lied about her working outside the city so, it did not matter if she added the spice lies there.

The man said he was forced by his parents to work outside the city. Though at that time Asha did not want to separate and refused the departure of the husband, but because both parents who still want to send Aji, finally forced the man to obey and go out of town. At that time Asha was furious, until finally left the house and now lives far away from him. Even his parents did not know where Asha lived.

The whole family searched everywhere, but did not meet. Aji had also asked people to search for Asha's whereabouts. However, never met. The family felt sad, even his mother had fallen ill. It was not a lie because Mama Nisa was rushed to the hospital.

"So Papa and Mama didn't live here?" ask Khairi.

"No, Honey. We live in the city together with oma and opa. They really want to meet you, surely they are very happy to see you grow up and great like now."

"really?" ask Khairi with a sparkling face. During this time he never felt expected, but when he heard Aji's story the boy was happy to be missed by someone other than the person at home.

"certain."

Aji pulled out her phone and showed a picture of her parents. Not to forget also the two Asha parents, he introduced them to the son so that one day when he met, Khairi could recognize him. Asha must have never introduced them, as evidenced when her son saw the photo oma and opanya child look so happy.

"Om, don't lie, right with the story Om told you earlier, right?"

Aji was actually less comfortable with the 'om' call her son had pinned, but she also couldn't possibly force the child to take it for granted. It will take time to accept each other.

"Of course not, honey. For what Papa lied to you. What Papa said is true, but it seems like your mama is still angry with Papa. Would you like to help papa persuade your mother? We can live together again, you want to stay with papa? We can do anything together?"

Khairi was a little scared, for some reason she was afraid that what Aji said was just a joke. The boy was afraid that this was just a dream that was present in his sleep. Without everyone knowing, Khairi is too often dreaming of meeting his father even though with an unclear face. Today, however, that face is very clear. Even what they did felt so real. Khairi cannot distinguish between dream and reality.

"Why are you silent? Don't you want to stay with Papa?" asked Aji with a sad feeling.

Seeing the dullness of the son, signifying the rejection of the child, Aji was sad. Khairi who saw the sadness on san papa's face immediately shook his head quickly.

"Why do you think that? It's real, honey. It's really Papa, you don't think a no-no."

"Not so, all this time I always dreamed of meeting papa, but when I woke up everything just disappeared. I'm afraid this is a dream too. Every day I always dream if papa comes and hugs me, but it's just so the desire never materializes. I've always been jealous of my friends who can play with their papa. They can laugh together, ride bicycles around the village. I want to, too, but I can't go. At home there are only mom, grandma, sister. They are all women" Khairi said with tears in his eyes.

That certainly makes Aji sad, feeling like a useless father. He did not expect that the son would experience such a thing. It was just a simple wish, but he was unable to make it happen. If only the man had known earlier, it would have been possible to do something so that his son who had not experienced such a thing.

Aji immediately hugged Khairi. They both cried, lamenting the fate of those who were separated for years. They both know that this is the destiny that must be lived. However, it was unexpected if too much pain was felt by a child as small as Khairi.

"I'm sorry Papa couldn't take care of you and mom. Had Papa not gone, we would have always been together" Aji said slowly.

In Aji's arms, Khairi cries out loud. He finally met his father. This is real, no longer a dream like what he had been through all this time. The child can show everyone that he still has a father who loves him very much and can do anything for him. Khairi will say this to everyone and also to his friends.

After feeling Khairi began to calm down, Aji also broke down his embrace and looked at the face of the son. A face that was already different from five years ago, which only a few days he had seen.

"So you want to help papa persuade your mama to want to come back together again and we can be together, will never be separated." Aji hopes that the son will help her because that is her only hope.

He was sure that if Asha would not have the heart to see Khairi's sad face so, the man had to make the best use of his time and circumstances. Aji didn't want to lose everything like five years ago. That day he lost everything. After this he will not let anything destroy his family. All the man will do, including forcing Asha to return home.

"How's it going, Pa?"

Aji whispered something in Khairi's ear. The boy just nodded his head because what the father asked him was easy enough for him to do. Although it sounds strange, but because his desire to get back together with his family is very large so, Khairi can only say yes. She hoped her mother could forgive her and they could live together forever, like her other friends.

The shadow of living together has danced in the eye, increasingly making Khairi eager to make papa and his mother forgive each other. In the child's mind, his two parents were having a fight and he had to reconcile.