Father's Status On My Son's Deed
77. Meeting an ex

After finishing lunch, Aji and Asha decide to go home. In the office, the work is also done. Once at home both were greeted by the son so cheerfully. Aji held the boy and kissed him on the cheek several times. Just half a day apart the longing is so great.

"Papa's son was at school how? Like?"

"Like. The school is good, the teacher is good too. There are so many friends there, but I still don't know, just a few," replied the boy enthusiastically.

"Yes, later also know, everything does take time, must be slow."

"Yes, Pa" he said, nodding his head, then asking when he remembered something. "Papa said yesterday that he was in town to take me for a walk, when?"

"It's not a holiday yet, honey. Just Sunday, where does Khairi want to go?"

"Why not now, Pa. Now that Papa's home from work, Mama's home too. I want to play with papa," pinta Khairi with compassion

Aji stared at the wife, as if Asha did not mind either. Finally Aji agreed to the request of the son and invited Asha and Khairi to prepare to go to the mall. The boy looked so happy that he jumped while running towards his room.

"Mas, aren't you tired? From the morning you've been working, anytime we go. Do not always obey Khairi's wishes, fearing that the child will be more spoiled," said Asha when the son had gone to prepare for the streets according to Aji's orders.

"It's okay, honey. Sometimes I also want to make Khairi happy, we have not gone together for a long time. I want to make new memories for us, just a little while it doesn't matter. I will be happy as long as I can make Khairi and you happy."

Asha nodded and obeyed the husband's orders. Two are happy because they feel they are the most cared for wives. The two went to the room to prepare.

***

"Well! The mall here is huge, Pa," said Khairi who was so amazed by the mall he had just entered. Usually if in his residence there is a mall but not as big and wide as this mall.

"Of course, honey. This place is indeed the largest mall in the city, you can ask for anything you want. You want to buy something?"

"No, Pa. I just want to play with Papa."

Aji nodded and took Khairi to a game where the children. Asha just followed him from behind, occasionally he joined playing with them, until finally Aji and Khairi played alone. Meanwhile, Asha who could not resist the urge to go to the toilet.

Who would have thought if the woman's departure made Asha meet someone who was not expected. For a long time they had not come face to face, Asha had buried her feelings long ago, not a single speck remained.

"Well! Asha, don't think I can meet you here, how are you?" a man's greeting made Asha surprised.

His heart was pounding, not because of falling in love, rather fear. Somehow he felt the aura of the person was different. Unknowingly the woman clenched her hands, recalling memories of her being left alone. Although the incident had been a very long time, it still remembered clearly everything.

"I'm good, I hope you are too" said Asha, who tried to look ordinary.

The woman did not want the man in front of her to know that he was currently agitated. That person who is none other than Arvin— ex-lover Asha. The man who abandoned himself while pregnant. However, it was worth it because it was not Arvin.

Only the man knew if Asha was pregnant by an irresponsible person. At this time Asha felt that if he was in trouble, he was afraid that Arvin would discuss the matter again.

"I saw that you had come with a man and a child, was that child the one you were born with?"

"It seems we're not as close as I have to explain about my family and the people around me. Looks like I have to go, I don't want to make my family wait too long."

"Wait a minute, Asha. I'm not done talking you want to leave just like that, why rush once? Don't you want nostalgia with me?" ask the man in a seductive tone.

Asha just shook her head, she intends to return. However, his steps were blocked by Arvin. The man did not let her go at all, let alone what she wanted.

"Is that child the one you bear when you were with me?" arvin's question made Asha's body stiffen, not expecting that the man would ask about the past he had buried.

Asha was still silent, not wanting to discuss the past, until finally Arvin again said, "I did not expect that you could be like this. Did you trap that man to marry you so you could get the status of a wife and get a father for your son? I really didn't expect that you could be like this. You justify all means to fulfill your wishes, even though I have previously offered to abort the baby in your womb. After that we can be together again. I also forgive you who are no longer holy, but instead you refuse and say pretentious."

Arvin stared cynically at his ex-lover. She thinks that Asha has framed the man to marry her and says she is pregnant with the man's child. Although it was originally true that way, but not now. Aji has truly loved the child even though there is no blood tie.

"Sorry, Arvin. I don't want to talk about the past right now. For me it's all over and we shouldn't be discussing that anymore. We are better off living each other's way in peace. I won't bother you, neither will you. I don't want you to interfere in my family's affairs, let it be my own."

Arvin looked at Asha with such sharp eyes. For years the man tried to forget the woman. However, it is not as easy as he imagined because the shadow of the ex-lover continues to haunt him. Moreover, the kindness that Asha gave was indeed disturbing calm, until the man decided to return with the woman.

When he returns, he discovers that Asha is married to another man. Though previously he believed that there would be no man who would accept a pregnant woman. Today there are many girls who are no longer holy, but as men certainly want the best to be a wife. Even though he is not a good person.

Finally Arvin thinks that Asha has been cheating, to make the man accept it. Arvin looked at his ex-girlfriend and grinned. She suspects that she has framed her husband.

"How would it be if people outside knew that the child you bear was not the son of your husband, would your husband's family still accept you or not? I wonder how it turned out."

"What do you mean?" asked Asha with a deathly pale face.

She knows that Aji's family has accepted her situation, but what if the whole community knows about it? Asha did not want to embarrass her family and her in-laws. They were both respected people, what if someone insulted him? The woman did not want to be the cause of her family's destruction.

Arvin laughed out loud as he looked at Asha's frightened expression. He became increasingly convinced if he would reveal the origin of the child.

"You take it easy, I have an offer. I'm not going to expose this secret, of course on condition."

"Condition? What condition?"

"You should divorce your husband and come back to me. We can start everything from the beginning. I will also accept your son, I will love you like my own son, how?"

Asha moved her teeth, holding back the anger that had been in the crown. It was the man who abandoned himself, but now wants to go back. He is not a toy that is thrown away and taken back. Especially now that I have a very happy family.

"Even if I die, I will never do it."

"Are you sure? Don't want to think first? Until you regret it later."

Asha stared intently at Arvin without answering a single word. Really he felt his anger was so great, not expecting if the man could think in that direction.

"Well then, that means you're ready if your secret is going to be uncovered."

Asha clenched her hands while closing her eyes firmly. It is impossible for her to be willing to let go of her husband. But now the family's good name is at stake. It feels like he really can't afford to part with Aji.

However, to be with Arvin also does not want to, he wants to have a happy and loving family. Unlike with Alvin who is full of pressure and compulsion. They were together once, but the love had faded.