FROM ANOTHER WORLD To You (A Mystery Short Story Collection ) - The Second Book
Chapter 6: Breaking through the Aisle of Space and Time (sixth round )

06. Da'i Bachtiar New Family

9 Months is the age of the fetus in the womb Sulastri. Although biologically the child was Bachtiar's son with Sulastri, but, Bachtiar considers him to be the son of Larasati. One father, another mother or stepson. The baby born by Sulastri is female and at the request of Larasati, the tiny and cute baby was named MARIBETH. In accordance with the promise, after Maribeth was 3 years old, the spirit of Larasati left the Da’i Bachtiar family. Not tired-boss Larasati requested that Bachtiar take care of Maribeth like a biological child himself.

Although Roh Larasati had left the Bachtiar family, however, he did not leave it. Sometimes the time comes when the tiny baby is dreaming, he smiles to see the healthy and plump baby's development. Only one made the heart ache in Larasati: He could not hug, carry or suckle on his own. He could only smile as Sulastri put Maribeth to sleep while humming softly.

When Maribeth was 5 years old, Bachtiar resigned from Pak Hamdan's office and chose to open his own business outside the city. Surabayan. In this city he opened a business meubel, because at that time meubel in the big city, rarely .. then, quickly the life of Bachtiar changed for the better. In Banyuwangi alone he has become a simple rich man, in Surabaya as well. Although rich, it looks not flashy. Sometimes he came home to visit Maribeth and his pregnant wife.

That night when Sulastri was asleep, Bachtiar walked to Maribeth's room. The arrival of the father made Maribeth very happy and soon indulged in his lap. Bachtiar smile, “How are you Maribeth ?” he said as he stroked the boy's long, dense black hair.

“Alright, dad.. but, lately ... Maribeth used to dream about a beautiful red woman named Larasati. Who is he ?”

“When did you meet him ?”

“Every night he comes through a dream, dad. He was very kind, often invites Maribeth to play when alone. Who is he ?”

“He is good. When you were a baby, she visited you often. Next time if he comes .. You should be nice to him and polite. What is he talking about ?”

“That's a lot, dad... He's also mad that Maribeth is naughty. If she's angry it's scarier than mom, lo..”.

Bachtiar smiled, “If you're naughty, he must be angry. Otherwise he'll be fine, right?”

“He asked Maribeth to tell Dad this,” said Maribeth, after which silence seemed to be remembering something. Then then he said, ”Maribeth is often left behind by parents. If your father comes, ask him to find Maribeth a nanny. If your father allows it, look for a man named Karmila in Alas Purwo. Take all Wiguna. Especially soon your mother will give birth, of course Maribeth can not be left alone, is not ?”

Da’i Bachtiar pensively for a moment, his forehead wrinkled. Shortly afterwards said, ”Alright. but, Father should speak to your mother,” little Maribeth smiled, he wrapped his two little hands around Bachtiar's neck and kissed his left and right cheeks, he said, “Thank you, Father..” he said spoiled. Da’i Bachtiar smiled as he patted Maribeth on the back. Shortly thereafter, the boy fell asleep.

Before leaving Maribeth's room, Bachtiar placed the boy's body slowly and wrapped it in a blanket. After peeking at her daughter's forehead, she stepped out of the room, trying not to wake Maribeth up. As soon as he came out of his daughter's room, he entered a room not far from her and his wife's room.

That's the room where he used to talk to Larasati. He sat cross-legged while burning incense, a fragrant smell immediately spread throughout the room, some drifting out through the air vents, some clinging to the walls and window curtains, and others, almost the entire room was filled with puffs of incense smoke and a fragrant smell. With eyes closed and lips quivering a soft voice sounded as if it was reverberating against the walls of the room, “Larasati, come... I want to talk to you..”.

Those words were spoken repeatedly, before long the drifting, orderly puff of incense smoke suddenly moved chaotically. Bachtiar felt a soft but sharp and cold wind. The originally white fog suddenly turned blood red as it entered through the cracks of the air hole and slowly formed a figure of a beautiful woman wearing a red kebaya. The woman walked over to Bachtiar who was still closing her eyes. “Open your eyes, Bang Da’i”.

Like being exposed to magic, Bachtiar slowly opened his eyes. Before him Larasati was already sitting looking at him softly yet sharply while at the corner of her lips was a faint smile. Despite having met and talked several times with the figure of this woman with red, Da’i Bachtiar still can not control his feelings. Therefore, he tried desperately to calm his feelings, Larasati just smiled.

“I know what Bang Da’i meant to call me. Indeed, as a mother, I was obliged to take care of and care for Maribeth. He's an amazing kid, isn't he?” larasati. After sighing slowly, Bachtiar can only control his feelings, “Thank you for your concern, Larasati. Appreciate that. I can't grant your wish before I talk to my wife,”

“I also met your wife through a dream. When I told her about myself and Maribeth, she was shocked at first. However, it is rare that anyone can accept that reality like your wife, she can accept Maribeth and care for him with all her heart. Frankly, you are the luckiest man to have a wife like Sulastri. I was envious, because from the first night of my marriage to Rangga Warsito, he left me. However, I understand everything he does is for the good of the family,” explained Larasati.

“Larasati, if that's what you want, I can't do anything. I believe your decision is solely for the good of Maribeth,”, Bachtiar later said.

After Bachtiar finished speaking, Larasati stood up. he looked at Bachtiar's face while again smiling sweetly, the next second slowly the shadow of Larasati's figure vanished replaced with unfamiliar faces.

An old man, a woman and a handsome boy. Sayup-sayup sounds Larasati, “Those are the ones you should meet at Alas Purwo. Ki Ladoyo, Karmila and Wiguna, before you return to Surabaya,”

The voice echoed, filled the room to then disappear replaced with the sound of owl chatter, accompanied by the sound of insects –night insects. After a moment of silence, Bachtiar stood up and stepped out of the room, the smell of incense still pierced even though the door of the room was locked. There was no one else in that place. Silent and quiet, some of the lights that were still on were already extinguished. Bachtiar returned to his room and laid down his body beside his wife who had been lying in a bed of pampered under a blanket.

***

A few days later, a sea-blue civic honda entered the courtyard of Da’i Bachtiar house. An old man wearing a checkered blue shirt and a bit dull came down accompanied by a gray-haired middle-aged woman.

Although the age of the woman is above 50 years, however, her face still looks beautiful. A handsome boy descended while hugging a sizable backpack.

His pair of eyes swept into the courtyard of the house and ending in a glass window, there was the face of a beautiful and sweet little girl looking at him without blinking. The boy smiled sweetly at her, however, hurriedly the 10-year-old boy threw away his face while his cheeks reddened.

Sulastri, who had been standing in the doorway petting her distended stomach, slowly walked over to the guests and greeted him. As soon as he reached the boy carrying the backpack, he smiled, “What's your name, handsome ?” tanyakanya. The boy looked at Sulastri, “My name, Wiguna, Aunt Lastri.” he replied politely.

Sulastri was delighted with the boy's reply despite being a little surprised because, the boy knew his name.

It seemed like the boy knew what was in Sulastri's feelings. So in a polite tone he again said, “Uncle Bachtiar, tell a lot about Aunt. Uncle said : Aunty is good, beautiful and good at cooking,” This greeting makes Sulastri's face reddened with embarrassment, the hair of the boy named Wiguna was temporary, and the, her pair of beautiful eyes were staring at Bachtiar who had just gotten off the car.

Bachtiar looked back at him in surprise, but, as if he knew what made his wife happen, he just smiled mischievously.

The arrival of the Alas Purwo family at the Da’i Bachtiar house brings a new nuance. They are treated preferentially by Da’i Bachtiar family, can adjust to the local population despite having lived in Alas Purwo for a long time. The other is Wiguna. The boy was always alone because his whole life was the first time he lived with a group called humans. Because, while in Alas Purwo he only befriends monkeys/monkeys, forest people or other animals. He knew almost all kinds of animals, however, he had never known what he called man complete with a variety of characters, characters and traits.

However, Maribeth's presence in his life, little by little, slowly but surely, he also began to be able to adapt to the surrounding environment.

Wigunapun did not escape the messiness of Yanto and Amelia, the first and second children Da’i Bachtiar and Sulastri. Sometimes their ignorance makes him sad and want to return to Alas Purwo, but, with the help of Maribeth and Ki Ladoyo and Karmila grandmother, he got his heart back.

A few months later Sulastri gave birth to a daughter and named her Lita. Since the arrival of the Alas Purwo family, the Da’i Bachtiar Family became a large family. Coupled with the presence of Lita in their midst. Therefore, Da’i Bachtiar build a simple house, a place next to his house, it later became the residence of the Alas Purwo Family, Wiguna was appointed as the adopted child Da’i Bachtiar also schooled. The treatment of the two parents against Wiguna who were considered to be favoritism, increasingly made Yanto and Amelia unhappy, however, they could not say or do anything.

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