Giving Birth to My Brother
2. Sinta Condition

Elin is clearly shocked to hear Ariel's words demanding her to replace baby Sinta. How could? He looked confused Ariel and did not know how to respond to the words of his sister.

"I'm .. I'm sorry," said Elin. Only those words slid from his lips.

Ariel stood up slowly. He rubbed his hair with rage. His sighs sounded in the corridor instantly. "I have to take care of our baby's funeral. You wait for Sinta well. I'll be right back here."

Elin looked at Ariel's back who was moving away from her. He looked down and started crying. Ariel did not even ask about her condition. It may not be as bad as Sinta, but she is also sick.

Well, Elin had long harbored feelings for Ariel who was her foster sister. Elin was adopted in Ariel's family since she was a baby and was treated like a real child by that family. However, as Elin grows up, she harbors a love for Ariel. Ariel was always kind to her, Ariel even loved her very much, long ago. Ever since Ariel married Sinta, Elin felt that Ariel had absolutely no time for her. He had lost Ariel since then.

Elin stood up slowly while enduring the pain in her body. He approached the door of Sinta's room and opened it slowly. Both of Elin's eyes were fixed on the figure of Sinta who was lying on the bed with various hoses stuck in his body.

"Mak Sinta," call Elin weak. He sat on a small chair next to the bed and held Sinta's hand tightly. "I'm sorry."

Elin tried to remember what happened the afternoon before the accident. Sinta wanted to buy her favorite fish soup and she joined because she was bored at home. Elin believed he was driving at a standard speed, he was not speeding at all.

Elin has only moved into Ariel and Sinta's house since two months ago because she has a job in the same city. Previously, Elin lived alone in their parents' house. However, because their parents and his sister, Gladis, decided to move abroad, Elin hitchhiked at Ariel's house.

"Come, Ma'am, get up," muttered Elin.

Indeed, Elin did not know what he would say to Sinta if Sinta woke up later. Both eyes looked at Sinta's stomach that had shrunk, but this afternoon Sinta had been chattering cheerfully about her baby who kept kicking. Now, everything feels so painful.

***

"Wake up!"

Elin felt her shoulders being squeezed by someone. He lifted his head and turned to Ariel who had returned to the hospital. He could still feel the piercing gaze from Ariel. He believes he is still considered the prime suspect in the accident.

"You're out" said Ariel as soon as Elin stood up.

"I want to see Sinta's mother wake up" said Elin.

"Get out!" hardik Ariel while pointing towards the room door.

Elin took a deep breath. He had just fallen asleep while waiting for Sinta and now he realized that the day had changed. He had no choice but to get out of the room because he did not want Ariel to be more angry with him.

As soon as Elin left the room, Ariel sat on the chair that Elin had been wearing. Just like Elin, he tightly grasped Sinta's hand. Both of her eyes were fixed on Sinta's pale face.

"Honey, let's get up" murmured Ariel. He rubbed Sinta's forehead gently and kissed the back of Sinta's hand.

After dawn passed, Ariel who had just finished performing the prayer service also heard a groan. He stood up and approached Sinta's bed. Both of her eyes widened perfectly when Sinta squirmed with narrowed eyes.

"Darling! Sinta, are you awake?"

"Quiet, Honey. You're in the hospital" Ariel replied as calmly as possible. He was pounding hard because he had to explain everything to Sinta immediately. That their baby is gone! That they will never be able to have another baby!

"I ...." Sinta frowned while trying to remember what had happened to her.

"You're gonna be fine. I promise." Ariel clasped Sinta's hand tightly. He rubbed the top of Sinta's head to make Sinta calmer.

"Well, what's our baby?" Sinta raised her head slightly to look at her stomach. Suddenly, he turned. His consciousness just seemed to come back. He remembered that he had just eaten fish soup with Elin and they were on their way home and they had a collision.

"Quiet, Honey." Ariel swallowed hard. His lips felt so faint that he could not explain.

"His baby was born?" ask Sinta while putting her head back on the pillow.

Ariel nodded with tears welling up. "Yes, our baby girl was born."

Sinta smiled faintly, but somehow, she felt very sad. "Where is the baby? Is he all right?"

Sinta waited for Ariel to answer. Because her body felt so severe, she was suddenly unsure of the condition of her baby. Moreover, Ariel immediately shed tears.

"Mas! What happened to my baby?" ask Sinta to panic. He squirms to try to get up, but Ariel holds him back. Besides he can't move much, his stomach hurts amazingly. "Mas, answer!"

"Sorry, Honey. But our baby did not survive. You're bleeding" Ariel said.

"No way! Nope! You lied, didn't you, Mas?" ask Sinta in disbelief. She nodded repeatedly to her husband.

"I'm not lying, your condition was not good because of the accident" said Ariel.

Sinta was crying all over the bed. He can't even move much. She wanted to be able to hug the baby but Ariel said she had buried their baby on the grounds, she could not bear if Sinta had to see the condition of the baby who was actually going to be born next month.

"I took a picture of our baby before he was buried, honey. But you better see it later after you get a little better. Hm?"

That morning, Sinta cried with Ariel for the misfortune that had befallen her. She didn't even know she would never get a chance to get pregnant again. Ariel still undoes her intention to tell Sinta, she also asks the doctor to keep this a secret from Sinta until her condition is much better.

Meanwhile, Elin who was sitting in front of Sinta's room could hear the grim cries of the couple. Ariel is still angry with him, it could be that Sinta will also blame him for not being able to carry a car well. Sinta is a very kind and loving sister-in-law, so she also deeply regrets this incident.

In fact, Elin harbored her feelings for Ariel all along because she knew Sinta loved Ariel so much. And so did Ariel who loved his wife so much. He had made Ariel angry with him, and it was possible that Ariel would hate him.

"Sister Ariel can't hate me" he murmured. He looked towards the door of Sinta's room. "What should I do to make Ariel not angry anymore?"

Elin wiped her wet face with her palm. Ariel wants her to replace her dead baby. He knew it was just a spontaneous request that came out of Ariel's lips as she was grieving and angry. How can he replace the baby? There is no way she should get pregnant and give birth. He's not even married. And if she gets pregnant one day, can she give her baby to Ariel and Sinta?

Elin shook her head softly because she felt that what she was thinking just now was so ridiculous. He hoped, Ariel did not really mean the words earlier.