Giving Birth to My Brother
8. Sinta's Request

A few days later, Sinta was allowed to go home by a team of doctors. Once inside the house, Sinta's eyes were glued to the door of the prospective baby's room on the second floor. Spontaneous, Sinta's eyes immediately wet. Actually she wanted to stop by her baby's grave, but Ariel did not want to take her there for fear that she would be even sadder.

"Let's go to the room, dear," Ariel took with her as she pulled her wife's arm.

"Mas, I want to see our nursery first" said Sinta.

"OKAY. But you were there long. Maybe, we can sort everything out if you are not strong to squirm," said Ariel gave advice.

Sinta shook her head hard. "No, Mas. I'm not papa."

With heavy steps, Sinta also walked up the stairs. He felt weak as soon as he arrived at the door of the nursery, especially when Ariel opened the door. His heart was like being torn apart instantly. She has bought lots of toys, books and adorable clothes for her baby.

"Oh Allah," muttered Sinta. He sobbed while standing in front of the crib. Weakly, he lifted the small roll that was rolling there. It should be the baby's bed. Supposedly, the baby is here any minute.

Because Sinta was crying harder, Ariel decided to take Sinta out. He was about to put the little roll back into the box, but Sinta hugged him so tightly. So, he just let it go and then he embraced Sinta out.

Sinta's loud enough sobs were apparently heard by Elin. They met in front of the room. Elin looked at Sinta sadly, surely Sinta was devastated. Sinta even hugged her baby roll so tightly as if it was her own baby.

"Sir, come home" said Elin.

Sinta nodded, even though she was still crying. "I'm going to go to the room first."

"Yes. Come on, honey." Ariel takes Sinta away from Elin.

Elin was still standing where she stood. It had been days since he was discharged from the hospital, but he still got a sharp gaze from Ariel when they met. Ariel didn't even talk to him much. So, Elin was also more in the room to work on the script. He's going back to work the day after tomorrow, so he has to prepare a lot.

During the first few days at home, Sinta was still crying a lot. Especially if she goes into her empty nursery. She immediately lamented the fate of her poor baby. It made Ariel so miserable. He always wanted to make Sinta happy by marrying her, but now Sinta just continues to grieve.

Ariel did not want to leave Sinta alone at home, so she started hiring a nurse to look after her during the day. He also routinely brought Sinta to the doctor and psychiatrist because he did not want his wife to get worse. Luckily, after a few weeks passed, Sinta's condition improved. He did not cry much anymore even though he had not fully recovered.

And that day, when 6 months had passed since the accident happened, Sinta was preparing breakfast for Ariel and Elin. Sometimes, Elin does not eat breakfast because she prefers to eat in her office. That's what Sinta guessed, when in fact, Elin avoided the moment of gathering together with Ariel and Sinta. In addition to sometimes feeling jealous of Ariel's attention to Sinta, he also felt he could not bear if Ariel gave him a fierce look.

"Morning, Ma'am," said Elin. He had just put his bag on the chair and walked to the kitchen to brew tea.

"You have breakfast at home, I made fried rice" said Sinta.

"Ehm, okay. I'm making an angel tea, Mommy?"

"No. I'm the same Ariel drink orange juice," replied Sinta. He picked up a few dishes and took them to the table. He almost brought his container of fried rice, but Elin had already raised it to the dining table.

"Morning, Honey." Ariel embraces Sinta and kisses her cheek as usual. He just came downstairs for breakfast. He was surprised to see Elin joining them at the dinner table. They usually enjoy breakfast alone.

"I take orange juice first," said Sinta as she released herself from Ariel's embrace. He went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. After that, he poured orange juice into two glasses.

Meanwhile, Ariel was observing Elin who was scooping the fried rice. "You want to go?" guess it. Usually Elin would only eat breakfast with them if she had to go out of town and not come home for a few days.

"Hmm, I'm not going home later. Maybe three or four days to go home" Elin said. He looked at Ariel. Ariel is quite protective of her if she has to get out of town, and this is the first time she has gone out of town after she has an accident. He also does not have a car anymore, so he only relies on friends or public transportation.

"You're gonna get outside?" ask Ariel.

Elin nodded. "There's a movie project and I have to come to see it. There's a lot of temen, just calm down."

Elin nodded again. At that time, Sinta had already come up with two glasses of orange juice. He put them both down and looked at Elin. "Are you progressing with Galang?"

"Nothing, Ma'am. We are just working partners. I'm done with breakfast, ma'am. I'm leaving now ya."

"Who are you going with?" ask Sinta.

"alone. I rent ojol to make it to the office, later from there I'll be with the others" replied Elin. He stood up to bring his empty plate into the kitchen. He deliberately ate small portions and very quickly because he did not want to see Ariel and Sinta together.

"Be careful," Sinta said to Elin who had just grabbed her bag.

"Yes, Mommy." Elin glanced at Ariel. The man did not even look at her. "I'll go first, brother."

"Yes." Yeah." Ariel responds briefly to Elin's words.

Sinta looked at her husband attentively. He had seen how Ariel had treated Elin over the past few months since the accident. Although Ariel always said that he was sincere about everything, Sinta knew Ariel still blamed Elin for the fateful incident.

"When do you want to think about Elin, Mas?" tanya Sinta broke the silence.

"You mean?" Ariel looked at Sinta questioningly.

"You know what I mean, Mom. Elin .. The accident wasn't Elin's fault, Mas. You can't keep cuekin Elin. He does not feel at home if I pay attention," said Sinta.

"She likes to be outside rather than at home. Seneng-seneng is the same time as her boyfriend, or equally his friends," said Ariel in a denouncing tone. "Even he could spend days out there."

"It's because he works, Mas," said Sinta. "I want you to forgive Elin, Mas. Plis, I don't like tension in the house."

Ariel rubbed Sinta's cheeks gently and smiled. "You calm down, honey. I work first."

Ariel landed a kiss on Sinta's lips while saying goodbye. As usual, he left the house and went to the office. Meanwhile, Sinta cleaned their cutlery. He doesn't have much work at home because Ariel hires someone to clean and wash. Sinta used to make premium pastries and sell them online, but after she got pregnant, Ariel asked her not to work anymore. And now, since he was already healthy enough, Sinta intends to try selling again.

Sinta was just about to open the social media where she was selling, but suddenly she got a call from Maria, her mother-in-law. Sinta sat back in the dining room in a huff because if Maria called, she would not only ask her for news, but she would be asked about when she could get pregnant again.

"Hello, Ma." Sinta greeted Maria nervously.

"Hello, Sin. My mother can't sleep anymore. It has been bristling Mama's dream," said Maria.

"Ah, is Mama healthy right there? How is Papa Gladis?" ask Sinta.

"Alhamdulillah. Gladis like biasalah, his achievements should not be doubted. Papa is healthy, it's sleeping" Maria said. "Ehm, Sin, have you filled in yet? Mom dreams of carrying a little baby. It's exactly the same as when you were pregnant. Are you pregnant again? Mama nyampe deg-degan wants happy news."

Sinta bit her tongue because she realized, the happy news will never come. He wanted to lie to his father-in-law, but he couldn't. "Ehm, not yet, Ma. I'm not pregnant yet."

"Are you serious? Try checking, Mama's dream is very clear. Mama already really ngarep have a grandchild again, if you are not pregnant it feels really disappointed ya."

"Sorry, Ma," said Sinta lirih.

"Yes, you rest. Don't forget your continued efforts are the same Ariel, Mama wait for the good news!"

Sinta took a deep breath as soon as her in-law call was interrupted. He looked down deeply and started crying. "The good news will never exist."