I'm Not My Boss' Storage
The awaited departure

WHEN the doctor delivers the news of his father's departure, Ishaan anticipates a surge of grief. Tanisha was the first person to break the silence of the living room with her tears, followed by siblings who last week accompanied them at home.

Two hours later, Evelyn, with an ambulance carrying her father's body, arrived home. Delivering the thickening suffering around it.

However, until his father is buried, not a single tear runs through Ishaan's cheek. The relatives who drove one another embraced and said words that sounded like a bee humming. While the ustaz and the study mothers of the complex mosque accompanied Evelyn to take care of the funeral needs. Tanisha fainted and just woke up at night.

“Ma, lest I be a psychopath,” Ishaan concluded as they were about to prepare the ordinance for the thousandth day. “Should I go to a psychiatrist?”

Evelyn glanced at him for a moment, then continued cutting the carrots. “Just because you didn't cry until you fainted like Tanisha when your father died?”

“Not until fainting, but at least crying. This is dad, the man who raised me,” Ishaan railed. “People think I'm not crying because I'm a guy. I have to be tough or something. In fact, I'm confused. Why did I react that calm when dad left?”

The mother clucked, then set aside the vegetable pieces into the bowl. “Grieving is. a weird phase, Ishaan. Grieving is a personal experience, meaning everyone will have different reactions. For Tanisha, grieving needs to be evaporated through crying. For Mama is to concern yourself. Make you is able to adapt to reality in a fast time.”

“So, I'm not a psychopath?”

“No, my Dear. Mama knows you care about your father,” Evelyn said gently. “Maybe without realizing it, you were already grieving long before your father left us all. Then when that day comes, you are not too sad, but it is strong and ready.”

The conversation re-enacted in Ishaan's mind when he received the latest news from Micah. Agni's mother died an hour ago. As per Ishaan's instructions, Micah accompanies Agni for the recovery of the body. The funeral was held the next morning.

Besides Agni, are there other family members coming? ask Ishaan.

I know less. Agni, anyway, will take her mother to the funeral home near the hospital. Maybe there are relatives coming.

Ishaan put the phone on the table, then looked at the twilight in the sky of Marrakesh. Grieving is a weird phase. How did Agni go through this time of grief? What's like Tanisha's sobbing sedan? Or like Evelyn who's busy looking for distraction?

Or maybe like Ishaan who deliberately kept his distance since the father fell ill. So when the figure comes home, his heart will not be crushed.

*

“Lho, why is your face bent like that? Not that this morning there were news of investors interested in planting shares?”

Ishaan waited for Bu Ajeng to fill the tea on the cup while thinking of the answer to Evelyn's question. The main star of this dinner is hainan rice, one of his favorite foods. Too bad Ishaan's focus is still on Agni who was bullied in Jakarta.

“Umh, Micah this afternoon sent a message,” Ishaan cleared his throat, “mother of one of my employees passed away.”

Evelyn and Bu Ajeng muttered in condolences simultaneously.

“Have been buried?” ask the mother.

“Not yet, tomorrow morning. I asked Micah to monitor the process.”

“If the mother who went was definitely heavy.” Bu Ajeng sighed in concern. Ishaan is grateful he did not say the employee in question was Agni. Perhaps, the woman panicked.

“We pray that the process will be smooth.” Then, Evelyn put the chicken pieces on Ishaan's plate. “Tomorrow you seriously want to go home quickly to Indonesia?”

“Iya, make the same company legal deal with Dareen, so I can move quickly to Germany.” Impulsive decisions are also based on news Agni is less wearing. “If everything is smooth, another month or two I officially work in Frankfurt.”

Awe-inspiring murmurs sounded from Evelyn. “Mama can't wait to come to the inauguration event. Bu Ajeng is still here, right? We help Ishaan prepare the event.”

Bu Ajeng gave a thumbs up. “Ready, Mom!”

As much as possible, Ishaan hid his turmoil by eating hainan rice. Hopefully, when he returned to Jakarta, he had time to meet Agni to just calm him down.

**

Arriving at the hospital, Agni is greeted by Erika who says that Kinta is very critical. However, he continued to hold on for the sake of meeting Agni. As soon as possible, the girl walked into the ICU room; finding Kinta who was being watched by a nurse.

Kinta's eyes giddy; looking for the existence of Agni. When their eyes met, the woman stammered three words earlier.

Beside the bed, Agni stood up; calming herself who was overwhelmed with emotions while witnessing Kinta's suffering. Saddened? Disappointed? Getting angry? Agni did not know which word to choose, her head was too crowded.

“What do you need from me?” Again, Agni asked that question.

“I know... I was a lot wrong... to you and your father...” His hand reached into the air; towards Agni. Despite the doubt, Agni grabbed it. “Can.... I request.. one.... one request to you?”.

Kinta's cold fingers immediately dragged Agni to a series of torments that once tormented her physically and mentally. “What application, Bu?”

“Ku—bury me... beside.. your father....”.

Instantly, Agni took off Kinta's hand. Soon the machines in the room sounded.

The next few minutes passed like pieces of film. Erika and the nurse came in just as Agni was out. Micah and Shia ask Kinta's condition. A sudden cold around the ICU. Erika who appeared wore an expression that Agni memorized well, including words that slid later.

“Agni, we've tried our best, but..”.

Kinta's gone. Leave a heavy plea for Agni to grant. His body was in limbo when the nurse pulled Kinta's body out of the ICU room. Both Micah and Shia offer help. Agni sat in the lobby chair; trying to gather her scattered focus.

Even for the rest of her life, Kinta has not changed. The fire that devoured the house and part of his body was not enough to teach him all the painful actions he took. He too presumptuously wanted to be laid beside his father, the man he had so blatantly betrayed.

Agni is sure Satan alone will ring his head to greet him.

“Ni, drink first.” Shia thrust a bottle of mineral water at him. “Micah again help take care of mom lo. Who do you want me to contact, the family from the house?”

“Let me aja.” Although Agni is actually not too close to the Kinta family. All of a sudden, an idea flashed through his mind.

“Shi, anther me to Micah. Cepetan.”

*

At dawn, an ambulance entered the funeral home. The quiet courtyard made it easy for the vehicle to enter. Agni, who had no time to sleep, shuffled from the chair. A middle-aged man sitting two chairs away from him followed to approach the officer from the hospital.

“Saudari Agni?” The officer confirmed. “Ambulance is ready. Do I need to be helped to carry the body?”

Agni turned her head towards the man standing beside her. He nodded, then directed the officer into the funeral home. Agni was just watching the process from the door. Before the ambulance left, the man approached her.

“Thank you for looking after my sister and taking care of her hospital fees,” the man said. “She will be buried next to her parents in Garut.”

“Sorry I cannot accompany.” He took a chocolate envelope to hand it to the man. “A little extra from me. Please accept.”

The ambulance siren that drove Kinta to the final resting place accompanied Agni to welcome the dawn of a new day. Body's tired. The sleepiness is unbearable. One by one the tears soaked her veil and shirt.

For the first time since her father's departure, Agni cried happily.

***