Knights For Mundika
28
Mundika's body trembled for a moment when a very bitter revelation was felt. Her lips were mute but her emotions could be conveyed through her tears that flowed unknowingly on both her cheeks.
“I..., I didn't hear wrong Baba?” Only the question implied the affirmation of what he had heard just now from his father was true or he just misheard.
“Not my son,” Dalmouk shook his head and looked straight at Mundika who he believed was very hurt listening to what he said. He realized that this is what Artika was afraid of heard directly by her daughter because of the possibility of them both, because of the possibility of both, especially he will receive caci maki from children who feel that this has been the base of problems in their families. “That night Baba actually raped your unconscious mother under the influence of stimulants many times and wished herself to become pregnant so that the wedding plans of your mother and her fiance were cancelled.” Dalmouk tried to swallow his saliva which felt heavy and squeezed his chest at this time. Issuing the statement was the same as letting the time bomb that he and Artika had been trying to prevent it from exploding but in the end they resigned that the bomb was time to explode at this time and prepare to receive impact of that.
Mundika who could not bear the emotional turmoil that seemed to push her stomach towards the esophagus immediately ran towards the bathroom in the treatment room and vomited everything while continuing to cry in silence accepting the reality which happens. A reality more terrifying than his shadow that had kept on filling his mind all this time.
“Bu...,” Zayed who looked worried about Mundika's condition, looked at Artika and tightened his hand to her mother. It was fitting that all this time his sister insisted to know all the stories about him that seemed to always be the center of insults and insults from his extended family. If he is the position of his brother at this time will probably respond with harsh words approaching disobey to all family members who have been insulting him even though the reality he hears today is very different. Both of his parents were just victims of selfishness and a sense of family name pride so it had to end as it is today.
“It's okay, Zayed, your brother is a strong man,” Artika rubbed gently his son's hand while calming his youngest son. The story of him and Dalmouk though little, he sure enough influenced his son. But men and women are created differently so that the reaction Zayed felt did not shake his world.
“Why...?” After removing his entire stomach and convincing himself to keep listening to the babanya story until it is finished, Mundika again sat in his original place. “Why is Baba doing all that?”
“Because of love, Mundika,” Dalmouk smiled gently at Mundika and Artika. “Because it was too much love for your mother to subconsciously bandage her with a lust for air and just think of that path without realizing that both of our families would be hurt. Baba admits it's Baba's own fault that makes things even more complicated.”
“Lantas how the story is in the end Baba did not divorce Mama Latifa and ended up Mother pregnant me and became Baba's second wife?” Mundika's hand grips hardened trying to keep her emotions from turbulent like before.
“Latifa and Dalmouk's sister Raana had a severe accident on the highway while trying to catch Dalmouk chasing Artika to Indonesia,” Hakeem who can't stand it anymore finally chose to interfere in this family drama. “Dalmouk who has succeeded with his crazy plan to Artika then returned to Dubai to take care of his divorce papers and Latifa. But the intention became void because it was only learned of the deadly accident that made Latifa's condition seriously injured with an incision in her stomach so that her uterus had to be removed for good and only Majid who became a link between her and Dalmouk and Raana who died at the scene of the crime.”
“Hakeem!” Dalmouk returned the protest because Hakeem too vividly told his life story to his daughter who he knew must have been very delicate-hearted.
“I'm sorry Dalmouk for having to interfere in your explanation,” Bela Hakeem without feeling guilty. “Dalmouk's conviction to divorce Latifa wavers again seeing Latifa's weak helpless condition plus Majid's gaze and the two girls Raana left behind.”
“Mean Uncle?”
“Maitha and Haya are not your siblings but your cousins whom Dalmouk and Latifa have to raise as guilt-redeemers Latifa who sacrificed Raana's life in order to fulfill her wish not to be divorced by Dalmouk and with dalmouk foolishly agreed to the request after seeing Latifa's undead condition for losing one of her precious organs as a woman.”
“Why do you say I'm stupid, Hakeem?!” Dalmouk did not accept his best friend's opinion. “That was the only way I could do to calm down my entire family at that time!”
“I...,” Dalmouk said nothing to hear Hakeem's true revelation.
“Or you should have deeply felt your crazy love for Artika and let Artika be with others who can make her a more honorable position than she is today!”
“For God's sake I wouldn't be willing if it happened, Hakeem!”
“Then you must accept the consequences of all this, Dalmouk! Your son is now not only Mundika and Zayed that you need to pay attention to, but also Majid, Maitha, and Haya! They feel your love for Mundika and Zayed too much so that the precipice of hatred grows in their hearts towards Mundika and Zayed. Honestly I salute Majid who is amazingly airy heart to be the oldest and sincere child loving Mundika and Zayed who I believe he is your most injured son but never shown to us all.”.
“I know it's Hakeem, I know! But what can I do to solve all this?!”
“Travel slowly the tangled thread of your life! Talk to all your family members and explain the truth so that you can all live peacefully in the future, especially Maitha and Haya! The problem they can not accept the fact that there is another matter, after all they have grown up!”
Artika only sighed to see the behavior of two middle-aged men in front of her who were like cats and dogs arguing over a past that could not be repeated and changed again because it had become part of her destiny. He turned to Mundika while rubbing the head of his daughter.
“Now that you know everything, Nduk,” A sincere warm smile from Artika is enough to give Mundika peace in the face of the reality she heard and stop a moment of fighting between Dalmouk and Hakeem. “And whatever decision your views are to us both we will receive with airy chest after everything you have experienced in your 25 years of life.”.
Mundika lowered her head and was silent for a long time making the atmosphere in the treatment room become quiet mixed with the tension felt by Dalmouk and Artika. In their hearts they prayed expectantly that the girl did not hate them and would open the door to a wide apology for the sin that they both committed to being herself as a child present in the same condition unhappy and full of despair and disappointment.
“Mother quickly healed yes, so we can gather together again,” Mundika smiled towards Artika then continued towards Dalmouk. “Baba also, try to be fair to Mama Latifa, Majid Kak, Maitha Kak, and Haya Kak. For now let me calm down first in order to be at peace with my heart over the reality of everything.” He stood up and walked out of the room where Artika was treated. His footsteps got faster down the stairs to the parking lot and into his car. Started the car and run it to a place that has been able to calm his heart.
Kite Beach…
Arriving at that place, Mundika got down from the car he had parked and ran towards the beach then slowly submerged his body into the sea water regardless of the surrounding circumstances. He cried so badly to vent all his emotions that he had been holding in the hospital because he did not want to be impulsive so yelled hysterically to both parents which of course would further hurt his feelings those who had long held a deep sense of guilt in him.
“Wire! Sheikh Mansoor should hear this news!” One of the invisible guards Mansoor sent to watch Mundika's movements immediately reported to his master what he saw.
***