Marrying the Widow of the Neighbor
Misses

As planned, I directly drove my black alphard car towards my hometown. The place where I was born and raised, where my beloved woman, mother, lived with my youngest sister. It has been almost three years I have not visited them, this longing has piled up to stifle the chest. The last time I went to the village was three years ago, when my mother fell in the bathroom with diabetes and high cholesterol. I only stayed for a few days, because Rania forced me to go home soon. Almost every hour Rania called and asked me to go home, I don't know what she was afraid of if I linger in the village.

The trip to the hometown of this city spent about five hours, I estimate later maybe around midnight I just arrived at the mother's house. I deliberately didn't tell him about my return this time. I meant to surprise my mother and sister, Zidan.

*

I glanced at the circular watch in my right hand, it was almost two in the morning. Just a few more turns, I arrived at my mother's house. Arghh... I can't wait to meet and hug the body of the woman who has the most sincere love for me. I'm sure, the first thing my mother would do when she saw me coming, must be nagging. First, because I didn't tell him about my return. Second, because I haven't been home in a long time. But I don't feel scared at all. Even more impatient to hear his tirades.

My car drove into the yard of the village house that has a large yard, then I stopped right in front of the semi-permanent house. This house belongs to my father and mother.

I got out of the car immediately, then stepped slowly towards the closed door. The voice of the woman who was teaching, welcomed my arrival. But that's not my mother's voice. Hmmmmmh... Somehow the sound of teaching made me feel very calm. Whose voice is that?

Again enjoying the flow of the holy verse of the Qur'an, suddenly the door of the mother's house opened slowly. I was shocked to hear the sound of the door creaking all of a sudden. From behind the door, came the figure of the woman I had longed for so long.

"Assalammualaikum, Mother."

Mom blinked her eyes repeatedly, then rubbed her a few times as well.

"ADIT?! IS THAT YOU, SON?"

I immediately stepped forward and approached my mother's body, so that she could clearly see my figure.

"Astaghfirullah!! ADITYA!!"

Mom immediately burst into my arms, I returned her embrace tightly. Suddenly, the sound of sobs came out of my mother's mouth.

"Him right my eyes don't want to be closed from now on!! Apparently God asked me to welcome your return... Hicks."

I stroked her mother's hair which was predominantly white and gray, and then gently kissed her head which always gave off a gentle people-net aroma.

"Bad boy!! Why didn't you tell me you wanted to go home?!"

"Aww!!! Sick, Mother."

With a quick movement, mother let go of her embrace, then pulled my right ear with a small pinch. However, the quick release of the little pinch from my ear after hearing me complain.

"Mom!! Who are you talking to?!"

Zidan woke up, directly approaching the door of the house to catch up with mother. His eyes widened in shock at my presence.

"Mas Adit!! Adit is home!!"

Zidan directly smashed his body into my body, then hugged me tightly.

"Mas's coming to my graduation, right? You're not going straight back to town, are you?"

I smiled happily as I returned the embrace of my youngest brother.

"Mas vacation... A month! What say?"

Zidan quickly let go of his embrace, then looked at me in disbelief.

"An month?! It's actually a month, Mom?!"

I nodded steadily to answer Zidan's disbelief.

"Asekkk!!!"

Again Zidan slid into my arms.

"Where is your wife, Dit?"

My laughter instantly vanished upon hearing mother's question, Zidan again let go of his embrace and looked behind my body.

I sighed heavily, then nodded my head. I force these lips to be turned up so that a smile appears. I don't know if mom and Zidan can see this smile of my compulsion.

Zidan then turned to look at mother, the two exchanged glances for a moment.

"Yes already!! Comein, Dit!! You must be tired! Just sec... Let me clean up your room first."

Zidan and I followed into the house, after which Zidan locked the door.

*

"Are you all right, Dit?"

I glanced at the face of the mother who was bowed, she was chopping vegetables to be processed.

"Don't try to lie or look for excuses!! I'm sure you're not okay!"

I took a deep breath, so I could answer Mom's question honestly. He always had a strong instinct, none of us his children were able to string lies to him since we were children.

"Aditha!"

I looked back at my mother's face, a face that was always shady and radiated peace. He was looking at me right now, like he was intimidating me to be honest.

I took the basin that was on mom's lap, and I put it on the table. Then, I dropped my body weight on the floor, and laid my head on my lap.

"Aditya tired, Mother... Huhuhu... Aditya failed! Hicks."

My tears just broke on my mother's lap. He silently did not comment, but both of his hands gently caressed my head.

After that, all the stories of the life I lived since I married Rania flowed. Long and detailed I told him everything. Let people think of me as weak because I complain about my domestic life to him, the important thing is that the tightness in my chest can disappear.

I kept listening, not trying to cut my story or ask questions. His unceasing hand moved over my head, bringing a calmness that I had not felt for a long time.

It just so happened that Zidan was going to campus, attending a clean rehearsal for his graduation tomorrow. So, I don't need to be ashamed to let go of crying in front of mom. I'm more free to tell stories, to pour out what I've been feeling and feeling for the past four years.

"Then... What is your wish now? Just like when Mom gave you the freedom to choose the woman you would make a wife, like that is also the mother gave you the freedom to make the decision at this time," said the mother after I finished telling her my anxiety.

"But, remember!! Every decision has its consequences. You must be ready to accept and live out the consequences after deciding. Try introspection first, have you ever offended your wife? Or, have you ever done something your wife didn't like? In fact, all women are very subtle in their feelings. We won't repeat twice to remind you of the mistake, we hope you guys can understand that."

I was still listening to my mother's talk, something I hadn't heard from her since I got married. Mother is not the type of woman who knows and likes to interfere, even though it is the problem of her child.

"Do tahajud prayer, Dit... Istikharah prayer as well. Ask God for guidance, so that whatever decision you make later, you will not regret," continued the mother. I nodded weakly, still while laying my head on top of mom's lap.

"Assalammualaikum, Ma!!"

"Glamma!!"

I immediately raised my head as soon as I heard the voice of a woman greeting from outside. Immediately I wiped my wet face, then got up and sat back to my seat.

Mother got up from the chair she was sitting in, then walked out of the house to greet the guests who came.

"Eh... Princesses... Come on in, kid... Come... Come on."

I turned towards the door of the house, wanting to see the woman called "Daughter" by mother. It seems I've heard the voice of the female guest, but her name is only this time I heard.

Mother went back into the house, behind her a woman walked tailing. When our eyes met, the woman smiled politely while nodding her head.

"Eh... Mother has a guest... Sorry, Princess interfered,"

Fix... I know this woman's voice. This is the same voice as the voice of the Qur'an reader that I heard earlier today.