My Son Is My Strength
Finding Operating Costs

Arini laid her body on the mattress staring at the ceiling of her room. The mind wandered everywhere, between thinking about the words of his teaching staff and his mother who was sick there.

He was confused, I don't know what to do. Wanting to go home and visit her sick mother, it was impossible. His salary in the cafe is not much, just enough for him to pay his rent and food for him every day, not to mention the cost to return to the village.

And if he also managed to go home, then where money for his mother to seek treatment? If he no longer works in the cafe, then what about the cost of his daily needs? And what about his college? Question after question comes to haunt Arini's mind. Until the sound of his phone broke his daydream.

Drt. drt...

Arini took her cell phone, and saw who called her these nights.

Arumi, why did Arumi call her at night? Don't-don't...

Instead of being curious and wondering what happened, Arini picked up the phone from her sister.

"Assha...." Arini had not had time to say hello to the sound of Arumi who was crying sobbing at the end there.

"Assalamu'alaikum's chat. Sister.. sister hiks. mother, mother sister, hyks...." Arumi said unclear because while crying, his voice was raucous.

"Wa'alaikumussalam's chat. Why Rum?" arini asked her sister in panic.

"Mother sister hiks.. mother had fainted hyks.. continue to fit in the same doctor he said hiks... and must be operated as soon as possible hiks.. otherwise the life of the mother so the stakes hiks...." Arumi said while crying.

The world trembled, Arini's head ached, but he quickly took control of himself and tried to strengthen his heart. He asked Arumi.

"Rum, you ask how much does it cost to operate Mother?” arini asked, now the most important thing is that her mother can be operated on. He knew his mother would not be able to operate if his administrative expenses had not been paid off.

There was still the sound of crying across there, until...

"Yes brother, three hundred million hix.from which we can get that much money sister hix...." Arumi said still crying.

Arini was stunned to hear the nominal cost of his operation that much, his tears fell without permission, he was confused how he could get that much money, until Arumi's voice made him regain consciousness.

"Sister.. sister... hiks...." Arumi's voice called out her name.

"You calm down, Rum. Brother will try this to get money as soon as possible so that mother can be operated on. God willing, my mother will be operated on." Arini replied trying to calm her sister's heart. Though he himself was confused, his heart was not calm, afraid of not being able to get that much money.

"Yes, sister, hiks...." Arumi answered, and the phone was cut off.

After the phone connection was cut off Arini cried as it was, the cry he had been holding since. He was confused about what he should do now, in order to earn money for his mother's surgery.

*****

Arini awakens when the shining sun enters the glass window of her boarding room. He tried to stand up, but a moment later he fell down. His head was dizzy from the effect of him crying last night until dawn earlier, his lower eyes were pitch black as a result of he had just fallen asleep after performing dawn prayers.

Arini made her way to the bathroom, walking bit by bit with her hands holding the wall to help her walk.

He cleaned his body and prepared for college. Who knows on campus there is a friend who has enough money, for he can borrow and pay the administrative costs of his mother.

Before leaving, Arini looked in the mirror. Then take her little backpack and put it on behind her back. He again reflected tidying the bag behind his back, then out of the cost.

Beyond the cost it is accosted by Naya, his cost neighbor. Naya is the same as Arini, he is also a child who migrated to study. But, Naya is different campus with Arini, because he studied at a regular campus and opened a scholarship child like Arini.

"Yes, Nay. There's a morning class, let's not get stuck." Answer Arini.

"Yes, be careful on the road." Naya said with a slight shout, because Arini had gone a bit far.

"Yes, thank you." Lirih Arini also half-cried, while continuing to leave the boarding house to the campus.

*****

Arriving at the campus Arini entered the morning class, after which he went to the cafeteria and ordered food there while chatting with his best friend Dian.

Arini ordered plain fried rice and water, while Dian ordered a bowl of soto and iced tea. They eat peacefully, until after eating Arini tells him that he needs 300 million money on Dian.

"What?!" dian shouted in shock, hearing the nominal money that Arini would borrow from him. "Three hundred million." Dian repeated Arini's words, timidly he misheard what Arini said just now.

"Yes." Yeah." Arini replied while looking down deeply. "Do you have one, Din?" arini again.

"Where do I have that kind of money Rin, you know, too, which family do I come from?" dian said a little bad to Arini. Because this time he couldn't help Arini at all. "What is money for, Rin." Ask Dian to her best friend.

"The money was for my mother's operation, Din. One of my mother's kidneys is in trouble and has to be surgically removed, so now I'm looking for that money." Arini answered with a sad face.

"Astag." Dian smothered her own mouth. He did not expect, it turns out that his best friend's mother is seriously ill and even had to be operated on. "I'm really sorry, Rin. I can't help your mom pay for the operation." Dian said after he opened his mouth from the clot of his own hand. He felt very guilty for not being able to help his best friend, for the cost of his sick mother's surgery.

Arini nodded in understanding. He understood why Dian could not help him, because basically Dian was not much different from his circumstances.

"Yes, not papa. I understand how you are." Arini.

"Thank you Rin, I can only help do'a. May your mother recover from her illness quickly." Dian said still with her guilt.

"Yes, thank you also do’a her." Arini replied, smiling sincerely at Dian.

A moment later silent, no more sounds came out between the two of them. Both of them dissolved in their minds.

Until Dian broke the silence.

"Rin. What if you try to borrow it from our boss, who knows he can borrow the money." Dian's Advice to Arini.

Arini nodded in agreement, there was no harm in him trying. After all, he had no acquaintances anymore so that he could borrow money, other than his boss. Hopefully he can lend her the money, that's Arini's only hope.

"Yes, I'll try. Thanks, Din." Said Arini to Dian, and hurriedly got up from her seat.

"Yes, you're welcome." Answer Dian. "Where are you going?" lirih Dian, looking at Arini who got up from her seat and wanted to step away.

"You go to the cafe." Arini replied while shouting a little because the distance with Dian was already quite far.

*****

Seriate...