NIGHT BUTTERFLY
#74
Morning is bright. The sound of chicken crowing rang out from a distance. Sulastri accompanied by Mr. Bayan exercising along the road to the main road after dawn, had returned home. This time, the two seemed to cool their bodies by doing small movements in the yard.
"Sir Bayan, please accompany me for a walk in the car" Sulastri said as he wiped the sweat off his face with a small towel around his neck.
"When, ma'am," said Mr. Bayan.
"This morning, sir. After breakfast. For a while, ask Mr. Ahmad to replace the father of guarding the house"
"Ready, ma'am," said Mr. Bayan. Sulastri then runs towards Fahmi and Farida who are seen chasing their bikes in the yard next to the house.
* * * **
The hypersport lycan was seen coming out of the gate. Mr. Ahmad who was assigned to replace Mr. Bayan guard the house, waved his hand towards Farida who pulled out half his body through the rear car glass. Fahmi, who was in the front seat, just smiled to see Mr. Ahmad from the rearview mirror of the car before Sulastri told them to raise the car glass and turn on the AC.
"Yes, Mom. We start where it used to be to put the announcement," asked Mr. Bayan. Sulastri was silent for a moment.
"We'll go to Mataram first, sir. Exactly to the area of Doyan Medaran street."
Mr. Bayan nodded his head.
"One more Mr. Bayan. Mr. Bayan knows there are no boarding houses around here," asked Sulastri.
"She, Mom. If not wrong, there is a village, called Pemondah village. About 10 kilos from here, ma'am. If not wrong.., the name of the boarding house was..," Mr. Bayan was silent for a moment trying to remember.
"Ee..., Ponpes Qudwatusshalihin, Yah, Qudwatusshalihin his name, Ma'am," said Mr. Bayan after remembering him.
"We go to the Ponpes first or to Mataram, Mom," continued Bayan.
"We'll go to Mataram first, sir. We'll stop there later. All right, buy a veil. It's not good to see Master Teacher without a veil" Sulastri said with a smile.
"Ready, Mom,"
The atmosphere in the car was momentarily silent. Farida and Fahmi are seen sleeping in their chairs. Several times Mr. Bayan tried to invite Fahmi to talk, but apparently he was too sleepy.
Sulastri told Mr. Bayan to stop the car when he saw a photo copy kiosk on the side of the road. After expanding the sketch paintings of Rahima's face, they continued their journey. Occasionally they stopped again when there was a place that Sulastri thought was suitable for Rahima's search leaflet. Until when the leaflet was over, they decided to return.
"How, Ma. So to the ponpes?" ask Mr. Bayan when the car stops at a crossroad. Along with that, there was the sound of azan dhuhur reverberating.
Sulastri turned to the restaurant across the street. Fahmi and Farida asked for food. His stomach itself has also begun to ask to fill.
Sulastri was hesitant to invite them to eat at the restaurant. He had a bad experience working as a dishwasher at the place. Bu Pratiwi, the owner of the restaurant and its employees must still know his face. He was afraid that something happened a few weeks ago would happen again. He will be humiliated in front of the crowd because he is considered to have HIV aids.
"Come, Mom." Fahmi opened the back door of the car. Seeing that Fahmi had gotten out of the car, Farida also went down and pulled Sulastri's hand. Sulastri nodded towards Mr. Bayan and took him down.
* * *
Sulastri was silent for a moment as his feet had entered the restaurant. He turned towards the middle-aged woman who seemed busy writing something on a table not far from where he was standing. That's Pratiwi's mom. The owner of the house ate it. Sulastri lowered the tip of his veil and covered half of his face.
"Please, Mom. There was still an empty table over there" said a young woman who approached him. Sulastri nodded and led the three to the table the woman showed. Sulastri. The woman was still following them. Maybe he will ask about the food that will be ordered. He remembered the young woman. It's Retno. The girl who was so friendly to him on the first day he worked there.
Sulastri. He could not keep his face hidden. He must show himself. His current state has changed. If indeed Pratiwi ma'am would humiliate him, he could sue on the basis of defamation.
Sulastri pulled a little over the end of his veil. He lifted his face and looked at Retno's face.
"Dik Retno still remembers me" Sulastri said with a smile towards Retno. Retno looked at Sulastri's face and tried to watch her more closely. The beautiful woman sitting in front of him reminded him of someone. But he was a bit doubtful. There are a lot of differences. His face was more white and clean. The clothes are also neat and look expensive.
"Mom knows me?" ask Retno wonder. Sulastri nodded small and smiled.
"I used to work here a day accompanying Ms. Sahni washing dirty dishes in the back. I also gave my Retno a business card for a community agency that handles people with HIV" Sulastri said. He continued to smile looking at Retno who seemed confused to see her.
"Mom..," Retno scratched her head.
"I'm Sulastri, Dik Retno,"
Retno smile. His mouth was gaping when he had started to remember Sulastri even though he still did not believe in a different appearance from Sulastri.
"Bu Sulastri," Retno said involuntarily shouting in shock. Bu Pratiwi and the people who were eating turned their heads towards him.
"What the fuck are you, Retno. No manners yelled at people eating. Come on, work there," said Bu Pratiwi angrily. He looks annoyed while looking at Retno who has not turned her body.
Bu Pratiwi said no further, as his eyes fell on Sulastri's face as he rebuked Retno. Like Retno, she suddenly felt like she had seen a woman who was still staring at her.
Bu Pratiwi lowered his head. From the frown of his forehead when he lowered his face, it was clear he was thinking hard to remember something. Before long, he suddenly stood up and stepped towards the table where Sulastri was sitting.
"Hey, why are you here. Don't think I don't know you. You have Aids disease!" said bu Pratiwi. Suddenly the people who were eating at the place fell silent turning their eyes towards Sulastri. And the waiters of the restaurant as well. They looked towards Sulastri. Seeing Pratiwi ma'am snapping at Sulastri, Pak Bayan stood up and pulled hard Pratiwi's body.
"Mother don't mess with my employer. I can be prosecuted for spreading slander" said Mr. Bayan no less fierce. Farida and Fahmi looked frightened and immediately embraced Sulastri's body.
"Mom don't know who my employer is yet? She's the wife of the late Mr. Yulian Wibowo. Jerowaru people who do not know Mr. Yulian means his identity is unclear," continued Mr. Bayan with a sharp gaze.
"Sir Bayan, sit down, sir," Sulastri said. Mr. Bayan immediately sat down, but his gaze still turned towards Bu Pratiwi.
"Bu Pratiwi, I believe this is a misunderstanding. That is also what I wanted to ask first when I was told to leave this place. How could you suddenly know, if I have the disease, but I just worked here a day."
Bu Pratiwi was silent. The hard expression on his face slowly softened. It was as if he was thinking of Sulastri's words.
"Again, if I really have the disease, my mother would not have contracted it if I just washed the dishes." Sulastri smiled and stood up.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I was affected said the man who came to hand over the card. He told me nothing about his mother. At that time we were very afraid of getting infected," said Retno looks guilty.
"Is that guy his hair flap, tan and tall sturdy?" ask Sulastri to Retno. Retno nodded quickly a few times.
"Yes, Mom. Right," he replied quickly. Bu Pratiwi was still silent.
"He was my husband's first wife. Name's Mohan. Now he's in jail" Sulatri said. He turned his gaze towards Bu Pratiwi.
"Bu Pratiwi, regardless of whether you believe my story or not, it's your business. But obviously, we're here to eat, not to argue. My kids are hungry, Mom. They want to eat" Sulastri said. He sat right away.
Bu Pratiwi sighed softly. His face looks red from embarrassment. He felt that he had accused Sulastri without checking the truth first to Sulastri. Especially when Mr. Bayan told her that Sulastri was the wife of the richest man in the city, even in the entire West Nusa Tenggara region.
"I'm sorry, Mom." Bu Pratiwi extended his hand to greet Sulastri. Sulastri smiled and warmly welcomed Sulastri's hand. He also walked slowly to his desk.
"Now, what do you want to order, Mom," interrupted Retno while thrusting a food menu in front of Sulastri. Sulastri looked at Retno. He smiles. He handed the food menu to Fahmi and Farida to choose.
Sulastri holds Retno's hand.
"Sik Retno's. I have called this Retno by the name of sister. So, call me brother too, dong," said Sulastri. Retno smile.
"Good, Mom. Uh, well Brother," said Retno blushed in embarrassment. Some of the servants of the restaurant who could only see from a distance, one by one came to apologize to Sulastri.
* * * *
Sulastri waved his hand from the car as Pratiwi's mother and the rest of the diners stood to take him to the restaurant's parking lot. They whispered to each other. Blame each other for what happened two weeks ago. They re-entered when Sulastri's car went missing at a turn of the road.
"We're going straight to the boarding school, sir. We just pray dhuhurnya there," said Sulastri after leaning his body on the car seat. Mr. Bayan nodded and directly directed the car towards Ponpes Qudwatusshalihin Pondah.
The rustic atmosphere is seen when Sulastri's car goes into a small road through several hills on the left and right of the road. The air feels fresh. The magnificent building of the boarding school in front of them was like welcoming their arrival. Until arriving at the cottage gate, Mr. Bayan stopped his car.
Three black santriwati came as Sulastri got out of the car. Politely, they smiled towards Sulastri.
"There's something we can help you with, ma'am," one of them said.
"I'd like to see Master. His house is where it is" Sulastri said.
"Mother just went through that hallway. At the end of the hall was Master Teacher's house," said one of them politely pointing while bowing half his body. Sulastri smiled. He took out some paper money from his bag and gave it to one of them.
"For his friends yes" said Sulastri. He then took Mr. Bayan towards the hallway.
"Farida, you will not go to the hotel here" Sulastri said as he walked down the hallway,"
"Must want, remember the words of Mr. Yulian. If I, would, ma'am," Fahmi said.
"Yes, Farida would, too" said Farida. Sulastri smiled.
* * * **
Sulastri stared at the photo of a handsome man with a little beard and wore a green turban wrapped around his head. Under the photo is the name;
TGb. Then Izzul Islam.
Nanny Pondok Pesantren Qudwatusshalihin Pondah.
"Yet young, ma'am" whispered Mr. Bayan as he stared at the photo. Sulastri smiled.
Not a long wait. A young man came out. From the appearance and face that is exactly like the one in the photo, Sulastri made sure that the man was the nanny of the boarding house.
"Sorry for waiting so long. If I may know, there is something I can help you with, ma'am," said the man, full of authority, bowing his head.
Sulastri smiled and lowered his head.
"I'm here to ask for a prayer from Master."
The man smiled.
"What a prayer, ma'am. If I may know,"
Sulastri took out a bottle of bottled drink from inside his bag and placed it in front of him. He pushed her slowly towards the man.
"I ask Master to pray for this water, with the intention that my stepson will open his heart and accept me as his mother" Sulastri said in embarrassment.
The man sighed and smiled. He then took a bottle of water in front of him. After opening the lid, he began to pray for it.
"God willing. With Allah's permission, may what you intend be achieved by the intermediary of water that has been read the words of Allah,"
"Thank you Master, Master,"
"Keep reading him shalawat and fatehah into the bottle after the mother performed five prayers. God willing, Mom. There is no stone that is not hollow if it is continuously in the water, let alone the heart of a human. I just need to be patient and not discouraged. I pray from here, may the stepson of the mother according to the expectations of the mother," said the man gave advice.
* * * * *
After performing the dhuhur prayer at the house of Master Izzul Islam, Sulastri then pamit and went home.