Prison of Love
Risotto Osman

68

Abah finished his sentence with a fast tempo. It was obvious that Abah could not hold back his emotions this time. I don't even understand why Abah attacked Hengky like this?

“Sorry Nak Hengky or Andy, maybe Abah means like this,” Mom tried to mediate, he changed his sitting position facing Hengky and Andy and then smiled,

“Stupid no one knows. But for now Abah feels that Hengky cannot be a good male candidate for Naya. According to Abah, family background is very important, so maybe after this Hengky can rethink whether Hengky will keep hoping on something uncertain or move forward leaving Naya.”

Hengky nodded in understanding. His eyes were straight on the table, with a smile he raised his face and looked at Mom,

“Sorry Mom, moving forward in Hengky's vocabulary is to keep trying whatever the risk. Leaving Naya never crossed Hengky's mind. So, if Abah and Mother ask Hengky to keep his distance or temporarily cut off the relationship with Naya, will Hengky able to. But in the Lord, Hengky will return in even better condition.”

“Not about you, Hengky. But your family!” cetus Abah started to get emotional.

I'm bowed. The tears that I had been holding back from now I had no regard for wetting my cheeks and hijab. If you want to discuss something like this, wouldn't it be better if it was just between us? Without involving sister, grandma let alone uwak and uncle.

It felt like I had just heard the sound of my pride falling apart. All this time I tried to build an image as a good brother, a flawless nephew or a grandson to be proud of but now Abah and Mother broke the foundation of my self-worth without mercy.

My eyes looked straight at Hengky. I knew there were a lot of words he wanted to refute from Abah's words, but seeing me shake weakly at him he forced a smile and then nodded,

“Good Abah if that's what Abah and Mom want.”

“Abah also wants Naya to have a husband who can replace Abah as Da’i, an older brother who can guide Naya's sisters well in terms of religion, as well, or later that will be useful for our family-owned Foundation, but at a glance, Abah already knows the extent of your abilities.”

Abah seems unsatisfied. Seeing no sign of resistance or rebuttal from Hengky made him very free to convey whatever came to his mind.

I'm getting bowed. Never thought that Abah could be so lowly like this. Yeah, I think attacking someone else in your own cage is cowardly.

“Sorry if you interrupt Abah's words,” Andy who from earlier hid a face full of emotion seems to no longer be able to hold himself, he said,

“I just want to ask, does Abah know the full name of Hengky?”

“For what I know?” answer Abah ketus.

“If my sister's full name Abah does not know, then how can Abah so freely judge my sister only from two short encounters?”

Abah's chin that had been lifted suddenly seemed to jerk down. He looked at Andy annoyed, “You can't underestimate the intuition of parents, son!”

“No Abah, it's not intuition. It was just a blank sentence of presumption and baseless accusations. It is true that Papi and Mami Hengky are very busy people so very rarely at home. But amazingly, Hengky can grow into an extraordinary figure without the presence of Papi and his Mami. From childhood, he was used to taking care of himself, his own problems even great, even though he never got involved in any problems, be it at school or outside,”

“Change, Mother or sisters can value themselves, if Hengky is a person who does not know the manner, he said, is it possible that he will greatly glorify the family of the woman he loves even to invite them to the most luxurious restaurant in this city?”

“Already Abah said, Naya does not need wealth!”

The words of Uncle Eunuch that were so sudden made our eyes turn to him simultaneously.

Uncle Kasim scratched his non-itchy head, he put his hand near his forehead, massaging his temple slowly, he said, “Dizziness I ngedenger Brother's words that suddenly make me a flashback to when Brother betrothed me and Irina first.”

“Easy, stop! We're not talking about..” Mother interrupted Uncle Judge's words in a hurry, making me even more curious about what was really going on.

A servant came knocking on the door. Smiling, he walked into the room while pushing the food delivery table.

The atmosphere felt awkward. Each of us shut our mouths, only the meaningful glances of Uncle Kasim blinking one eye at me made me feel like I had a new hope.

I glanced at Hengky, his face still looking calm. The words of Abah who continued to attack him seemed to have no effect on his mental and confidence. He was still the same, putting both his hands on the table bag, upright posture, and a gaze full of confidence.

When the waiter finished putting all the food away and left the room, Uncle Kasim smiled as he raised his eyebrows, “How? Can we continue?”

“If this is about nonsense that you were about to discuss, mending you diem deh!” answer Mother ketus. His hands were busy preparing food for Abah, while his eyes glanced sharply at Uncle Eunuch.

Uwak who from earlier only listened to meek softly, “Sorry if I interfere in your affairs, but preferably, the future affairs of Naya, we do not need to discuss here. Even Osman knows, this is not the right time to discuss such issues. Come on, aren't we all happy that Naya has completed her studies well?”

Osman nodded quickly, “True once! Abah. Brother Hengky pinter really milihin us to this restaurant. Uh, this is his name just now what's the menu, sis?”

Hengky smile, “Risotto, Deck. How's it? Osman likes?”

“Banget! We'll be here again sometime, Kak Naya?” Osman smiled happily as he devoured his food.

I nodded and smiled at her funny behavior. Osman was nine years old. Maybe because his age has not been up to a decade makes him not realize what we are discussing from earlier. Or maybe from earlier his mind was just, “when my food until?”

“Kak Hengky good yes, deck?” Uncle Kasim asked softly, fishing.

Osman quickly nodded, he smiled widely while looking at the hengky, “When bring me here again huh, Kak?”

“Osman! Quickly finish your meal!”

“Change why the hell? From there keep getting angry. Abah forgot the Prophet's hadith which said, ‘Don't you be angry, then for you heaven’, so if we are angry again, we should be silent, or ablution, or if still angry too, or if we are angry, we pray two rakaat.”

Osman's unexpected words made a laugh slip out of my mouth. Uwak even coughed because he was chewing food and then suddenly laughed.

Abah and Mom's faces flushed. They had no choice but to remain silent. Scolding a child for his words that cannot be refuted is a futile act.

“Kak Hengky, if later married to Kak Naya, anyway obliged ajakin Osman here again huh?”

I who was spooning food choked suddenly, Hengky even coughed in surprise. We looked at each other, confused as to what to answer.