Quiet Wife
45. Substitutes

The ringing sound of a cell phone placed on top of the nightstand drawer reads. Stopping Naura who at the same time was making the bed. When reaching for her phone, the name of Mama Fani's contact was listed there. Without a second thought, Naura raised the call.

"Yes, hello, Mah?"

"Naura! You quickly came to the address that Mama now sent, yes! It's important!"

"Hm, what's wrong?" Naura's feeling was suddenly uncomfortable. Her reflexes tightened her grip on her phone.

"There was a phone call from rescuers who said the body of a man with the same characteristics as Calvin was found. It was probably Calvin! So you come now, yeah! Mama's with Papa on the road."

That instant, the phone that was within Naura's grasp fell to the floor. His heart was in disbelief.

"Mas Calvin!" Naura smothered her mouth, still not fully receiving the bad news. His chest tightened and his tears continued to flow incessantly. Without a second thought, Naura ran outside the room.

Arriving at the middle room, Naura was immediately stopped by Hermawan who finished closing the door. "Where are you going in such a hurry?" Ask Hermawan. His pair of eyeballs looked at the look on his daughter's face that looked down while crying.

"What's going on?" Panicked, Hermawan hugged his daughter.

"Mas Calvin, Dad! Come on, Anterin Naura now!"

"Calvin's? Where's anterin going?"

"Hospital!"

...****...

Right in front of the autopsy room, Fani and Divo, are waiting for confirmation from forensic doctors who will take them to see the corpse whose characteristics are similar to Calvin's.

Not only waiting for the doctor, the couple who had been married for about twenty-five years was also waiting for his daughter-in-law.

Honestly speaking. They don't know what to react to. If the body is indeed Calvin .. can Fani and Divo restrain themselves?

Too late in the daydreams, the sound of footsteps distracts them. Fani and Divo spontaneously rise from the waiting chair facing a young woman running hastily in the company of her biological father.

"Naura, my goodness! You can't run, slow down!" Fani catches Naura's body making her stop with an irregular roar of breath.

"Mas Calvin, where?" Naura asked barely making a sound. As for Fani, the woman quickly led her daughter-in-law to rest in the waiting chair.

"We'll sit down, yeah!" Coinciding when they had just sat down, a forensic specialist accompanied by two other colleagues arrived. With some special equipment and distinctive uniforms, they greet the family of the deceased first.

"Before we had autopsied the body before there was finally a phone call from outside who said that the possibility, the body found in coastal waters today is one of the victims dragged by a storm last month. So we agreed to the phone call and tried to refer the victim's family to our hospital. However, there are things I have to say that are very important here. The body may no longer be recognized. Is ... the family willing to see it?" The long words from the doctor made everything bow in lethargy.

Inwardly everyone asks the same question, is it really Calvin?

"Sa-me .. want to make sure if it's my husband's body." In the inertia, Naura spoke loudly so that all family members including doctors and colleagues focused on him.

The sound of short breaths from the doctor ended with a nod of understanding. "alright. Please, use this for sterilization."

...****...

When just entering the autopsy room, Naura's heartbeat seemed to be getting too timid. Both of her hands reflex clenched strongly to strengthen themselves if the corpse is indeed her husband.

His steps felt heavy. Naura desperately endured the invisible turmoil that struck her soul.

"So I'll go back to explaining. There was a considerable wound in the back of the head area that likely caused the death of the victim. And also we found bruises in some areas of the hands, feet and body. It is likely that it happened because the body of the victim who was bobbing hit the rocks and rocks. Maybe that's all. Is there anything you want to ask?" The doctor began to give a pause after it was clear enough he explained.

No one from the family said anything. Everything is in the eternal. Everyone still hopes that the body wrapped in white cloth in front of them is not Calvin at this time.

"Can it open now, Doc?" Ask Naura. Both eyes are made watery until it feels blocking the eye view.

The doctor and some of his colleagues looked at each other. Giving the code to immediately open the white cloth to show the face of his corpse.

They hurriedly opened the cloth with great care. When the open cloth appeared on his face and chest, everything was hysterical. Fani cried hugging her husband's body too powerless to see the face of the corpse that had been destroyed so difficult to recognize.

Different from Naura. High nose. His feet stepped towards the corpse. His pair of eyeballs as if neither fear nor disgust stared at every inch of the corpse's face that was too horrendous.

One of his hands stretched out to reveal the cloth blocking his hand. From there Naura was convinced of one thing.

"This is not Calvin!" Naura's words instantly made everyone turn their heads.

"You mean?" Fani stopped her crying. Secretly his heart was relieved by Naura's words.

"I'm sure it's not Calvin! If this is Calvin, he should be wearing our wedding ring here. But nothing here, not even the former. I also know what his hand looks like, Calvin. Even his height. Calvin was a centimeter taller than this body. I'm sure it's not Calvin!" Naura Bright. His mouth and body shook, but no doubt he also felt relieved because the corpse he had made sure was not Calvin.

Naura nodded a few times. "I'm sure! Otherwise, what if the DNA test?"

The doctor seemed to think. Shortly afterwards he nodded. "alright. We'll get it ready soon."

...****...

Naura POV

Day after day after the news of Mas Calvin, I kept silent and pondered.

My heart is relieved, very. However, with the events of that day, I became even more certain that you would never be found at any time.

That day I was given a chance, but it turned out to be just a little joke from God. That body is not Calvin. DNA tests have proven everything.

And here, I can only look forward to lamenting the future and the past at the same time. The heavy breathing I've been breathing lately. Not really, time goes by so fast. That heartbreaking incident has now completely sunk in the past.

It's been more than three months, and it seems like I'm getting used to living without Mas Calvin. If asked if I start living happily?

Of course the answer is, no.

It's just that I try to stay alive and fight for myself and our future son. He is now four months old. Last week I was accompanied by Mama Fani just did a weekly checkup and returned to doing USG. And it turns out, the gender is male.

It was in my mind. Will my son be similar to his father?

Hope so. So that when I miss him one day, I can look at my son's face as much.

I silently gave a faint smile as my mind daydreamed of the little smile on my future child's face. My hands continued to stretch out rubbing my stomach affectionately. The best wishes and prayers are always offered. Hope my son will not be moody and sad when he does not have a father.

Suddenly I remembered a remark from my father a few months ago about the replacement of Mas Calvin.

My face remembers that. If a replacement is necessary, will it accept my son?

I was afraid that something bad would happen to her if I ever remarried. I'm afraid my son is not loved.

However, another man lately has always shown me his love and affection. He was very kind and considerate, even blatantly calling himself with the call 'papa' when greeting my future son.

Ivan's. Can I start something new with him? Papa said, this is for my future son and probably for my own good.

But I still love Calvin. But papa said it's okay. Calvin must not be forgotten, for Calvin was part of my previous happiness. I just have to open one more heart to another man, and everything is clear.

That's so?

Unfortunately, this heart was still so doubtful. Should I open it, or should I keep it closed as usual? I was too discouraged to accept all of Ivan's affection. I'm just a married woman and I'm pregnant. While he ... he was still a young man. He deserves a much better woman than me.

...****...

A woman in a casual dress suit, slowly re-occupied a chair in her hotel room. His eyes looked so sad as he looked at the figure of a man who had been lying weakly for so long on his bed.

Clad in hospital clothes and various infusion hoses and other hoses to stay alive, the man seemed as if nothing had changed from his face or body.

All the scratches and bruises on his face and other corners of his body had long since recovered. One thing that has not been recovered until now. The man still faithfully closed his eyes.

"When was the last time the doctor checked?" The woman asked spontaneously to an assistant standing behind her body.

"An hour ago, Miss."

"When did Calvin wake up? He'll realize, won't he?" The woman who was none other than Naima asked uneasily. It's been too long, he thought.

"Doctors say that a new patient can wake up from a coma takes a different amount of time."

"Keep, what did the doctor say?" Ask, not impatient. The assistant who was also the same age as him could only duck.

"Maybe .. as soon as possible."

"Ck! I want Calvin to be sober." Press it, start to get angry. With a gontai step, Naima walked away from the man who was none other than Calvin was alone.

Without both of them knowing, his fingers began to move showing a sign.

^^^To be continued...^^^