REMEDIALLY
Chicken Pecel

POV Ahsan Eshaka's

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The wind was chasing blowing off the asphalt dust as I paddled the bicycle I borrowed, before veering into the meadow which indicated that it had arrived in my front yard. Ah whereas yesterday I was still happy to call this father's house, even though there was only Mama in there.

Because for me and Mama, our house is still in Jakarta, we came here on the grounds that I was bound by state duties. But a few hours ago, I decided to call this my home too. This is what you left for me and Mama, you were good at choosing a house close to Ayumna.

Mama immediately came out grunting the bike brake that seemed to have not been given this lubricant for a long time. Inside his head, my mother must have asked…

“Which bike? which car are you?” ask the woman who is still wearing her favorite light yellow mukena, her beautiful face is still there is a remnant of ablution, it looks like she just finished praying isya.

“There's a station, Ma. Earlier through another station, keep stopping by Ayumna's house on this dipinjemin.” I took her hand, Mama gave me a little gap to let me into the house.

“Ayumna who is this, Mas?” Mama chased after me who was walking towards our kitchen.

Compared to the house in Jakarta, Dad's house is much simpler. I once wanted to renovate the whole for Mama considering that the land is still very large, but Mama refused it. I see, the yard and the building are indeed sometimes fused with the fibers of memory.

“Mama's daughter-in-law,” I replied lightly after sipping a glass of cold water from the refrigerator, the freshness reached the head and like turning on the button so that it so brightly projected Mima's smile.

“Hei!” Mama patted me hard on the shoulder, so I rubbed her. My mom was really surprised by my spontaneous answer.

It's been two months since the tragedy broke, I don't know if Mama's really healed from the loss? Because the woman named Tiara, according to Mama is the ideal wife for me.

“Sick, Ma,” lamented spoiled.

“You're the one, don't joke about it, Shaka.”

My beautiful mother, I'm sorry to shock you and bring up a little trauma, but I'm not kidding anymore.

Tiara is a beautiful girl child of Mama's friend, despite knowing her briefly, I agree-agree to marry her. He was educated, polite and good at adjusting to my Queen Mother. I thought at least I wouldn't bother dealing with future daughter-in-law conflicts, the conflicts I avoid most in my marriage.

Tiara is very polite, polite not only in the sense of attitude, but also speech, body gesture and thought. She is active in a large organization of women representing the province of west Sumatra. Like an Indonesian princess from west Sumatra, that's how I don't really understand.

His mind was very open, talking to him made my view of the world very broad. So I think that even if he's not in love, he's at least a good interlocutor for life.

“Tiara?” ask Mama to doubt.

Right?, it was still that girl that was in his heart.

I glanced at the almost 50-year-old woman.

“Mama.” I press my intonation to remind Mama. The one who broke my marriage, but who failed to move on was actually Mama.

If I had a specific reason for canceling the wedding, maybe Mama wouldn't be this heavy about accepting the fact. Or if the Tiara who is not polite and rejects me blatantly, it may be faster to heal.

The failure of our marriage at that time was actually due to customary problems, Tiara who was the original minang girl who despite studying in the region but her family still hoofed and run a fairly thick tribal. He could not do much to resist.

His father and mother had also accepted me very much, but by the day of our engagement, Uncle Tiara, or whom he called (Ninik Mamak) had not given his blessing, he said, I don't really understand this blessing plot, but I do appreciate their family's decision and don't sue anything, even if the cancellation happens after everything is perfectly prepared.

All void, but the mental mama's most fatal effect.

“Mama want me to get married soon or want me to marry Tiara?”

“Already... already, don't be taken for granted again, Mama wants you to be happy, you are happy living life, that's all. Mama wants to see you happy, but Mama can't ya?”

Starting off, later Mama often said really afraid of not being able to see me married, have a happy family. I stood behind Mama and hugged her tightly.

“How could I not be happy if every day was given do’a-do’a from Mama. Besides pray a lot for me.” I buried my head on Mama's shoulder.

“I shower first yes, Ma, abis pray me to Mama's room.”

Mama frowned and held onto my shoulder, giving a suspicious look.

“I have to be clean, handsome and dashing first right? let's more seriously beg for his blessing.”

“Shaka...” Mama mendelik, it looks like my gelagat read, if it's like this, where do you want sweet women and this ayu patiently wait longer.

***

I'm done with my business, as we promised, I'm heading straight to Mama's room. I saw Mama being serious in front of the big open closet. Lots of fabric folds and photo albums on the floor.

“Mama has eaten?” I took a position next to him and brought up a classic photo album, family documentation of Dad and Mama.

“Already, Mas, the side dish was up, if you want to eat, later buy a chicken pecel at the intersection, mama nitip satay shells yes.” it looks like Mama really wants to remember her lover, satay shells are my favorite food.

“Mama what else? it's late, it's sorted out tomorrow again, yes.”

“Again this sort,” He points to a pile of clothes that have been separated. “Their clothes fit you, some more want mama to pass to the teachers just paycheck, so Dad can send rewards from their charity.”

I took the pile of folds that Mama separated, then smiled. Many years since the departure of Dad, only now Mama want to open this closet again.

“Mas Shaka!” Mama patted my thighs slowly, I was opening the photo album Dad, immediately stopped to respond to his call.

“See in the photo album that you hold it, not much togetherness Mama and Dad that you can see right?”

I was already in the middle of the album, after some wedding photos, the rest of the photos of Dad at school with his students and the photos of Mama with me in Jakarta. There were only a few pictures of the three of us, even when I graduated, there were only pictures of me and Mama.

“That time either Mama thought we could be together forever, mama always thought we would have spare time after both struggling in their respective fields.”

“Mama.”

“Papa good man, Papa always advises Mama to go home without ever forcing, but Mama ..”

“Ma, already dong. I know Mama misses, but can't be sad for a long time.”

Mama nodded and smiled thinly.

“You want to ask for Mama's blessing right?”

“Neventful, Ma, later aja.” It's not right to talk about my flowery feelings over your longing.

“Mama blessing, whomever you choose, Mas. Message Mama, you and whoever your wife will be, not just married, you must be together, live together, live together, you must be able to bring your wife to be by your side no matter what. You should have many wonderful memories together.”

I was forced to pause Mama's advice because I couldn't bear to ask questions when I saw the photos of Dad and the students in his class.

“Liat aja behind the photo is usually always Dad wrote the description and names, already there, later to hunt close the chicken pecel, do not forget the mama.” shell satay

Before I left, I shot the photo sheet with my camera phone.

***

I parked the motorbike and entered the tent pecal catfish with hasty steps, but from the house was quite bright, suddenly heavy rain when it almost arrived.

I jumped because I heard the voice of the girl standing behind the tent, and it turned out that our bodies almost collided.

“Aaa!” his screeches.

Now it's not just him, I'm just as shocked.

“Ayumna!” I said after realizing I almost made him fall, “Sorry, I was in a hurry to be afraid of rain.”

She smiled accepting my apology. I just remembered, this pecel catfish stall is closer to Ayumna's house than mine.

“What are you doing here?” That stupid question came out of my mouth, heart when it was pounding, it could not send the right signal.

“Buy pecel lele,” he pointed at the opposition he had in his hand.

“You alone?” stupid question two, my God Shaka!

Mima nodded, oddly enough that even though my question sounded silly, it was answered normally by her.

“Street?”

“Yes, my bike is borrowed with you. It was not raining here when, so do not bring an umbrella.”

“For a while yes, I order first.”

After mentioning my order, I intend to leave it, take Mima home first, then come again to take my order.

“Sorry yes, because I borrowed the bike, you got bothered.”

“No, I really want to walk, right deket. Tek Na also told me to use the motorbike, but I really want to walk aja.”

“But aye, I took a coat!”

“You what?”

“Take you home.”

Ayumna shook her head, am I rejected?

Lama Mima looked at himself, then approached beside me and said something.

“Let my teacher be caught.”

“Ha?”

“I still feel weird riding the bike both equally male,” Ayumna folds her hands behind the veil she wears, then stares straight ahead. “Usually so often caught riding a motorcycle alone and make my Fiqh value C until now.  My teacher already does not exist, my C value can not be replaced, but at least my life value should not be remedial again.”

“Yaudah, tomorrow you are ready yes, I return your bike.”

Ayumna must be confused, what to prepare for the person who came to return the bike?