Ryanthi: Sweet Cake, Bitter Reality
● FIVE : Deepened Longing

The day keeps changing. Farida's condition worsened. He just lay weak. His body was getting thinner, because the woman's appetite began to decrease.

That afternoon, Arshan came to visit. He had not seen Ryanthi and Farida for a long time. It's not Arshan if it doesn't come with something. This time, the man brought Ryanthi's favorite fruits and banana chips.

"Thank you for the fruits, Son Arshan," said Farida weakly, "why bother everything," he continued.

Arshan smiled as he nodded slowly. "No trouble, Mom. May you heal quickly. Sorry, I just got here. Yesterday, I was preoccupied with a lot of work" he explained politely.

Arshan is a good young man. She is five years older than Ryanthi. He works as a part chief at a well-known aerospace company in his city. Arshan is also a hard worker. That is why Ryanthi accepted her love.

Moments later, Ryanthi comes to them. He brought a tray with him with a cup of coffee. "The coffee, Shan," Ryanthi said.

Arshan. Although much older, but he did not mind Ryanthi calling him that.

"On the terrace, Thi," replied Arshan. He turned his eyes to Farida.

"Mom, me and Athi on the porch first, yeah."

The wind was not too strong. However, the afternoon air was quite cold. They sit on the terrace. Ryanthi then put down a cup containing Arshan's favorite black coffee. The man immediately tasted her a few gulps. Either because of thirst, or it has long not enjoyed Ryanthi-made coffee. After that, Arshan picked up a cigarette and immediately lit it.

"You smoking again?" ask Ryanthi.

Arshan puffed up the cigarette smoke, then glanced at the girl next to him. "I don't think I can stop completely. Just reduced," he replied with a smile. Arshan knows that Ryanthi does not like his smoking style that is too wasteful.

Ryanthi did not answer. At present, Arshan's cigarette business is no more important than Farida's condition. That made Ryanthi look very worried.

"Why don't you take mom to the hospital? There he can get better treatment" Arshan suggested.

"I've been persuading mom from yesterday. But he always refused. I just bought him medicine from the pharmacy, because the medicine from the health doctor was also exhausted" Ryanthi explained. He complained of Farida's overly stubborn attitude.

"Do you know why you didn't want to be taken to the hospital?" asked Arshan curiously.

"I was very worried about my mother's condition, therefore, I did not take any more orders as long as she was sick. I want to focus on taking care of him. However, now there's no income in my pocket." Ryanthi smiled bitterly at the living conditions she was living. From the past until now, good luck seems never to stop by him.

Arshan returned to smoke his cigarette. He gulped down the black coffee earlier, leaving half of it in a cup.

"Why didn't you say it? I have a little savings. I think that's enough for the cost of my mother's treatment" Arshan said, staring at Ryanthi. "Maybe that's why I refused to go to the hospital?" thought Arshan.

Ryanthi looked at the man she had been dating for almost two years. Arshan was so kind and considerate. However, Ryanthi was unable to take help from him just like that. Arshan is Ryanthi's closest friend right now. However, their relationship is only a girlfriend. Ryanthi felt that she had not been entitled to accept anything excessive from the man.

"It's not that I refuse your kindness, but I can't accept that" Ryanthi subtly refused. "Do you remember not the commitment we made?" continued.

Arshan was silent for a moment. He seemed to be thinking of something. Ryanthi was silent. He also pondered many things that had no meeting point.

"Thi." Arshan breaks the silence between them.

"Yes" Ryanthi said slowly.

"Why don't you try to see your father? You know where to look, right?"

Ryanthi did not answer. He didn't even think about it. "I know, Shan. But it is ...." Ryanthi did not continue her words, as she herself was confused.

"Try it first" Arshan advised again. "We don't know, maybe I miss your father very much" he continued.

"I'm not sure" Ryanthi hesitated.

"Listen to me, Thi. Sometimes, there are many people who hide what they feel from those around them just because of the ego. Didn't you say that you saw your mother cry in the middle of the night and say your father's name."

"That was a long time ago. I was only eight at the time" Ryanthi, who still seemed hesitant, argued.

"Not like that either. The longing for our loved ones will never go away, even if it's been decades" Arshan said. "It's not impossible if you actually still love your father, even though .. yes you know it's like this."

"I read in an article. There was a woman who was reunited with her ex-boyfriend after they were both fifty years old. The two decided to get married, because they feel the same longing," said Arshan. "Say my mother, the more we think about someone, then that means that person is also thinking about us" continued the man again.

Ryanthi was silent. Actually, he also misses the father who has not been found for a dozen years. Regardless of what the man had done in the past, but Ryanthi was also always remembered with all the kindness that though only vague in his memory.

"Think about my advice. There is no harm in reconnecting the cord that has been severed. Who knows that all this time he has also been trying to find you," Arshan said again.

"I don't know what my father's condition is right now. Is he alive or not?" ryanthi muttered softly.

"Therefore, seek him. I'm sure he'll want to see your face as an adult.

Surely, your father would be proud to have such a beautiful daughter." Arshan ended his words with seduction, which made Ryanthi blush.

"alright. I will consider your advice" Ryanthi said, though she herself was not convinced.

After Arahan's death, Ryanthi returns to Farida's room. He looked at the face of the mother who was getting thinner. Ryanthi kept thinking. "What am I supposed to do, God? Do I have to follow the advice of the Directive to find a father, or stay this way?"

Ryanthi approaches Farida's bed. He kissed the sleeping woman's forehead, then fixed the blanket. "Rest, Mom. Everything will get better."