Tama And Ratna
44. Mourning

Ratna came home helplessly. Fortunately nothing happened on the road because Ratna realized she was driving with half a daydream. It feels like keeping him focused is very difficult. Because the more Ratna kept quiet, the more she remembered the unpleasant sentences today. When it was late at night, Tama called Ratna. He read the message from Ratna and was worried about her condition at home.

"Sir, are you really going to visit your friend's house?" ask Tama.

"No papa Mas, I don't mean it" replied Ratna.

"But you'll continue to shadow if you don't go there. No papa, give permission. Later Mas call the same Dipta or Jay to ask for help pick you up there," said Tama.

"Surely you can?"

"Originally you can take care of yourself, don't be weird. It's not papa. Radea and Theo were your best friends since college, right? You often tell me about it. I know what it's like to lose Dek's best friend. I don't want you to dream because I forbid you to go when I can actually go."

"Buck...."

"Yes?"

"Thank you," said Ratna finally crying as well.

"Yes, be careful on the road. If you get a ticket tell Mas, then get there tell Mas again. Keep pushing, even though Mas can not immediately reply," said Tama.

"Yes, I must."

"Now you sleep first. Rest."

After turning off the phone, Ratna came back to tears. He tried to book a ticket for the flight tomorrow morning. Luckily, there were 2 tickets left and he got them. Depart tomorrow on the earliest flight. Ratna informs her husband, Ratna also informs Dipta and Ela about her planned arrival tomorrow. After she finished giving the news, Ratna immediately packed her clothes. There was not much he had brought with him just a few pieces of small clothes and supplies he might need. He only carried it in one medium-sized bag.

In the morning Ratna went to the airport by motorbike. Ratna headed straight to the Boarding Pass after making sure the bike was safe. It seems like the universe will always help when we have good intentions. In addition to the ease of finding tickets, Ratna was also given permission by her superiors easily although she still had to apply for a leave of absence after that, but could be proposed.

A few hours drive, Ratna finally landed in Jogja. When he stepped out of the airport, he immediately found Dipta and Ela. As soon as she saw Ratna, Ela immediately ran to embrace her then the two cried. When he arrived at the funeral home, Ratna still had time to meet with Radea even though she could not greet him because Radea his best friend was already lying stiff in the chest. Theo was always next to him, constantly hugging Tio, his son.

"Theo...."

"Ratna. This is all a dream, right? He's just sleeping, right? Radea left me, it couldn't be Ratna. He promised me he promised we'd stay together until old age. But why did he leave so soon?" ask Theo who came back crying.

"Tio, come with me first yuk," invited Dipta to the 3-year-old in Theo's arms.

Ratna burst into tears when she saw how devastated Theo was right now. Jay was also there to help Ratna calm Theo who lost consciousness.Not long after Ratna's arrival, Dea's body began to be prayed and then brought to his final rest. Theo was finally able to strengthen himself to deliver the corpse of the wife to a more beautiful place. Theo is assisted by Dipta and Jay and some of his relatives help lift the chest while just behind him there are Ela, Yunita his wife Jay, and Ratna with little Tio.

Originally Tio would not be taken to the funeral, but she also had to see if her mother was no longer by her side. So he won't keep looking around for where his mother is and so he can be stronger after this. When the body was taken down, only tears and prayers were able to accompany it. Not only Ela, but also Yunita cried when she saw the 5 famous friends who were always together and compact this must be separated by death with cruelty.

...***...

"I don't think you're coming" Jay told Ratna.

"I will come no matter what happens" he replied.

"Your husband?"

"He gave me permission. He also knows how valuable you are to me. That's why he gave me permission to go here" Ratna explained.

"I'm grateful you got someone so good at taking care of you" Jay said.

"Rabelle...."

"What?"

"From the five of us, only you stand with us. I hope you'll be okay wherever you are. Do not get sick, you also have to remember to always be careful in doing anything. Even though I and Dipta already have their own families, but you will still have a position in our hearts. Especially after Dea. I can't imagine what we'd be like if you left too" Jay said, sending Ratna back to tears.

"Thank you, just pray that my husband and I are always in good shape. I will also pray for you who are here," Ratna said making Jay nod in agreement.

"Are you sure you didn't tell the house people that you were here?" jay asked before Ratna got out of her car.

"If you knew I was here, you would panic. Anyway, tomorrow I'm going to Jay's, I don't have time to stop by the house" Ratna said.

"Jas. What time is your flight tomorrow? Let me take you," said Jay.

"No need, my flight is at 10 am. You are the same Dipta mending focus on your work. If there's a better time for you to accompany Theo, he needs you more than I do. I promise you sometime if I have time I'll see you again" Ratna politely declined.

"Ok then tomorrow be careful on the road huh, greetings to your husband. Let us know when you get there," Jay said before re-applying his car leaving Ratna, who started walking into the inn.

That night Ratna went back to daydreaming. He could only sit quietly staring at the night sky through the glass window of the hotel where he was staying. The several times Ratna exhaled her coarse breath just so that she could slightly gain the strength to hold on and not cry. Ratna's phone rang, when Ratna had forgotten since when she was just daydreaming.

"Assalamualaikum..," said Ratna.

"Vaalaikumsalam. Deck Ratna, if you want to cry yuk nangis aja. Not arrested. Mas temenin," said Tama from across.

Ratna could not answer. He immediately released the tears that he had been holding back from earlier. It seems like all his power is gone at this moment. Only a cry could she make to at least lessen the burden on her heart even a little. Tama on the other side also just silently listened to Ratna cry. He didn't even turn off the phone even though he knew Ratna was asleep.

"You're my wife's strong. I'm proud of you" said Tama, who eventually chose to turn off the phone so she could wake Ratna up tomorrow morning.