THE FORMER SHADOW
28. Arshaka's Brave Step

This morning Cantara was escorted by Badrina to her new school. The awkwardness covered the girl's feelings. Badrina was only allowed to wait for her child from outside the classroom near the entrance so as not to interfere with teaching and learning activities.

The school imposes an orientation on each new child who enters in the middle of the teachings, intended that the school activity is not due to coercion or obligation, but the self-reliance of the child himself.

Sometimes Cantara glanced outside the classroom, making sure Badrina was still there. Badrina always develops a smile on her child as a sign of support.

Now in class, the children are listening to a fable from the teacher. Cantara likes this activity, because at home he has a habit of being read to by books both Arshaka and Badrina.

Cantara has a good focus, when asked about the story of 'The Monkey and the Chicken', he also answered questions from the teacher without hesitation.

A girl in the group was sitting down and whispered to Cantara, "You're so smart" with a smile.

Cantara returned the smile of her friend named Nada Syiar. "Thank you" he replied with a smile.

"May I be friends with you" whispered Nada.

"Of course, I'm happy to be friends" said Cantara extending her hand.

They shake. The first day of school for Cantara became a beautiful day. The teachers and friends were friendly to him.

When he returned from school, Badrina took his son's hand to the taxi he had booked. "Where is school on the first day, Canta doesn't like it?" badrina asked after they sat in the taxi.

"Canta likes and is happy, Mama," he said, emphasizing his feelings while hugging Badrina "Thank you Mama chose the school that Canta likes," he added, looking up at Badrina.

Badrina rubbed her daughter's head. Now they're on their way home.

At the office, during lunch hour Arshaka sat with Danish in a special management room to rest. "Why go to Rina's house?" arshaka asked the Danish, sitting them face to face.

Danish who was enjoying her lunch raised her head, looked at Arshaka and smiled. "The smell of jealousy of an ex" said Danish after laughing out loud.

"Ck... lo voice! Not jealous, I just saw you come out of the yard of Rina's house. Just answer me," said Arshaka glanced around their table.

"Say no jealousy in the mouth, in the heart who knows?" Danish is back. Since the divorce, Arshaka has often been Danish moons. His friend judged his actions to be too premature, not yet mature enough to be thrown.

"Lo just answer me." Arshaka is offended by Danish's reply. He tidied up his dinnerware to leave the Danish.

"Ah, you don't sulk that dong." Danish's forefinger poking Arshaka's chin.

"What the fuck you, long-time afraid I'm the same lo! Do not let there be scandal news in the office," exclaimed Arshaka while rubbing the ex-Danish colekan on his chin.

Danish was still chuckling, some people were paying attention to them, even though they were only glancing at him for not intending to interfere with the matter of the two managers.

"Gue to Aini's house for a new book. I again practice conscious living, Aini is interested in starting to be able to explore herself," explained Danish. Arshaka is interested in hearing about the topic of 'conscious living'.

"Huh? Conscious living? Do you realize no, have poked another man? Styles to practice conscious living," said Arshaka. He did not get off his bench.

"Oh, Shaka. life is not too hard and serious, bro, sometimes need a laugh joke," said Danish mocked Arshaka. "Where is the development of the reference, lo? I didn't ask Aini" asked Danish. Little Danish knows the issue of Arshaka and Badrina's post-divorce relationship.

"Ck. Lo realized later," taunted Danish, "dare to suffer the consequences," continued Danish again.

"But this is going to be even more complicated. I feel sorry for Badrina, she was taken advantage of" Arshaka said.

"Includes you too, right, take advantage of Badrina." This time Danish pointed at Arshaka with a serious face.

Arshaka was silent, the accusation had a point. That was what caused the guilt inside him. How can he fix everything without Badrina knowing the past? Arshaka's dilemma.

In the afternoon after returning from work, Arshaka drove his car to Poppy's residence. He intends to ask for an explanation. The speed of his car brings Arshaka to the high gate of Poppy's residence.

The gate was tightly closed, a security man came to Arshaka asking for his needs. Arshaka expresses desire to meet Poppy.

Security contacted the house by phone, whether the host was willing to meet Arshaka.

Arshaka is allowed in. To get to the house Poppy needs to pass through a large yard. Arshaka parked his car next to several other luxury vehicles.

Poppy is a big businessman, she is known as a member of socialite mothers. On the contrary, not so with the simple lifestyle of Badrina.

Arshaka is welcomed in by a waitress who seems to be serving the Poppy family. For several years Arshaka never again come to visit this luxurious house.

He did not know the servant who had welcomed him. Even if Badrina came, without her coming, who was brought along was Cantara. But even that is sometimes.

Badrina's childhood was spent in this house along with Poppy and her daughter named Monera Latifah, a few years older than Badrina, Arshaka's age.

Arshaka looked around the living room. There were many pictures of Poppy and her daughter, none of which had Badrina on display.

"Welcome, Arshaka," greeted Poppy from the steps of the house as she walked, "for a long time not visiting aunty. What made an Arshaka come here?" poppy asked, in fact, he knew what Arshaka meant to come to his house.

Poppy stood close, just a few steps ahead of Arshaka, "Don't want to see Monera Latifah, right? Monera's still in Switzerland." Poppy laughed at her own voice.

"Hhh. a long time ago, you guys didn't get together... Monera, Arshaka, Elmira, and... Maulidya, Zafer too, but Zafer's dear has passed away" Poppy recalled.

Arshaka lets Poppy continue her monologue even though it sounds useless to the man. Not to remember the past he came to this house.

"Oh.. auntie talks too much. Tell me, what brought my handsome aunt's ex-son-in-law here?" tanya Poppy sat herself on the sofa while side-by-side without letting Arshaka join her.

"I didn't come here to remember the past, Auntie," Arshaka explained flatly.

"Want to?" poppy asked smiling sideways.

Arshaka ventured to ask, "What does Auntie mean to introduce Rina to Hafez Irsyad, I'm sure the aunt knows who the man is, wild and uncivilized?" spray Arshaka with heinous charges.

Poppy laughed loudly throughout the house. The woman stood up, directing a sharp look at Arshaka, "After all these years, your task is not right, Shaka. Hafez continued!" growled Poppy with a flash of anger while pointing at Arshaka.