THE FORMER SHADOW
3. Go home

After being treated for a week Cantara was allowed to go home. Badrina packed her son's belongings and clothes, while Arshaka completed the hospital administration.

During the week of treatment at the hospital Badrina and Arshaka poured out affection and forgot the problems that once entwined their relationship.

Feed Cantara, wipe the body, tell the contents of the book, accompany sleep and some other forms of affection shown by them as parents.

Arshaka and Badrina did not say much, each holding back. If you need to talk, only as necessary related to the needs of Cantara.

When he was coming home from the hospital, Arshaka told Cantara that he would go home with his mother.

"Where are you going, not coming home?" ask Cantara.

Arshaka is ready to answer her daughter's questions. There will be many other questions ahead.

"Papa's got a job, baby." The answer came from Badrina.

"That means going home?"

This is a difficult answer for them to answer.

Badrina could only change the subject so that they could be immediately distracted from the question of Cantara.

Previously, Arshaka intended to take Cantara and her mother home. However, Badrina refused and said she would take a taxi home. Arshaka did not force himself. He will return to the office after the hospital.

Now, Badrina and her daughter arrived home. The house that the ex-husband gave up for his son. Badrina lives there.

"Canta, good to go home, son?" Get off the taxi Badrina clasped his son's hand.

"Yes my mom is happy." Canta smiled showing his neat row of milk teeth.

Badrina took her son to the room, changed his clothes, washed his hands and feet and went to bed.

They both sat in bed. Cantara was happy to be able to hug her mother like now.

"Canta dear papa and mama," he smiled.

Cantara's innocence made Badrina's tears escape just like that. It felt hard in his chest to hear the honesty of the child.

"Mama and papa also love Canta. Bobok first yes. Canta tired?" Cantara nodded obediently.

"Later in the afternoon we will take a walk around the house. If you're healthy, you can walk to the mall." Badrina smiled cheering on her beloved daughter.

This free opportunity Badrina used to enter her private room. He needs to make a plan for life in the future, as well as how to face his son who will definitely ask what is with his father and mother, why different places to live.

Badrina could not cry over her life's destiny constantly. Isn't that what he reflected on during the interrupted holidays?

Wherever he pondered, it did not matter, the location where the most important thing was that his heart felt comfortable. The bedroom was enough to give a taste of it, plus there is a Cantara nearby.

Badrina's self-reflection is not first of all about her child, but about herself who is easily ignited emotions during parenthood.

Badrina took a position near the window, sitting while reading a book given by a man during the holidays. Her father's co-worker Cantara, an operations manager at the same company as her ex-husband.

The man knew about Arshaka's domestic problems. Not an economic motive but rather an unmet emotional need Badrina had in the past which is then present in the present day especially when she feels under pressure. The man called the inner child Badrina the wounded.

"When we meet here, Aini." That was Badrina's childhood calling. They were friends from Primary School (SD) to Secondary School (SMP). After that they separated the city because of the work of parents, until finally met again when he had become a co-worker of Cantara's father.

"Hi, Danish. A visit to work or a vacation?"

"Both," he answered.

Usually their encounters are unintentional. When Badrina visited her ex-husband's office, occasionally face-to-face with Danish. There was nothing special about their communication during this time.

Two days of vacation they became friends to talk. Badrina reopens the harsh past. The conversation was interrupted by Danish. For Danish, Badrina needs a interlocutor. He only heard all the stories of Badrina without advising.

Badrina's hiccups tell of her difficulty managing emotions when close to her husband, especially after having children. Danish felt empathetic towards what Badrina was going through.

Before the divorce petition was filed by his friend, Danish had reminded Arshaka that he could see problems from Badrina's side, about the past, unmet needs, about temperament, and Badrina's feelings.

However, Arshaka gets upset and Danish's advice will only waste time. Arshaka no longer unravels it all in good communication with his wife.

Especially when accused of cheating, Badrina once slapped Arshaka. Although Badrina eventually apologized to her husband, the incident left a pain in Arshaka's heart.

__**__

Badrina began to read sheet by sheet the books she read. Sometimes he repeats paragraphs that make him confused or liked. Sometimes he wiped his tears that wet his cheeks.

The story of people who live in the world of marriage, experiencing a storm of waves in the relationship of husband, wife, and child. Badrina is not alone in facing her problems.

Sometimes he sipped hot tea that began to cool because of air conditioning. Badrina is interested in exploring the contents of the book, really connected with the problems of his life now.

The ringing of the notification of the short message shifted Badrina's concentration. Arshaka's message came in and said she was going to the house tomorrow afternoon to see her son, Cantara.

Badrina actually wanted them not to meet before, but she could not be selfish because Cantara needed her father. Badrina replied to her ex-husband's message with a short answer 'please'.

Arshaka who got the reply message smiled happily. He was allowed to see his son later.

"Shaka Hi...." Suddenly a woman came into Arshaka's room. He was his best friend from childhood, Elmira Rahman. Since Arshaka's divorce, Elmira has visited Arshaka's office.

"Eh, Hi! Enter Mira."

Elmira came in, they hugged. Arshaka and Elmira have been like brothers themselves. Elmira herself has been left behind by her husband due to a single accident four years ago.

Although each has a family does not make them far from each other.

"Have lunch? I want to take you to a place where the food is really good."

"It just so happens that I'm going home, I'm planning to eat."

"Where to go? Badrina's house?" ledek Elmira, the woman laughed.

Arshaka clumsy. Before the relationship deteriorated between him and his ex-wife, it was common for a husband to come home to meet his wife and child.

"Hehe.. Mama's house, where else." Arshaka.

"But, if there is a restaurant that has a good menu, we can go there, too" added Arshaka.

They went out and went to the restaurant.

There they talked about the companies they worked for. When she gets back to the office, Elmira is allowed to go to the toilet for a while. Arshaka sees Danish and the members of the division under his management and decides to greet him.

"Hey Danish! Another division meeting?" Arshaka patted Danish's shoulder.

"Eh.. Shakah! Yes, but I'm done going back to the office. Just a little lunch. You come here by yourself?" ask Danish.

"Ngga.. with temen."