THE FORMER SHADOW
31. Badrina Away - Arshaka Closer

It's the second day of school. In the morning the boy was excited to go to his new school. The atmosphere of yesterday still lingered well in his mind.

Badrina kept faithfully accompanying her daughter. He saw from a position some distance how Cantara interacted with his friends, not having any difficulties.

It may not be long before Cantara can feel more comfortable in this new school, Badrina thought.

Her phone vibrated in the bag, immediately Badrina checked. A short message came in, a message from Hafez.

[Assalamualaikum Badrina, how are you?]

[Waalaikum. Okay Hafez.]

[Alhamdulillah yes. What else now?]

Badrina smiled reading Hafez's message, feeling like a teenage girl approached by the opposite sex.

[Again waiting for my son, Cantara, at the new school.]

[Well. wow. Salute to you.]

Badrina could not help but hold back her little smile and laughter. It's been a long time since he's been flattered by a man. His heart warmed up to receive Hafez's praise.

[Thank you, Hafez. Can anyone help?]

Across the street, Hafez felt it was an opportunity for him to express his intention to visit Badrina's house, and to know her only daughter.

[May I visit your house on Saturday night?]

Badrina was amazed by the action of Hafez who wanted to visit him. Badrina thought considering something, coinciding with her not having any promise to leave the house. There is no harm if Badrina receives guests on Saturday night.

[Yes, it's okay. Do you know my home address?]

[No, Badrina. Can you send me the address?]

Finished their conversation through a short message, Badrina did not hesitate to immediately send his full address to Hafez. Along with the Cantara school hours ended, he hurriedly got up to pick up his daughter.

At the office, Arshaka had just finished attending an internal meeting. He must report the operational activities to the directors.

The activity report was appreciated by the board of directors. The division under Arshaka showed solid teamwork.

Arshaka has always been able to show the performance of a capable team. He has worked for five years in the food industry. Previously, he was just an ordinary private employee with no income as big as being a manager.

So, no wonder when he was offered cooperation by Poppy eight years ago, Arshaka lulled persuaded to agree, considering the financial level is not as strong as it is today.

However, in his journey Arshaka did not necessarily obey what was assigned by Poppy, not to rebel but to live his household like most ordinary people.

Despite this, the attention on Badrina still remained ironically given by him. He is not sure of the name of love after someone in the past left him to choose better than himself.

Joy lingered long in Arshaka's heart until the afternoon. Closing off work hours, Arshaka whistled until he arrived at the parking lot.

This afternoon, he will visit Maulidya and Ameera. For some time Arshaka did not visit the apartment to meet the mother and child.

Arshaka wants to ask Maulidya how Cantara is doing at his new school. Today Arshaka has no plans for a visit to Badrina's house.

Apartment door open. Maulidya always received Arshaka with a sweet smile on her lips.

"Come in, Mas" Maulidya asked.

Arshaka came in and sat in the living room.

"Hm.. perfumed, has Ameera bath, yes," said Arshaka while inhaling the aroma of Ameera strawberry shampoo.

"Already, Pa. Shampoo bought by mom. Very fragrant," Ameera's timpal confirmed the word Arshaka.

Maulidya came with a tray filled with a glass of warm water and a snack for Arshaka. The woman knew that when Arshaka visited would ask for a glass of warm water.

That habit is no longer asked Arsahaka because Maulidya has understood exactly what Arshaka wants.

"Diminum first, Mas," interrupted Maulidya while sitting on a single bench next to the sofa Arshaka and Ameera.

"Thank you, Lidya" said the man.

Arshaka returns to talk to Ameera. "Where was Ameera's school? Eeem.. try to guess, your school the arrival of new students, yes," later Arshaka felt like a psychic who was able to see the situation.

Ameera seemed to be trying to remember, her forehead shrinking as her eyes glanced upwards.

"The new disciple is female and very beautiful" Arshaka guessed as Ameera thought.

Ameera's lips were pursed trying hard to remember the events at school today. However, he did not feel that there were any new students at his school.

"There are no new friends, Pa," Ameera said, looking at Arshaka's face.

"Oh, if it wasn't in Ameera's class, maybe in another class, yeah." Arshaka insists that there is a new child at Ameera's school.

"Yes, Mas. There are no new children" Maulidya argued, "if there are new children, it is usually announced in the field during school hours in front of students and parents waiting," Maulidya explained, confirming his daughter's remarks.

The smile that had entered the apartment expanded on Arshaka's face slowly faded.

"You sure?" Arshaka straightened his body, he seemed unsure of what Maulidya and Ameera were saying.

"Yes, Mas. There are no new kids this week. Who do you mean?" ask Maulidya curious.

"Badrina.he said he had plans to put Canta into Kindergarten Pelita Kasih Bunda, after Canta out of his old school," answered Arshaka confused.

"Don't go to school yet, Mom."

"No way." Arshaka guessed something had happened. He lowered Ameera from her lap to sit next to her. "Badrina said yesterday that she had entered and is now school-oriented. It's the second day Canta goes to school means." Arshaka's forehead scrunched up, he they-they Badrina decided something without communicating with him.

"Oh, I see," Maulidya also confused and thought. "Mas, maybe not in Ameera's school, but another school," said Maulidya trying to give another view.

Arshaka blinked, his guess as Maulidya said. It could not be in the school Kindergarten Pelita Kasih Bunda.

However, the question becomes for Arshaka why Badrina had to move Cantara again, to the point of not telling himself as Cantara's father.

"I go first, Lidya. Ameera, Papa go first yes, there is a sudden need," Arshaka immediately stood up.

Ameera just silently watched Arshaka move quickly towards the door.

"Mas, the water is dimi-." Arshaka has gone missing with the apartment door closed.

Curiosity makes Arshaka immediately drive his car to Badrina's house. He needs to hear an explanation from Badrina who unilaterally decided to move back Cantara to another school that he did not know where.

In addition to confusion, Arshaka felt underappreciated as the father of Cantara. Arshaka's bluff the other day didn't seem to make Badrina understand her weak position, the man could threaten their child's custody again because of Badrina's unwise decision.

For Arshaka, he still provides Cantara well, so he should be involved in the decision of Cantara education. Arshaka's hand gripped the steering wheel tightly. I can't wait to face Badrina.