THE FORMER SHADOW
64. End of Being Beginning - EXPIRATION

Badrina stepped slowly carrying a basket filled with flowers. He stepped alone in the cemetery towards one of the gravestones that was located rather deep.

The day was so hot, Badrina used a head covering and sunglasses to protect her skin.

Badrina touched a hot ceramic headstone. In silence, Badrina sprinkled the flowers she carried. Unable to hold back the crying, a sob escaped his lips.

"Why... Does this all have to happen?" the question was stammered, sounding bitter.

"We used to be so close" he continued.

"Calm down there. Let me live in happiness, "he asked sobbing. The flower he sowed was left unceasing.

Badrina offered a prayer in her heart. The woman sincerely forgives the actions of people who hurt her in the past. He struggled to come to terms with the vengeful pull in his heart.

After all, grudging is useless.

Once again, Badrina rubbed the headstone with a unanimous determination. He smiled and said goodbye.

Today is exactly a year since the bloody incident of the rescue of Cantara.

Badrina stepped towards the black car waiting for her in the parking lot. The woman, who asked the driver not to disembark, only asked to be delivered to the funeral site.

That's how Badrina went to the tomb once every three months until a sense of peace enveloped her.

"Are you okay?" the driver looked worried. He paid close attention to Badrina who had opened her sunglasses. Traces of tears were noticed by the driver.

Badrina turned her head, raising her sweet smile. "I'm good, the better. Because of the routine of visiting, somehow my heart just calmed down," said Badrina review sincere smile.

"Thank God, then, it's not in vain that the counseling you've been doing for the past ten months. You can decide something good for your mentality," the driver values while nodding his head.

"Yes, thanks to you too, right, constantly pushing me to recover from the pain of my bitter past." The praise made the driver chuckle. Her heart expanded to find Badrina aware of the progress of the process of self-recovery.

"Thank you, Danish. You're such a good friend." Badrina's praise did not stop, making Danish happy.

"Okay, now we go to the hospital?" ask Danish.

Badrina nodded, the man knowing their travel plans.

Danish was able to accompany Badrina as the schedule for the funeral and hospital visitation fell at the end of the weekend.

A year has passed since the kidnapping of Cantara, Badrina was once determined to learn to drive so as not to trouble the other party. Unfortunately, the fear is still stronger gnawing at him so that he has not been proficient to this day.

Counselor Badrina said don't put too much pressure on yourself to achieve something. Just lived according to the ability so that the recovery process is not hampered by excessive expectations of other things.

That is why, Danish really helped Badrina to carry out her activities.

Badrina got out of the car followed by Danish towards the therapy room. There is a man learning to walk accompanied by a health worker.

Seeing Danish and Badrina coming, the man stopped the training process, as the therapy schedule ended. His progress was also rapid thanks to his strong healed spirit. It is likely that soon, it will be able to walk normally again.

He sat back in his wheelchair with the help of health workers. The man rubbed the sweat on his face. Despite the air conditioning, his body was still processing excretions.

"There's progress, Shaka, "praise Danish while patting Arshaka on the shoulder.

"Hm" answered Arshaka briefly. He was busy rubbing the small towel into his wet hands. The man did not show a happy smile at the arrival of the two.

It was Danish who smiled at Arshaka's cold manner.

"Where is Cantara?" tanya Arshaka looked at Badrina.

"Still taking piano lessons, later mom will pick up. Mama's own request."

Danish glanced at the awkward-looking Badrina with Arshaka's cold demeanor.

"After that, Rina, it looks like something is hot, '" whispered Danish as he chuckled.

"Gue said Shaka. Badrina I'm anterin in good health without any shortcomings," he said then poked Arshaka's chin. Danish did not feel guilty about teasing Arshaka, despite being thrown in a sharp spotlight by the owner of the chin.

"Why don't we just go home with Danish?" badrina asked as soon as Danish was not seen again. Badrina helped put Arshaka's gear into the bag. "You know I'm not good at driving."

They were with health workers separated in front of the therapy room. The training schedule for Arshaka was continued for another three days.

"If you want to go home with Danish please. Let me go home in a taxi" said Arshaka as Badrina pushed her wheelchair from behind.

"Are you angry with me?" ask Badrina wonder. "So I got permission from you to go on a pilgrimage to Monera's tomb escorted by Danish, now even angry." Badrina let out a breath of regret asking Danish for help.

"It's not your fault, it's my fault" Arshaka said, pointing to his chest. Arshaka propels his wheelchair to the lobby of the therapy center.

Badrina was astonished, her consciousness returning when Arshaka had drifted away. In a hurry he ran to find Arshaka who seemed to call the taxi driver who used to hang out in the hospital area.

Badrina helps Arshaka get into the taxi and fold the wheelchair, then the taxi driver puts it in the trunk.

Along the way Arshaka's face was thrown out the window, the view of the city became the center of his vision. Badrina often glanced at Arshaka while smiling to understand the meaning of Arshaka's silence.

Arshaka's heart is very bad today, even though he asked Danish for help to take Badrina to the funeral, but when he saw the two of them go and come, Arshaka seemed to be slapped with jealousy. Plus his condition is not prime, making him inferior.

"Lad...." The cry of Cantara from inside the house was able to make a smile reflected on Arshaka's handsome face

"Where is Papa's training today?" ask Cantara enthusiastically.

"The better, Canta. Soon Papa will be able to walk normap like before again," he explained. Hearing that Cantara jumped happily. He was always faithful waiting for his father to finish training.

"How was your tutoring today?"

"Current, Pa. Canta learned to accompany a new song."

The conversation both flowed. After Cantara was satisfied, the boy advised his papa to rest.

In the restroom, Arshaka washes himself. In the room, Arshaka provided a cane that could be used to help him walk.

After Arshaka cleaned up Badrina went into the room. She checked the lunch prepared by the housekeeper.

"Come, we'll have lunch" Badrina asked.

The man was unmoved, unresponsive and just sculpting.

Once again, Badrina invited Arshaka. Now he sits on the bed. "Come on, lunch. Is your stomach not hungry?" tanya Badrina touched the soft belly of Arshaka who was blocked by the T-shirt.

"Don't hold it," said Arshaka with his flat face.

Suddenly Badrina's laughter blared in the room, she was frowned upon and the edge of her eyes let out clear water.

Arshaka looked at Badrina who managed to get back married a month ago, Arshaka's forehead shriveled in layers.

"You're funny if you're jealous again," she said, Badrina was back up until her head bowed to the stomach of Arshaka who was sitting leaning on the head of the bed.

"Rina, it's still noon. Don't mess with you" said Arshaka in a cold tone. His hand tried to lift Badrina's head from her flat stomach.

Badrina was not willing to move from there, instead she wrapped her hands behind Arshaka's back.

Tired of laughing, Badrina said, "Danish is my friend now and then. She values me as a friend, and I do, on the contrary" Badrina explained, looking up at her husband.

"You doubt me?"

Arshaka let out a long, deep sigh and then turned his head in the other direction.

"Ngga knows. I am only in control of my condition. How to know you are ashamed of all this," he said staring at Badrina who he considered more beautiful and shining.

"God... Why should I be ashamed? If I'm ashamed, I wouldn't have accepted your proposal a month ago, Shaka" Badrina protested when she learned of the other contents of her husband's heart.

Arshaka felt floated by the winds of romance as soon as he listened to the words of the wife. "I do deserve all this, hurt the woman who loves me, even still want to take me back --"

Arshaka did not continue his words because Badrina suddenly put her face together on Arshaka.

They are so close and eager.

Arshaka was carried away by the current of Badrina's softness. He raised his hand and clasped Badrina's hair to get the depth of his wife's kiss. They were each lulled in a bright daylight.

"Mama... Papa.. let's eat," cried Cantara from outside the room while knocking on the door repeatedly.

The couple drunk with romance was quick to break away. They almost did something on an empty stomach.

The two laughed at each other, while Cantara patted her forehead hearing the response of her parents who giggled without answering her invitation.

"The old man of the day." Cantara shook her head and left the door of her parents' room.