THE FORMER SHADOW
7. Papa Changed?

This morning, Arshaka went through the day as usual, going to the office to work. During the break, the man was eager to ask Danish about last night going with his ex-wife until night.

However, he seems not ready if it turns out Badrina and Danish have been in a relationship after their divorce. Arshaka knows very well that Danish personality is very liked by many women.

Arshaka paused his intention to ask. It is better to monitor the two people, if the relationship becomes threatened by Danish he will not hesitate to make calculations with him.

Entering the noon hour to get back to work, the message notification goes to Arshaka's phone.

[Shaka, tonight is there time to eat with me?] a message from Elmira.

Tumben once Elmira invites dinner, Inner Arshaka.

[In what order, Mira?] search Arshaka.

[My company won the tender for the government-owned science park development project.] Elmira replied.

Arshaka tonight has no plans to visit her son. He paused the visit to Badrina's house, because the woman seemed less happy if she continued to visit.

Arshaka accepts Elmira's invitation, even to make sure Arshaka will not change his mind, Elmira offers to pick Arshaka up and meet her mother, Nuraini. Elmira is not a stranger in the Arshaka family, the families have known each other. So, it wouldn't be too complicated for Elmira to communicate with Nuraini.

In another place, Cantara asked Badrina what time her papa would come because Arshaka was usually at Badrina's house before Maghrib.

"Maybe Papa's coming tonight, baby." Badrina tried to convince her beloved daughter.

"Ma.. call papa ya," asked her son, "Canta wants to make sure."

Inevitably, Badrina fulfilled his son's wish. Unfortunately, after the experiment on the third call, Arshaka has not yet picked up his phone.

"Papa may be overtime, work until night, son," said Badrina comforted Cantara.

"Mama, let's go to Oma's. Maybe Papa went there," proposes Cantara on Badrina who is focusing on his phone. Badrina turned her head to look at the Cantara bead, the implied plea within the black netra of the boca.

"OK, if the weather conditions today are good we go to the house of oma," said Badrina.

Cantara girang is not a kepalang. He went into his room and got ready to visit his mother's house.

At about seven o'clock in the evening Elmira had reached the house of her mother Arshaka.

"Well! Your surprise came Mira. I haven't had communication with your family in a long time. How are your mom and dad?" a warm welcome from Nuraini pleased Elmira.

"Thank God, good news, ma'am. My mom and dad chose to stay away from the crowd. Living in a rural villa," explains Elmira, they walked into the living room.

"Let's sit down and talk, Arshaka is getting ready to go home from work." Elmira obeyed Nuraini, she felt this was a good opportunity for her to slowly enter the Arshaka family.

Elmira knew that Arshaka loved her mother very much. She also knew how Badrina could be Arshaka's wife. Starting from the proximity of Badrina with Nuraini. Badrina used to have a cake shop business before she married Arshaka. Nuraini is his regular customer. The persistence and courtesy of Badrina made Nuraini the first to fall in love and then introduced her to her son who at that time was known to still have no lover.

The atmosphere of Elmira and Nuraini's liquid conversation was blown away by the sound of the house bell. It's almost night, who's coming to visit? Nuraini didn't feel like she had an appointment to meet tonight. Nuraini's house assistant had come home at five this afternoon, so he opened the door to welcome guests who came.

"Wait a minute Elmira. I saw who the guests were coming," Nuraini said. He's headed for the door.

As she opened the door, she was struck by the voice of the granddaughter she missed.

"God...." Cantara's hand stretched out wanting to be embraced by Nuraini. Spontan Nuraini knelt down hugging her grandson. He was happy to find that Cantara had healed.

"Let's go in." Nuraini's invitation was responded by Badrina and Cantara. They headed for the living room, there was also Elmira. Badrina sees Elmira, a woman she knew as her husband's best friend even before they were married.

Not long Arshaka exited the room towards the living room and gasped with the presence of Badrina who showed a flat face. Unlike Cantara who is not awkward to greet her papa.

"Lad...." Cantara leaps into Arshaka's body to embrace her.

"Why did you go to the office this morning, why not wake up Canta? Mama said Papa was busy. Time to forget to kiss Canta." Cantara sulks at her papa while playing the button of Arshaka's shirt.

"Eatya Canta same Mama here. Just look at Oma too." added Cantara with a joyful expression moving her body in Arshaka's arms.

Badrina was silent with a flat facial expression. She observes the neat shirt her ex-husband wears, as if planning to leave the house. Oho! Maybe Elmira came to take Arshaka out, her inner self.

Did his arrival with Cantara interfere with their plans? A piece of discomfort broke through his heart. Badrina tried her best to perform without being influenced by her ex-husband's plans.

"Who is this aunt, Pa?" tanya Cantara looked at Elmira who was sitting on the sofa. Elmira returned Cantara's gaze with a sweet smile.

"Hello Canta's. I know my aunt Mira." Elmira reached out to shake hands with Canta. Unfortunately, Canta just stared at the outstretched hand without any intention of returning his greetings.

"Canta, the tant is in the deep, son," Badrina's pinta who saw her son flinch.

Cantara was not willing, even turning her back to Elmira, the boy was still in his papa sling.

"Canta, it can't be," said Badrina. There was a sense of disbelief Badrina, she was worried even labeled as a mother who did not teach courtesy to her son.

"Canta doesn't want to!" his reply was still fiercely against Elmira.

"Sorry Mira, Canta is still awkward to meet new people." Badrina was not angry, she hoped Elmira understood the attitude of Cantara.

"Yes, nothing." Elmira's response was clumsy.

Seeing this family gathering, Elmira becomes confused whether she better go home or continue the dinner plan with Arshaka? It's just that, aren't they no longer husband and wife so they can still go, if it's important that Cantara can participate. Counting is getting closer, thought Elmira.

Arshaka also hasn't said much. He focused on playing with his son in the family room. At half-eight, Nuraini invited Cantara and Badrina to have dinner at home.

"Let's eat. Canta's hungry, honey?" ask Nuraini.

"Oma. Let's eat." Canta responded and pulled his papa's hand towards the dining room, while Nuraini had gone first to the room to tidy up the dishes at the dining table.

Arshaka's next words made Cantara sad.

"Canta, Papa's planning to go out with aunt Mira. Canta eats mama and oma, yeah. Papa won't be home late at night" explained Arshaka.

The pull of Cantara's hand loosened and then escaped. He looked at Elmira and her papa in turn, as if asking why his papa had left when he came?

Just shut up. He turned around to walk himself towards the dining room. Cantara forgot to bring the Hero so that no friends could tell her his sadness.

In the dining room, Badrina saw the look of her son's grief. He remembered how enthusiastic Cantara was this morning and tonight to meet his father. Badrina was immediately enraged.

He stepped into the family room. Without hesitation, he asked Arshaka for a moment to talk. "Your son was crying this morning because you weren't home. All day long just asking you. In the afternoon you usually come, now do not come. He asked me to find you at my mom's house. Now that you're leaving instead," Badrina knew the cause of her daughter's grief, she shook her head, "know this I won't ask Canta to meet you. Instead, do not meet Canta too often if he makes hope," concluded Badrina ketus. He twisted his body, previously glancing lazily at Elmira who was sitting pecking.

Badrina feels Arshaka is in the process of approaching with Elmira. It could be that Cantara began to know the meaning of heartbreak seeing his papa's attention divided for others.