THE FORMER SHADOW
8. The Dinner is Stretching

Arshaka is left alone with Elmira. The man did not expect his absence this afternoon to the house of Badrina led to another quarrel with the former. Visiting wrong, not visiting problems. Runyan.

"Eye, Mira. Looks like our dinner can't go on. I have to accompany my daughter, looks so sad face earlier." Arshaka hopes Elmira understands the condition. "Sorry," he continued.

"Ah yes Shaka, I understand. How about dinner at this house. I'm glad to be joining your family." Elmira's casual statement made Arshaka gawk.

His girlfriend asked him to eat together. Arshaka is wrong. For Elmira, this is an opportunity that will not happen again.

Badrina is Arshaka's past, Elmira need not hesitate to approach the man's family.

In the dining room, Badrina sat next to Cantara. The little girl tried to smile as she asked 'where is Canta''s smile, despite being forced.

Badrina stroked the head of her beloved daughter, "Sad Santa? Papa you said you weren't going home late last night, honey." Badrina tried to comfort her son.

Cantara nodded, she would eat with mom and oma without the presence of the father she missed.

As they were about to eat, Arshaka and Elmira walked into the dining room.

"Mama.., Elmira will come eat with us. Canta, Papa didn't go out, eat with Canta." Nuraini shows no objection to Elmira joining the dining table, although she feels Arshaka's attitude is wrong.

Arshaka hopes there is a response at least a smile from his baby, but the look of Cantara's face implies the opposite.

Arshaka sits across the table opposite his beloved daughter, while Elmira next to Arshaka confronts Badrina.

The rice on Nuraini and Cantara's plates had been scooped by Badrina before the two of them joined, even the side dishes had been complete on their respective plates.

Badrina is not interested in serving Arshaka's needs. Elmira takes the initiative by using the opportunity to scoop the rice onto Arshaka's plate.

"That's enough?" ask Elmira. He sees the highlight Arshaka falls on his ex-wife implying a special meaning.

"God...." Elmira shakes Arshaka's forearm. Elmira's attitude attracted Badrina's attention, a moment later her gaze turned to Cantara.

"Oh, enough," said Arshaka.

They all ate in the silence of their minds. Usually Cantara still wants to eat while telling stories, but this time just silence.

The meal was over, if only they had eaten at a restaurant ordered by Elmira of course Arshaka and Elmira had the opportunity to chat longer.

Cantara was invited first to enter Nuraini's room. As Elmira tidied up the kitchen and dining table, Badrina interrupted, "Let me. The future may be awaited by Shaka," said Badrina, who considered the pleasantries of Elmira excessive. No need to linger, Elmira immediately went to the living room to meet Arshaka.

Not long heard the sound of vehicles away from the house of Oma Cantara. Elmira returns home after Badrina pleads with Arshaka. Why don't they take more time? asked Badrina inwardly.

"I'm sorry for what happened tonight." Arshaka re-entered the dining room that was fused with the kitchen.

Badrina was a little surprised to hear his ex's words, he did not respond, just continued to do the work of washing dishes and storing the clean ones into the shelves.

"Last afternoon I was invited by Elmira-"

Arshaka took a sitting position back in the dining chair. He saw that there were still dirty stains on the table and he stood up to take a cloth to clean it.

Her shoulders squeaked, making Badrina's attention diverted to her. A moment later, Badrina pulled the cloth from Arshaka's hand which slightly touched the table.

"Let me" said Badrina. Arshaka let, he sat back while staring in silence his ex-wife who was moving to clean the table. Badrina understands Arshaka is not feeling well with the whole house, so one way he helped clean the table.

"There's no need to do something you've never done before." Badrina has been insinuating Arshaka. When he became a husband, he never once touched a washcloth, mop, and other similar fabrics.

"But, there could be a desire to learn to be someone who is not allergic to the kitchen for a new prospective mistress." Badrina laughed softly. He glanced at his interlocutor for a moment.

Arshaka filled the glass with mineral water then gulped down the toilet.

"You still want to fight tonight? Don't you keep nyerocos every time you meet, ma'am?" asked Arshaka back to insinuate Badrina.

Badrina glared at Arshaka with both eyebrows raised. Linger in the same room with Arshaka can make his struggle to manage emotions run aground.

The used cloth cleaning table put Badrina in the sink and then immediately washed it. Then he went out of the dining room soundlessly towards his former in-laws room.

Cantara had fallen asleep in Nuraini's bed. His omen patted and occasionally stroked Cantara's back as a quick way to make the grandson lulled into dreamland.

"Canta's asleep. Tonight you will stay, son," Nuraini asked expectantly. Badrina was actually planning on going home. Tonight the mood is not good to see his son sad.

Seeing Cantara sleeping in bed, he gave a nod to Nuraini. He was invited to chat for a while in the family room, to coincide Arshaka was in the same room watching his cellphone.

Badrina and Nuraini sat on the sofa opposite Arshaka. Badrina's a little 'lazy' seeing her ex-husband tonight, the impact of Elmira's presence at dinner last night.

"Mama wants to talk to you guys" Nuraini said, looking at her ex-daughter-in-law and son in turn, "mama knows you love Canta. Rela gives everything to grow. Mama never complained about the relationship between you two. However, this time and in the future, Mama please lower your egos." Nuraini paused her sentence, neutralizing the emotions trapped within her chest.

"Don't let Canta be confused by your endless debate and hostility. Please, you want to be close to anyone for choosing a divorce. But, consider Canta's heart that must have been hurt when he understood you were divorced. You get close to other people as quickly as possible, the transfer also makes him more confused and injured again" said Nuraini.

"Mama knows that you deserve to be happy, but that happiness needs to think about the condition of Canta's little soul today. If you live to hurt each other, don't inherit the wound again to your child." The two former couples looked down as if they realized the mistake they were doing both before and after the divorce.

"If asked, which side is Mama on? Mama's on Canta's side. Mama understands that Badrina went through a very difficult childhood, so she begs Badrina to begin to understand her own condition and may need a psychologist or psychiatrist to help. Mama didn't say Badrina's 'crazy' that you meant to have a cozy interlocutor." Hearing Nuraini's sincerity, Badrina was unable to hold back the tears. He remembered his bitter childhood.

"Arshaka, though you live in love and love. It is possible that you have difficulty accepting something that does not go along with it such as difficulty accepting arguments or conflicts. You also need to contemplate when you will see someone from perfection because there is no perfect man, Shaka," Nuraini told her son.

After a conversation that more closely resembled that motivational seminar, Badrina and Arshaka were left alone. Nuraini went back into the room.

Arshaka feels awkward being left with Badrina, choosing what words to say so as not to make his ex-wife re-ignited emotionally.

"Ep... Lina, your room is next to mine. Maybe you're tired.we can rest." Arshaka stammered, worried Badrina would be offended.

The man saw Badrina rubbing her cheeks, crying for nothing. It was very desirable to be held in an embrace to calm down, but than Badrina raged Arshaka let it go.