The Lives of Five Hundred Thousand
Miss Mariam's return plan

Today is the day Ms. Mariam came home from the hospital after one week in hospital. As usual, the busyness of this morning is to clean up, cook, bathe the children and give them breakfast.

"Today my mother and my grandmother are going home from the hospital" I said on the sidelines to feed Zain and Fatan. They all listened including bang Supri.

"Is it Nur?"

I'm nodding.

"Thank God that the children will be able to return to their homes."

Ria and Rio looked towards the Supri bang with faces looking moody.

"Emm, I mean bang supri if later you go home, later this house becomes quiet again and Zain has no friends anymore, yes no Zain?"

Zain nodded.

I explained the meaning of bang Supri even though I didn't know it was true or not. I just don't want my kids to think that we don't like their presence in this house and want them to come back to their house right away.

"Why are you going home, Wawa?"ask the fatan with twinkling eyes.

"Yes dear."

"Horeeeee!"scream fatan, raise his hand high.

"My mother is really healed?"ask ria.

"Yes ria, your mother is healed."

The smile rang on Ria and Rio's lips."Thank God I am happy brother, if the same mother ka Sumi come home so later we will no longer trouble kak Nuri sama bang Supri," said Ria.

"Who said so, brother Nuri never felt bothered by you guys instead Brother was happy to take care of you. You've all been considered brothers."

Rio and Ria looked at each other then smiled towards me."Thank you, brother, we are happy to have sister Nuri, may the kindness of your brother be reciprocated with God."

"Amen."I stroked their heads with love. They're orphans who have been living by their father since they were kids, just like the ones I've been living with my father since I was five. And there began my suffering, my father died and my mother and two brothers began to ravage me. Mom told me to change my father's role to make money. Every day I go to school and trade ice candles, I have to trade around the village. If my trade is not exhausted, my mother often scolded me and fed me only once a day without side dishes. But behind my distress, I am thankful that God gave me a watered-down brain. From Elementary School to High School I went to school for free because I always did. I also often get pocket money from the government and every time I get an allowance I never tell mom because it will definitely be snatched by her. The allowance I use for my school needs in the form of uniforms and books if there is any leftover I save it. Going and going home from school I always walk a few kilos a meter. I never Jajan, every hour of rest I just read books unlike my friends who run to the cafeteria because they have money. No wonder since school I don't have schoolmates because I'm poor. The only friend who wanted to be friends with me in Elementary School was Andre, it only lasted one year before he moved to Padang. After Junior High School and High School I really do not have good friends, the average student does not like me because of the social status that in fact I am a poor person. In addition to their social status they also do not like me because I have a thin brain and often excel in school. And besides the second reason, they don't like me because not a few students are interested in me because they say my face is beautiful and stupid. I never noticed the shape of my face because at home I did not have a mirror. Even though I could see my own face when I was at school and reflected on the window of the school and the reflection was only a shadow. I could only feel good when I graduated High School and was accepted into a large company with a decent position and a fairly large salary. But after marrying my life back to the way it used to be, so difficult and strange.

"Yes, you've finished eating soon we're leaving for school.

Ria and Rio nodded.

"Ria, usually if you leave and go home to school what's up?"I asked them when they were taking them to school. Not without reason I asked because after Sumi and Ms. Mariam came home from the hospital I would no longer drive them.

"Soak's foot" replied Ria.

I fell silent, why are they the same as me when I was in school who had to walk a very long distance. It occurred to me to buy them a bike but it feels sorry if they have to pedal a bike with a considerable distance especially Ria school has to pass the highway and I think it is quite dangerous if Ria crossing that road by bicycle. If Rio is not a problem because the school is quite close and does not need to follow the highway.

"Do I buy Sumi a motorbike just so she can take her sister to school," I muttered slowly and I did not realize that my mumbling was heard by Ria.

"What's Nuri talking about?"ask Ria.

"Oh, no. Yeah, yuk got on everything."

I escorted Ria and Rio first to their respective schools. As usual I drove Rio first because the school was closer. After that drove Ria up to the gate of her school.

"Are you learning right, Ria?"

"Yes, brother." Ria crucified me and it coincided with the arrival of a motorbike beside me. I turned my head and it turned out that Surya was dropping off the cungkring. He looked at me and looked a little surprised.

"Nuri.."what about Surya.

I immediately averted my eyes and stuck in the gas because I did not want to be like yesterday repeated again. I said the rearview mirror Surya was following me, I was very upset to see him. In front of me there is a large truck that is running slow because it looks a lot of cargo and then I just overtake the truck and increase speed until I drove quickly. I lyrics rearview mirror is no longer visible mas Surya behind me maybe he has trouble overtaking the truck because the right lane is quite tight by the driver.

I breathed a sigh of relief because I was no longer followed by him and my bike sauntered far towards the hospital. Arriving at the hospital I immediately entered the large building after parking my bike first.

After arriving at the lung chamber door I immediately opened the door and saw doctors Bayu and Sumi were talking.

"Nuri.."why Sumi, her face beaming series maybe she's happy because today her mother has been allowed to take home.

"Hi Nuri..!"greet doctor Bayu while giving his warm smile.

"It's Sum, for your breakfast but I didn't bring for your lunch because today Miss Mariam is welcome home, right doc?"

"Truely Nuri, can go home right now," replied Dr Bayu.

"Yes Nuri, thank you," Sumi said and took the plastic bag I had placed on her.

"Thank you, Doc!"

Doctor Bayu smiled.

After that, I entered the curtain where Ms. Mariam was lying down and on the ekori by Sumi and doctor Bayu. It looks like Ms. Mariam is sitting and eating her own hospital porridge, she already looks fit and healthy.

"Mother..!"i regretted.

"Son Nuri !"said Mariam's mom with a smile.

"How are you doing, are you strong and ready to go home today?"

"Yes son, I am ready and want to go home soon. I can't wait to meet my mother's children and grandchildren."

"Yes ma'am, they can't wait for you to come home. Emm, then I'm going to the administration first and all looking for a taxi so you can go home soon."After saying that, I was about to leave but Ms. Mariam held my hand.

"Why Ma'am?"

While shedding tears Mariam said, "thank you very much Nuri has helped mother and child. At a time when relatives and neighbors no one cared about us but God still helped us through the angelic heart like Nak Nuri."

I hugged him."I've looked at mother as my own mother and mother's children as my own. Don't think about it, Mom!"after saying that I took off my embrace and rushed off to pay for the treatment.

I took my foot to the administration but the Bayu doctor followed behind me.

"Lady..!"call her and I stop my steps and turn around.

"Yes doc."

"You want to go to the administration?"

I'm nodding.

"Good heart Nuri, Miss Mariam is right that you are an angelic hearted woman. It would be foolish if there was a man who wasted you like your ex."

I smiled thinly."The doctor was overrated. Shouldn't these fellow creatures help each other? let alone humans on animals alike."

"That's what I like about you Nuri."

"Likes?"

"Emm." Doctor Bayu scratched his nape and smiled smirkingly.

"Yes doc, I went to the administration first huh?"

"Eehh, Nuri for a second."I'm not stepping.

"Why doc?"

"You don't have to look for a taxi outside. What if I'm the only one who's gonna be his cab?"

I slightly enlarged my pupils, not expecting the doctor Bayu offered to take Ms. Mariam. He's the one who's been treating his patients he's the one who wants to take his patients home.

"But doc, our house is far away!"

"It's okay, Nuri, let me know where your house is. Can you?"

I smiled and nodded.

After that we split up. Doctor Bayu towards his room to prepare ready because actually today he has no schedule in this hospital. But since today Ms. Mariam is going home then she has to do the examination one last time. While I continued my steps towards the administrative place.