The Lives of Five Hundred Thousand
Zain's Return

While waiting for Raihan's return with Zain, I busied myself doing whatever activities I could do in Raihan's apartment. I didn't want to keep quiet and daydreamed about Zain and ended up crying. I think the way I busied myself made me think more positively because Raihan himself had promised me that he would bring Zain home safe.

After I finished cleaning all the rooms, I glanced at the clock on the wall already showing ten o'clock in the morning, meaning that it had been two hours Raihan looking for Zain and had not returned. I was silent, negative thoughts perched again in my brain, I was afraid what happened to them. But then I immediately dismissed those negative thoughts.

"I'd better cook good as Raihan asked. Who knows when they're done cooking they're coming."I'm monologuing.

I watched the contents of the two-door refrigerator and the large size that was full of raw food ingredients ranging from side dishes to vegetables. It feels like I want to cook rendang meat but Raihan does not provide complete spices in his beautiful kitchen because cooking rendang must use complete spices. Because there is no complete seasoning I will cook oven-baked fish, squid oyster saos, salmon soup, stir-fry and sambal only because in addition to not requiring complete seasoning also the process is faster.

It took me an hour and a half to finish all that cooking. After all on the table I glanced again at the clock the wall was showing at half twelve noon but Raihan has not yet come.

I thought about calling her back and hoping this time it would be lifted but when I called her I still wasn't picked up by her. Something bad happened to my mind, but I immediately dismissed the thought. I have to think positively and be sure that Raihan and my son will be okay.

To get rid of saturation and negative thoughts I set the big TV in the hope that the TV show will entertain me and forget about my anxiety for them. In the middle of watching TV I also lyrics again the clock has pointed at one noon. My feelings were not calm, I was agitated at the thought of them.

My heart is agitated but my mind is still sane. I think it is better to perform Dzuhur prayer first because in addition to the obligation is also my way to calm the feeling of being anxious.

I endlessly pray to the salvation for the two men I love until I fall asleep on the prayer mat.

The soft caress felt warm on my cheeks, a faint faint sound of calling the name "mama" was heard in my ears. I slowly opened my eyelids and after a clear vision saw the toddler I missed so much and I was worried for two days was sitting next to me and caressing my cheek.

My eyes were perfectly rounded, like a dream I could see my son back. My tears began to flow, but this time it was tears of joy and gratitude that I could not express with words.

"Mama!"zain said, his clear eyes glazed with glass looking at me.

"Zain, Zain's mama's son is home!" I stroked and looked at his face, I looked at the clear eyes that had glazed glass and I saw there was a deep longing there.

"Zen lindu mama."

I who felt unable to speak just a small nod and then my cry broke as well as Zain who joined in crying. I hugged her tiny body tightly and I kissed her whole face and hair. Long time I hugged Zain while crying shed a longing that I can not express with words until I forget the figure of the man who has brought my baby back on my lap.

I looked at the man sitting on the bed and watched us.

"Thank you Rai, thank you for bringing my Zain back. Me, I owe you so much" I said in between sobbing.

Raihan smiled and got up and approached and sat on the floor with us. He rubbed the back of my head and also Zain alternately.

"There is no such thing as indebtedness, for you are my responsibility and from now on you are my responsibility no matter what." After saying Raihan hugged me and Zain. In the middle of his arms I thought what I was without him because all this time the ones who always helped me were Raihan, Raihan and Raihan. I was more and more convinced to put my love in him and I wanted to have him and not lose him.

A few moments later. I'm going to take off the clothes Zain was wearing to check his body for fear of anyone getting hurt. But Raihan who just entered the room prevented me.

"No need to be checked, me and the doctor have examined no one injured. There's only one little blue on the thigh like a pinch."

I was stunned to hear my son pinch to turn blue. I immediately opened Zain's pants and looked at his thighs. Sure enough, the color blue but faded was there. I'm so pissed off the guy who pinched a toddler as small as Zain. Me as his mother never hurt Zain but someone else with the heart to hurt someone else's child. Actually this is not the first pinch for Zain but already the umpteenth time. Back when mom was at home she used to pinch him when Zain made a small mistake.

"Ray.."

"Yes dear."

"Is Zain really healthy?"

"Alhamdulilah mba, Zain the strong boy. There's nothing to worry about. The doctor has examined it in detail, and made sure there are no external injuries nor internal injuries."

"Yes mba, but the doctor suggested that we take him to a psychologist to confirm his psychic. It is easy that Zain has no problems with his psychic or mental after the incident that happened to him."

I looked at my son who was playing a small car. I want to ask what happened to him there. But it looks like Zain's age can't tell you what else the language is not too clear. And what Raihan expects me to do, too. I hope Zain's psyche isn't disturbed and is fine.

"Darling!" call Raihan gently.

I'm looking at you." Why Rai?"

"I'm so hungry, have I cooked?" ask her and smile.

I also smile. I think it's only natural that Raihan felt hungry maybe all day he didn't have time to remember his stomach was filled or not because he was busy looking for my child. Similarly, I have not touched food since the morning because my mind is busy thinking about these two men I love.

I glanced at the clock at five o'clock."I was cooking but it looks cold. I warm it up, okay?"

"Yes dear." Then Raihan sat down with Zain who was playing a small car on the bed."Let me take care of Zain, mba." Connect her later. I nodded and rushed out of the room.

It only took me fifteen minutes to warm up the food I had cooked earlier this afternoon and after being held back on the table I rushed into the room. Raihan and Zain were so joking that they didn't notice my presence. I who was leaning on the door leaf noticed the joy of the two of them.

"Zain wouldn't if uncle was papa Zain?"ask Raihan.

"Father!"said Zain.

"Dear, uncle be papa Zain."

Zain nodded then smiled.

"From now on Zain calls uncle papa okay? try Uncle wants to hear Zain call uncle papa."

"Papa.papa lehan!" said Zain.

Raihan smiled broadly."Papa's hotshot is great." Then he fussed his nose and kissed his forehead and then rubbed the swab of his head.

I who saw Raihan's sincerity in Zain was really grateful. God presents the figure of Raihan in our midst. He not only loves me sincerely but also loves my son.

"Mh..!"Raihan has realized my whereabouts and then says hello. While I was pensive to see them flabbergasted.

"Ah, yes Rai."

"Why stand there, come here!"

I approached them too."Come sit down mba." He pulled my hand until I sat down next to him.

"Goup." Putting aside the embarrassment, I landed a kiss on his left cheek as he let his guard down.

Raihan was stunned to get a short kiss from me."Mba kissed me?"she asked, holding the cheek I had kissed.

"That's a gift because you brought Zain to me safely, Rai."