The Nick's Life
Bitter Reality
Nick's transfer went well. Doctor Steven, a neurologist recommended by the doctor Irawan immediately examined Nick's condition. Although the man is still not aware of his coma, but physically his condition is quite stable. Doctor Steven put Nick in the hospital room, not the ICU anymore.
Bryan had Nick treated in the VVIP room. He wants the child to get more care and attention. In this room, both himself, Diah and Nick's friends can wait more comfortably.
The tranquil atmosphere includes a VVIP treatment room. Places to wait and treatment rooms are blocked by glass walls. Bed for patients is indeed in a separate room, this is deliberately so that patients are not disturbed. The waiting room for the patient's family is also quite spacious, equipped with a sofa, table, bathroom and also a mini refrigerator.
Bryan also rented a room on the top floor of the hospital for Diah to rest. This international standard hospital also provides in-room facilities for families of hotel room-class patients. Of course, the price paid is not cheap. Plus the VVIP treatment room, Bryan had to spend more. But that is not a problem, as long as the child can recover.
Fahrul came by bringing him a variety of food. Since morning, they have not filled the stomach because they are busy taking care of Nick's move. The man gave Diah a rice box. He deliberately bought Diah's favorite food. Since yesterday the woman lost her appetite.
“Eat first mom. Here I buy mommy's favorite food.”
“Later, Rul. Mommy is not hungry.”
“Come eat mom. Keeping Nick also needs energy. What if mommy is sick? Let little mommy should eat,” persuade Denis.
At Denis's persuasion, Diah grabs Fahrul's rice box and opens it. Among others, Denis is indeed the smartest persuading. Diah looked at the rice, green seasoning chicken and vegetable stir-fry in the box. Slowly he began to eat his food.
“Om.” Fahrul pushes the rice box on Bryan.
“Sorry om, I don't know my favorite food om,” said Fahrul.
“What I like.”
“Om eat rice too right?” ask Abe.
“Iya, I like Indonesian cuisine.”
“Pantes Indonesian language fluent bener.”
Arnav shouts Abe's head upon hearing his ridiculous remark. Bryan chuckled at the sight of his four best friends. In this toughest time, they can make him smile and even laugh.
“Sorry because of panic, I have not had time to get acquainted. My name is Bryan.”
“I'm Abe, this is Fahrul, Denis and the rich master takur's, Arnav. They're all former tea bags, om.”
Toyoran and a perch perched on Abe's head. He smiled at their behavior. Bryan chuckled again. You can imagine, Nick must be happy to have friends like them.
“Where are you Den, why does it look?” ask Diah.
“Sorry mom. Actually, I want a surprise for you guys, especially Nick. Thank God I became a convert mom.”
"Alhamdulillah" replied Diah and the others.
“Pantesan the kampret was following the prayer. I thought he was following doang so he wouldn't join. Means you have circumcision dong,” chirped Arnav.
“Cause to say it, nyet,” Denis is shaking Abe's head.
“Where? Alot does not fit circumcised hahaha,” Fahrul can not hold his laughter.
“Pastya. The energy that must be exerted is bent,” Abe continued.
“Built bushel!”
The sound of laughter was heard again. Fahrul coughed as he continued to laugh imagining his best friend undergoing a circumcision ritual at the age of a quarter of a century. Bryan couldn't help his laughter either. He seemed to be shunned by their words as well.
“By the way, um this is mommy?”
Denis immediately turned the conversation towards Bryan. He does not want to continue to be the months of his eternal friends. Abe, Fahrul and Arnav's eyes were fixed on Bryan. Diah just lowered her head. Let the man answer the question.
“Kepo lo,” says Abe.
“Bryan's daddy Nick,” finally Diah who replied because Bryan never open his voice.
“I mean mommy, om this daddy who likes Nick story to us-we?” ask Abe.
“Iya.”
“Alhamdulillah, finally mommy can meet again. Sorry if we SKSD, but Nick does like the story about om.”
“Nick what story?”
“She said that kangen very same om and really want to meet the same om. He even has a special savings whose money will be used for nyari om. The plan is to go to Chicago with Iza and their son later.”
Arnav's face looked sad when he said that. Everyone in the room was silent. Sadness suddenly rippled between them. Diah's eyes were back in tears.
“You've been friends with Nick for a long time?” Bryan changed the subject as soon as he saw Diah almost crying.
“If I'm with Denis from Junior High, om. If Fahrul and Abe know after college.”
“A long time ago also yes.”
“Alhamdulillah, um. We are friends from the era of jahiliyah to hijrah together. Mommy is like her own mother. You could say we are family, om,” said Fahrul.
“If Typhoon?”
“Topan is also a college friend, om. Only he graduated first,” Denis replied.
“Iya om, he only went to college for two years and graduated. The dean who gave the graduation, did not use the thesis again,” said Abe.
“Alias DO hahaha,” clear Arnav.
No doubt Bryan laughed when he heard it. Talking to the children in front of him was indeed very entertaining. He glanced at Diah whose face had returned looking cheerful.
“If you call Diah mommy. I hope you guys want to give daddy calls to me.”
“Oh can definitely om. Kan om, it's Nick's daddy,” chirped Arnav.
“Don't om eh daddy want to reverse yes same mommy?” search Fahrul.
“Boiled by old love has not been stretched nih its title,” seductive Abe. Diah's face was instantly red.
“We support mom, dad. Let's meet the penghulu now,” Denis start pumping.
“Betul. What if you marry first. So later when Nick realized, it would be a sweet surprise for him.”
Diah and Bryan looked at each other. It seems they should think about Abe's proposal. Nick must be happy when he realized later that the two people he loved so much were reunited in marriage.
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Mina's tears sprinkled to see the princess lying weak. God seems to be testing himself. Just now he lost the woman who had been his mother's successor, now the princess and her daughter-in-law are also struggling with death.
Iza's hand was held with both hands. Her net kept staring at Iza's pale face. The eyes of his son were still faithfully closed, Iza seemed reluctant to wake up. It was possible that he knew so realized, the harsh reality was waiting for him.
“Zi.. dear.. wake up son. It's ummi. Wake up baby, ummi believe you're a strong boy. Ummi promises to fight even harder to make you happy.”
Mina kissed the back of Iza's hand then carried it to her cheek. A nurse came in and asked Mina to come out because her time was up. With a heavy heart the woman left the intensive care room. He returned to the waiting room on the outside of the ICU room and sat down next to Rahardi.
Since coming, Mina has not spoken a word to her husband. For some reason, his heart believes that he was the cause of Iza and Nick's accident. Especially when Rivan said that Nick was forced to be transferred to another hospital because the equipment here is inadequate, it makes the woman's feelings of disappointment accumulate.
Before long, came a young man who was none other than Gunadi. The young man was still feeling guilty. Indirectly, he was also the cause of the accident. Seeing Mina, he immediately approached the wife of his guidance counselor.
“Mother. please forgive me.”
Mina's head brightly saw a young man crouching in front of her. For a moment the woman just looked at Gunadi. He didn't pick up Gunadi and had never met him.
“Who are you?”
“My name, Gunadi, mom. I was at the accident site of my mother's daughter. I..”
“Gun.. go home. You no longer have any business here,” sela Rahardi.
“But sir.”
“Go home. What happened was not your fault, but mine. Go home.”
Rahardi stood up from his seat and pulled Gunadi to his feet. He patted the young man's shoulder gently and went back to tell him to go home. Finally Gunadi obeyed Rahardi's words. After saying goodbye to Mina, the young man passed by. Rahardi turned to look at Mina who still had not reacted anything. Then the man fell down, sitting in front of his wife.
“Ummi. forgive abi.. this is all abi error. What happened to Iza was also Nick because of Abi. Forgive abi.”
Mina's heart paled hearing her husband's words. It turned out that his conjecture was right, the man before him was the cause of the accident that befell his daughter. Both of his hands clenched, trying to hold back the emotions that were stirring within his chest.
“Tell me,” Mina's voice sounded vibrating.
Mina's hands clenched tightly to hear the husband's story. His tears flowed back down his cheeks. Not only Mina, but Anton and Winny who also listened were shocked. They didn't expect Rahardi to go that far. Rahardi's hand reached out to the wife.
“Do not touch me!” Mina pulled her hand quickly.
“Ummi.”
“Ridho is on his way home. Once Iza's condition improves, we part ways. Me and Ridho will take care of Iza.”
“Mina.. forgive me.”
“You have made my daughter suffer. Not just Iza, but Nick, your own son-in-law. You even killed my future granddaughter. Sorry what else you want from me.”
“I'm sorry..I'm really sorry,” Rahardi started crying.
“If you're really sorry, then let go of me. Let us be happy without you.”
“Please Mina.. I cannot live without you.”
“You need us, but have you ever cared about your daughter's happiness? Have you ever cared about my complaints about your stubbornness? You don't care about anything but yourself. So, there's no way we don't have any effect on you.”
Mina stood up then left in front of Rahardi. Winny rushed after her sister-in-law. As a woman, she knew very well what Mina was feeling. Winny approached Mina who was sitting in one of the quiet waiting rooms. He sat down beside Mina and hugged her.
Mina's cry further broke out in her brother-in-law's arms. It was not an easy decision to part with a husband who had been with her for more than twenty years. He was still hoping that Rahardi would return to what he used to be, to be a good husband and father to them. But his hopes were in vain, the treasure and throne had turned the man's heart to stone.
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The nurse immediately called the doctor Bisma as soon as Iza woke up from her coma. Seeing the doctor Bisma who came hastily to the ICU room, Rahardi, Mina and the others immediately stiffened. They were afraid that something bad was happening to Iza. Mina hugged Winny tightly, terrified as soon as she hit her. Ten minutes later, the doctor exited the ICU.
“Doctor... how is my child?” ask Rahardi.
“Patients are aware. We still have to monitor him in a minute. If the condition is really stable, we will move it to the inpatient room.”
“We can see it doc?”
“Sorry, for the sake of patient peace, you are not allowed to enter. Wait until we move it.”
“Good doc.”
Doctor Bisma nodded her head then passed away. Mina unceasingly thanked in her heart. They went back to the waiting room. Several times Rahardi glanced at his wife. Ever since Mina said she wanted to separate, the woman had not cared about her anymore.
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After Iza's condition stabilized, Bisma's doctor moved her to the inpatient room. The doctor also asked Rega's doctor to examine Iza's eyes later. Mina continued to sit beside bed Iza, waiting for her daughter to wake up.
Mina's sleep was disturbed as she felt Iza's hand movements. Mina's head was raised, and Iza was beginning to wake up. Mina's hand moved on the knob to call the nurse. Rahardi, Anton and Winny approach Iza's bed.
After checking the condition of Iza, the nurse on duty came out of the room. According to the order of the doctor Bisma, once the patient is aware, he should call the doctor Rega. But the ophthalmologist could not immediately examine Iza, because he was in the operating room.
“Zi.. dear..thank God you are conscious, son.”
“Ummi.. Where am I?”
“You're in the hospital dear.”
Iza tried to gather all her consciousness. His eyes tried to look around, but only darkness could be found. His hand moved holding both of his neutrals covered in white bandages.
“Why have my eyes bandaged ummi.”
Iza tried to remove the bandage that covered her eyes, but Mina quickly restrained it. As much as possible the woman held back the crying that was about to come out.
“What happened to me, ummi?”
“You... had an accident,” Mina replied in a choked voice.
Iza was silent for a moment. He was trying to reassemble his still-sick memories. Little by little the woman could reassemble the events that befell her. He and Nick were in the car. They are trying to escape Rahardi's pursuit. Then a vehicle hit them without even dodging. His memory stopped there.
“Nick.. How's Nick doing? He's okay, ummi?” Iza was starting to look anxious.
“He is still in doctor's care. Yes..he is fine, just still need a break.”
Mina covered her mouth with her hands, as her cries almost came out. Then Iza touched her stomach. The violent clash that hit him made him wonder also about the state of the child in his birth.
“My son... How about my son? He's okay, ummi?”
There was no strength from Mina to answer Iza's question this time. The woman only clasped tightly onto the princess' hand with tears in her eyes. Winny could not even see the state of his nephew. She was crying in her husband's arms.
“Ummi.. What about my son? He's all right, isn't he? Ummi.”
“Your..” Mina couldn't continue her words.
“Why with my son ummi? Why ummi?”
“Your son cannot be saved.”
“Lying! Abi lied to ummi. My son is fine, right? Abi lied to ummi.”
“Zi.”
Mina stood up and immediately hugged him. Iza who has not believed what Rahardi said still continues to deny. Mina further tightened her embrace as Iza continued to deny the truth she heard.
“My son is alive right, ummi? He's all right, isn't he? Abi lied to ummi. Abi didn't want my son, so he lied. Aye right?”
“Yang patient darling.. God loves your son more.”
“Ummi lied. My son is fine. HE IS FINE!!!”
Iza shouted loudly accompanied by sobs. As much as possible Mina calmed her son, but the disappointment, sadness and anger that hit her together, made Iza lose control. He kept screaming and getting hysterical.
“INI ALL BECAUSE OF ABI!!! ABI DOESN'T WANT MY SON!! RETURN MY SON!!”
Iza's condition is getting hysterical. Anton hurried to call the nurse. Seeing the hysterical state of the patient, the nurse called the guard doctor on duty. The doctor ordered a sedative.
Iza's body drooped, shortly after the nurse injected benzodiazepine into her body. Mina justifies the location of Iza's head. Her daughter is back asleep, but Mina does not dare to imagine her reaction when awake again. Whether Iza can accept the reality, or go back hysterically.
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Slowly Mina and Winny gave understanding to Iza, once the woman woke up. Although still not able to accept fully, but Iza's condition is calmer. It is undeniable that he was so sad, the child he was waiting for along with Nick was unable to see the world.
Mina and Winny take turns calming Iza down. Meta who immediately came upon hearing his best friend had awakened also helped calm the woman. Slowly but surely, Iza began to calm down.
“Good afternoon.”
All those in the room turned their faces towards a thirty-year-old man with a snelli attached to his body and a stethoscope hanging around his neck. The handsome doctor approached bed Iza followed by a nurse behind him.
“Include, my name is Rega. I am an eye specialist. From now on I will be the patient,” the friendly doctor introduced himself to Iza and everyone in the room.
“We check the state of his eyes first yes. Sister... please open the bandage.”
The nurse, who was with Rega's doctor, approached and began to remove the bandages covering Iza's eyes. Rahardi's heart skipped a beat, waiting for the opening seconds of the bandage. His heart continued to pray, hopefully what the doctor said some time ago did not come true. Iza's eyesight is fine.
“Ok.. now try to open his eyes slowly.”
According to the doctor's instructions, Iza slowly opened her eyes. Iza's eyes blinked a few times before finally being able to open perfectly. The woman turned her face to the right and left, but there was nothing in sight before her eyes. It was still the same as his eyes were closed earlier, dark.
“Why dark doc. Is the power down? Why can't I see anything?”
Mina covered her mouth with both hands. The bitter reality hit him again. Doctor Rega quietly approached, he reached into his suit pocket then took out a small flashlight. He aimed the flashlight towards Iza's eyes, moving it left and right. Seeing no reaction from Iza, Rega's doctor ended the examination.
“Tomorrow we will do further examination on the mother..” Rega doctor saw the patient data on the hands of the accompanying nurse.
“Mother Noor. We will conduct a series of tests to ascertain the state of the mother. It looks like a piece of glass hit the eye, injuring the inside of the eye. But for more details we will see tomorrow. Now Noor's mother rest, don't think about anything and don't forget to keep praying.”
Doctor Rega touched Iza's shoulder gently to give her support. The doctor then left and threw a smile. Mina immediately approached her son.
“All will be fine. In the Lord, everything will be fine. Allah will not give trials beyond the limits of His servant's ability, believe Zi.”
Mina hugged her daughter again. Iza could only be silent. In his heart he kept praying that this was only temporary. He had heard of accident victims suffering temporary blindness. His condition returned to normal after treatment. He hopes it can be like that. Otherwise, he wouldn't have met Nick. Iza doesn't want Nick to have a disabled wife. Tears flowed from both eyes.
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Indonesia in final Thomas cup, yess😁