The Struggle of Women
Episode 13's
“Mother I want chocolate milk, not white milk.” Complaints of the soot-black-eyed little girl with the natural tanned hair she has.
The woman called—Elma, a young mother figure who just set her age at 25 years old turned her head after making sure the eggs that were being fried are safe with a perfect level of maturity. “The chocolate milk runs out Kiara, just drink what I made, huh? Go home later I'll buy you some more of your favorite chocolate milk.”
The five-year-old princess frowned, unhappy with what she heard. While her mother was still busy struggling with the rush in the kitchen to prepare their breakfast, Kiara fell silent in her chair, reluctant to touch the white milk glass that was in front of her.
One other woman—Arini, who was already sitting in front of the little girl glancing from her activities scooping the rice, smiled faintly realizing her beloved princess looked lost in taste because the chocolate milk she wanted was not there.
“Since when is this granddaughter so picky?” asked the grandmother making Kiara's gaze that was originally bowed is now directed at her. No, the tone of voice that grandma used was not a scolding tone, but purely a question so that the message she was trying to convey to Kiara could be well received.
“Not Mom and Grandma always say, that Kiara should be grateful for whatever Kiara has, including what Kiara eats and what Kiara drinks. Kiara herself who said, yesterday a classmate Kia there who told me that she never drank milk before leaving school, so Kia love the milk box that Mother provided for Kia's friend. Isn't that so?” Next to Grandma's eyebrows raised, asked for confirmation on the girl who slowly lowered her gaze again. A soothing smile cannot be separated from the look of that soft face.
It didn't take long, the little girl slowly nodded her head in regret. “Sorry ... Kiara will drink her milk until it runs out,” said the little girl grabbed her milk glass, drowning almost part of her face in the big mug.
The mother who finally finished struggling in the kitchen approached the dining table with a lunch box and a place to drink in hand, did not forget with a proud smile that adorned her face because she certainly heard the conversation.
“Mother appointment, come home from work later Mother will buy a lotkk ... for Kiara. And thank you for being patient this morning,” he said rubbing the little girl's head affectionately.
Kiara who finally put her big mug back on the table nodded, saying her thanks in a sweet way.
“Well now let's finish breakfast, so that Kia and Mom are both not late today.” Without much rebuttal, his daughter immediately took a spoon on the side, eating the breakfast the grandmother had prepared greedily.
***
Already at almost 11, Elma is carrying out her duties as a receptionist at one of the famous hotels in her hometown. Since deciding to return home to her city five years ago, Elma did start her life again from the beginning. Whether it was in taking care of Kiara, or the education she arranged to adjust her new life.
Elma did not continue her education to a level that took a lot of time, however she had become a mother, of course the status had a lot of influence in time that she had to share between taking care of the little princess, and the little girl, work, and pursue education.
Elma knew she could not continue to use her High School diploma to find work, which is why she majored in a major that did not take long and was easiest to pass. Not to forget the great opportunities that allowed him to quickly get a job in his city which is a tourist city, and his choice fell on hospitality. Had started by working in a simple hotel, after having a qualified experience Elma finally could work in a five-star luxury hotel in the class of Tanu Group subsidiaries. Already a year Elma worked there, the salary that Elma received according to her was more than enough to finance the needs of her small family.
The phone in Elma's skirt pocket vibrated right after she greeted the guest and walked her away with a smile. The woman glanced at the colleague beside her who was struggling with the PC screen in front of her, switching to the hotel lobby which looked quite quiet, there were only a few guests who were downstream but not for reservation or heading to the receptionist table.
“Sa, can I go to the back first? My son phone nih.” Elma asked her partner for permission. Sashi who turned his head and saw Elma's phone screen flickering with the princess' name on the screen then nodded with a smile.
“Ya is there, but don't be long yes.”
As soon as she obtained her permission, Elma immediately passed from the receptionist table. Traverse the hotel's large lobby until he starts entering the hallway leading to the back of the building. Several times the phone shakes off because Elma is too long and has not answered the call, but before long the phone again vibrates with the same caller id.
Elma only dared to answer the call when she was in an area that only hotel staff, including herself, could go through. Several workers who passed by him greeted with smiles, and were replied by Elma with the same gesture.
“Mother, can I go to the amusement park with Om? Om took me away so I went home from school, and I really wanted to go with him, Mom ... Can ya?” whining his little daughter from a phone call.
“Amusement park? Did you mean Kiara Om Aidan, right?”
“Iya, Mom ... Hey Aidan, who else? Yes, Mum? Can ya?” talk to his daughter again.
Aidan whom Kiara means is actually a neighbor next to her house, which is also Jenny's sister who helped Kiara deliver. They really have been like a family considering the genealogy of their family that was close long ago.
When Elma decides to leave the capital and start her new life, the only thing she thinks about is going back to their hometown, and luckily Aidan was still living in the city and looking for a suitable place to live for him, Mom, and Kiara. Jenny herself warned Aidan to be near the little family, in order for Jenny to monitor and make sure the little family is alive properly and safely, she said—though in fact Aidan is not as reliable as her brother's expectations.
“Sayang ... Listen mom. The amusement park is crowded, and I'm afraid something will happen to Kiara if Kiara leaves without Mom. So go to the amusement park later, huh? As soon as Mother has a holiday, I will definitely take Kiara there.”
“Mother has said it many times about the amusement park, but the proof until now Kiara has not left.”
Elma was stunned, she did not dodge about it because what Kiara said was true. But of course he also has a reason why he has not been able to keep his promise until now. The woman had intended to return to talk even though what she was about to say would only sound like an excuse, but that intention was precisely snuffed out as her eyes caught a suspicious movement near the cargo lift.
A nurse-clothed woman was forcefully put by a man in black into a cargo elevator with both hands tied and mouth silenced. Seeing that, quickly Elma whispered on her phone to stop the suspicious action.
“Honey, I'll call you later. Anyway you don't go to the amusement park with Om Aidan without Mom's permission, huh? Mom loves you.” Finished with her call, Elma ran towards the security guard post. He knew he could not stop the criminal act itself, so instead of taking the risk by risking himself without success, Elma chose to ask for the help of more competent authorities.
The woman arrived at the security post with a breath. He saw some officers who were busy with their respective work or just chatting with colleagues nearby. Elma approached a figure more familiar to her than the others, facing the man who immediately looked at her question.
“Pak Amar, can you please see the CCTV that leads to the cargo elevator? Or CCTV inside his cargo elevator now.”
“Waduh, what's the matter, Neng Elma? How does it look to panic like that?”
“Come, Sir ... Look a minute, yeah?” please Elma with a face that welcomes it, see that Mr. Amar who originally turned his back on his computer screen, immediately look for CCTV data that Elma meant, putting it on the big screen of the main surveillance monitor in front of them and watching the events that made some security officers there sharpen their eyes.
The man in black and the nurse-clothed woman Elma had seen, appeared on the big screen, seen coming down from the elevator that made Mr. Amar without being asked to immediately replace it to a CCTV connection spread in the hallway in order to follow the movement of the two.
Elma's forehead was made to frown, staring in disbelief as the man in black could easily fit into a room that could only be accessed by certain people in the hotel.
President Suit 2012. That's where the two disappeared from the screen.
📽To be continue🎞