Asti Girl Carrying the Curse
Chapter 258. Dear Nephew
" This is Nastiti Anjani, right?" Asked the man in a voice that started to unstable aka vibrate.
The man's right hand pointed towards Asti who was still looking at him in amazement at the foreign man's presence which was far from what he had originally expected.
" Yes, that's Nastiti Anjani... People call him Asti!" obviously Leon.
" You're her husband... Not Satrio Wibowo is it ?"
" No! I'm Leon Narendra Murti, Asti's current husband! We got married over a year ago. This cute baby is my son with Asti!" leon was a little proud.
" Thank God! Finally, Emilia can be calm in nature there... His only son can live a prosperous life, not lacking anything!" the man whispered weakly.
They're speechless. " I'm sorry, are you Mr. Yusuf, Emilia's stepbrother?" leon asked carefully.
" I'm Emilia's sister, my name is Rahardian Mohammad Jaffar... Commonly called Ardi. It has been a month since Brother Yusuf had to go back and forth to the hospital in Surabaya. His father-in-law had to undergo dialysis, because his kidney pain had begun to severe. It was the young family who helped us first when we returned to Surabaya!"
" Of Ardi?" asti whispered in disbelief!
The man may be older than himself by more than ten years. Samar Asti hears Pakde Muin's testimony that his youngest brother Emilia was rescued in the fire disaster. Why does his face look so young. Even a glimpse of the same age as Joko, who is only 25 years old.
The man did not hesitate anymore to stand near the bench where Asti was sitting. Hugged tightly, the tightly veiled beautiful woman who was his niece. The only child of Emilia's descendants, her older sister. They both cried for a long time.
" I'm sorry, Mr. Muin. My assistant was forced to put Pakde and relatives here! Brother Yusuf's house in Malang city has been sold. Some of the money is used for the cost of treatment Mr. Kromo. Here we only have shophouses for business. Also for the distribution of goods produced by our screen printing prints that are ready to be marketed. Actually Kak Yusuf's family has been living in Surabaya again since a year ago. They had to look after his father-in-law who lived alone in that city!"
Then flowed the story of Om Ardi's path of their lives after returning to Surabaya, almost twenty-four years ago. At that time the news of Emilia's departure was not too much news to be heard by them and other brothers. They still survive living in temporary shelters in the corner of Banjarmasin city. They only knew that Emilia had returned to Java with a man who claimed to be a close relative of her father-in-law, Pak Harjo Winangun. The woman also had to leave her baby at her father-in-law's house. A 2-month-old baby.
Mr. Yusuf who was young at that time, only focused on the care of his two younger siblings who were seriously injured in the fire. Sami's grandmother had died in the incident. The old woman had her lungs filled with smoke, trying to save her two grandchildren who were fast asleep as their house burned down. So that he experienced severe shortness of breath before death, the local get medical help in the hospital.
Her older sister had a slight burn. But his youngest brother had his leg bone crushed by a building that collapsed because it was eaten by fire. Rahadian's older brother, Jamal Abdillah, died a week later and suffered internal injuries.
Nearly two months later, Ardi underwent post-surgical treatment of his leg bones. Relatives took to royong to rebuild their settlements behind the large shop. Until they get the news about the truth Jaffar and his wife are experiencing persecution near the port. The family took him to their hometown to help the badly injured Mr. Jaffar. It turned out that it happened almost at the same time.
It was like a dark history for the Jaffar family there. All misfortunes come lucky. Some say the incident was due to revenge on Mr. Jaffar. More so, as some do not like it because Jaffar rejects a group of traders who commit fraud by buying goods from the black market and selling them heavily.
The merchant even asked the help of market thugs who had many men who often acted rude and vigilante. The leader of the extended family, Jaffar, asked Yusuf to bring his sister back to Surabaya to get better treatment and care.
Almost 5 months, Yusuf went back and forth to the hospital for Ardi's treatment, after surgery. His right leg could not return to its original state. His bones are given reinforcement. Until undergoing therapy and walking a bit limp after not wearing a cane months later.
" Did anyone tell you where Emilia went?" ask Mr. Muin.
" Nothing, until Aunt Hera, the father's cousin who found Kak Emilia's bag of clothes in a surau building that had long been empty and abandoned ... The woman began to ask people who had been asked to take the Javanese to the airport... The man named Kushari Juwono said he only left alone..."
They all fell silent. There is also a sense of disbelief and anxiety. Including Mr. Muin. Because at that time communication was limited. Tracking missing persons is not as sophisticated as it is now.
Mr. Muin looked concernedly at the man who was Asti's uncle. If calculated, the age of the man is more than 35 years... Yusuf Maulana Jaffar is probably over 47 years old.
" I'll stay here!" Uncle Asti's whisper hesitated. " Does Mr. Kushari and his brother still have power in the area ? Because he often visited the business place of Kak Yusuf in front of the Mall. She threatened us, with the business of Emilia's sister leaving her baby, in Sendang Mulyo village. He said Mr. Winangun's family was very angry and broke the kinship between us!"
" It is not true what Kushari said! You are also wrong if you think the Juwono brothers are very powerful! Instead he hid the fact about your existence, for fear of being exposed to all the decay of his actions," replied Mr. Muin firmly.
" You mean, Father?"
" They are always trying to enrich themselves with all their fraudulent actions. Even though Mr. Harjo Winangun has several times entrusted a number of money that is nominally large enough to finance your foot surgery! Some of the reports made by the man named Kushari were true that your family was stricken there. But he did not dare to continue - clearly convey the news of Emilia's departure from his hometown because of her actions!"
" So that man is behind Emilia's departure?"
" Must be it! Because he always forbade you from contacting Mr. Winangun's family, right? Is your brother can be asked for help, because there is Asti here...He just wanted to get word of the truth about his mother... Even if the news is not good news. All this time we were just guessing!"
Ardi's eyes can see the sadness on Asti's face. This girl grew up without the affection of her parents... While he himself must also be kept away from the existence of his parents in a fishing village. Until it is declared to have recovered. Even the person who burned the village was still a fugitive by the authorities. But the great family of Jaffar believes the punishment for their actions will be immediately reciprocated by Allah SWT!
" Let me call first Brother Yusuf... Hopefully, can come to Batu soon. Without this effort, surely brother can not support his family anymore. Some of his father-in-law's efforts have been taken by his son. While Kak Yusuf is only his daughter-in-law, in the family is Jati !"
" Does Ardi live in this town?"
The man smiled gently. " No, I used to go to the suburb of Surabaya. I moved around to monitor other efforts. One of them made screen printing and convection shirts, in Sidoarjo. Distro-style shirts are widely sold in shops in tourist areas...Also open a photocopy and cafe business!"
" Thank God!" lek No and Joko said almost simultaneously.
" Are there still those intimidating people from the Juwono family coming ?"
" Since we moved around for almost ten years, there has been no contact with the Juwono Family anymore. But some friends often give reports about the arrival of Pak Kerto to Surabaya to ask for our home address, the latest. But they all hush!"
They walked back to the inn in the opposite building. Pakde Muin registered Rahardian's name to stay at this place. The man got the key to the room opposite Pakde Muin's room on the second floor.
" Sir, Brother Yusuf can only leave tonight! Her father-in-law is still undergoing treatment at the hospital and will be cared for by one of her children... His wife still has to rest at home with their one little toddler!"
Finally they also planned the streets in the city of Batu. Bulek Ratih wants to go to the apple plantation in Malang. In order for him to be able to feel for himself, the sensation of picking the fruit itself was directly from his tree.
Ninuk was planning to visit the Angkut museum in the afternoon to catch the afternoon performance hours. The museum is the most famous in Batu City, among various other attractions that are quite interesting.
If Asti, Leon and Om Ardi choose to rest in a cafe not far from the front of the museum. After coming home from an apple orchard. They visited the museum a while ago. Fortunately Qani was not afraid of his new grandfather who was still young, so he would also carry it. Alternate with Leon, his father.
Asti is somewhat relieved, if his mother's brother can survive until the moment on Java Island. Moreover, the intimidation of the Juwono brothers made them have to avoid by moving.