Dul
126. Sparks of the Past

Throughout the lunch, Dul kept an eye on Annisa. Their opposite sitting position makes him more flexible and can be satisfied to look at the girl. Annisa also laughed at the behavior of Ibrahim who was being fed lunch by Mbok Jum. Annisa also chimed in on Mima's and Colonized chatter. However, out of all that familiarity, he saw Annisa too often looking at the Colonized. Every time Sejah spoke, Annisa seemed to not want to miss anything. The girl smiled as Dijah expressed her disappointment with language that was sometimes plain, sharp and funny.

“Setting ringtone handphone gini, you know, Mom. That time is not understood,” said Mima, restore phone Sejah.

“The name is also the new mother knows now hape-hape this sophisticated. If you already understand, maybe Mother will not be able to be bullied by journalists,” sahut Colored with calm face. He opened the ringtone feature and tried to listen to it.

Bara heard what was said by the Sejah and responded to the babble with a soft pinch on his wife's cheek. Annisa laughed at that. And Dul .. smiled warmly looking at Annisa.

By late afternoon, Annisa approached Dijah and Bara in the living room. Next to Annisa, Mima was still holding the girl's hand and had yet to let go. Dul was not far from the sofa. Five minutes ago Annisa came out of Mima's room and whispered in her ear. “Udah afternoon, I'm home, yes. Abdullah, right, just arrived yesterday. Haven't talked much with dads.”

Dul assented, though a little heavy. Because, since the end of lunch Mima plowed Annisa into his room. Only a little bit could he and Annisa talk. When he entered Mima's room, his sister did not let him linger. The reason, “It's a women's affair. I can't know.”

“Om, Aunt …. Excuse me for coming home now, yeah. There's a campus assignment for Monday. Thanks for the lunch and the chat. Nisa is very fond of Abdullah coming here.”

Seized straightened his body instantly. “So Mom, why is Mom a aunt now? Not good to hear, huh, Mas?” Colored pinching Bara's thigh plan.

Sontak Bara helped enforce his seat. “Iya. It's better to hear call Mom aja.”

“Om, Mother ...”

“Still less tasty too,” says Sejah cut off Annisa's greeting.

“Mother's Dad?” ask Annisa. “Then Dad, Mom, Nisa say goodbye now. Sorry if today Abdullah's time with the family is reduced due to the arrival of Nisa—”

“It's not rich yet, either, Mas. Have I recently become too demanding, huh?” Seen pouting looking at Bara.

Dul clenched his mouth so as not to smile widely. Mima was already giggling happy because he enjoyed Annisa who misbehaved because of her mother's actions.

“Come, a little more, Ma'am. Answer the correct bonus delivered home with Taruna.” Mima then smothered her mouth.

“Shopping to Budhe Tini's house became this way. Every home brings a new language.” Bara pulls Mima's arm to hold the little girl and locks her body in a firm embrace. Mima rebelled by patting Bara's arm.

Annisa glanced at Dul for a second. Nodding softly from Dul made him catch his breath. “Well, Mom, Nisa excuse me to go home now, yeah. Request permission for Mas Dul anterin Nisa. Tomorrow .. if I'm Nisa's mom's dad comes here again, Nisa won't be upset. Mom's cooking is really good. Nisa has not eaten home cooking for a long time. And that was .. Mbok Jum there was a wrap of side dishes for Nisa. Thanks a lot.” Nisa shifted her gaze for a second to another place. “Show excuse me now.”

“Cieee .. ciee ..Mas Dul, Mas Dul.” Mima stabbed Dul in the stomach with his index finger. Bara again scooped Mima's hand and put it together in a deck.

“Bu, I nganter Annisa, yes. Not long ago,” whispered Dul in the ear Sejah.

When Dul and Annisa near the fence meet a taxi, Bara finally releases Mima. The little girl ran to the fence and shouted. “Mbak Nisa's! Come here often, yes. I was invited to walk too, you know. Hanging out..” Mima's words were not finished yet when Ibrahim came to draw his hand back laughing.

Annisa waved from the taxi accompanied by a nod at Mima.

“Let me do nothing. What did Mom say, right? The container should not be lost and you should return it yourself.”

Annisa laughing. “Your mother is funny, yes.”

“Now it's funnier. Receh, huh?” Dul chuckled to remember the little things his mother often said. “Kanya ... last night Father and Mother picked me up, deh. You see, I slipped twice about you.”

Annisa. “Hah? Seriously?” His hand gripped Dul's arm. “Catch up to where? Or maybe not get to my hostel? Your father is worried so pick you up. Could be that, right?”

Dul shook his head. “Ne-know. I don't want it. Later if you know everything even more embarrassed.” Dul held his laughter.

“You're serious, dong. Very embarrassed if you arrive.laughs continue, ih.” Annisa pats Dul's arm, and the arm is quickly captured by Dul.

“Udah, nothing. Mom's dad doesn't talk about macem-macems. I shouldn't know, but Mom is. It used to be the hardest to tell a story. Now even if not asked, yes, want a story.”

“Everytime Abdullah's mother, I miss Mama. That's also the reason I have to go to college in this city. I could visit my mom's grave often. Abdullah is really lucky to have a warm family.”

“Annisa could be part of my family,” Dul said.

“Meanway? Oh, yes.” Annisa nodded quickly. Hope Dul didn't answer his question just now.

Dul was slightly jolted because of his words earlier. Without realizing it, the meaning of his words is very much. “Before going home, want to eat ice cream first? Yesterday there was a gelato resto near there. Tau, right?” Dul diverted the conversation.

“Tau, dong. I often snack there.”

Their conversation was late and getting more familiar. In the left corner of the gelato cafe, Abdullah and Annisa sat facing each other and exchanged experiences during the years they had not met.

“Sorry if I get to the story about Papa. On the one hand I feel bad for telling you about Papa, but here on the other, I want Abdullah to understand what I am feeling. I understand that Papa wants someone he can be a friend to until he leaves the world. But I think it's too soon. At the second Papa said he wanted to marry again, I had a thought that Papa could have known his future wife from the time Mama was sick. Because it should be for a considerate Papa, deciding to get married should not be easy.” Annisa took a deep breath.

“I understand,” sahut Dul. “That matters .. don't let Annisa so hate.” Dul looked down at the gelato bowl which left a slight puddle at its base. How dare he advise Annisa. How are you doing with her?

“I should be ashamed of this story to Abdullah.”

Dul's silent. If Annisa is embarrassed about her remarried father, then what should she feel if she tells Annisa about her biological father?

“Not to be ashamed. There may be others who have a worse and more embarrassing past story.” Dul looked straight at Annisa's eyes which were staring at him questioningly.

To Be Continued