Dul
035. Come and Go

Dul still remembered how excited he was at that time. A baby squirms in a blanket held by Bara. Dul tiptoed, looking impatient to see the tiny creature that is said to be the cause of his mother's pain so far.

“Mas Dul, come here ...” Bara called out to Dul and sat down on a chair near the bed of Dijah. “This is Mas Dul's sister. Beautiful, no?” bara asked while fixing the location of the blanket that wrapped the tiny body in her arms.

For a few seconds, Dul was silent. Looking at the red baby tasting her red lips, her eyes closed and her hair. “Hair is the same as Dad,” said Dul. It was the first thing he realized from the figure of Mima.

Bara chuckles. “Hair looks like Dad, huh? Curls, right? Mas Dul pinter,” said Bara.

“Beauty and small. What do I call him?” dul asked, yet to turn his gaze away from his little sister.

“Adik Mas Dul's full name is Fatimah. Call Mima.” Bara rubbed Mima's cheek with her index finger.

“Halo, Mima .. This is Mas,” said Dul, putting his palm on Mima's head.

The presence of Mima also adds new activities and enthusiasm for Dul. A sense of pride slipped into his heart as it realized his status as the older brother of a beautiful baby.

Robin's arrival with his mother was also a show for Dul. From the first minute of Robin's arrival, Dul immediately drags his best friend near the baby box where Mima has just fallen asleep after breastfeeding.

“See this, I now have a sister. Beautiful, right?” Dul puffed his chest with pride. He finally had something Robin didn't.

Robin stared silently at Mima, then glanced at Dul, then turned to his mother who was chatting near the bed.

“Try me to ask my mama first,” Robin said. “Mak! Mak! I can have a sibling like Dul Gini? Beautiful times adeknya,” exclaimed Robin, looking at his mother.

“Bah! Ask for adek like asking for ombus-ombus aja you!” sergeant Mak Robin to his son.

“Have a child like you just your mother's hair already half the remaining items. Add another one, your mother's hair can be all white, Bin.”

“Ah, where possible. There's-there's this Bu Tini,” said Robin looked at one of her mother's friends. Her mother's friend giggled at her answer.

“Don't ask now,” whispered Dul.

“Ah, don't do it, Dul. I'm heavy like I have a grandpa. Later reduced pulp jajanku.” Robin flicked his hand at Dul.

“Yes, no need.” Dul nods in agreement as Robin uncovers his plan. He was a little worried to see the face of Robin's mother who carved a look of annoyance.

Dul remembers Mima being brought home for the first time. Everyone was busy welcoming guests of honor. In an instant Mima stole the hearts of everyone in Mr. Wirya's house. The baby in the blanket kept changing hands. Dul listened diligently to every compliment made by people every time he saw Mima.

Bara never stopped saying that he and Mima should love each other. Like one afternoon when everyone was inside the house, Dul sat next to Bara who was holding Mima on the back porch. At that time they were still in the house of Mr. Wirya.

“Mas Dul ... Dear Mima, right?” ask Bara.

“Honey,” Dul replied. His mouth was munching on a warm fried banana snack that afternoon.

“Mas Dul tau Bulik Sukma, right?” ask Bara again. Dul answered with a nod. “Bulik Sukma is his sister Father. From childhood to adulthood and we were both married, Father and Bulik Sukma remained brothers. Love each other and are there to support each other. So will Dul and Mima. Until whenever will remain brothers. Must support each other, there are times when one of them needs help. Because ... Father and Mother will also be old like Akung and Uti. About Dul understand what Dad omongi?”

Dul stuffed the last bite of the fried banana into his mouth. He silently tried to digest Bara's speech, which he considered longer than usual that afternoon. Dul begins to understand that Bara is a simple man of speech. If the man conveys something long enough, it means it is important enough to know.

“Ngerti, Yeah. I have to love Mima. Mima should love me too. Till big later.” That was the conclusion he could draw from the words of Bara that afternoon. The rest, Dul enjoyed two weeks at Mr. Wirya's house with his new activities. Play with Mr. Wirya or Bu Yanti who is holding Mima.

The presence of Mima did not bring any significant changes other than the sound of crying babies in the house. Just plus the chat about Mima who always stay up late at night. The whole house took turns to look after him. Mima overturned her mother's father's sleeping hours.

After two weeks, Bara had to go back to the office after spending time off. They were all brought back home.

Dul who for two weeks used to the atmosphere of a crowded house, now feels lost something. The quiet house without talk Mr. Wirya in front of the television or at the dining table. Also quiet from the questions Bu Yanti to check something.

Upon returning home, Dul now has a new routine. The one that previously followed Mbok Jum everywhere, now changed by following Mima. Wherever Mima was, she would always be around the baby girl. Observing Mima sleeping, seeing Mima bathed, or also helping to calm Mima who is crying by rubbing her legs.

When the process of life goes on so regularly, as Dul had always wanted, there is one more event that he remembered as a loss.

Mima's age had already stepped on one month. Dul recalled a few pieces of his mother's speech that were on the phone.

“Don't next week, Kang. Later ... After all bring mom here. I'll have Mima's dad pick her up, yeah. I promised to stay at my house. Mima's father's day off, I'm asking you to take mom there. Mama has to. I know you feel inferior, but I am, right, her son. Don't overdo it like that. Don't you want to see my son? No need to do anything here. Sit down, watch me take care of my kids.”

No one told Dul who his mother was talking to at the time. However, hearing his mother's words, Dul understood that Mbah Wedok was the one being talked about. Dul retreated away from the door of the room because he heard the steps of the gate opened. Her father has arrived home.

He missed Mbah Wedok. He knew that his mother had asked Mbah Wedok to stay with them many times, but always refused.

Until one night, her mother was crying with a cell phone still in her ear. Mbah Wedok is back in the hospital.

To Be Continued