Dul
036. Lost Second

“Why, Mas—why? Mother why?”

His mother's screeching that night made Dul straighten up. His hand stopped writing the letter K which he had written over and over again.

Why Mbah Wedok?

“Mother was taken to the hospital again, Jah. We're going to the hospital, yuk ... Mima take it. Come on, change clothes.”

“Mother why?”

Dul looked up at his parents. Sejah has just thrown things that Dul also asked. But it seems Bara has not yet answered them. The man moved calmly. Taking Mima from the hand of the Sejahideen and standing holding his wife's shoulder.

That night Dul was also bewitched. His mother's voice full of eternal feeling made him unconscious type guided Mbok Jum to the room to change clothes.

Dul could still hear the voice of his mother who kept asking. “What mom, Mas?”

Bara's answer sounded faint, but it was still clear to hear. “Mother is unconscious, Jah ... Suddenly called no response. But mom is still there.”

Then Dul's ears caught his mother's wailing. Mbok Jum seemed to have heard what his mother said, because the old woman helped him dress with a sad look on his face. His mother was crying, and Mbok Jum was quietly crying.

“From yesterday-yesterday I want to meet he said later on. I can't leave now. Mom hasn't seen my daughter. I promise to stay home. Mom never wanted to come here. He said it hurt, but I didn't get a chance to take care of.”

The series of sentences spoken by his mother, it was digested by Dul quite well. Evidently, there is a part of him that feels pain when he hears everything.

Why doesn't Mbah Wedok want to stay here? What's wrong Mom?

One thing he could not understand at the time. Why would Mbah Wedok not want to see the situation he and his mother are much better?

Dul sat quietly right behind Bara who was driving. The atmosphere in the car was very tense. No one's talking. Dul glanced at his mother who threw a glance at the side of the car glass. I don't know what her mother thought, she didn't know. Dul only saw his mother tighten her embrace on Mima's body. The baby girl seemed to be sound asleep because she was carried by a batik array.

Good thing Mima slept well ….

The silence continued until they arrived at the hospital. Bara led her and her mother in silence to the emergency room. From a distance there was a curtain covered, from within which was heard a voice that he recognized as saying his name.

“Mother ... Mother ... This new Dul nyampe!”

Mbah Wedok is going to get me?

“Bu—Bu! It's me, Colored!”

His mother moved closer to the bed where Mbah Wedok lay. Bara lifted his body and sat down on the edge of the bed. From his position, it only seemed very clear. Mbah Wedok really looks different. Very tired. His breathing is short in every pull. I quickly answered my questions about school. It was as if the man knew that Mbah Wedok did not have the strength to last any longer.

And the saddest thing for him at that time was not about Mbah Wedok lying helplessly. But about his mother who cried because she was upset, angry, desperate. Similar cries he had seen when Mbah Lanang oversleep to take him to the stage of art.

Dul sat still, looking fixed on the face of his mother who was waiting on Mbah Wedok to wait a little longer.

“Mima ...,” call Mbah Wedok.

Everyone who was there followed how Mima was squirming. However, the baby had not opened his eyes.

“Cantik ...,” muttered Mbah Wedok with eyes closed. Bara then grabbed his hand to put it behind Mima's head.

Mbah Wedok looks trying hard to open his eyes, his breathing is getting shorter. Then .. Mbah Wedok was silent for a moment, as if gathering his strength to start talking. From his place, Dul listens to a conversation between his mother and Mbah Wedok with a language he does not understand.

“Saikine you wis nduwe keluwargo sek happy, Dul wis nduwe pak sing slick lan iso dadi role model. You guys yo wis nduwe wedhok son sing ayu, mom yo wis weruh. Bojomu yo ganteng lan iso ngayomi keluwargo. Ibu saiki wis ayem, sakprene urip sek. Ora iso's mother menehi your art, your mergo dewe sek nemoni kuwi art. Ngapurone nek ibu urung iso menehi promise. (Now you have a happy family. Dul already has a good father and can be a role model. You have a beautiful daughter, whom I have seen. Your husband is also brave and nurtures the family. Mom is now relieved and calm. All my life, this is what I've been waiting for. You can't bring happiness to you, but you find happiness yourself. Forgive me if you haven't been able to keep your promise.)”

”But mother gelem to nginep nang umahku. My son young iso ruh wong, koq mom wis ngene iki. Enteni sedeluk ngkas bu .. ben weruh my son sek ayu iki rodho gedhe sediluk ngkas. Take my son as little as ah bu,ojo lungo sek .... (But I promise to stay at my house. My son also can't understand people, but my mother is already gini. Wait a minute, ma'am... Look at my beautiful son's big a little more. Lead my son for a moment. Don't go first ..)"

I don't know what she's talking about, but her mother's cries are getting louder. The next minute, Supri shouted to the doctor.

The doctor came in haste with a stethoscope to check Mbah Wedok's heartbeat. Bara then lowered it from the edge of the bed to facilitate the movement of the doctor. Some panicked, some people standing there just kept quiet.

“Come, called her grandmother,” Pinta Doctor while looking at her at a glance. The words resembled a spiritless command.

At least he should try. “Mba! Mbah! It's Dul! Wake up! To my house, sleep with me, Mbah!”

“Awhile Bu—awhile …. I don't want to be an orphan right now, Mom .... Mom just saw me for a second. Not now ...”

Seized hysterically. Bara approaches to take over Mima from his wife's sling. Then everyone started crying.

“Dad ...,” call Dul, pull up the tip of Bara's shirt that stands behind her mother. He needs an explanation. What happened to Mbah Wedok. “Mbah Wedok?”

“Mbah Wedok go nyusulin Mbah Lanang. Now I've met. Mbah Wedok no longer sick, already seneng.”

As always, the simplest explanation of Bara, but so pervasive to be understood by the understanding of his children. Mbah Wedok went after Mbah Lanang.

His age who had just stepped on the first grade of Elementary School, Dul had already felt so many emotions. If the child used to cry because he was not bought a toy, he cried because he saw his mother hurt when beaten by his father. If another child cries for being pinched by his mother for being too naughty, Dul cries for being slapped by a father who accuses him of begging.

His childhood was full of frenzy that made him not like the crowd. Every crowd, in the end will make him sad and lonely. That night ... he cried because Mbah Wedok died.

The figure of the woman who took care of him in silence. Which he never understood what his heart was. Who could never comfort each mother complained and grieved. Mbah Wedok is too much silent to be incomprehensible. Sitting on the floor stirring the vegetables, making a fist of warm rice salted, bathing it, washing its clothes, ironing, making Mbah Lanang coffee, sitting daydreaming in the kitchen doorway, and, sometimes even talk to the back neighbors. A glimpse of Mbah Wedok milling around in his head.

Twice he watched someone leave this world. Mbah Lanang and Mbah Wedok. Losing a different person leaves a different kind of pain. Dul lost someone who helped him through his hanged moments in childhood. His mother lost the man to whom he wanted to prove something.

Until adulthood, Dul recalled that when someone died, then disconnected any plans that want to be done with the person. He noted it as important. Before he loses someone, he will do everything he wants to do. As long as there is time, he thought.

Mima came to the world, Mbah Wedok left the world. Life is always about coming and going whatever it is.

And Dul began his new consciousness as the son of Bara Wirya Satyadarma and Khadijah. He is the older brother of a baby girl named Fatimah. They are a happy little family. After all, life has to go on.

To Be Continued