Dul
063. A Consideration

Bara had long prepared a name for Ibrahim, the youngest son he planned would still be the youngest child. For him, three kids would be enough. Two boys and a girl.

The tension in his family lately made Bara pay extra attention to the changes in Dul. Especially when he found out the truth of the word of the colonized about the status of Dul which is 'son of mother'. Dul already knew that and Bara guessed that the teenage boy would not ask or discuss it with anyone. Included Colonized. At least for those moments.

When the atmosphere of the house was calm again, one afternoon Bara invited Mr. Wirya to invite him to talk about the Dul problem. They sit in a restaurant of classic Indonesian cuisine that they used to frequent.

"When was the last time we ate here, Ra? It seems like they have not been here for a long time," Mr. Wirya spread his gaze to the corner of the restaurant they just entered. "It has changed a lot" he continued.

"When, yeah ...." Bara came to think while also seeing the change that was meant by Mr. Wirya. "Last Mima was three years old."

All the furniture in the restaurant was made of heavy wood. It consists of curved reclining chairs that are joined to the handrails. Mr. Wirya sat facing a small round table and rubbed the handle of the chair. "Nothing beats time in testing quality, yet" his gaze returns to Bara. "So, what do you want to say?" todong Pak Wirya.

"Take a meal. You haven't eaten, have you? Rarely eat both." Bara offered a menu designed with old brown papers. As if increasingly want to emphasize that the restaurant still carries the concept of the past that they have not left.

Waiters in batik clothes came and recorded their orders. Bara and Mr. Wirya agreed to order the menu they used to eat at the restaurant. Oxtail soup.

"I was wrong at the restaurant. I've been willing to make ngingetin Dad about cholesterol," said Bara.

"Later Father has limited the consumption of foods high in cholesterol. So, I guess today's not okay with the chili that smells of cholesterol." Mr. Wirya raised his eyebrows at Bara.

"If so the next two weeks Dad can not consume this again." Bara felt a little guilty for betraying his mother who had desperately kept the father's diet.

"So ... What do you want to say? Dul or Dad's cholesterol?"

"Oh, yes. Just sec...." Bara opened the backpack he placed in the next chair. "After the stormy drama yesterday, I opened the Dul administration file to list Junior High School. I'm squirming this." Bara gave Dul's birth certificate.

Mr. Wirya confirmed the location of the glasses and grabbed the birth certificate and read it carefully. "Mmmm...Abdullah. One word. What a good name. In this case, I have to admit that the Colonies are very smart to name their son. Abdullah is a mother's son. It is actually quite surprising that Dijah and her ex-husband were legally married but the child of the marriage only listed the name of the mother as his parents. In conclusion, it means that Mr. Dul at that time did not think about this at all."

"Following his marriage to Fredy...Colored...."

"It's okay if you want to listen. But ... I hope this is indeed a professional consideration Dad," Bara said a little hesitantly. "If you can, you don't know. Kasian Seized. I just want to sort things out so Dad can understand what steps can be taken. I.want to do something for Dul," said Bara.

"Please. I heard while enjoying this oxtail soup. You just relax. I take this as part of the job. I got paid professionally by eating oxtail soup and you didn't complain about this to Mom. How's it? Fair enough?" Mr. Wirya rewinded his body because the waiter came with a large tray and put their order to the table.

"Fair enough" Bara said. "Dijah told me nothing at once, Dad. A piece, and not every day. And even hearing the story of Dijah, I have to be patient. Rich dad once told me that Colonized would open up if he was comfortable and met a trusted person."

Mr. Wirya nodded and put two small spoons of cayenne pepper into his soup bowl. "really. After Fredy was in prison and was in a safe house, Sejah just told him about being embarrassed by you. In a sense, at that time he was embarrassed when you found him being tortured by Fredy at the drug factory. He said at the time ..he was embarrassed because you always saw him beaten by Fredy too often. Shame, Ra."

Seeing his father begin the procession of eating oxtail soup which is a signature menu at the restaurant, Bara also did the same.

"Dijah said he did not know that he would be married to Fredy so soon. As long as he was still in the second grade of High School, his father did speak several times about Fredy who wanted to propose and immediately hold a reception. His father also said about all the party receptions will be borne by Fredy's side. He took that seriously. Until suddenly the end of the week.he was instantly married. He said it was like a dream" said Bara slowly.

"Come, go straight on. You are now a patient. I have to make you want to talk." Mr. Wirya chuckled softly.

"That night...He suffered physical violence for the first time. Colonized...Colored...." Bara put down his spoon. "Unconscious for a few days and upon awakening, Sejah was hospitalized long enough for shock. I don't want to go home because I don't feel safe. He reported to the police with the help of volunteers. Seen with severe depression because he realized that he was already in..mmm. Sejah getting depressed when you know you're pregnant Dul."

Mr. Wirya stopped his movement stirring the soup sauce and heaved a heavy sigh. "The past has really shaken personality. At a very young age," said Mr. Wirya half laughed.

"Went here and there asking for help to help the divorce process with Fredy. He said he had attempted suicide more than five times. Sejah never want memories of how to get pregnant and give birth to Dul. That's nine months pregnant, Dad. Pretty long. But the memories of the Colonized contain Dul never existed." Bara.

"That's why Dijah did not want Fredy's name in Dul's birth certificate," said Mr. Wirya.

"really. That's the reason."

To Be Continued