Merely Winnowing
Choose Who?

"So, she used to visit this parlour to meet with Dea?"

"Yes, from the time Dea was a baby to adulthood, she always visited him to this orphanage. He also loved Dea very much. He often bought Dea toys, clothes, and food when he visited the parlour."

Shakila and Darren smiled wryly at the words of Mother Panti. "Mother, may I request an address from Ms Rahma?"

"This is the address" Mother Panti told Shakila. He then recorded the address given by the Mother Panti.

"Thank you very much" Shakila said after getting the address.

"Together."

"Then we say goodbye. Thank you so much for your help, Mother Panti" said Darren.

"Yes are the same."

Shakila and Darren then leave the orphanage. Darren then chuckles when he sees Shakila's behavior who still looks upset in the car.

"What's the matter, honey?" darren asked as he stroked Shakila's face.

"Sister Darren, did you hear Mother Panti's explanation? Isn't that a strange thing?"

"What's so weird?"

"Yes, is not the attitude of Ms Rahma unnatural? He looked very affectionate and attentive to Dea, but he only found Dea in the train carriage, and I was sure that the brief encounter, could not have caused such a deep sense. In fact, Ms. Rahma's attitude toward Dea, like a mother's attitude toward her biological child."

"You're overreacting, Shakila. Perhaps it was a meeting between Dea and Bu Rahma, causing a deep impression on her, as Mother Panti said."

"Ahhh, Brother Darren. Why are you saying that? So, you don't agree with me?" grouse Shakila.

"Hahhaha, it's not like that Shakila. Indeed, the attitude shown by Bu Rahma on Dea is a little unnatural, moreover they have no blood relation at all. It's just that, we have to keep a positive mind, you should not be too sure because of excessive confidence, if not proven will only cause disappointment. Do you understand?"

"Yes, you're right, brother. Although I wish that Dea was not my younger brother, I should not expect too much, as it would only cause deep disappointment if it was not up to my expectations."

"Yes Shakila. Now we go to Rahma's house?"

"Yes, sister,"

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the address. A tiny house that is so simple with a yard that is not so spacious but filled with various plants and flowers that are so well maintained.

"Let's get down!" darren's orders.

"Yes, sister" replied Shakila. They got out of the car and walked to the house.

TOK TOK TOK

The door of the house was open. A middle-aged woman opened the house, then smiled and greeted Darren and Shakila.

"Good afternoon, how can I help you?" greet the woman.

"Good afternoon, can we meet Rahma's mother?"

"Oh yeah, I happen to be alone. Can I help you?"

"Mother Rahma, introduce me to Shakila, and this is my girlfriend Darren. Can we have a quick chat with Mom?"

"Oh yes, please come in. Come on in, kid!"

Shakila and Darren entered the house and sat in the living room.

"Bu Rahma, sorry to interrupt. We got the address of the mother, from Mother Panti, the person in charge of the orphanage that you often visit.

DEGGG

Hearing the word orphanage mentioned by Shakila, Rahma's heart seemed to stop beating.

"The orphanage?"

"Yes, the orphanage that's near the station. Didn't you visit the orphanage often?"

Rahma's body was now shaking violently at Shakila's words. 'What is this? What the hell is it? Two months ago Arka found me about the orphanage. Now, this foreign woman is asking the same thing. What exactly happened?' inner Rahma.

"Mom Rahma! You why?" shakila asked who saw Rahma pensively.

"Oh it's okay, son. Why are you suddenly asking about the orphanage, son?"

"Look Bu Rahma, who happened to be my sister who went missing for decades, was found in the orphanage. And Mother Panti said it was you who found my sister. So I want to thank you."

"Your sister? Wh-who do you mean?"

"Dea, didn't you find Dea in the railroad car twenty years ago?"

'OHHHHH NOKKKKK!!!' inner Rahma. Shakila just smiled wryly at the change in Rahma's face.

'Already suspected, ' Inner Shakila.

"Why is your face suddenly pale, Madam Rahma? You're scared, aren't you?"

"What do you mean, Miss Shakila?"

Rahma was just speechless, only a clear grain came out from the corner of her eye. "Why are you silent? Quickly answer my question! Dea is your real son, right?"

"Why? Why should you be afraid of your late husband, Ms Rahma?"

"I'm afraid of divorce..."

"divorced? Wh why? What makes you think that your husband will divorce you until you change Sachi and Dea?" shakila asked while frowning.

"It's exactly as you said, Miss. I did trade Sachi and Dea because Dea had heart disease. It was in the same car, I was sitting not far away with your mother carrying a little child about two years old who was likely you, and a newborn baby and he is Sachi. While in the car, your mother seemed so frightened and anxious. Until the train finally stopped and he left Sachi in the train that he put on a chair because he was sleeping."

"Continue" said Shakila.

"Looking at Sachi who was left behind, I never really thought that your mother had accidentally left her. I thought that throughout the journey your mother seemed so anxious about leaving your sister in the car. So, after seeing your mother leave Sachi just like that, I walked up to the tiny baby and held him, in the same sling as my son, Dea. Initially I will leave Sachi to the nearest station or puskesmas. But I was persuaded by the devil's seduction to exchange Sachi and Dea" Rahma said sobbing.

"So right, you swapped them because Dea has congenital heart disease?"

"I'm scared, Miss. At that time I gave birth to Dea in my hometown, without the company of my husband, only with parents. And it turned out that the baby I was born with had congenital heart disease, which cost me a lot of treatment and care. I was afraid that my husband would find out he was angry and divorced me, because our economic conditions were very mediocre. So when I saw the opportunity before my eyes, without thinking, I changed Dea and Sachi. I purposely put Dea in an orphanage so I could meet her whenever I wanted. And I'm also sure, in that orphanage they can treat Dea because the orphanage has a regular donor who always helps them take care of the children of the orphanage."

"You're really petty and very selfish! Do you know how desperately our family is looking for Sachi? And you used Sachi only for your own sake!"

"I'm sorry. But really, all this time I also loved Sachi very much, I already considered Sachi as my own biological child, because for me Sachi was my life savior. I really love Sachi, she's a very nice, smart, and fun girl."

"And we've lost the good, smart, and fun Sachi because of you. So, all the apologies you said were not enough because of the fatal mistake you made, my parents made the wrong decision and thought that Dea was Sachi!"

"I'm sorry, sorry Miss. I will clear up this misunderstanding. Please forgive me."

"It's not that easy, Rahma! My parents already thought Dea was his daughter, and he couldn't have simply believed your words without clear evidence!"

"The evidence is clear? What do you mean?"

"Dna "Tests. You also have to do a DNA test to prove that Dea is your biological child."

"DNA test?"

"Yes, you want to do the DNA test?"

"Bu Rahma, everything that happened was a fatal mistake and this happened because of your carelessness. You must take responsibility for all these misunderstandings. You have to do what Shakila asks you to do to get this straight," Darren added.

"Well, well I want to do that. I want to do what you want, I want to do a DNA test."

Shakila then closed her eyes while exhaling her long breath. "Mom Rahma, now tell me, where is Sachi?"

DEG

"Where is my sister Sachi? Is that Sachi?" shakila asked as she pointed at a photo of a beautiful girl on the wall, her chest felt so tight, and it hurt to remember Sachi. Sachi his sister who should be able to live happily with him, now he does not even know what his fate is.

Rahma returned to shed her tears. "Bu Rahma, I ask you. What is Sachi? Sachi my sister?"

"His name is Luna, when I was going to give birth in the village due to limited costs, my husband gave a message to give our child the name Luna. And I finally brought Sachi home and gave her the name Luna. For twenty more years, the one Sachi knew his name was Luna."

"Luna?" shakila asked as she sobbed.

"Yes, Luna. She's a very nice girl. He was very responsible to this family, especially when my husband died. He immediately took over as the backbone of this family, even he accidentally took a part time job while in college. My husband loves Luna very much, he always gives the best to Luna including education. Unfortunately my husband died of an accident, so when Luna had not finished college, she had to work part-time to support us and pay for her college."

"You're evil!" shakila.

"Shakila calm yourself!"

"Sister Darren, didn't you hear he took Sachi from us and Sachi must also be the backbone to fulfill his family's life. Sachi must support them! Sachi is not part of their family, Sis! I don't know what sacrifices Sachi has made to them but it is clear Sachi has become a victim of their selfishness, Brother! I can't even imagine how Sachi suffered all this time!"

"Yes I know Shakila, I know. But please calm yourself! Calm yourself, Shakila!" darren said while hugging her.

Shakila was crying in Darren's arms. While Rahma also still seemed to shed her tears.

***

While Devano, seemed so anxious while driving his car after returning from Delia's house.

"What am I supposed to do? I have to ruin this marriage. Let's think Devano, use your genius brain to thwart the wedding plans."

"How about I just tell Om Dimas' family that I'm impotent? It seems like a good idea. Just think, where is there a parent who wants to marry his child to an impotent man? Yes, that's just a really cool way to foil my wedding plans with Sachi, even though it's just as much a drop in my pride as the most handsome man in the universe. But no problem, the most important thing I can continue with Neng Luna. Cie, cie, cie.." kekeh Devano in the car.

Devano then looked at his watch and showed it was time for lunch. "It's lunchtime, I better go back home, who knows I can continue my delayed chewy milk breakfast, ah Luna, Luna, Luna. Dateng Neng's brother. Ahhaha..."

Before long, Devano had arrived at his house. He rushed into the house and called Luna.

"Luna, dear Luna, brother and sister Neng!"

However, the house looks deserted. Devano then went up to their room, and saw Luna who was crying in it. He then approached Luna.

"Miss!" call Devano. However, Luna was only speechless.

Devano then rested in front of Luna who is still sobbing. "Luna, what's wrong with you?"

Luna simply fell silent, which sounded just a sob from her lips. Devano then raised Luna's face.

"Neng, Neng."

Luna looked at Devano with a sharp gaze. "Who did you choose?"