REPLACEMENT MEN Season 2
APPROACHING SECONDS

Time moves around very quickly, waiting for the unexpected.

This morning Maira saw her wa account has been entered by a group of wives of Papua assignment personnel. All of his members on average already he knew, because they were the wives of Janu's office colleagues. The first information that appeared was the invitation of today's meeting in the office hall.

After dropping Oza off at school, Maira gets ready to attend the office invitation. Light blue color uniform with matching hijab. Black shoes are entitled to no more than five centi, complete with a plain black bag. Maira looked graceful with her appearance.

The office hall is not so crowded. About fifteen minutes later the show began. Maira took a seat in the middle, when someone patted her on the shoulder.

"Hey, Ma'am Janu, how are you?"

Maira. A woman in uniform just like her, smiled broadly. Her hair was patted back, leaving her bangs neatly combed to the side. For the size of a meeting like this, the makeup of the woman was too thick.

"Bak Andre, thank God well." Maira stood up while greeting the woman.

A familiar greeting among the wives of soldiers usually does use the word 'mombs' in front of her husband's name. Dewi, Serka Andre's wife, is indeed one letting and quite close to Janu. In the past Andre and Dewi had tried to match Janu with Ratih, the sister of Dewi. That Maira heard from the Goddess' own mouth. But Maira was wise enough to not respond to the story of the Goddess that is sometimes excessive.

"It turns out that Janu took part in the assignment too, huh?"

"Yes, Mommy."

"May we both be given patience and strength, yes. May our husbands be well until we return home."

"Aamiin's."

The Goddess's eyes looked forward. There was a slight smile on his lips. "Ah, fortunately Ratih did not become married to Janu. No wonder how he will be drunk left by a husband far away gini. Especially if you are just getting married. Hm ...." The goddess shook her head. The woman seemed to be talking to herself, regardless of Maira's whereabouts.

Maira herself tried not to care. He had heard a lot of nyinyir talk from the woman's mouth related to Janu. She once asked Janu if her husband used to have a special relationship with Ratih. But Janu only responded with laughter. Then he told me what it was about Ratih.

If you respond to the words of the Goddess, it means you are as crazy as her, commented Janu when Maira complained about her julid Dewi.

Since then Maira never again put in the heart of every word of the Goddess. He trusted Janu more than Ratih's brother.

"O yes, has Janu filled in yet?" The goddess diverted the conversation. The eyes with the slightly exaggerated mascara were staring towards Maira's stomach.

"Alhamdulillah, no, Ma'am." Maira held her stomach.

"Oh my goodness, really?" The eyes of the Goddess are. The light brown iris looks shiny because of the membrane of contact lenses. "How, moon?"

"Just now, ma'am. We just got here about two weeks ago."

"Well, that means that there will be no arrears, will it be born? Poor thing."

Maira sighed. What he hoped for was not mercy, but bracing support to go through it all.

Their chat was interrupted when the host announced that the show was about to begin. Maira looked around. The seats around him were fully filled. Someone in the back pinched his shoulder slowly. Maura. A sweet smile from the veiled and bespectacled woman he found.

"Already, mbak Nina," Maira replied in a soft voice as well.

She and Nina, Serka Untung's wife, were indeed quite familiar. Their husband is also a letting. In fact they are more comfortable calling by real name than the name of the husband, like most others. It was Nina who first invited acquaintances in person, when Maira became a new member there. Nina is also the one who always informs and guides Maira so as not to be awkward in the organization. She was like a sister to Maira.

The meeting begins. Various series of events passed, to the core event, the direction of the commander and wife. There are many things that he both said. The point is only to emphasize the readiness of the wives to be left by the husband. Here is the message to always maintain cohesiveness and always pray for the safety of the husband and all members of the army.

Not only this time Maira was left with a distant task. In the past when he was Galang's husband, he was also once left on assignment to another island. It's just that, the assignment in a long time and to a conflict-prone region, only this time he will feel. Of course, his worry was bigger. Moreover, the memory of losing a loved one, is still so imprinted in the memory.

"Life, death, soul mate, it's all in God's hands. We humans are only obliged to try and pray. So, do not let excessive worry control us. Trust and fill the days with useful things. Never feel like the person who suffers the most because the husband goes to work when we are sick, is busy taking care of children who are small, or even pregnant. A wife of the army must be strong both soul and body. Because we are the women of choice to accompany the strong men of the bodyguard of the nation and the state. Keep praying for the safety of our husbands."

Wejangan commander's wife imprint on Maira's heart and mind. The arrogance that had been on him for a few days, now felt light. Meeting friends also made him feel less alone. Maira promised, will be a strong female escort great human bodyguard NKRI.

"I've never felt a birth when my husband was on duty. It's a little heavy too maybe huh, Ma'am?" whisky Goddess.

Maira clenched her jaw. Maybe this woman ate bitter melon too often. Every word is always bitter!

***

Seconds changing, hours turning, days rolling. A day, two days, a week, until the date of departure of the troops. Maira tried not to care, even though the pounding in the chest was getting tighter, considering the time of separation.

"Darling, when I leave, you don't forget to schedule a check. Don't go alone, have Lina's tea delivered, yeah!" For the umpteenth time Janu advised. They both lie in bed.

"Ready." Half joking Maira replied. She inched her torso facing Janu's body which was hugging her with one arm. Maira's hand rubbed her bare chest, Janu toying with the fine hairs growing there.

Janu kissed Maira's hair. "Don't forget to take the vitamins."

"Yes ...."

"Don't scold Oza often. The boy is active. Just watch if you're playing!"

"Duh, Mom, do I need to make a written list of your messages?"

Janu smiled wryly. The closer the time of departure, he was indeed getting more and more distraught. Unlike the past times, he could lightly step up to fulfill any heavy task. Now, in addition to being responsible for the country, he also has to bear loved ones. But the number one is still the country.

"That's it, Mom, don't think too much about the assignment. Enjoy our time together while you still can. God willing everything will go well."

"Yes, Brother." Janu tightens the hug. While his one hand rubbed Maira's stomach.

The night is no longer cold. There was a warmth-filled tenderness filling it.

(Connected)