REPLACEMENT MEN Season 2
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"Bertha died, Mas."

Janu's chair rattled. The man was now completely jumped from his seat until the chair slammed back.

"W-what?" His eyes looked at Maira

His wife gulped, holding back the pain that was seeping into the heart. "Bertha died after giving birth to her baby" she said slowly, looking down.

For a moment both were silent. Janu was still standing in front of Maira, not knowing what to do or say.

Maira shrank the tears that welled up. As much as she smiled, she said, "His baby is a girl, Mas."

The man remained unmoved. His face looks tense. Then slowly he took the chair that had fallen because of being pushed by his body. He then sat back in front of Maira. The man's face lowered, not daring to look at his wife.

"You want to go to Jogja?" ask Maira.

Janu shook his head. "Come away, he answered softly.

Maira sighed. He then took the phone from his bag.

"Assalamualaikum, Karina."

"Waalaikumsalam, Ma'am."

"Where are you now?"

"Still in the funeral home, Ma'am. How's it?"

"When is his burial?'

"Later afternoon. O yes, Mommy has told Janu not yet?"

Maira was silent. Then, "It's been."

"Where, does he want to go?"

"Not yet," answered Maira shortly.

Across from there was the sound of Karina's breathing. "Sir, before he died, Bertha was eager to meet Janu. But the priest Andrew forbade it. Maybe because of that Bertha's pregnancy condition is not good. His blood pressure is high. There's postpartum bleeding."

Maira listened as she squeezed the strap of the bag that was on her lap.

"Master Andreas himself regretted not fulfilling Bertha's last request. So I thought, there's no harm if Janu mas to Jogja for a while, even though later will only see the grave."

Maira bit her lip.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, I'm saying this because I don't want us to act like dzolim. Not that I don't understand the feelings of Mbak, but anyway, mas Janu can come back with you guys it's for the services of Bertha as well."

"Yes, Rin," replied Maira.

"I thought Janu had no feelings for Bertha. He looks depressed every time Bertha remembers, it's because of her guilt. It's good to get a little legowo, let Janu mas for a moment to rethink his past. After all, he'll still be yours."

Maira couldn't answer. Only tears then flowed down the cheeks.

"Master Maira, is Mommy mad at me?"

"No, Rin, it's okay. I'm actually thanking you. I'll close it, yeah, I'll talk to Janu."

Maira looked back at Janu after hanging up her phone. The man is still deep. His two hands on the table, squeezing each other.

"How, Mom, are you going to Jogja?"

Janu raised his face slowly. He saw Maira who was already covered in tears. "I have no right to decide, brother. All I leave to you. All the mistakes of the past made me unworthy to decide anything with regard to Bertha."

"But, do you have the desire to see the baby as well?"

Janu let out a long breath. The man then straightened his body. "That baby, she's my flesh and blood. I should have been responsible. But back, it all depends on you. Because it's all closely related to you, too. I cannot decide unilaterally, because we are one. My decision should be in your decision as well. My actions should be in line with what you want."

Maira tergugu's. Janu immediately grabbed Maira's hand which was on the table. The squeezing of the hand seemed to want to strengthen together.

"We're going to Jogja, Mas!" maira said later. Sounds strong without feeling depressed.

***

They arrived in London the next day. After leaving the children in Kusno, Maira, Janu and Bayu and Karina, went to the priest's house. Bertha was buried yesterday. They intended to talk to the priest before looking at Bertha's final resting place.

The pastor greeted them with joy. Moreover, he saw Janu in good health, unlike when he was met in the hospital.

"I'm sorry, Pastor, I've only met the pastor now" Janu said.

Maira smiled as she nodded. "There's nothing to forgive, sir. Precisely we are sorry because only now can come here, did not have time to release the departure of Bertha for the last time."

Everyone was amazed to hear how lightly Maira said. Even the face did not show the usual sense of pressure when talking about Bertha's problem.

"Oh, yes, Pastor, if allowed we want to see Bertha's tomb." Bayu breaks the mood.

"Oh, of course. Come!"

Pastor Andrew then took them to the back of the church. There is a special Christian cemetery. They headed to one of the graves that was still wet, covered in red soil.

Maira clasped Janu's hand and invited him to sit next to the grave. A bouquet of flowers she was carrying, was placed on top of the navel. Then he held the cross that was at the end of the tomb.

"I'm sorry, Bertha. Forgive me Janu," he said.

Janu was stunned to see his wife. And he complied when his hand was taken by Maira and placed on the belly of Bertha.

"Prepare something for her, Mas!" maira said with a smile on her face.

"But ...."

Maira shakes. "Pronounce whatever you want to tell Bertha all this time. Release everything. Let Bertha be quiet there, and so are you!"

Janu's eyes glazed over hearing Maira's words. Then the man turned to Bertha's navel. "Black angel, I'm sorry. Forgive me for all the wrongs I've done to you. I'm sorry I didn't come back to see you. Really, my guilt for you all this time has made my life feel cramped. I feel like a very evil and ungrateful person. After what you did to help me, I actually ran away from you." Janu started sobbing.

Maira held her husband's shoulder tightly. Her tears are flowing. Then he stroked Bertha's navel. "Bertha, I'm sorry" he said softly. "I've been too selfish all this time thinking about my feelings. No matter how much you suffer, no matter how tormented my husband is by guilt. Though ... without you maybe we will not be able to meet mas Janu again." He can't hold his prank anymore.

Janu hugged Maira. His wife was in her chest. Moments later after Maira calmed down again, they turned to Bertha's navel.

"May you calm down there, Black Angel. Thank you for your service to me" said Janu.

"Thank you, Bertha. Forgive us," added Maira.

After feeling enough, they left Bertha's navel that was still wet. Both Janu and Maira felt a little relieved. The burden that has been in the heart begins to decrease. Although the delay in meeting Bertha they regretted it as well.

"So, shouldn't we see Bertha's baby?" Suddenly Karina made a proposal, after they returned to Andreas' pastor's house.

No one answered, but everyone stared at Maira. It was as if the decision to see the baby Bertha was in the hands of the woman completely.

"W-why not?" Maira seemed to know what they were thinking. He answered a little nervously.

Janu grabbed his wife's arm. "Are you sure, honey? If you're not ready, that's okay."

"I'm okay, Mom." Maira tried to convince.

The four of them escorted Pastor Andreas to the hospital. Baby Bertha is still being treated in the NICU. The closer to the room, Maira's heart was pounding. She will see the baby who is the flesh and blood of her husband, who was not born from her womb. Just imagine making a heart stingy.

In front of the NICU room, a wide glass window was still opened. A nurse showed me one of the incubators from inside. A baby with black skin and curly hair appears to be sleeping in it.

Janu was stunned to see it. The man's hand was raised touching the glass. It was as if he wanted to extend a hand into the room to touch the baby. Maira was stunned to see it. Although he had felt ready before, but still saw Janu staring at baby Bertha like that, also wry heart. He bit his lips while holding back a cry.

"The doctor said, maybe tomorrow it can be taken home" said pastor Andreas who just returned from the doctor's room.

"Then, where are you going, Pastor?" Karina asked innocently.

Bayu grabbed his wife's arm. The man's eyes hinted at her for Karina to calm down a bit.

"Who will take care of him?" Karina doesn't care about Bayu's cues.

"Oh, regarding that, maybe in the meantime Miss Harni and I will take care of her."

Karina steals a look at Maira and Janu. The two of them still did not take their eyes off the baby Bertha. She tried to investigate the look on her brother's face and all she found was sadness. While Janu glazed over his eyes.

After some time they see Bertha's baby, Bayu takes her home. For too long they left the children at home.

In the car, after dropping off Pastor Andreas, Karina opened her voice. "Mas Janu, mbak Maira, I apologized earlier. About baby Bertha ...." It was heavy for Karina to continue.

"I know, you want to adopt her, don't you, Rin?" Unexpectedly, Maira asked first.

"E ... Em, I'm ...."

"He's Janu's son, Rin. Of course it should be Janu's responsibility!"

Everyone was shocked to hear Maira's words. Even Bayu had braked the car suddenly. Janu who was sitting next to Maira looked at his wife with a look of confusion.

"You mean, Sister?"

"We take care of him, Mas!"