Will Never Let You Go
Ashila's Birthday

Since it was early morning, Darma's house was crowded by his parents, in-laws, brothers, and sisters-in-law. Ashila, who has a birthday today, really steals a lot of attention from her grandfather, grandmother, and om and aunt. Understandably, the little girl is still the only grandchild in both the Darma and Ara families. Unfortunately, the warmth that felt did not make the host relationship with the mistress back as usual.

Ara still displays a flat countenance and only speaks when necessary. Like this time, when he gave Darma a pink-striped white carnation shirt. "Your cheers, Mas" he said with a forced smile.

"Thank you" Darma replied adding to the impression that they were not doing well. Since marriage, it can be counted how many times the sacred word is said because usually Darma will immediately kiss or hug his wife as a sign of gratitude.

Ara soon passed and busied herself in front of the glass rather than lingering in front of her husband. Darma's gloomy face, the man's sad gaze imprinted in his memory. Ara was aware that she could not hate Darma, but to get back close, there was a part of her heart that still could not do that.

"Nature ...."

A voice from outside the room called. Darma, who had finished, opened the door. "What's up, Ma?" ask the man to his mother.

"Isn't he ready yet? Come on, come on down there's a guest coming."

"Udah." Ara answered.

Darma reviewed a thin smile and extended her hand with the intention of holding Ara. The woman greeted him with a faint smile. Which makes Darma relieved, at least this is an opportunity for him to show his attention, love, and sweet attitude so that Ara back in his arms intact.

The birthday party themed Princess Aurora was not attended by many people. Darma and Ara only invite the closest people like Aldo and his family and Keyla who is also with his small family. Other than them, all present were cousins who had small children.

At ten o'clock, the show began. The song "Happy Birthday" sounded loud filling the room. The photo session was immediately conducted after Ashila who was in her father's sling blew the number four candle on the cake.

Ara was stunned when Darma posed to kiss her forehead. And as soon as their portrait was taken, she looked up, looking at her husband with teary eyes.

"The photo is the same Father and Mother" said Darma with eyes that also reddened. A line of smiles is forced so that people do not know what they are feeling on this supposed happy day.

Ara nodded slowly. One by one the families who attended took turns to take pictures with the owner of the event.

"Mommy, open the gift!" exclaim Ashila as soon as the core event is over. The little girl was like starving to see the large parcels filling the living room of her house.

"Later, Honey. Let's eat first. Lookie! Ishana, Kalan, the same others eat." Ara pointed to the other children who were enjoying the dish while playing around with balloons that became birthday decorations.

"Shila wants a fucking cock!"

Darma and Ara nodded. "Because Ashila's birthday is today, Ashila is free to eat anything" said the father.

"Yeahyyy!" The boy jumped up in joy. Ashila immediately ran to the table with chocolate, ice cream, and various sweets.

The old man of the boy smiled looking at their daughter who had grown up. "What do you want to eat?" darma's question made Ara turn her head.

"I should have asked that. What do you want to eat, Mom?" ask Ara. His smile this time looked even more sincere.

"You eat rice, the side dish is up to you. I haven't eaten since morning."

"I take it." Ara stepped her feet towards the buffet table. There are Keyla and Imelda who are both taking food for their respective children there.

"Eat a lot of food to make it look like me" said Imelda. Although she knew that Ara had just lost her child candidate, but there was no intention for her to discuss it at this event. He knows the place and the conditions.

"I'm already excited, really," Ara replied in a joking tone. "Key, taste it all. You must be eating your husband's cooking" she told Keyla.

"No, because the cooking is love." Keyla chuckles. "In the near future, Mas Haris wants to open the first branch of his restaurant. You'll come later, will you?"

Ara's face was happy to hear the good news from her best friend. "Surely, I must have come."

"What restaurant, Ra? Try it, dong." Imelda who was listening was curious.

"Sewu Bamboo Restaurant, Mel. Have you ever eaten there?"

"That? Frequently passing by, but never stopped by. I'll try, huh. There's often business to the area too." Imelda's gaze turned to Keyla.

"Waiting for her arrival" Keyla smiled.

"First, well, want to eat," said Ara who both hands filled a plate filled with rice and side dishes.

"Yes, the hostess has to eat a lot. It's not funny to faint" Imelda joked.

"It's okay. I'm also another Ashila ice cream bribe." Darma showed me the ice cream cup that was in the chair next to her. His eyes were on Ashila who continued to run to and fro, while Ara enjoyed her food in silence.

The birthday event that had ended during the day was turned into the afternoon because Aldo suddenly sparked the idea of a game that was enthusiastically welcomed by children.

Ashila looked exhausted once all the guests had gone home and left only Darma's parents. Evidently, after a late afternoon shower, the little girl immediately fell asleep in her room.

Selly was still under the company of her husband arranging this and that, while Darma and Ara were in her room.

"If you're tired, go to sleep. Shila's sleeping too."

"I'm going to see Mama first." Ara immediately moved, without waiting for Darma's answer.

The man let out a long breath as his wife's back disappeared behind the door. Ara still kept her distance. The woman only looks warm if there is someone else among them. Daa smiled looking at her wedding photo plastered in the room.

"Dar, Mama's coming home, yeah," said Selly to see her long-awaited son come down.

"Yes, be careful, Ma." Darma hugs her mother for a moment, then escorts her to the terrace with Ara behind her.

When her car-in-law left, Ara headed straight to the room after talking some things with Bi Marni.

Darma soon followed and laid his body beside his wife who was first lying on the bed. The spacious room that was usually filled with chatter, jokes, and tirades now felt lonely. Darma knew that Ara who had closed her eyes was only pretending to avoid her.

"What should I do, Ra?" darma asked deliberately for Ara to hear. But unfortunately, the woman remained steadfast with her pretense.

Desperate Darma opts out of the room. The man planned to go to the kitchen to make coffee as a smoking companion. Finding his mother there, the man's forehead wrinkled faintly.

"Kok, is Mama here?"

"Hape Mama missed. What do you want?"

"Make coffee."

"Mama make you want to?"

Darma. He sat in a mini bar and waited for his mother to finish making coffee.

"What's wrong with you, Dar?" asked the mother, putting a cup of black liquor in front of her son.

"It's okay." Darma smiled to cover up her sadness. As the firstborn, he should not trouble his mother too much. In a little while Silvia will propose, there must be a lot to take care of.

"Pregnant?" guess Selly. He rubbed his son's shoulder a few times.

Darma chuckles and does not understand why a mother is so good at guessing the contents of her child's mind.

"You should talk to him."

"Where do you want to talk, Ma? Ara aja always avoid or if not be made Ashila as an excuse."

"forced."

"There I added didiemin. I'm confused as to how. If there is anyone else, he looks fine. But, fit again both feel very different."

"Take Ara away tomorrow" the mother said with a smile on her lips.

"I mean Mama?"

"Mama will stay here one more night and take care of all Ashila's needs. You take Ara away, wherever you go."

Darma. She smiled when she heard the idea from her mother.

"Now cepet run out of your coffee and sleep. Don't let Ara wake up first tomorrow."

"I set the alarm on Ara's phone to let him fuck up. I go upstairs first" said Darma down from the chair and took his coffee to the room.