Devotion (A Devotion)
Mother-in-law

“Times yes, maggots are on his body, anyway?” his face looked dumb to hear the story I was telling.

“Iya, Mas. The maggots are so many. Maggots are a sign of heart decay. Maybe yes, beautiful and amazing. But it's all just a trick. The originals are not so. Where do we know the purpose of coming to this house.”

The air this morning was so cold. Mas Hadi was shocked to hear the answer I gave. Tricked shamans agate sellers only believe. Anxious, when my husband believes things that contain idiosyncrasies. The huft!

Who influenced it so that it could be related to the occult like this? I remember the friend he used to tell me so much. A friend who has a bad influence on his behavior. Rows of names of people who had known Mas Hadi registered in my brain, until finally conical to a name.

A few months before Mas Hadi wore the ring Mirah Pomegranate, he mentioned a man named Pak Catur. The name mentioned was the name of the employee who served as the previous branch head in the office. Now he has been transferred to another region.

“Dik, it turns out Mr Chess while still on duty here, often go to the paranormal you know?” his story was one day when he first replaced the position of Chess sir.

“I just found out, Mr. Kemal often drove him to Jogja, apparently to meet with paranornal. Said Mr. Kemal, Mr. Chess asked his paranormal so that his position in the office is increasing and no one can replace his position.”

Mr. Kemal is an office driver. According to the story of Mas Hadi, he is often asked to take employees when there is a personal need by giving tips. Mr. Kemal lives on the third floor of the office shop with his wife and a four-year-old son.

According to Mas Hadi, once a month Mr. Chess went to the paranormal place. However, the psychic could not perpetuate his position in the office. Now, his position was replaced by my husband.

It was like laughing amusedly to hear the story that Mas Hadi told about his coworkers. How could a Chessman believe the supernatural power of Mbah Jagad, the name Mas Hadi mentioned as the nickname of the paranormal.

Maghad can give any power desired by anyone who wants. Mr. Chess wants a position, he gives a sense of trust that nothing can replace his position in the office. Perhaps, Mbah Jagad also gave strength to Mas Hadi through the Ring of Mirah Pomegranate he wore?

“Mas why pray all night? Tumben?” my forehead crept.

“Ga to interfere!” He got up packing things on the prayer mat.

A yellow slum paper, a perfume bottle, a stone necklace, and .. My forehead frowned in disbelief. Tighten my whole body to see the last thing my husband packed. My breath became tight and I lost myself.

“Do what photos of Nofi are there?” hysterical shouting.

I don't know what to say again. Seeing a picture of my best friend in front of the place where Mas Hadi performed his night prayer ritual, shed all my life force. What prayer puts a photo of a woman in front of him?

I don't know, I can't cry anymore. It has already touched this heart. The man I trust takes care of himself and the children, does what is strictly forbidden by religion, sanctification. Gamang, I'm packing tears that are ready to break through the eyelids.

“Mas, I can't. Sorry.” That's all that can be said. I took off the wedding ring, as a sign of rejection.

“No, don't take off her wedding ring!” hysterical shouting.

“Didn't Mas have released it first?” ask me in the powder.

“I'll stay with you, forever.” He clutched my body.

With a very quick movement, I flicked his sturdy hand. He hugged my tiny body.

“I want to go back to my house in the village, please take care of his children. I can't be sorry.”

“No, you're my wife!”

“Your wife? Huh!”

Without a second thought, I called my mother-in-law. He told me what his son had done. I was very close to him.

“Assalamu’alaikum, Mother. I apologize profusely, ma'am. Mas Hadi has hurt me. Please Mom, help me,” I convey all my goals in haste. I couldn't cry to hear her voice on the phone.

[Ndi bake, give his HP to Hadi, Nduk!] he wants to talk to his son.

“Ga, I don't want to talk!” mas Hadi refused to talk to his own mother.

“Mas Hadi, please speak, Ma'am,” I'll present my husband's rejection to Mother-in-law.

[Yo wes, I'm going to Semarang now,] break up Mom later.

I turned the phone off after saying my regards. Kutatap Mas Hadi while conveying the info that Mother after dawn immediately left for Semarang by bus between cities.

“This you, trouble my mother only. My mother is old,” cried Mas Hadi.

“Your mother, also my mother,” my smile is triumphant.

Mas Hadi was silent to my words. She knows how her mother loves me as much as her own child. The man knew very well, how close I was to that old woman.

“Wear again the ring!” command forcing.

“No, thank you.” I went out of the room.

The clock's needle shows at three in the morning. I better take the time to pray and prostrate to God. Pray for your husband to get back on the right track.

“If Mom has arrived here, I say back home,” message me before I get to the door.

Suddenly, Mas Hadi pulled my body. Her voice boomed, “you're my wife! Can't leave this house without permission and ridhoku!”

“Oh, you're my husband? Then why is there a photo of someone else in front of you at night prayers?” tanyaku.

Mas Hadi couldn't answer my question. “You are my wife whenever. Must manut. If my destiny is to have two wives, you must also accept. Must be sincere, ridho. Remember, not what you hate is bad for you. It could be that what you don't like is something good for you.”

“Mas, if you want to marry Nofi, please. I don't matter. If it is good, it is also good. Not in a musical way.”

The man was silent. “But you're my wife!” nar's face. “I want to marry Nofi, but I won't divorce you. I promise!”

“For what did you marry her?”

“I want to help him.”

“Help him? Does he look like a person in distress?”

Mas Hadi could not answer. Only the look in his eyes continued to be glued sharply through my defenses.

“You are sure, she is a good woman and want you to marry as a second wife?”

“Don't because of your heartache, you hate someone. It could be better than you.”

“Which fine women tease men?”

“He doesn't tease me."

“Then?"

“I asked her to be my wife.”

“Oh, so. Without asking for my approval?”

That morning, I waited for Mom to come in agitation. In the afternoon he arrived at Jrakah Market. Mas Hadi frowned all day because his mother was coming. When I was about to leave to pick up his mother, Mas Hadi forced a delivery even though he had just arrived from the office. We leave in silence.

“Betul, Di? What does Love say?” search Mother.

Mother, a woman as old as Mas Hadi's biological mother. He was about sixty-one years old. Her high stature decreased in her children. His wrinkled face, set me on edge.

At night when the children were no longer active in the living room, I conveyed what was happening to Mother-in-law. I conveyed politely and kindly that her son wanted to marry Nofi, my best friend. Mas Hadi wanted a daughter, but didn't want to have one from me. To tell others that I have cancer, but I don't. Perform a strange ritual in evening prayer, and put a photo of another woman on the prayer mat.

In tears, I tell you all. I put him in his lap. That skinny, jet hand rubbed the top of my head. My eyes glanced at Mas Hadi satisfied.

“No, Mom. Swear to Allah, no!”