The Household Ark
Families

It was almost evening, but Ridho had not yet shown any sign of going home.

Shanti continued to look towards the yard.hope Ridho car was there.he was very restless waiting for her husband.

last night he had thought about how he would explain it to Ridho. he had also prepared the right words to say in front of Ridho later.

Meri who saw the strange gurgle of her mother then approached her.

"What are you doing?!"

"Meri... make it surprising" Shanti did not hear the arrival of Meri because she was very focused with the thoughts in her head.

"from earlier Meri saw that mother kept daydreaming while looking into the courtyard?!"

"are you waiting for someone?!"

"there's nothing. Mom's just getting bored on a holiday like this..."

"iya ma'am. I jga.. This is again Daddy has disappeared early in the morning! I promise to go to Grandma's house!"

indeed, yesterday Ridho has promised to invite his children and wife to visit his crowd-in-law.

it has become their routine on every Sunday they will go for a walk together or just visit their parents' house.

"Where the hell did Mom go from the morning?!"

while pouting Meri kept telling her where her father was going.

"Dad went fishing in the garden pond he said..."

shanti lied. she did not want her son to know that actually her father had left since last night because they had a fight.

"is.... I don't usually break promises like this!"

"honey..you don't sulk so dong.. Maybe you feel bad for his friends if they don't come..."

shanti gently persuaded Meri not to continue sulking.

"Father it's usually if the holidays everywhere must take us, right Mom?! but these? even go alone!"

"let's see. How about we just cook for dinner?!"

"who knows when I'll be home with the race prize?!"

"is..mom! yes, if you win!"

"we just pray..."

"hemz. yes, dech..."

"mother's children are the best.hmmhnm"

rubbed the head of the princess and then she moved from her seat.

with slow steps and a little lazy Meri followed her mother who had already gone to the kitchen.

apparently in the kitchen there is already the older brother Mira who is cleaning his groceries from the market.

this afternoon he did not have time to clean it because he was tired of traveling around the market hunting grocer orders of the mother.

"said brother tired of being in the kitchen?!" Shanti greeted Mira who had been busy herself since not paying attention to her presence and Meri.

"iya ma'am.. had already slept, so now Mira is already seger..."

"it's been a shower too.so it's been a spirit again"

smiling, Mira looked at her mother.

"what are we cooking this afternoon?!"

while thinking Shanti looking through the groceries that have not all been arranged in her refrigerator.

"cook a chicken pecel Bu is easy but delicious"

Meri immediately snatched the mother's question.

"em.. it seems like it is good to pack the terasi sambal and kale"

while imagining the food Meri smiled at her mother.

" yes, ma'am.it must be a good idea adex..."

"i haven't eaten kale in a long time"

rengek the older brother who agreed to the proposal of the younger brother.

finally Shanti agreed to the proposal of her two children.

after almost an hour they struggled in the kitchen. finally fried chicken bacem seasoning, sambal terasi complete with tofu, fried tempeh and one more do not forget the kale cah already lodged on the table.

it's a really appetizing menu.

"we're eating good..."

exclaim the brother excitedly.

"weren't we waiting for you, Mom?!" Meri who was closer to her father missed her again.

shanti had not been able to answer suddenly there are people who say greetings from outside.

"salamaloret..."

after the door opened, Ridho appeared.

"wa alaikumssalam.." they answered compactly.

"dad..!!!"

soon Meri squandered her father's hug that she had missed all day.

"dad why did you leave so early in the morning?!"

"also dad why not take us to Grandma's house?!

"did you forget your promise?!"

a series of questions continue to emerge from the little lips Meri. make the father anxious at once confused to answer what.

"sad... Daddy's still tired, son... Why so many of your games?!"

"oh yes dad... said mom dad went to a fishing race?! did you win and get a prize?!"

he answered the mother's question. Meri asked her father again.

Ridho was confused at Meri's last question.he did not feel he was following any race today.he left because he was irritated and angry at his wife.

he then glanced at Shanti who was standing not far from the two of them.

Shanti nodded her head as a sign to Ridho.

"oh yeah, I was in the race, but I lost"

"the father's part has not been fishing for a long time, why also participate in such competitions?!

Mira responded to her father's answer.

"dad this morning mas Roni picked up dad. Dad does not feel good if you refuse..."

answered Ridho while walking towards the dining table that has been arranged neatly. because indeed he is very hungry.

"wah... the food is good... Did you not take me to eat?!"

smiling, he asked his two children.

"Huhh dad.. if food is just spit!"

Mira approached her father and sat down next to him, followed by Meri and Shanti who were sitting opposite as well.

the delicious dinner and filled with the laughter of the little family momentarily dispelled the nervousness and awkwardness experienced by Shanti.

although he was still a little confused by the attitude of Ridho who returned home with an ordinary expression like nothing happened between them.

but at least it also made his heart relieved, because maybe Ridho's anger had subsided.

Ridho himself only occasionally glanced at Shanti who was sitting in front of him.

I don't know what he was thinking.The clear warm atmosphere created at this dining table made him happy and calm.

at least the children he loved so much cared about him.

Meri who whines and Mira who continues to disturb him despite eating, makes the atmosphere more crowded and momentarily forget the problems they are facing.

after that joking dinner. Shanti deliberately busied herself in the kitchen by cleaning the table, washing dishes and so on.

she deliberately stalled time to meet her husband who had already entered their room.

she is still nervous and afraid if only alone with her husband, she is still confused where to start to explain their problems last night.