Satria and Destiny

chapter 8

It's been a week since Andira has been free to go out at night with Satria, her lover, on the pretext of going out with Tania, her best friend. One of the people who really supported him with Satria apart from his grandmother and mother. And, the day that the girl most didn't want to live had happened, the day Hartanto, the father who had been in the City of Flowers for the last week, returned home.

When other children are happy hanging out with their parents at home, let's just say Andira is one of the people who doesn't like the gathering. It happened after her father subtly forbade the relationship with Satria who is considered unable to make his only daughter happy.

"Mom's Daughter, why is her face so grumpy?"

Imelda, who was watching television in the living room, saw her daughter sitting alone on the edge of the pool with her feet allowed to sink in the cold watsaw

The 49-year-old woman approached her only daughter, the only belief that God gave before he carried out the removal of the uterus because of the illness he had.

Hearing someone approaching, Andira turned to the source of the sound. The girl tried to smile sweetly, but still he looked forced.

"Honey, isn't it cold to soak your feet at this hour?" asked Imelda very softly while sitting beside her daughter but not dipping her feet into the pool because just imagining it he already felt cold.

"No, really, Mom. Why are you here? It's already late, you know, Mom just got back from Bandung, you should be resting in your room," Andira chattered at length.

As if understanding her daughter's feelings, Imelda took a deep breath and then exhaled heavily.

"How can your mom sleep when her beautiful daughter is still alone outside like this. What are you thinking about, Honey?" She tugged Andira's shoulder gently to get closer, "Here's a story with me. What's wrong with Dira, what's bothering her, hmm?"

That voice was so soft, a voice that succeeded in giving peace to Andira's heart when she was close to her owner.

"Andira is annoyed because mom and dad are back soon, huh?"

Imelda sure guess is not the slightest miss. This can be proven by Andira's response, who immediately turned to her.

"Really, yes, guess mom?" She asked to make sure.

"Mom...." Andira opened her arms wide and hugged a middle-aged woman who was like an angel without wings to her.

"Mom, why do you think like that? Andira is clearly very happy that Mom and dad are coming home early. The house is so crowded."

Imelda chuckled at this. Her daughter's words that should have made her emotional instead made her unable to hold back her laughter because she knew that his daughter had no intention of saying that last sentence.

"Why are you laughing, Mom? What's so funny?" asked Andira innocently while looking questioningly at her mother.

"Uhhh..."

"Oww!!! Mom!!!"

"Hahahaha... feel it, finish the work with your own mother."

"What's wrong, Dira is speaking the truth. It's not just bullshit, Mom."

Imelda increasingly exasperated because of this daughter. She even lightly pinched her daughter's cheeks, which were starting to look fuller. Even though a week ago when they had just returned from abroad, the girl's cheeks still looked gaunt. She became curious about what the man whose son loved had given her to make her daughter gain weight so fast like this, even though it's only seen from Andira's cheeks that are getting fuller.

"Dira actually doesn't want to see mom and dad come home yet because she still wants to meet Satria, right?"

"Ouch?"

Andira stared intently at her mother who was also looking at her with her eyes that were clearly holding back a smile due to the funny expression her daughter showed in front of her eyeat

"Mom pretends to know, ugh," Andira muttered in annoyance but actually in her heart she was worried.

"Never mind, you don't need to keep it a secret anymore. Mommy really didn't forbid you two to be close."

The fact is that, Andira almost forgot. That must be because she remembered her father's words this afternoon who would scold her if she was caught breaking the rules secretly.

"Heheh, yes, anyway, Mom. You just know Mommy"

A cute smile appeared on Imelda's lips when she heard her daughter's words earlier. She really felt sorry for her daughter who was still in a secret relationship because the daughter's father was overprotective and possessive.

"Mommy already told you, Mom doesn't forbid you to get close to him. However, that doesn't mean Mom says something like this and Dira dares to break your dad rules, okay."

"What's wrong with daddy, Mom? How come he don't seem to really like Mr. Satria. Is it because he is not rich like daddy? Everything needs a process, Mom...." Andira tried to hold back her tears that were ready to fall.

"Mommy understands Dira's feelings, Mommy can also feel what Dira is feeling.  However, Dira must believe in one thing,  daddy did all that for the good of Dira."

"But...."

"Eits, mommy hasn't finished talking, don't cut it, OK?"

Andira pouted, he then corrected his position to face the beautiful woman whose face she had duplicated.

"Andira always taught me about the power of prayer, right?"

Andira nods.

"Well, this is where Dira must believe and be sure of that power, honey."

"What do you mean, Mom?"

Andira squinted not understanding, then Imelda showed a sweet smile in return.

"The point is, Dira can only change destiny with only the power of prayer. No matter how hard someone's heart can be softened because of the power of prayer from someone who wants to soften their heart. Mommy thinks Dira should be more diligent in praying so that daddy can receive Satria well, and support your relationship."

"Amen...." Andira agreed to her mother's last words.

She looked up, where the night sky could be seen from where she sat.

"Hopefully, Mom. Mommy, don't forget to pray for Dira, OK? Hopefully, Dira and Satria struggles so far won't be in vain."

"Amen...."

Andira smiled, she opened her arms again to hug her mother. The middle-aged woman of course received it well so they embraced.

"Thank you, Mom...."

"You're welcome, honey. Mommy just wants her only child to be happy with her own choice. It's just that mom can't deny what daddy says. So, forgive mom for never being able to defend Dira in front of daddy."

"Yes, Mom. Dira understands, Dira also doesn't want Mommy to be considered against her husband just because she defended Dira. Dira is sure that one day Allah will return daddy's heart and daddy will be able to accept Satria into our family."

Amen, honey."

A gentle stroking of her head made Andira's heart calm even more. Tonight she is already grumpy because she can only let go of longing from voice messages, which of course are very short and take a long time to reply because the chat friend must be very busy at work. 

Andira knows the struggles and life journey of her lover who works not only for himself, but for the younger siblings at the orphanage where he grew up to become a handsome man who was very brave in expressing his love for Hartanto's only daughter.

"Okay, now Dira is in, okay. It's already late, it's really cold outside, it's not good for your health," the woman grumbled after they let go of the hug.

Andira grinned at her. Without arguing anymore, the girl lifted her leg and helped her mother get up.

"Come on, Mommg also has to rest. Jakarta's night air is not good for Mommy."

Imelda's sweet smile appeared. Shee actually felt very sorry for her daughter. After all, he already had a taste of being young. Being restrained like this, she knew it wasn't good. However, she also couldn't do anything when the priest in the household was holding her daughter down. She only hopes and prays that she can give good things to her only daughter.

"Dira to my room directly, yes, Mom."

"Yes, honey. Get some rest, okay?"

"Okay, Good night, Mommy."

"Good night and nice dream, dear mama's daughter."

Dira waved as she climbed the stairs to her room on the second floor. She didn't want to make her mother worry about her any longer by sitting outside for hours. Andira actually did that because she didn't want to be questioned by her father. Now that the middle-aged man had fallen into a deep sleep, Andira thought her father was tired after returning from Bandung.

She can only hope that one day her father will accept Satria and bless their relationship. It was the greatest hope that he yearned for.