The Bujang Lapuk
Baby Who?

The sound of baby crying made Za who was sleeping that afternoon suddenly wake up. Za sharpened his hearing. The sound came from inside the house.

"Goruma!" he murmured while shaking the blanket.

The sound of crying grew clearer as he opened the door of the room. But not the sound of Aruma's cry. Because he had memorized the voice of Fatma's son when crying.

Za hurried down the stairs. He saw Fadhil who came carrying a baby. His forehead is also shrinking. Two days ago Fadhil went to Bandung again to take care of Aira's belongings that are still left there with Aira's sister-in-law. But this afternoon Fadhil came home with a baby.

"Mas, how come you bring a baby? Whose baby?"

The baby's crying hasn't stopped yet. Although Fadhil tried to calm him down.

"Try here I'm the fat one!"

Za approached Fadhil and took the baby in Fadhil's arms. Still so red, he might be only a few days old. Za observed the baby's face, his nose high, his lips red, his skin clean. Very handsome, an appropriate word to describe the look of the baby.

Za took off the blanket that wrapped the little human. "This is what makes him uncomfortable. Sultry!" he threw the blanket on the sofa.

But the baby was not silent. She was still crying and it was getting louder. Za put her finger. A moment later, the baby's lips moved.

"That's thirst, Mas. Where's his mother? Ask for her milk, "ask Za again.

"The mother does not exist. Drink it with a bottle" said Fadhil.

Za again frowned. "Nothing? Whose son is this? Where'd he get her from?" za asked again as he followed Fadhil who went to the kitchen carrying a small bag.

Fadhil took out the contents of the bag which turned out to be baby milk and also some empty bottles. He washed the bottle before making new milk for the baby Za was carrying.

Moments after successfully sucking the pacifier, the baby looked so calm.

"Sit here, Deck!" Fadhil guides Za to sit on the sofa. Za who increasingly does not understand the attitude of Fadhil according to although he is in confusion.

"Mas wants to take care of him if you agree," said Fadhil again make Za surprised.

"Who's this?" ask Za.

"It.an Aira's son."

"Well?!" Za's eyeballs almost jumped to hear Fadhil's answer.

Za does know a child if Aunt Sarah has two daughters. One is married and lives in Bali.

There was a rough gasp of breath from Fadhil. Za had absolutely no idea what was really going on. News of Aira's death from stomach acid. But suddenly Fadhil brings a baby that the child of Aira says he has. Even the baby may not be even a week old.

Several times Za observed the baby. Then it moved on Fadhil's face. Looking for similarities that might stick to the faces of two men of different ages with suspicion. Just the same one, their noses are equally tall. Yes, all the Fadhil family does have a sharp nose. I don't know if it's true that their ancestors were from the Middle East. It is said to be like that.

"Can't you be Aira's son? When married? When's pregnant?" ask Za a little in disbelief.

Fadhil again threw a rough breath. "Aira.not died of stomach acid. She died after giving birth in her own boarding house due to unhelpful bleeding."

"This is what made Aunt Sarah shaken. No family knows about. Just Mas and Aunt Sarah's family. I try to keep this disgrace from spreading everywhere. But if you have to leave this baby in the hospital and will eventually be handed over to the orphanage, Mas did not have the heart. While Aunt Sarah certainly can not take care of this baby. Zara also has two toddlers. The presence of this baby must also not be desired. It is likely that Aunt Sarah will also be brought to Bali with Zara," explained Fadhil again.

Za was silent. Occasionally his hand rubbed the baby in his carrier which now began to fall asleep after the contents of the bottle were empty. He kissed the baby for a while.

"May I take care of him?"

All offers that Za could not refute. Because the appearance of the baby had captivated his heart the first time he saw it.

"But what in the future there will be no problem. This baby's got to have a father?" answer Za.

"Nobody knows who Aira's male friends are there. Aira is a quiet and closed girl. He never introduced a male friend to Aunt Sarah or any other family. Everyone only knew Aira was just focused on learning."

Miris indeed, but reality is what happened. Where parents cannot supervise the relationship of their children.

"Mas only wants to take care of him if you agree. If later in the day he's destined to meet his father and be taken, it doesn't matter. Then our task is done until that time."

"It can't dong, Mom. He was not responsible until Aira died. Come here to take his son," denied Za.

"So you agree we'll take care of him?"

Za nodded. "Yes." Yeah."

"May this be one of the ways God tests us. We deserve to be parents. So that one day we will be completely diitipi child from the blood of our flesh," continued Za hopeful.

Fadhil guarantees Za's prayer. Although he had never brought up the problem of the child in front of Za again, but his expectations were still as great as his wife.

"But I want the status to be legalized" Za said again.

"Yes. We will take care of the adoption letter" said Fadhil.

Although not born from inside her womb, Za seemed so happy to have a child. Many times he kissed the sleeping baby.

"Aren't you given a name, Mas?"

"Aliff."

"Aliff?" Za nodded his head. "Good too" he continued.

They also took the baby to the room. So that baby Alif can sleep comfortably in bed.

All was sudden, so Fadhil thought about quickly preparing for their new baby's needs. From clothes to room to Alif.

"Shopping clothes waiting for Mbak Min to come, Mas. We will take him first" said Za because there is no change of clothes for Alif. Even the clothes and blankets he wore came from the hospital.

"Yes. Make a list first what you want to buy so as not to go back and forth," said Fadhil saw Za continues to hug Alif as if reluctant to leave him.