The Midnight Radio
Episode 1's

"Assalamualaikum, welcome to the audience who just joined the premiere of The Story of Midnight with me Inoxu, Remi as a song operator and also Gia, our eccentric producer. We will accompany up to the next hour and a half with stories from all listeners.

We have received many messages from listeners all through whatsapp numbers that have been announced previously in other programs Rebel radio, Bandung. And for the premiere this time, I have chosen one listener who will be the speaker and share his life story with all of us. For other listeners who also want to share their life story, please send a message to whatsapp number 081210969 with the format of name, place of residence, space active phone number.

After this one song, I will contact the source and talk about his life story. Happy listening to River Flows In You from Yiruma, and make sure you don't go anywhere."

I turned off the mic after seeing Remi raise her thumb. Seen on the monitor, the volume of the music to the radio listeners slowly rises.

"Xu! Cepet call the source, tell stand by on the phone line," Gia ordered.

"Can't you call that name complete? Xu the horror is somewhat like that," I protested.

"Ah Xu, how fussy! Inoxu mah stands for, Xu is the most obvious."

I shook my head slowly and started calling one of the Rebel radio listeners who had sent a format message to share the story on the midnight radio. The program premiered on the air with the three of us as its movers.

"Ngga raised euy," I said with still trying.

"Wow, how's dong? Any other stories ready?" Gia voiced.

"Some," I replied shortly.

"Yes, try to keep contacting the source until the song is done. If you still haven't connected, call the other listeners and confirm immediately that their story will air tonight."

"Ready, Boss." I contacted the source on Kenanga's behalf and waited for a while.

Seeing my expression, Gia frowned. "Gga raised too? Did he sleep? Call the others, and the song will be done."

In silence I started looking for the contact number of one of the listeners and almost pressed the number to call when it was seen flashing on the screen sign there was an incoming call. "Narasumber entered," I said as I looked at Gia and Remi.

"Goody! Get ready," Gia ordered.

I immediately lifted the connection to make sure that the caller was Kenanga. After a brief introduction and briefing, I asked the girl to wait and stay on the phone line.

"One sweet talk from Yiruma to accompany the listeners all in this drizzling night huh! And its show time, our speakers have joined and are ready to tell the story."

Remi plays an instrument music with a small sound as background.

"Hello? Who is this with? Please introduce yourself" I said to Kenanga.

"I'm Kenanga, from the corner of the room."

"How else is there in the corner of the room?" tanyaku.

"Again my son sleeps, Inoxu Tea."

"Oh okay. Please Kenanga Tea, what will you do?" I invite the source to start.

"I was betrothed to my parents in the second grade of high school. At that time, I had to drop out of school and get married.

At first I thought it was not strange. In my village, many girls leave school and prefer to get married at a young age. I finally agreed with my parents' wishes. Love affairs later, the important thing is that I am considered a filial child because I obey my parents.

A year of marriage, everything is normal. Although early married I did not have any feelings, gradually because of staying in the room, the affection finally appeared as well. We live quietly and happily. My husband works, I also work even though I am only a factory worker. I began to feel different opinions when entering the second year of marriage. Plus, my father-in-law passed away and caused my mother-in-law to come live with us in a small contract near the factory where my husband worked."

"To be living with in-laws?" much

"Yes tea. My in-laws are good, not like in-laws who are mostly scary figures for a son-in-law."

"Alhamdulillah," I said slowly.

"But the household name, the test is from all directions. Good economy, good in-laws, uh even a husband who started light-handed right when I was declared pregnant by midwife. My condition is weak, making me have to stop working, Tea. And it turns out, it has an impact on our economy. Installments that had been paid, so the salary because the source of income is only from my husband. The down economy actually made my husband run out of patience. He's so easy to flirt with me and scold me if something doesn't go his way."

"How are the Elders?" I asked curious.

"Meet me very, very protective of me, Tea. He often receives puku*lan targets directed at me. Not infrequently also in-laws repeatedly advise their children, but realize it is only a few days. After that, the habit repeats. And it peaked a few weeks ago after I gave birth."

"It's too late, Tea. I did intend that and went back to the village with my baby. My mother-in-law also allowed me to separate from her son. She felt like she was failing to be a mother, because of her son's treatment of me."

"Sorry, if you may know, after giving birth, Teteh diapain?" my many.

"I was just drying my baby clothes when it suddenly clouded and drizzled down. My baby happens to be fussy and wants to be carried. I have asked my husband to take our baby clothes in the sun. But, he did not want to and was still engrossed in his cell phone. I don't want to, I lift the clothesline, with my baby in a sling. I know, my husband is angry. She said I didn't become a mother because I brought our baby to bed until it rained. He*kuli me many times, endlessly, without pause. Fortunately, the in-laws who had just returned home from school, took the baby that was still in my arms."

"Astagfirullah, how are you, Teh?" From the corner of my eyes, I saw the faces of Remi and also Gia who was wearing headphones grow furious. Both of them listened to the broadcast.

"She screamed for help. But it was too late, I lost consciousness" Kenanga replied. Silence is created for a while, until the sound of baby crying is heard at the end of the connection. Not long after that the connection was cut off.

I quickly dialed back Kenanga's number for a while. However, calls are always disconnected before a connecting tone is heard.

"Unfortunately listener, the call with Kenanga was interrupted. We heard just now that the baby was crying, maybe Kenanga Tea was busy soothing the baby," I was silent for a moment before continuing.

"Simply sad if you hear in 2022 there are still women who receive unpleasant treatment from her husband. Listeners may wonder, why the speakers did not choose to separate. All I can say is, the answer is only the source knows. The condition of one person is different from another. For other listeners, parting may be the quickest way out, but not necessarily with the handful of women out there. The reason they stay, as I said, is that only they know.

Without feeling it has been almost an hour and a half I accompanied the listeners all in the middle of the night. For listeners who want to tell their life story here, I welcome to send a message to our whatsapp number in the format described. In closing, one old song from the Spice Girls hopefully can be a sleep delivery for all listeners. I'll see you on Wednesday at 11pm, I'm Inoxu. Stay tuned 12.08 FM Radio Rebel Bandung. Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh."

I turned off the mic and put down the headphones after the sound of the song playing by Remi.

"Alhamdulillah be done euy" chirped Gia. "Hopefully many like bestie."

"Aamiin," I replied and Remi who frowned and pointed at the monitor.

"There's a call coming in" he said slowly.

"From Kenanga's times, just pick it up?" I sat back at the broadcast table and turned on the connection receiving machine. "Hello?"

No answer from the end.

"Yet? His phone call was desperate? Your baby is awake?" my many.

"Hello?" The voice of the man at the end of the connection made me frown while Remi and Gia simultaneously approached.

"Yes? Sorry, who am I talking to?" ask again.

He remained silent for a while before the man continued. "Sorry before. I saw an incoming call on my son's phone. And when I see an outgoing call, this number is already on the list."

"Oh yes, sir. Kenanga was the speaker on the radio broadcast that I brought," I explained.

"Yes?"

"Betul Pak, Kenanga a while ago called us in the studio and became a resource person to share a life story," I explained again.

"No way," said the man.

"Why, Sir?" I asked and threw a glance at Remi and Gia.

Sounds like a little stuffing in the background there. "That's possible, Neng. Kenanga passed away seven days ago. She died of a wedding done by her husband. After all, we're just here to finish studying for Kenanga."

The deg!

Unknowingly, me and Remi and Gia widened their eyes.

"Seriously sir?" I ask to be sure. My back was completely cold and my knees were shaking without me holding back.

"Seriously, Neng. Kenanga is dead. That's why I was surprised when I saw his phone lit up right next to the baby sleeping."

My hair bristles and my head feels heavy, "Then thank you for the info, sir. Sorry, my phone is closed." With all my might I tried to calm down when I said that. Not long after, the connection was cut.

I stared at Gia and Remi for a while. As if commanded, the three of us simultaneously took each other's bags and ran outside from inside the studio.