The Midnight Radio
Episode 28's

I dyed when I got to the front desk of the receptionist. Be safe! So far, there has been no appearance of Bang Win. Most likely the man wasn't on the radio station. While sitting on the sofa and waiting for another arrival, my memory goes back to yesterday afternoon when Bang Win met mama at home. His words about 'close, dear, proposing, and marrying' made me who was drinking next to him choke so hard that the water I should have swallowed came out of my nose again.

After Bang Win, my mom and sister stopped me for that. They thought something bad had happened and that was what made Bang Win responsible. In fact, my only brother put the Quran on my head and asked to swear that what they thought was not true. It was also after some loud pats on my arm that I received from mama.

Pluck up! While being focused on remembering the incident here, a hand patted my shoulder slowly.

"Mama!" I shouted spontaneously and immediately stood looking towards the back.

"What do you think about when you don't realize that I came?" tanya Bang Win flat.

"Yes think of you" I replied as I regretted a few seconds later. I don't want to be considered a mombal.

"I why?"

"That's what Bang Win said yesterday" I replied.

"Wouldn't you like it if you were married to me?"

"Yes," I said.

"Yes already. Your job is to pray, so that we can be blessed."

Without Bang Win knowing, in fact, my mother has fallen in love with him since the first meeting. According to my mother, there are rarely men who dare to meet parents to ask permission to establish a relationship with the child. However, because it was too sudden, my mother was afraid that something bad had happened.

"Ah! After meeting people, couples who are so cute!" gerutu Kang Utep came down the stairs and sat down with us.

"The person from earlier wasn't a person?" ask Bang Win.

"No. Eh Xu, later in the studio be careful huh? I met centipedes as leeches many times" said Kang Utep. "Keep if you later feel not feeling well fit in the room, rich feel stuffy or hard of breath, just go out, okay?"

"Why, Kang?" manya curious.

Kang Utep looked towards Bang Win who nodded before finally looking back at me. "For there to be a massive attack, Xu. So that's here on all the exit."

"Where the hell does that mean?"

"Some time ago there were people who really wanted to buy this radio. The price given is also good, but the owner declined because this radio has historical value for the owner," explained Bang Win.

"The owner is Bang Win" I said.

"One of them. Only we agreed not to take off this radio," he explained.

"And after that, a lot of shipments came," added Kang Utep.

"Where do you want it?"

"From the old residents who are increasingly seen themselves. From strange animals that like to appear in impossible places" he replied.

"View yourself?" ask me to frown.

"Yes. Residents here are usually calm. They react when an outside factor X comes in. Rough gini, the inhabitants here are one group, and not arbitrary creatures from outside can enter their group. So once anyone wants in, they volunteer because a creature like them also has a territory called."

"Oh," I said short while digesting Kang Utep's words.

"You're sensitive, Xu. The change in atmosphere will certainly be felt, just like the people out there who are also sensitive," added Kang Utep again.

Our conversation was interrupted due to the entry of Adul, Gia and Remi. It seems like Gia's condition has been much better because from now on he did not stop talking about many things. Just before eleven, the four of us went up to the studio to start the broadcast.

***

"I left my mother at her brother's house when she was two years old. Since then, I have always considered Budhe to be my mother. So when my biological mother came and demanded that I return to her, I refused."

Adu and I were talking with a source named Kalara who works as a doctor at one of the Bandung city hospitals.

"Teh Inoxu. At two years old, I who did not know anything was left because my mother preferred her new husband. Budhe took care of me alone because he was left pakde not long after I was in their care."

"Where is Pakde Teteh going?" ask Adul.

"My grandfather died of illness, Kang Adul."

"Neither at all. Ever since I was deposited in Budhe, like, my mother broke up with us. I became a living witness who saw Budhe working tirelessly, day and night to support me. And after all the hard work that made me as successful as I am now, my mother came back and demanded that I be devoted to her just because she thought my heaven was on her.

If Teh Inoxu or Kang Adul is in my position, what will it be?" ask Kalara.

"Well, if I'm married, so heaven I move to my husband" I replied without thinking.

"Yes the same, Adul will also be rich if it is Kalara Tea."

"I was hurt, because many neighbors told me that I was a ha*ram child. If my presence is not desired. If my existence is a mistake. Even according to some distant families, my mother often tortured me when I was a child, reinforced with scars that still scar today."

"Astagfirullah," said I and Adul spontaneously.

"I still have to be filial if it's like that, Tea? Kang?" tanyakanya.

"Yes" I replied. "Personalize by treating your mother well ... And necessary. More than that no. Especially if required to do something for dutiful reasons. Diligence doesn't apply to the wrong things."

"Adul agrees!" connect Adul.

Silence is created for a few moments, until a long sigh is heard from the end of the channel.

"Yes, I know what Teteh means. Yes rice? After hearing Teteh's words just now, I feel better."

"Together with Tea. Always healthy," I said shut the conversation.

"Hearers of everything. This story of Kalara Tea personally makes me sad. There are still parents out there who use their status as parents to demand many things from their children for reasons of filial piety or debt of gratitude.

All I can say is, there is no such thing as a debt of gratitude to parents because they have given birth and cared for us, their children. We as children do not ask to be born, they are the ones who repeatedly ask for our presence in Allah SWT. And for me personally, filial piety does not apply to the wrong things" I said at length. I turned to Adul who was already seen glazed over and decided to close the broadcast.

"One song from Melly Goeslaw with Mother, will be the closing story of Midnight this time. Inoxu and Adul pamit, 12.08FM Radio Rebel Bandung. Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh."

I turned off the mic and quickly took off the headphones because Adul was sniffing next to me.

"Adul inget, once also father ninggalin mother when Adul was a child until finally dropping out of school. Adul became a witness of how Mother worked until the head was turned into a foot to support Adul," he replied after I asked what was wrong.

Gia and Remi approached and went in tears. For a child, a parent is the best, strongest, and greatest impeccably. That is why, children will feel very sad when they get bad treatment from parents.

Adul put his head on the table and came back crying. I could only remain silent when something strange sounded.

Kik kik kik!

Adul's cry turned into a small ruckus then into giggling laughter. Spontaneously, I stood up and stayed away. The wondering expression was clearly drawn on Gia and Remi's face.

Kik kik kik!

"Si Adul was crying how can I laugh now?" ask Remi.

Kik kik kik!

The sound of Adul's laughter grew louder and clearer. I stared at him and gasped as he raised his face with a fixed gaze towards me.

"Neng geulis, ieu nini is coming. Nini bade coffee! (Beautiful boy, this is grandma coming. Grandma wants coffee!)" adul said in a different voice.

Kik kik kik!

"Si Adul trance an*jir!" exclaiming Gia was surprised then ran as fast as lightning out of the studio.

"Nini bade coffee! (Grandma wants coffee!)" exclaims the figure of Adul grinning.

I wave and come running outside intending towards the pantry. Not long after, I put a can of instant coffee right next to Adul.

"Naon ieu's? Nini hoyong coffee! Badukeun! (What is this? Grandma wants coffee! Hurry up!)" jerk again.

Remi was glued to the spot while I was misbehaving. Fortunately, Gia soon returned with Kang Utep, Bang Win, as well as someone I recognized as Mr. Ustad who woke up Adul the other day.

Bang Win himself asked us to go home and would deliver to each other's homes. We were walking together when suddenly in the middle of the stairs, something that did not look pierced my heart and made me out of breath until it was all dark.