My Loves Destiny

Chapter 1 - For Mama's sake

My tears flowed uncontrollably. I've been standing in front of the ICU for an hour waiting for confirmation on my mother's condition. While Papa stood next to me without speaking at all. His eyes looked steadily into the room where my mother was lying unconscious.

His heart disease and hypertension recurred and it was all because of me. Mama was sick because I refused Papa and Mama's request.

"Pa...." My sentence was stopped because Papa waved my hand that was holding his hand.

"You'd better shut up, Clara. If anything happens to your mother, Papa will never forgive you!" said Papa, glancing at me sharply.

I looked down not daring to challenge Papa's glance. I still clearly remember what happened before Mama passed out.

"Clara doesn't want to, Pa. It's not Siti Nurbaya's era anymore. Now it's advanced and Papa still has such petty thoughts!" I shouted angrily.

Papa's eyes widened, he must not have thought that I dared to oppose his wishes.

"Clara, listen to what Papa has to say, son!" Mama persuaded trying to mediate the debate between the two of us.

"Then you have to leave this house. Papa doesn't want to have a child who doesn't know how to return the favor like you!" said Papa angrily.

I gasped, not expecting those words to come out of the mouth of the person I have always respected the most. Papa was furious because I refused his wish to set me up with his best friend's child. I can't stop thinking about Papa's wishes. How could he agree to his best friend's proposal. I have to marry Azzam, the son of Uncle Setyo, my father's best friend.

I have known Azzam since childhood. Even though we are not friends, we often meet at the social gathering of papa and his friends. That too when I was little. After starting to grow up I never again came to the event.

"Okay, if that's what Papa wants. Tonight I will go too, so Papa is happy," I answered. I stood up and walked into the room. Let it be, I surrender if I have to be expelled from the house for refusing my father's wishes.

"Don't! Clara, you just do what your papa wants. Mama doesn't want you to go, son!" Mama screamed while holding her chest. Not long after, my mother fainted.

"Mama!" I shouted in panic.

Luckily I was able to run to catch Mama's body before it fell to the floor of the house. Papa was also surprised and helped me carry Mama onto the sofa. We tried to resuscitate Mama, but to no avail. Finally Papa took Mama to the hospital and how shocked we were when the doctor said Mama had a heart attack.

Her blood pressure is also high, it is very dangerous because it can cause Mama to have a stroke.

"Ma'am," said Cleo, my only sister.

"You've come?" I asked after waking up from the daydream.

"Yes, Ma'am. How's Mama? Can't you see Papa too?" Cleo asked me. I do not know where our papa went. Even though he was just standing next to me earlier.

"Mama hasn't realized, Papa... I don't know, Cleo," I answered honestly.

"I just came from home. Aunty said, Mama is sick because you have a fight with Papa, isn't there anything else," Ms. Cleo spilled her shit on me. I just smiled at Cleo's annoyance. It's natural that she's annoyed with me and Papa. The quiet Cleo is very close and loves Mama.

"I'm sorry, Cleo. Ma'am didn't mean to hurt our Mama, but Papa has gone too far. Time for him to force me to accept an arranged marriage with Azzam," I said at length.

"Azzam? Uncle Setyo's son, who is as

handsome as Arya Saloka, Ma'am? I want an arranged marriage with him."

"Heh, realized, No. If you want him, take it. Ma'am, I don't want to," I said.

Cleo smiled meaningfully, I couldn't help but think. What's so great about that Azzam?

"What are you two doing, you know!" scolded Papa suddenly appearing behind us.

Cleo smiled at the arrival Papa then burst into his arms. "Pa, I'm the only one who is betrothed to Mas Azzam. I want it, Pa!" Cleo said excitedly. Papa distanced himself from Cleo.

"You're still in college, just study the truth. Don't think about getting married first!" Papa said coldly.

Cleo pouted as he looked at me. I just shrugged my shoulders. Papa was like that, since the first time he was too authoritarian to me and Cleo. we received in return. The three of us were still silent with each other's thoughts until a nurse came to us with happy news.

"Mrs. Sundari's family! The patient is awake and wants to see you!"

----

Three days later Mama was allowed to be taken home. However, her health has not recovered one hundred percent as before. for me.

"Mommy wants to eat. Clara feed me, yes!" I said softly to Mama who was sitting dreamily on her bed. Mama turned to me then shook her head.

"Mama isn't hungry yet, Ra. Here you sit next to Mama!" I sat beside Mama as she wished. Mama looked at me with a smile on her lips.

"Clara, you're not going, are you?" Mama asked then.

I took a deep breath before answering. I can't answer wrongly because I'm afraid that Mama will be disappointed and then her health will deteriorate again.

"I ... don't want to talk about that just yet, Mom. Papa has also agreed with me, for a while we won't discuss it first," I answered carefully.

Mama just listened to my explanation silently. "How long, Ra? You guys did that on purpose out of fear for Mama's health, right?

I nodded, I've never been able to lie when I was talking to Mama.

"Mama hopes that you will accept the arranged marriage, Ra. Mama is sure that you will live happily if you marry Nak Azzam. Now he is migrating to Medan, in two weeks he will return. You want to marry him, right, Ra?" Dear Allah! Mama's request was very hard to fulfill, I was so confused and hesitant to make a decision.

Actually I wanted to refuse, but ... Mama seemed really hopeful that I would accept.

"Are you sure that Azzam is a good man. You've never met him in person, have you?"

Continued