CHAPTER 11
That evening's meeting was over. Now it's the turn for the wedding preparations to begin. At first Bambang Adi Atmaja rejected the marriage. However, for the sake of his promise to his beloved daughter and not wanting Niken to delay her marriage, he finally surrendered and freed Niken to choose her husband, namely Ardi.
 The next day. Niken was very excited to take Ardi to a boutique that provided wedding equipment, especially wedding dresses.
 Niken chose this boutique because her mother used to buy wedding dresses there, not only her mother, but her grandmother and other Atmaja family often bought wedding dresses there. So, it could be said that the boutique is very historical for the Atmaja family and Niken wants to keep that history alive.
 Niken and Ardi started taking measurements, starting from height, waist circumference, chest and so on. Everything has to be perfect. Ah, it's impossible 99% because perfection belongs only to Allah, the Almighty Creator.
 After almost an hour, finally the measurements were finished and the theme of the wedding dress that Niken would wear later and of course the wedding suit that Ardi would wear on this historic day for them was determined.
 Ardi, who didn't know anything about wedding dresses, chose to remain silent and sat on the sofa, reading a magazine that was available there.
 ***
 Finally, the process of preparing the wedding dress is complete. Niken invited Ardi to look for the building that would later be used as their reception.
 "Do you think it would be nice if we got married in a building in Jakarta or Bandung?" he asked for opinion.
 Ardi doesn't know anything about the building that is usually used for wedding receptions. However, there is something that Ardi wants to make happen.
 "What if we rent a building near Gedung Sate? Honestly, I want to hold a wedding reception there. However, it's a shame. I don't have much money to rent it," Ardi whispered while exhaling heavily.
 His dream is quite simple, namely holding a wedding reception with the woman he loves. However, that hope seemed to disappear from her life when Melati left home and only left a letter.
 Niken looked at him silently. Even though he had never experienced being left by a lover on a wedding day, he could feel how embarrassed Ardi was at that time. Of course, the people in his village ostracized Ardi because he failed to marry his lover, plus Melati left without telling him and only left a letter.
 Niken shook her head, feeling sorry for her future husband. "Don't be sad like that. You look ugly when you cry," said Niken.
 It's not just his attitude that has changed, but the way he speaks also seems to have changed a little. He no longer used the formal language he usually spoke.
 Ardi gasped a little in surprise when Niken touched his shoulder, giving him a warm touch that lifted his burden a little.
 For some reason, seeing Niken gave him a strange feeling that was difficult for him to interpret. What's more, when he looked at Niken, it was as if Melati's image had disappeared from his memory. Has Niken really erased Melati's name from her heart?
 "Ah, it's impossible for him to erase Melati's name from my heart? It won't be possible. Melati will still be the angel who fills my heart," he thought, dismissing the assumption he had made himself.
 Niken returned to focusing on the road. Ardi couldn't drive, so Niken drove him. Usually Jake would drive, but today he just wanted to be alone with Ardi.
 In fact, this was Mita's request, but somehow Niken wanted to do it sincerely?
 ***
 While Ardi is enjoying happiness with his new family. Far away, Ati Husband, was sitting contemplating, hugging Ardi's photo tightly.
 Since that day, Ati has been very lonely because her son left. He kept mentioning Ardi's name, and he even didn't eat for two days because he missed his only son.
 How is Ardi's life? What is he doing now? What does he eat? Where does he sleep? Ati kept thinking about this because all this time Ardi had never been far from his family.
Even though Ardi often works in other villages, every night he returns home to spend time with his small family.
 Erman Hermanto, who is usually called Kang Asep, couldn't do anything. He wanted to entertain his wife, but what Ati needed right now was Ardi and not entertainment.
 "Eat first, okay? You haven't eaten for two days and two nights. What happens if you get sick? Ardi will definitely be angry seeing you like this. Eat, OK?"
 Kang Asep directed a spoonful of rice which was already filled with side dishes, trying to put the rice into his wife's mouth. Ati glanced at her husband and immediately slapped Kang Asep's hand away, causing the food to fall apart.
 "I told you, didn't I. I won't eat until Ardi comes home. I had a good meal here, while Ardi... I don't know what he ate? Maybe he hasn't eaten until now!" he snapped, his eyes bulging.
 Asep almost got emotional because Ati kept slapping his hand away, resulting in the food being wasted. However, Kang Asep immediately understood the reason for his wife's hunger strike, simply to feel what Ardi's condition was like now.
 It's true, since that day Ardi never returned home. Neither he nor Ati knew about its existence. Is he still alive or is he dead because at that time he was injured, as a result of being beaten by residents?
 Asep looked at the plate containing rice and side dishes. Instantly he felt guilty because for the past two days, he had still been able to eat well, even though it was a little difficult to digest because he kept thinking about his beloved son, who knows where in the jungle he is now?
 "Then I won't eat either. What kind of father am I, who eats well while his son is out there, whether he has eaten or not?"
 Kang Asep put down his plate. Seeing his wife so confused made him feel confused too. Especially imagining what Ardi's fate will be like out there?
 Ati also glanced at her husband who was sitting on the floor, while she was on the sofa. She hurriedly got off the sofa and sat next to her husband.
 "I really miss Ardi. How is he now?" Ati leaned her head on her husband's shoulder.
 Kang Asep gently rubbed his wife's shoulder, then kissed her forehead, "We leave everything to Allah. Only Him we ask for help. Continue praying for Ardi's safety. May our child be protected from all danger."
 "Amen." Ati also agreed to her husband's prayers. He continued to pray the same prayer to the Almighty, so that his only son would continue to be given protection.
 Kang Asep and Ati both strengthen each other. When it happened a few days ago, it wasn't that they didn't want to help Ardi, but they didn't have the power to let Ardi go.
 The colorful people were furious because of his immoral behavior, so they became emotional and beat Ardi blindly.
 The residents there just don't want their daughters to become victims of Ardi's depravity. Sukiya had had enough of being a victim, and felt that they didn't want a similar incident to happen to their family members. In the end, Ardi was thrown out of the village. He was not allowed to enter the village again at any time.