Ballad Inmates
Ballad Inmates (Part 39)

...By Dalem Tehang...

Long enough we hugged, until my wife reminded me that the guards and prisoners had been watching what we were doing. 

The moon doesn't seem to care. He kept his head attached to my head from the iron bars. Until then he said slowly.  

“We both keep missing ya, dad. Keep hugging mbak in all your mind and heart dad yes,” said Moon. His voice vibrates. 

I'm nodding. While stroking his head. Affectionately.  

My closeness to the moon is incredible. We both feel when one of us is facing a problem, or sick.

In fact, in expressing everything our way is the same. More closed. In contrast to my wife Laksmi and my ragil, the thunderbolt. They are very expressive.

My wife took out a small box of food. Donut. I'll take one. I cut a little and feed it into the Moon's mouth. 

My beloved Nduk accepted it with a smile. His face slowly returned. Burying all the turmoil that had crawled his soul and mind. 

The Moon's eyes stared at the row of prisoner rooms that were in front and beside him standing at the guard post. Occasionally he nodded and smiled, as the cell dwellers greeted him with nods.

“Those rooms 1 and 2 were specifically for female prisoners, nduk. If father is in room 10, at the very end of this detention house complex,” my wife said. 

The moon shifted her eyes. Focus on rooms 1 and 2. A few moments later, his forehead seemed to be frowning.

“Ngopo, nduk?” my many. While continuing to enjoy my wife's donut cake and occasionally feed into the mouth of the Moon.

“Many are young. What problems they have. From his age, at least two three years above mbak, still a student is the most also,” said Moon. 

My wife asked the prison guards. The officer explained that the majority of female prisoners currently involved in drug cases are illegal drugs. In addition, there are also cases of theft, fraud, and adultery. 

“Pity look at them, still young in prison gini, bun,” said Moon to his mother. My wife nodded her head. 

“Bunda buy donut cake three boxes. A box of love to them anyway, bun. His box was given to the guards. Just one box for dad, no two boxes. Ma'am pity look at it,” says Moon again. His eyes looked at his mother.

My wife asked the guards for permission to give a box of donut cakes to the female prisoners in room 1. 

The guards call Adit tamping. Handed over the doughnut cake box to be given to the occupants of room 1. 

Spontaneous cell dwellers screamed in excitement after Adit gave a box of donut cakes.

“Thank you mother, thank you beautiful. Thank God,” said one of them as he looked at my wife and the Moon standing at the guard post.

My wife Laksmi and Moon smiled. A smile full of joy. Their eyes glazed over. 

“Mother and father, can you vow?” ask the Moon, suddenly.

“Yes can, what is your vow, nduk!” my spoken. My hands moved, stroking the Moon's hair.

“If you can rank first in the class of the results of yesterday, you will send toiletries for prisoners here,” said Moon, with a voice full of seriousness.

“Many of you prisoners here, nduk. About 180s people in 10 rooms,” I said.

I hold my daughter's head. I kissed her hair. I am so moved and proud. He cares about others so deeply. 

Before saying goodbye, the Moon asked me to take off the shirt I was wearing. I'm amazed.

“Let's shirt dad want to wear fitting already in the car home from here. Let dry dad directly tacky,” says Moon. 

I was in a hurry to take off my shirt. And asked Adit tamping to my cell, to get me the t-shirt that was in my little bag. 

My wife Laksmi smiled as she watched the Moon kiss and hugged the shirt I had just released. He understood the true meaning of a father to his daughter. She is also the only daughter in her family. He has an incredible affinity with his father. 

“Come on we say. Already want this Dhuhur. Not good too if later here, it is not the time to make,” said my wife on the Moon.

The moon nodded its head. And then, hugged me again tightly once more.  

“Dad should be strong. Our proud father. Whatever people say about dad, we don't care,” Moon said in a firm voice. His eyes are looking at me. His spirit is back on fire.

My wife said, even though she was out of town for a few days, Rayhan had been asked to keep delivering breakfast and dinner. Even to eat sahur to fast sunah Monday and Thursday.

I hugged my wife. I kissed her forehead. I wish he had gone a few days to do his office work. I leave the body of my wife and children to the Creator. Allah is the All-Powerful.

My wife Laksmi and my daughter Bulan left the guard post of the detention complex at the mapolres with steady steps towards the parking lot. One plastic bag containing my dirty clothes, taken home with them.

“We look at the father with wife and child so close. They are also stoic and strong,” one guard said as he watched me still staring at the steps of my wife and son leaving the detention house.

“Alhamdulillah, sir. Logically, they actually will not be strong let alone stoic and sincere. But God has authority. He has the right to handle everything. Alhamdulillah, our resignation turned out to bring its own blessing,” said I. 

“Terms indeed, sir. What matters is. How about it again. We all have our own destiny. Yes stay lived just as well as possible,” continued the guard officer.

“I'm back in the cell, sir. Thanks for everything. This was the first time my daughter met after a month here. Alhamdulillahot. The good of father inshaallah is blessed by Allah,” I said while saluting the guard. He smiles. Sympathetic fully. 

I returned to the cell, accompanied by Adit tamping. When I passed room 7, someone called me. Apparently Rusdi.

“So his wife and son yes, Be. We were moved to see them so close and attention to Babe. Thank you very much for a strong and steadfast family, Be,” said Ustad Rusdi.

“Iya, Thank God. God who rules everything, Mr. Ustad,” said me while clenching both palms in the chest. Sign respect.

Ustad Rusdi. As long as I was with my wife and Moon met at the guard post, all the occupants of room 7 noticed.

“Honestly, we got to the atmosphere of Babe and the family that was so good. Moreover, when Babe's daughter is crying. Many friends here are up to the tear netesin as well,” said Ustad Rusdi. Her voice choked. 

My eyes broke through room 7. The dozen occupants of the room seemed to nod their heads when they found out I was watching them. 

“The Babe family is great. We look at it, all at once. So inget same wife child at home,” a man my age, suddenly slumped from inside the room.

I smile. A smile wrapped in novelty. I know how much the arrival of the nearest wife, child, and family means to the prisoners. They are the water-drinkers of life in the middle of the barren desert.

And again I am grateful. A month in detention, almost every day my wife can still see. Even today, with my daughter Moon. 

Even my wife can send food regularly, in all its limitations economically. I realized more and more, all this is solely because of God who gives ease. (connected)