Lailatulqadar (Song of Missing For Fathers)
Chapter 5

Laila had just finished performing the dawn prayer. When he folded his face, there was a knock on the door of the room in his place.

Laila stood up to open the door. Mira was already standing in front of the room as she turned to her waist, when Laila opened the door of her room.

" From now on you and your sister should never eat with us at one table. If your Uncle asks, just say you're not hungry. I'll set aside food for you after my family and I finish eating. Remember that! Don't ever complain to your Uncle if you don't want me to starve you and your sister, OKAY? " his little whisper Mira did not want her chatter heard by Handoko. She knew her husband was still in the room.

Laila nodded slowly, agreeing and understanding Mira's wishes.

" You also have to do homework. Wash dishes, clean, and wash each other's clothes. I wouldn't wash your clothes with your sister. You are the one who has to bother! It's still a good thing you guys are here, we don't throw them in the streets. So obey my words and don't make trouble in this house by complaining to your Uncle, obviously? " continued Mira who was again nod by Laila.

" good! Now there's a clean slug that's the mop of the floor. If your Uncle asks just say you want to do all that, "said Mira again full of emphasis.

" Yes Bi, "weep Laila.

Mira turned around to cook for breakfast.

Laila looked at the woman's back, as she remembered something until Laila ventured to call Mira.

" bi ! " sahut Laila while advancing a few steps.

Mira flipped her frown looking at Laila.

" I'm the same Qadar can still go to school, right? I promise I'll obey Auntie's wishes, it's okay I eat potluck but Auntie same Uncle will keep sending us right?" tanya Laila made sure.

" No! Do you think school is cheap? This is the town of Laila not in your village. Here everything uses money, and certainly expensive. So you're the same Qadar will quit school!" mira insisted without wanting to be denied.

Laila fell silent in shock, she thought Mira was not that cruel and still had a sense of compassion in her heart. Especially for education, how could they care for Laila and Qadar without taking care of his education. What would the brothers be if they were not in school?

" Bi, for Qadar, can it be Bi? I'm fine dropping out of school as long as Qadar doesn't. Pity that he had only two years of education in elementary school, I don't think uncle would mind. I'll help auntie and uncle make money, so we don't burden you, " said Laila.

" You think making money here is easy, huh?" Mira seemed to think for a moment, he thought that Handoko would still send Qadar to school.

But Mira will still refuse if her husband Handoko sent Laila to school as well. Secondary school is definitely more expensive.

" Yes, I will negotiate with your Uncle, " said Mira again continued her steps that had stopped.

There is a sense of disappointment in the heart of Laila because she had to drop out of school even though only one semester left she graduated from Junior High School.

But Laila knew she didn't want to trouble and weigh on her Uncle and Aunt. It was enough now that he became a burden to live in this house. There is no way Laila forced herself to stay in school, right said Mira if in the city the cost of school must be more expensive.

At least his sister Qadar can still get an education. Qadar is more important, his future should be bright. Laila started thinking about getting money to help with Qadar's school fees. Whatever way Laila's gonna do. Whether it's selling or working in this city. For sure Laila should be able to fight for her sister's education. Because maybe later Mira no longer want to finance the school Qadar to a higher level as Mira did to him.

While sweeping the floor Laila continued to look for ways to have income. Mira's attitude has been like this even though it has not even been a day Laila and Qadar live there but Mira has shown her reservations about their existence. The problem of eating only counts let alone the cost of education.

Even so Laila understood very well, Mira was not entirely wrong because indeed the life of her Aunt and Uncle was classified as a middle class not a wealthy person but still enough to meet the needs of their nuclear family. Now if added Laila and Qadar then their expenditure can be broken if they have to meet the education of the two children. To eat may be enough, but more than that seems to be very burdened.

Laila thought that being fed and sleeping had been very profitable for her and Qadar. If there is no Handoko and Mira, somehow their fate is at the moment. Laila should be able to position herself here.

" How come you're so cute? " sayhut Handoko when out of the room.

" Yes already if so Uncle wants to go to the back to bathe again ready to go to the office, " said Handoko.

Laila nodded slowly and resumed her cleaning activities.

At the dinner table there is breakfast served Mira. All the members of the Handoko nuclear family were already sitting in their respective seats.

Handoko dizzy looking for his two nieces did not sit with them at the dining table.

" Aldo, call Brother Laila to Bang Qadar. Ask them to have breakfast here, "tell Handoko to her youngest son.

As Aldo was about to get out of the chair, Mira held his arm.

" Don't kid! " said Mira while shaking her head looking at Aldo's bead as a sign that he would not need to call his two cousins.

" Loh why? " ask Handoko wonder.

" Laila was mowing the grass in the back, she said she wanted to eat when she finished her work. Qadar also helped his brother again, he did not want to eat if Laila did not eat. You know how much Qadar works," explained Mira who turns out Mira was the one who told them to cut grass and not to eat breakfast with others.

Mira will feed them if their work is done.

" I saw them first. " Handoko got up from the chair walking towards the back yard door.

Mira only snickered cynically while chewing the food in her mouth.

Apparently Laila and Qadar were busy mowing the grass that was already high enough behind the house. Sweat seemed to wash over both of them. While their stomachs were still empty, they had to work hard mowing the weeds growing in the backyard.

For the sake of being able to get a bite of rice they are sincerely doing this job. They do not want to just sleep and eat at their uncle Handoko's house. At least by donating energy they are not ashamed if they live in that house.

" California, Qadar. " Handoko approached the two.

They also turned their heads when they heard Handoko's voice.

" You have breakfast first, let this grass Uncle who pruned after work. You have to have breakfast so you don't get sick, besides, it's hard work. The grass is a lot and difficult to pull, then Uncle borrowed a lawn mower with his next door neighbor, " said Handoko.

The two children were meeting each other.

" I'm sorry, Uncle, but we're not hungry yet. If we are hungry, we will eat inside. Now we still want to do this job, don't we, Qadar? " Laila looked at Qadar's bead as a signal for her sister to agree.

Qadar nodded slowly, his stomach was rumbling from earlier. Actually he was hungry but Mira asked him to keep working before Handoko, his wife and child finished eating.

" Yes but remember, if tired of rest and immediately breakfast. " Handoko actually did not have the heart to see the two of them work like this but the two children seemed to want to do it making Handoko unable to ban.

Handoko went inside the house, picked up a bag and left for work.

seriate,