Chapter 2 Funeral

They all looked down when they heard Grandpa Wawan yell with an angry expression. Only Grandpa Marwan and Grandma Sundari looked at Grandpa Wawan. They were annoyed because they felt that they were both older than him, but it seemed as if they were being insulted by Grandpa Wawan's words.

Marwan is the oldest of three brothers and Wawan is the youngest brother of Wawang, father of Ardan and Pak Arga. However, Marwan could only keep his frustration in his heart, because he also knew that what Wawan said was true. At this time it is not appropriate to discuss matters of wealth and so on, even though the tahlil event has not yet passed seven days.

''Gavin, you're tired, aren't you?! That's enough, you have to rest, go to sleep!" exclaimed Grandpa Wawan while gently patting Gavin's head.

''Yes, Grandpa... Grandpa, thanks,'' answered Gavin with a relieved smile on his face.

He almost exploded because he couldn't control his emotions. Luckily, Wawan's grandfather saved him.

''What for? That's it, go to sleep, just lock the door, it's already late! Runa is in the hospital, right?!' said Grandpa Wawan.

''Yes, Grandpa...'' answered Gavin, nodding.

"Poor child, she's been waiting for the twins in the hospital for four days, there's no one to replace her..." said Grandma Halimah in a low voice.

''What else can we do, Grandma? I am still busy taking care of things here...'' answered Gavin in a regretful tone.

"Has she eaten yet, that poor little girl?" asked Grandma Halimah again. She was sincerely concerned about Aruna's condition.

''God willing, she can take care of herself, Grandma. Besides, there is Uncle Ardan who also diligently accompanies her at the hospital," answered Gavin, but he didn't realize that his answer had piqued Grandpa Wawan's curiosity.

"Oh... That's why Ardan comes home only briefly at night," said Grandpa Wawan in reply.

''Yes, Aruna is a woman. Uncle Ardan can't let Aruna sleep alone lying around in a public place like that," answered Gavin, still in his innocent manner.

''Yeah, that's right. Well, I hope the twins can come home quickly," said Grandpa Wawan, praying, and encouraging Gavin, who looked very tired.

''Amen...'' Gavin answered Grandpa Wawan's prayer with a smile on his face.

Grandpa Wawan and Grandma Halimah then leave Gavin's house after saying goodbye. Several things had been on Grandpa Wawan's mind for the last four days. He felt strange about Aruna and Ardan but didn't have the heart to ask Gavin, who already looked very tired. A look of depression was also clearly visible on the face of the young teenager who had just finished his final exam for high school. Gavin's face looked pale with black eye circles. Not only was he not getting enough sleep, but his diet was also messed up because no one was taking care of him at home.

**

Along with the bodies of Mrs. Aisyah and Mr. Arga. Gavin and Aruna returned from the hospital and immediately prepared for the burial process. Because RT and the others had already gone home and had coordinated everything, everything was ready when the body arrived at the house. Mr. Arga's relatives have also gathered and are ready to complete the entire funeral process.

Aruna couldn't stay home for long because she had to return to the hospital to wait for Syaffa and Raffa in the NICU room. The twins' condition still needs to be monitored because they were born during an emergency. They had not yet had enough time to enter the world. But, by God's will, technological progress is mediated. There is greater hope for the two of them to survive.

Before sunset, all funeral processes were completed. There was only a slight problem when they wanted to bury Mrs. Aisyah's body. Because the tomb used is a family endowment from Mr. Arga's family. They subtly refused to allow Mrs. Aisyah's body to be buried there. However, Ardan and Gavin still insist that Mrs. Aisyah will be buried next to Mr. Arga. If not, then Ardan and Gavin choose to bury Mr. Arga and Mrs. Aisyah in a public cemetery, with Ardan's wisdom as an adult and Gavin's cooperation. They resolved this problem secretly without Aruna knowing.

***

Immediately after the burial process for Mr. Arga and Mrs. Aisyah. Aruna immediately packed several things. Grandma Halimah, the younger sister-in-law of Gavin's late grandmother (Grandma's aunt), who saw Aruna tidying up some clothes and putting them in a small backpack, immediately reprimanded her.

''Runa, what are you doing, girl?'' asked Grandma Halimah, ''Why are you tidying up your clothes? Your father and mother have just been buried..." added Grandma Halimah with a worried expression.

''This?!'' exclaimed Aruna. She was shocked to see Grandma Halimah's anxious expression, ''It's not like that... No, Grandma. Runa just wants to tidy it up a bit so I don't have to go back and forth later," said Aruna, answering gently, she explained to Grandma Halimah, who misunderstood that Aruna was going to leave the house just because her mother died.

"Just leave her be, Mom... If she wants to go, it's up to her," said Karsih in a curt tone, responding to Aruna and Grandma Halimah's conversation.

''What are you bluffing about?! Your mouth is always uncontrollable when you open your mouth, even just a little....'' said Grandma Halimah, reprimanding her daughter-in-law.

''Heiz! That's all because she wants to go herself, just leave her be. There's no need to bother getting in the way!" said Karsih, still not wanting to lose.

''Karsih, you shut up! That's a very habitual mouth. That mouth of yours, bad habit! I'll cover it with duct tape, so you know the taste...." exclaimed Darman, scolding his wife Karsih, when he had just entered after completing all the burial matters.

''Mother, Darman will go home first...'' said Darman, saying goodbye to Grandma Halimah, ''Runa, Uncle will leave,'' immediately after that, he also said goodbye to Aruna while dragging his wife Karsih.

Aruna nodded while kissing the back of Darman's hand and Karsih said goodbye to go home.

''Girl, don't take it to heart, okay? Don't you know what her habit is like, your aunt Karsih when she talks..." said Grandma Halimah, trying to cheer up Aruna.

''Yes, Grandma. It is okay. Besides, Runa doesn't have time to think about things like that now," Aruna answered with a smile.

''Then why are you packing your clothes, where are you going?" asked Grandma Halimah with a worried face.

''I want to go to the hospital, Grandma. The twins still need intensive care from medical treatment in the hospital, there's no one accompanying them."

''Oh my God! My goodness, Grandma really forgot... Yes, Arga's child," said Grandma Halimah, immediately she burst into tears again.

Again she was sad, remembering her eldest nephew who had gone to face God first. After the death of her sister-in-law, Mr. Arga's mother. Halimah's grandmother was the one who paid the most attention to Arga and Ardan at that time. She often brings food for the two of them, especially since Mr. Arga's father, who followed his wife, died eight years later.

"Owh... Grandma, I'm sorry. Please, Grandma, don't you cry all the time..." said Aruna, trying to calm Grandma Halimah.

It took quite a long time to calm the old woman, who couldn't contain her sadness because she had abandoned her nephew who had always been like her own child. Grandmother Halimah and Grandfather Wawan Wiryawan. They are the younger brother and sister-in-law of Pak Arga's parents, Wawang Wiryawan.

Grandpa Wawang, Grandpa Wawan, and Grandpa Marwan. They are three brothers who are just farmers with a large plot of rice fields left by their parents. But, over time. Eviction due to urban development eliminated his livelihood as a farmer. Little by little, their land was sold for various purposes and only a few remained which were now lived in by their children and also for themselves.

Among all their children. Mr. Arga is the most diligent and very independent. Because of this, Mr. Arga managed a fairly large plot of land that was given to him by Grandpa Wawang so well that he was able to build a rented house with 20 doors. Because Pak Arga only has two brothers, Ardan, his land is quite large compared to his other cousins. What's more, both Mr. Arga's parents have also died. This is different from Pak Arga, who has several rented houses. His other cousins only rely on monthly salaries from the factory where they work.

Since childhood, Ardan has been very close to Mr. Arga, and because of that, Mr. Arga looks like he has two children. Ardan and Gavin. Ardan is also very close to Gavin. They look like two brothers. Among the ten cousins, only Ardan enjoyed studying at university. He received a doctorate degree from Mr. Arga's encouragement and support. Ardan used to be very busy with college and then his work. Because of that, he continues to live with Pak Arga and the allotted land his parents gave him has not been used for anything to this day.

**

"Limah, what are you doing? Shame on you this little girl... Runa... You are old already but you still like to cry," asked Grandpa Wawan, who came with Ardan and Gavin after all the burial matters had been completed.

"Run, what have you done to grandma? Why is she crying?!!" Gavin exclaimed in a fake, annoyed tone.

''Not me?!'' Aruna exclaimed, frowning, answering Gavin, ''But... Yes, a little...'' said Aruna, adding with a sad expression because she felt guilty.

''So that's right. It is you..." said Gavin, his eyes glancing at Aruna.

''Sorry, I didn't mean to. It's because of Runa that Grandma sadly remembered Dad again..." said Runa with her face half lowered with a regretful expression.

"No... No... Runa didn't do anything to Grandma... It's just Grandma who still hasn't been able to let go of your father's death," said Grandma Halimah, defending Aruna.

"Just let her... Let her be satisfied with her crying. But, Auntie. Please don't continue it tomorrow! That's enough, only for today, Auntie can cry, okay..." said Ardan while hugging his aunt who had helped take care of him since he was little.

''You brat, you still like to joke with this old hag. Where have you been? It's only recently that I could see you calmly staying at home for a long time...'' said Grandma Halimah, her tears immediately turned into feelings of annoyance mixed with emotion.

#Note

Rukun Tetangga (RT) is a regional division in Indonesia under Rukun Warga. Rukun Tetangga does not include a division of government administration, and its formation is through the deliberation of the local community in the context of community services determined by the Village or Subdistrict. The Rukun Tetangga is led by the RT Head who is elected by its residents. An RT consists of a number of houses or KK (head of family). In the bureaucratic system in Indonesia, usually, RT (Rukun Tetangga) is under RW (Rukun Warga).