My Vegatative Husband

Four days have passed since the death of Mr. Arga and Mrs. Aisyah. Ardan only comes back at night. He always misses the tahlil at home. Therefore, he again became the talk of the town. Likewise, Aruna's absence at home, who only appeared occasionally to arrange for a change of clothes while she was in the hospital, waiting for her two younger twin siblings. Because of all these things, Gavin was the only one left at home to take care of all the needs during the mourning.

''Cing, This isn't true... Ardan, he won't be able to take care of it," said Tono, one of Ardan's cousins.

"What do you mean?" asked Grandma Halimah with an annoyed expression when she saw one of her nieces being impolite for raising her voice at someone who was clearly much older than her.

''He hasn't been to the tahlilan event for four nights. This tahlilan is for his older brother... There are only two brothers, that's all that's left of the tahlil, but he still doesn't care," replied Tono in a tone that clearly showed that he was annoyed.

"Uncle Ardan has something to do with..." said Gavin, keeping his voice low.

He was annoyed, but because he was much younger, he tried to remain polite to his relatives who were much older than him.

''What business is it?!'' Rustam shouted, ''Unemployed but pretending to be very busy...'' he added with a very annoying sneer.

''How did you know that Uncle Ardan was unemployed?!'' Gavin asked with an annoyed face.

Gavin's young blood was boiling, he tried to hold back his emotions but it was difficult amidst the onslaught of words that hit his feelings.

"Well... Vin, you've seen a lot of people... Uncle, you're just wandering around incoherently," Rustam answered back, his voice starting to rise. He didn't like seeing Gavin's expression, which seemed to be challenging him.

"Yeah... I also saw him hanging out with thugs in Tanjung Priok," said Tono again, confirming Rustam's words.

"Just maybe he works there," said Gavin loudly, not wanting to be outdone.

"What work?" said Minan, "He's just a thug there," added Minan. He is one of Gavin's cousins. Rustam's son also responded curtly.

''Bro... There's no proof yet, don't just say anything!'' Gavin shouted back in annoyance.

"Vin, I know he's your uncle, your father's little brother... But that's not how you defend him," said Marta, joining in the conversation, he was Minan's younger brother. ''Many have seen your uncle's behavior... Sometimes in Tanjung Priok, sometimes in Senen, sometimes in Bantar Gebang...''

''That's right. Gavin, you hear me...'' said Tono in response, ''We have good intentions for you and for your little brothers and sisters who are in the hospital. Don't trust Ardan too much!"

''It's no longer only one or two people... Many eyes have seen your uncle's behavior. He always gathers with people who are quite annoying. What else do you need proof?" asked Rustam, joining in confirming the statement of Tono and the others.

"Still, it's all unclear..." said Gavin, still firmly defending his uncle.

''Gavin, you have to remember, there are two babies you have to take care of! "I'm afraid, then... Your father's property will be criticized by Ardan," said Rustam, again confirming his opinion.

''Cang, don't think badly like that! Uncle Ardan isn't like that," cried Gavin, still not wanting to lose, he was still trying to defend his uncle even though he was the only one among all of them who was skeptical of Ardan.

''Gavin... You're still a kid,'' said Grandpa Marwan, he was the oldest among all those gathered there. ''You have to listen to what your parents are saying, we all mean well. Don't just keep trying to refute everything we say! You have to listen to all of us! Then you think carefully about what we're saying. It is not all for other people, but for you, for your younger siblings too..."

Grandpa Marwan spoke with a firm expression, emphasizing his authority. He is the oldest brother of Gavin's grandfather.

"It's true, Gavin... it's not easy to take care of two twins... just one, it's already stressful, here are two..." said Grandma Sundari, Grandpa Marwan's wife.

"That's true, Vin. Your little boy won't be able to... I don't have small children anymore. So your little siblings, I will take care of them. But, you know... my husband's salary is not much. Give me one or two doors, from your father's rented house, to buy diapers and milk...'' said Sarna's grandmother. She is one of the distant relatives who is still in the same family as Ardan's grandfather.

''You won't have a problem taking care of both of them, leave it alone, I'll take care of one. The important thing is there is a share of milk and diapers. I need income like Uwak did...'' said Demi, one of Ardan's cousins, Rustam's daughter.

''Vin, if not, let me take care of it. "I'm still young... I still have full energy," said Carnih, Demi's younger cousin. She was still young, still in her early twenties.