My mother had a soft spot for the kind hearted, be it a friend or the people who'd do a great service for society. Today, she offered her neighbor Dara help to pick up her daughter Lani during her night out 'clubbing'
Guess who my mother sent to do the job.
By the end of the day however, I can't say no. The problem for me isn't really picking up Lani (unless whatever she's had to eat or drink affected her brain), but it's whoever I would have to run into at the club before I eventually find her.
Of course, there's zero reason to be hostile at complete strangers, but when was the last time a stranger did something to you, and you just let it be?
Like any other nightclub in general, the club I parked at had gleaming lights. Blue and pink shining the streets. Even from miles away you could hear the large bass boosting as loud as possible. Dara informed me beforehand that Lani was going out with her friends.
Looks like I know who to question if I ever find Lani fainted, or the worst case scenario, lost. I hope that isn't the case.
A large man wearing all black was standing in front of the entrance. He had his hands crossed, and in front of him, there was a line of guys and girls, all cooped up together for a night out together, though I doubt all of them just want to have a "good time".
"ID please." He said with a kind but firm tone. Granted. These days, appearances can be enough to fool anybody in terms of age, but not everybody's that naive. The bouncer looked at my identity card, before giving it back to me. "It's all clear. You can go in. Going solo tonight?"
"I don't plan to party like the rest of these kids." I tell him, before my eyes scanned the line next to him. "I'm just picking up somebody."
"Too old to have a good time?"
I gave a small laugh. "I don't think age matters when it comes to having fun. I'm all for that, but I'm not going to waste my money on drugs and drinks, you get me?"
"I get ya." He said. "Now if you'll excuse me I gotta handle these kids."
"I know you're doing your job, but try not to get stressed." I tell the bouncer as I go inside, ignoring the line that was clearly anxious to get inside.
Seems in most of these people have zero senses when it comes to hanging out with total strangers in as dark and bright as. The beat of the techno music on the speakers was loud enough for the inside of my body to feel it.
Lani was the girl in ponytail. Her clear skin and purple shirt was visible among the green and blue lights shining here. She was sitting on a couch with a couple of people next to her, her friends I assume. Lani herself didn't seem to be full of spirit.
Why am I not surprised? It's almost ten, and she's had a full week of managing classes from college.
"Hello there." a boy next to Lani says to me. He didn't have eye bags under his eyes, and his voice was polite. He seemed to be sober one among Lani's friends. "Are you Lani's sister?"
"No, I'm her neighbor." I said. "Her mother wanted me to pick her up."
"Thank goodness." He replied in relief. I guess he wasn't one of "those" people. "I wanted to take her home myself, but I don't really know where she lives."
"You've done enough." I tell him. "I don't know your name, but if you don't wanna be here, then you can go."
"I would, but the others told me I'd be missing out."
"To hell with them." I reply back at him, as I pick up Lani by her arm. "Do what you is best."
"Oh it's you." She says in a tired voice. I had her arm over my shoulder, then I decided to put her on my back. The workouts at the gym really paid off, seeing how light she was.
The music got louder, and it was deafening,
"Go out the back door." The boy said. "It's too full out front."
I did as he advised. Hopefully Lani's 'friends' won't follow me out here and question why I'm bringing their friend home. Arriving at the parking lot, I put Lani down in order to open the back door of my car.
"Excuse me." said the voice of a girl. I sighed and look to turn at a girl who's at Lani's age. This girl was wearing earrings and tight pants. "A friend of mine told me that you were taking Lani home?"
"Get in the car Lani." I whisper to her as she does as she's told. She didn't seem to question me, seeing how she just laid herself in the back seat. I turn to approach the girl.
"What's your name?"
"Nia"
"Something funny happened in there Nia?"
"What do you mean? This isn't a-" She stopped. "Oh I get it now. Look, miss. Lani had a few drinks, she danced-"
"Before or after she had the drinks?"
"Look I get it if you're her family friend or something, but lighten up lady. We all need a way to kick back and relax."
"Watching TV or being on the phone ain't enough?"
"We're going outside."
"To waste money on pointless drinks and clubbing."
Nia seems like one of those people who can't suck it up and move on. I have zero intention of forbidding Lani to be with anybody, I'm just doing her mother a favor. Lani should be lucky that she still has her mother now. Nia as well probably. All those people in that club should be grateful that they have a family member that's still around and caring for their wellbeing.
My mother, she's old but I'm more than happy that she's all healthy and well.
"I'm Lani's friend for a reason. I wouldn't let anything happen to her.
"Then why didn't you call her mother? Cause she told me she that Lani was supposed to be back at home two hours ago."
Silence from Nia. I think I heard enough.
***
Dara was more than grateful by the time I returned Lani to her home that night, although the mother didn't want to make an argument out of it.
The next day, she invited me for tea. We talked about her and her rising business with Ulfira Sastina. The two were in the arts and crafts business, and although they were working separately, they were working with the exact same brand.
"Recently, Ulfi had informed me that she had to settle some affairs. Apparently her boyfriend's son assaulted her ex-lover in a horrendous manner. The son insisted that he was doing it in the name of defending his father."
"Talk about protecting your family. He got imprisoned?"
"Not yet, but it is possible. The ex-lover, although was stalking Ulfira and her new lover, even attacking the new lover at some point, didn't deserve this. I feel sorry for the ex even."
"Isn't this person a former lover and stalker of Ulfira?"
"Yes but imagine what the son did to him. He almost got his neck broken. He could have died."
I put my cup of tea down, and stared at it on the table.
"Something wrong Intan?"
It was at the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't say it.
The door opened, and Lani came in with her friends. Nia was there as well.
I didn't pay her any attention as Lani informed her mother that she and her friends were going to study together in her room.
By the time the door upstairs was heard closing, Dara and I resumed our conversation.
"Now where were we?"
"That was the one."
"Sorry?"
"The one with the white shirt. That was the girl I saw at the club last night. That 'kid' who'd rather spend her time drinking and dancing rather than letting her friend's mother know what's up."
"Oh the club thing. It's okay Intan. I'm over it." As she said that, she noticed my gaze. "Okay maybe I am a little bit upset that her friends did not inform me about anything else, and I was worried, but I can't angry at that forever."
"I don't mean to lecture you but this is your daughter." I tell her. "You look out for her, just like how my mother looked out for me."
Dara put down her cup of tea on the table. "You seem intense. Calm down."
"I'm sorry it's just…" I stammered. "I love my parents."
"I believe that."
"I work 8 hours a day at the coffee shop and then take care of them."
"That's admirable."
"And I'd do anything for them. I didn't regret it."
"Pardon?" She asked.
That last part I said. It came out of my mouth.
Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to share.
"About a few days ago. I accompanied my mother went to shop at a small minimart just behind our house. She's full of energy nowadays but considering her age I still gotta accompany her."
"Go on."
"I'll go straight to the point. Some little shit crashed into us and took my mother's purse. My mother fell on the floor. Nothing serious but I was burning. By the time I helped my mother up and I caught up to the teen that stole the bag. A bystander caught him by, and a police officer soon arrived. Honestly if I had it my way I'd beat him senseless." I say. "I wish I was exaggerating but I'm not. I would have done it. I would have beaten his face until it bleeds. I don't care if get arrested in the process, and I certainly don't care if he's still a kid. To hell with that, is a person special just because they're younger? No! He didn't care about stealing my mother's purse, so why should I care about his well-being? He's somebody son? Well my mother is my mother! You don't mess with anyone's family. I'm not trying to be one of those vigilantes you see from Western movies, the ones protecting their family, but hey if the audience is fine with it, then why can't we do whatever we please to protect the family that's given us a home for us to live in and food to fill our stomachs?"
I stopped for a bit before taking a breath. I still remember that day up until now. I'm not that close with Lani but I'm pretty sure Dara doesn't want anything to happen to her precious daughter.
"That girl at the club." Dara asked. "What was her name?"
"Nia." I said with gritted teeth.
"If something did happen to my daughter at that time, would you do like what you just described?"
"Perhaps."
"So that's a yes then?"
"A college student is not really a kid anymore. They're evolving into adults. You and I are lucky that Nia probably didn't persuade Lani to flirt with people in a drunken state, or go off to some random person's place, but hey, anything can happen. Nia could have done it, she might had it in mind."
"Intan do you have something against young people?"
"With all due respect let's not bring the age difference here Ibu Dara. I only graduated two years ago. I'm not that old but I'm also not somebody whose lended money by their parents every single time. I work it now. Until I see that all teenagers or young people doing things for society or at least even showing that they don't take it all for granted, even respecting their parents at all times then they're just a group of slackers who just want to live life the easy way. I think I went too long there so I'll just answer your question. Yes, I don't like them. I probably have more sympathy for that son who almost broke that Ulfira's ex lover's neck, and even Poultry Boy."
"Intan." Dara said as she stood up. "I think you need help."
I sighed in a sign of defeat. "Yeah, you're right."
"I will not judge you, but for now just leave everything about Lani to me, seeing how she's my responsibility."
"Of course."
"Do me a favor as well." Dara looked me in the eye. "Please don't ever say you have sympathy for that Son and Poultry Boy. What they did was wrong, so wrong that you'd ask yourself if they ever deserve any mercy. Look at Poultry Boy, the police are closing in on him. My point is, don't do stupid things, cause no matter how many excuses you wanna give, not everybody's gonna be on the same page as you.
A phone was ringing in the kitchen. "You may see yourself out Intan. I need to answer that."
I turned to the door. My heart racing from that story about what happened to my mother at that minimart. I heard footsteps from the staircase behind me. I turned to see Nia. She had a pair of jeans this time. I'm not sure if she wanted to go down to get some water or something, but she was standing quite the distance from me. I couldn't really tell if her face had anger, confusion, fear or all three.
Looking at her, I rubbed my finger across my neck, grinning before I walked out and close the door behind me.