Antara Darah dan Hati: Dream Reality English Translation

Chapter 5 Part 6 "Recession"

POV Ilhan

I came out of the courtroom together with Chandra to a quiet parking area asking to meet Sofia to ask her why she had to answer in detail about her current situation. A few minutes later, Sofia came to see us.

"Mevrouw, why did mevrouw gave detailed answer regarding mevrouw's feelings towards Karim?"

"I..."

"Mevrouw Sofia, mevrouw doesn't need to be afraid of mevrouw's or Karim's fate. If he is free, he will be safe and mevrouw can return to him, isn't that what mevrouw wants?"

"Can you guarantee that sinjo Karim will be safe?"

"What do you mean?"

"If sinjo Karim is free, I get a threat that he will be killed."

"Who said that?"

"Heer Vinno."

"Why are you sure that heer Vinno will kill him?"

"You two don't understand, his family in VSI is a Neo NSB family that controls the government behind the scenes. They can do anything to him. I just want him to survive. At least, if he is imprisoned I can ask for koninklijk besluit so that he can be placed behind cells with a better level of security so that he will be safe from any harm."

"And when Karim got out of prison, does mevrouw sure that his life would return to normal? Because an ex-convict reputation will be tainted for life and he would never be able to return his good name again. Moreover, doesn't mevrouw loves him with all of your feelings? If he is out of prison and he has a reputation as a former convict, are you sure that your family will allow you to see him again?" she was stunned to hear that, her eyes began to sparkled with signs that she was confused.

"Mevrouw, do you know? For Karim it would be better for him to die rather than be imprisoned for a crime that he did not commit. Mevrouw also saw when I raised objections on the basis of the evidence given by the witnesses that were less strong, the judges refused to accept my objections. Many of my objections were rejected because I think this trial has been set up from the start."

"But I don't want him to die, I want him to be on the surface of the earth, I know the truth."

"So if mevrouw knows he is not guilty, why mevrouw said that he is better to be in prison with other criminals? Don't you think it is a bit selfish? Mevrouw says it could save his life but if he became a prisoner, it will actually endanger his life because what if the koninklijk besluit already signed but he doesn't move to other prison and instead the people in the prison will try to kill him?" she turned her head down. Chandra knelt and held mevrouw's shoulders, staring at her who is being engulfed in confusion.

"Mevrouw, you are the one who called us to save Karim from being imprisoned for a crime he did not commit right? If he was declared guilty and imprisoned, wouldn't all the struggles you have carried out will be in vain?" she asked.

"Mevrouw, do you remember the student union's protest slogan? Vrijheid of dood? That's what Karim wants. He would rather die than be free as an ex-convict. Mevrouw, do you know? When mr. Ilhan visited his cell and told him about the offer from the prosecutor about the offering what is his answer? He raised his middle finger in front of mr. Ilhan's face." said Chandra to mevrouw with a smile.

"And do you know mevrouw? When he was in the cell, he felt that the case also involved your destiny, the fate of his brother Muhamed and the fate of the entire VSI. He was sure that he would be free and declared innocent, the problem is, are you sure that he could be declared innocent?" she nodded.

"Mevrouw, please answer, if you were a queen or a leader, who do you want to be? Do you want to be a queen who is easily controlled like Queen Victoria, or do you want to be like Margaret Thatcher who is given the nickname Iron Maiden? Are you a leader who easily gives up under threat when fighting your enemies or you raise your head and reject the threats firmly and continue to show your enemies that you are always ready to accept their challenges? Please think carefully your majesty." she raised her head, I saw her gaze turned sharp. She took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Thank you, mr. Ilhan, mrs. Chandra. If Vrijheid of dood is what sinjo Karim wants, then I will fight. Yes, I remember I told my friend, brother llya that I would fight even though my life was at stake. Basically I don't care about what will happen to me, but it seems like my love for sinjo Karim makes me feel like I have to save him for his own good until I forget that he believes his God will save him. I am selfish because I want to have him until I forget about his wishes."

"So, how it will be mevrouw?"

"When the last witness gave his or her testimony, call me again to testify and if that was not enough, call sinjo Karim to give his defense and tell him to ask the judge to postpone the hearing so that you can find additional evidence. If that is still not enough tell him before he is taken back to the cell again he has to shout at me and ask me to make a petition for making the hearing system in this trial like the ones in the United States so that thoseb damn judges do not have the authority to declare either he is guilty or not." we both smiled by her answer.

"Thank you mevrouw for your cooperation. Then we will return to the courtroom." I said to her then turned away, walked back to the courtroom.