Creative Novels (Nov novel Collection)
Half of the Love that Happens

“Masya Allah, once melodious voice adzan Mas Haidar.”

Kiran took a deep breath as she heard some mourners praising her ex-husband. He admitted Haidar did have a good voice. Whenever they prayed together at home, Kiran was moved and shed tears upon hearing the word of God being chanted.

Ah ... that was also the reason his father received the proposal Haidar. They were only close to three months and Haidar immediately took him to the pelaminan. Haidar gets cold when he meets Kiran's parents for the first time. Moreover, the intention of his arrival was to directly submit a proposal.

“Adzan isya’ just finished reverberating, it would be nice before continuing this conversation we fulfill the obligation first.” Kiran remembered once, Haidar who was already hot cold quickly nodded back then.

“Mari please, Nak Haidar.” Kiran smiled faintly considering Haidar's clueless face when her father invited her to be their prayer priest.

“I, Sir?”

“Yes, I'm coughing. Worried to disturb the apocalypse if the priest's reading pauses due to cough.”

Be that day when Haidar who was visiting for the first time immediately became their prayer priest. No need to chat, after hearing the recitation of prayers and Hajwid Haidar was correct, Ahmad immediately accepted the man's proposal. After that, they continued to play chess to get closer.

Yes, it was as easy as that Haidar was accepted into his family. The man can even be close to his parents even on the first day they meet. They are not people. For Ahmad, as long as Kiran can be a responsible husband for the world and the hereafter, that is already the greatest blessing for them as parents.

Suddenly, Kiran felt claustrophobic considering her father's answer when he asked her seven years ago, the day before the marriage contract was held. Ahmad was the hardest hit when he decided to sue Haidar for divorce. That man was the one who clasped his hand the most tightly so that he would not lose his grip.

“Aready?”

Kiran awakens from a daydream when Judge and a man she doesn't know jump into the pit. The woman sobbed as the coffin opened. The shroud that wrapped the Kingdom's body was immediately wet by the drizzle that was still reluctant to stop.

“Bismilbornrohmanirrohim, one, two, three, lift ...”

The clean white cloth that wrapped around Raya's body was directly exposed to the soil stain as her body moved. Kiran held her breath watching Haidar untie the head of Raya and facing her face kissing the ground towards the qibla. After the board was closed, slowly but surely the corpse of the Kingdom was lost buried in wet red soil.

“Assalamualaikum, Kingdom.”

“Waalaikumsalam, sign in Ran.”

Kiran staggered. The greatness of the past hit his mind again. Memories of their closeness once poured into his memory room.

“This, he said you want durian ice at the end of the alley.” Kiran placed a medium-sized clear plastic bowl on the table. He smiled seeing knitting tools and embroidery equipment was neatly arranged. It's been a month since she and Raya have been busy learning to embroider and knit.

The focus of learning strimin embroidery. He made embroidery motifs of natural panorama, the mountains below which lay rice fields with a river that divides in the middle. While Kiran learned to knit. He wanted to make warm clothes for Haidar from his own knitted products.

“Tomorrow I can't come here, Ray. There's a gravestone in the housing. Biases, activities of mothers.”

Raya chuckles at Kiran's face. Since the first meeting that night, Kiran and Raya became close. Kiran who has a carefree personality and easily takes people's heart can easily familiarize herself with Raya.

This is where he spends the day. At least three times a week Kiran visits Raya's house. The woman was happy to get a new activity. During this time he often felt bored and bored all day at home since leaving work a year ago.

"I'm glad you're here a lot, Ran. Since childhood, I rarely had close friends. There used to be one guy, but he moved out of town and we lost contact.”

Kiran knitted her brows. He stopped knitting and stared at Raya who was still busy continuing to embroider. “You rarely leave the house, Ray?”

Kiran smiled faintly. This was the first time Raya had spoken at length since their introduction. Normally, Raya would only laugh and occasionally respond if Kiran told a story. His carefree carrying can liven up the atmosphere between them.

“Mbak Kiran? Home now?”

Kiran gasped as someone poked her shoulder. The woman smiled when she found out that Desi had called. She nodded and turned to Ratna, her former mother-in-law. The woman did not let go of her hand at all from the time she left until the funeral was over.

“Bu, Kiran.”

“Pamit? Can Kiran accompany us here soon?” Ratna looked at Kiran with teary eyes.

Kiran breathed out slowly. It was hard for her to say no to her former mother-in-law. In the past, Ratna treated her very well while she was still a daughter-in-law. Ratna had even considered Kiran like her own son. So, it was only natural that when he met again he was reluctant to let Kiran go because the miss was still not treated.

“Please, just a minute ...”

Kiran gasped at Ratna's wet face. His ears suddenly ringed. That face, that gaze, even the sentence that Ratna spoke was exactly the same as what happened four years ago.

Kiran pressed against the chest. Breathing snorted. Shortness of forcing to burst to make it look like it is running out of air. Truly, that day was the worst day of his life.

“Please, just a minute ...”

Kiran who was about to step up finally sat back down as Ratna held herself back. Her mother-in-law clasped her hands tightly as if afraid of Kiran leaving just like that. Every now and then, Kiran could hear the sobbing from the woman who had given birth to her husband.

“Om Dawn who helps take care and pay off all Dad's debts in Bank, Dar.” Kiran clenched her hands as her father-in-law's voice came back. “You yourself know, so many months passed Father still has not found a new livelihood while loan installments continue to run. So, how ...”

“Why not talk to Haidar, Yah?” Haidar asked in frustration. The man ruffled his hair to make his usual neat hair fall apart.

“We know you guys are also spending a lot.” The judge said slowly. “Initial agreement Dad will repay to pay off the debt after getting a new livelihood. But it's not that easy. The age of a father who is no longer young becomes one of the most difficult factors.”

“Let Haidar that replaces installments then.”

“That's not the case, my son. They ask for all this with humility. We cannot refuse because we are already indebted ..”

“Why sacrifice Haidar, Dad? Did Father and Mother not think of Kiran's feelings?” Haidar clenched his hands. “Haidar disagrees! Haidar does not want to marry Raya!”

“Ya already then, we first yes, Ms Kiran. Come, Mrs Ratna.” Desi's sound of goodbyes retracted Kiran's consciousness.

“Nak ...” Ratna took Kiran's hand clenched in the chest. “Pardon us, forgive Mom and Dad ..”

Kiran. He turned his gaze towards the red earth mound below which was buried by the corpse of Raya. The friend he loved very much like his own family, as well as the bitter honey that was present just like that, watering the sweetness of his household with Haidar.

Sow flowers filled the Pusara Raya. The smell of roses, delicious night and ylang mixed into one to give rise to a very special sweet fragrance. Kiran turned her gaze, there, among the still unceasing drizzle, stood glued to the figure of the man whose name was still imprinted on the heart. Haidar looked at him with a look he could hardly understand.

Ah ... why is life this painful? Why does the universe still want to keep playing with them?..

#Tamat🙏