Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 16

Nadhira walked back and forth in the room. He felt extremely uneasy as the shadows of Reyhan's state were still dancing in his brain.

Nadhira plays with the phone in his hand. I hope Reyhan will contact her soon.

“Or I'll contact Reyhan first. But, I'm afraid of interrupting. He said he was going back to the office.” Nadhira spoke to himself.

Nadhira is back on his phone. Until he heard the sound of knocking on the door and stopped his completely useless activities.

“Delay ?”

“Why, Deck ? How does it look so nervous ? Is there a problem ?” Mommy approached Nadhira who was still standing near her dresser.

“Nothing, Bun.” Nadhira gave her sweet smile to Mommy.

“Do not lie to Mother, Deck. Mother knows whether she must have thought of something. But, Mommy will not force you to make a story. Tell me if it's ready. Mommy will always be there to listen to all the complaints of the children Mother.”

Mother stroked the top of Nadhira's head which was still wrapped in a long pashmina. Holding Nadhira's hand and leading her to sit on the bed in Nadhira's room. Mother took Nadhira's head into her arms and kissed her slowly.

“Bun.” Nadhira looked up at her Mother's shady face with a smile that always adorned her lips.

“Iya, Darling ?” Mother returned Nadhira's gaze that looked so sad.

“Think of Reyhan's sister, Mother. Sister is afraid of her why-why.” Nadhira began to tear up. Tears began to pool in his eyes.

“What's with Reyhan, Dik ?”

“So Reyhan nganterin sister came home. Didawarin stopped by first he said he wanted to go back to the office. But, just want to go home sister see him like that pain, Mother. His face was also pale. When asked why, the answer is okay. Keep going right behind him. But, why are you so worried, Bun ? Afraid Reyhan's brother is really sick.” Nadhira told me so innocently. Like a Kindergarten child who tells his activities at school to his parents.

“Have sister contacted yet Reyhan ?”

“Not yet, Mother. Frightened sister bothering her again work.”

“Kalo suggestion Bunda is mending sister just aja first. Let's not be agitated anymore, right?”

“Iya later sister try deh, Bun.” Nadhira smiled a little.

“Well, that's dong. There's no harm in making sure something gets stuck in the mind, honey. Let us not suudzon. Understand ?”

“Iya, Mother.” Nadhira kisses both of Mother's cheeks in turn. Mother can only smile at the behavior of her youngest child who still looks childish. He still often dabbles with her.

“Ya. Brother clean up first, yeah. Mommy wants to cook for dinner. Soon I will be home.”

“Iya, Mother.”

“Do not forget to contact the future husband.” Mother blinked one eye trying to tease Nadhira.

“Ihh Mother what the hell is ?” Nadhira blushed in embarrassment.

Mother walked out leaving Nadhira alone in the room.

Nadhira lay down his body on a king-size bed with a light blue sheet. He stretched his body and looked at the ceiling of the room.

Nadhira took a rectangular flat object that was placed carelessly in his bed. Scroll and search for a contact to contact. As per Mother's suggestion, Nadhira contacted Reyhan.

Tut's...Tut's...

___

In hospital.

Reyhan's phone suddenly sounded a sign of an incoming call. He glanced at the flat object placed on the nightstand. Then pick up and see the call from whom.

Reyhan's eyes were perfectly rounded. Reyhan looked at Bara who was sitting in the chair beside the gurney where Reyhan laid his body which is now in a drop condition.

“Why, lo ?” I stared at my friend confused.

Without saying a word Reyhan thrust his phone towards Bara.

“What's the matter, Han ?” Bara took Reyhan's phone still with a puzzled expression.

Bara widened his eyes twice after seeing the name on the screen Reyhan's cellphone which is now in his grasp. ALEEAN.

“How to, Bar ?” Reyhan was starting to panic.

“Nih lo lift aja. Tell me where or where else there is work.” Bara again thrust the phone that still reads his grip on the owner.

“Or don't need me lift times, yeah. I just know I went back to the office.”

“My brother was already worried about you. Don't add to the worry just because you didn't answer the phone.”

Reyhan sighed softly then took over his phone and answered Nadhira's call hesitantly.

“Hallo, Al!”

“Assalamu’alaikum, Brother!” Nadhira said.

“Eh.iiya. Wa’alaikumussalam!”

“Ii.i.iya, Deck. Brother is fine.”

“Sorry, Al. I didn't mean to lie to you like this. I just don't want to make you worry.” Reyhan said in his heart.

“Thank God. Is sister still in the office ?”

“Mmm. Uh no no. It's out there again. Same. Yes same Bara.” Reyhan looked at Bara who couldn't bear to hold back a laugh at his laughter.

“Oh. Yes, Brother. I hung up, yeah. Assalamu’alaikum.”

“Wa’alaikumussalam.”

“Hahaha.” Instantly Bara's laughter broke out and airs inside the white room.

Reyhan looked towards Bara who was laughing loosely after Nadhira's call was cut off.

“Why the hell ? Laughter is unclear.”

“Funny lo. By the way Nadhira aja kayak again talking to the lecturer who is super duper killer. Hahaha.”

“Gue can't bear to lie to him. But to be honest, I can't. I don't want him to worry. Although later also in the end he will know what my condition is.” Reyhan looked down with his face bent.

“Lah, Han. Don't think too much. Focus is the same with your health. Don't let the day H lo still drop kayak gini.” Bara gave a little encouragement to Reyhan who will soon become his sister-in-law.

“Iya, Bar. Thanks for the jengukin.”

___

Nadhira put her phone in the corner after calling Reyhan. Then go to the bathroom to clean his body that began to feel sticky traces of sweat.

It only took 15 minutes for Nadhira to be in the bathroom. He came out with his wet hair.

Nadhira approached the large closet where he used to store his clothes. Nadhira picked up a pink robe and an instant gray headscarf and put it on.

After feeling neat, Nadhira came out of her room and followed Mother who was cooking in the kitchen.

“Mother, again cook what ?” Nadhira approaches the bundle.

“Waahh.. Mother's child is beautiful now.”

“Oh so it was not that pretty sister?” Nadhira deliberately put on a pouting face because he knew his mother was just joking.

“Cantik dong from the first time. But now there's more. I took a shower.”

Nadhira laughed at the joking of his mother.

“Adik can help what, Mommy ?”

“So, sister wants to help Mother cook this story ?”

“Iya, Bun. All ajarin sister cook, yes.” Nadhira just grinnedly displaying a neat row of his teeth.

“Ya already help Mother peel red onion with garlic yes, Dik.” Mother handed a plate of garlic and onion to Nadhira.

“Siiiaap, Mother.” Nadhira raised his hand like a man of respect.

Nadhira took a plate containing garlic and onions along with a knife to be used for peeling.

One by one the onion cloves were peeled by Nadhira. Until I don't know on how many cloves Nadhira felt the pain in his eyes. Nadhira started rubbing his eyes slowly. And in the end Nadhira's tears came out drop by drop.

“Delay ?” Nadhira whines to her mother like a child who wants ice cream.

“Yes Allah, sister why, Darling ?”

Mommy looks panicked and stops frying fish after seeing a crying Nadhira. Mother turned off the stove and approached Nadhira.

“Adik luka ? Where ?” Mother turned back Nadhira's hand but found no wound there.

“Mother, sister's eyes sore.”

Mother silently looked at Nadhira. And...

“Hahaha.” Mother could not hold back her laughter.

“Sister sister, Mommy thinks why that is so. Here let Mother continue. Brother wash his hands there keep washing his face.”

Nadhira just nodded and followed the word of his mother.

___TBC__

Don't forget to leave a trace.

Check out the criticism and suggestions so that Author can improve for the future.

Thanks, Dear 😍