Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 30

“Pa, looks like it's the sound of Ibram's car. That's the sign Reyhan and Nadhira have arrived.” Enthusiastic Mama told her husband.

“Just look first, Ma.”

Mom moved from the couch to the window. His hand gently flicked a little curtain so that he could peek at the Owner of the car. His eyes sparkled when he saw the car that had been parked neatly in the courtyard of his luxury home.

“Tuh ‘kan, Pa. Mama also said what.”

“Why the hell, Ma ?”

“That's you, Pa. They've come. Let's welcome them.”

Papa enthusiastically followed his wife's invitation. Together with his wife, he stepped foot to the main door to welcome the eldest child and his daughter-in-law.

***

“Sayang.” Reyhan tries to wake Nadhira who seems to be sleeping very fast all the way from the Hospital to the house.

“Dek, wake. We have arrived.”

Nadhira squirmed his body. Apply the eyes several times to adjust the light the retina receives.

“We're here, Deck. Come down.”

Reyhan came out first. The car then opened the passenger door for Nadhira.

“Be careful, Dek.” Reyhan said as he helped Nadhira out by holding her shoulder.

“Do not go anywhere. Come in brother. Someone wants you to talk to.” Obviously Reyhan passed through the car window on Farhan.

“Come, Honey!”

Nadhira's tiny hands were held so tightly. Lips behind the mask cover, curving to form one knot smile. Indicates how happy he is to be a companion to a girl he always calls his name in every verse do’a that he always promises.

Reyhan's smile grew even more when his eyes caught his parents waiting for his return with Nadhira on the doorstep.

No exception Nadhira. Her eyes seemed to narrow as a sweet smile adorned her tiny lips. Along with that, the sense of haru ambushed the heart of Nadhira who saw the two mertunya so enthusiastic in welcoming his arrival.

“Assalamu’alaikum, Ma, Pa.”

“Wa’alaikumussalam, Nadhira.” Mama and Papa answered at the same time.

Nadhira kissed her in-laws hand in turn. Not to forget, he got a short kiss on the cheek of the Mother-in-law.

“How are you doing, Son ?” asked Papa with a worried look on the girl who is now his daughter-in-law.

“Aalhamdulillah's. Good. As Papa sees now.” Nadhira replied without forgetting the sweet smile she had.

Without the couple realizing it. A pair of eyes from behind the windshield of the car they were riding in were focusing on their interaction with the twinkle of happiness that each of them was emitting. The owner of the pair of eyes smiled discordantly watching the scene that he very rarely felt it.

“If only there was me. Can the look of the face I see be that happy, Pa ?” Sluggishly.

As soon as possible he brushed aside what had just crossed his brain. Then, he returned smiling. However, with a smile that is hard to decipher. In fact, the smile was accompanied by a hand that clutched tightly around the steering wheel of his car.

“Stop to dream, Farhan. Because it can't be real. And of course it will only hurt yourself.”

Again Ibram spoke to himself in such a soft tone. To make anyone who hears it unable not to contribute a drop of two tears.

“Already, Farhan. Your happiness is you who created.” Such are the sentences that never tired Farhan said to encourage himself.

Farhan got out of his car. If it wasn't for Reyhan's words asking him not to leave. Maybe, after Reyhan and Nadhira got out of the car. It will be as fast as lightning to drive away from the house.

Farhan's footsteps continued to swing until the door was still crowded with parents, brothers and sisters-in-law.

“Assalamu’alaikum,” Say it without turning. Then just walk away.

“Wa'alaikumussalam,” Response greetings heard simultaneously though in a half-snouted voice.

“Sister wants to talk to you, Farhan!” Reyhan said with a slight raise of his voice. Because, Reyhan's distance is getting away from his standing position.

Reyhan's steps stopped. Without intending to just look back he replied,”Iya, Brother. Reyhan wait in the room.”

His feet stepped back to bring the body and mind that desperately needed rest to the most comfortable place in the house. Manalagi the most comfortable place Farhan besides in his room.

Farhan's departure was accompanied by gazes that were difficult to decipher from the four pairs of eyes that were still both pecking at the doorstep. Moreover, a Nadhira who incidentally as a new resident in the family surnamed Papa.

“Log in first, yuk!”

Mama broke the silence that was created.

A couple of different generations walked hand in hand into their palace. Taking a sitting position in a room that is often used to gather, family room.

“How is the story you can enter Hospital, Nadhira ?” Tanya Papa started the conversation. In fact, he already knew the cause of Nadhira entering the Hospital right on his first night as a wife. It's just that Papa wants to make his son-in-law feel awkward even though he's just a new member of his extended family.

“Nadhira only allergies, Pa.” Nadhira replied innocently.

“Allergies ?” Said Papa and Mama along with the look of the face did not understand.

“Iya. Nadhira allergy orange, Ma, Pa. Last night at dinner, Nadhira was given orange juice with Reyhan.” Said coyly.

“Hah!” Papa's eyes were round in disbelief.

“You yes, Brother. Just a day has made the wife enter the Hospital.” Omel Mom.

“Loh, Reyhan ‘kan don't know, Ma.” Reyhan defended himself.

“Bener, Mom. Reyhan did not know that Nadhira was allergic to oranges. Salah Nadhira also did not say and just drink the juice.” Nadhira tries to help Reyhan defend himself.

“Listen Mama, Brother. Events like this should not be repeated again, yes. So last night's events were a lesson. Next time if you want to eat, ask first.” Advice Mom.

“Iya, Mother. Next time Reyhan will be more careful again.”

“Oh.. Sure do. Because you are a newlywed couple who are still learning to know each other, understand each other and understand each other.” Connect Papa.

“Sister must also remember carefully. My sister already has a wife. So, from now on, my sister has more responsibility. Don't be so crazy about work. You should be able to divide your time between work and family well. And most importantly, health must be maintained, brother. Do not let the pain recur again. Mama does not want.” Mama said with a soft word at the end of her sentence.

Mama's long words were able to grumble the look of not understanding Nadhira was thrown at the man sitting next to her.

Reyhan clasped Nadhira's hand tightly. Then smile behind the mask that still covers his mouth and nose.

Reyhan brought his face closer and whispered in Nadhira's ear, ”So will explain later in the room. Just enjoy this togetherness with Papa and Mama, Darling.”

“Hei, Reyhan Akbar Oktara! Can you hold on for a moment to have a good night's fun ? Think of the feelings of this old bride a little. Don't get carried away with your actions, son.”

Papa's joke sentence was able to jolt Reyhan from his position so close to the face of the Wife.

Nadhira smiled shyly. Even his cheeks could not afford not to meet red.

“What the hell, Papa ? Reyhan just whispered Nadhira something.”

“Sure dong, Ma.”

“Mama is also following along. Newly married people have discussed grandchildren anyway.”

“Loh, from now on you should have plans for the future. Make Mama a grandson who many anyway.”

Uhuk. Uhuk.

Nadhira choked on hearing her mother-in-law's words. In fact, Nadhira has not thought at all in the future what will be like with Reyhan.

“You're okay ?” Reyhan asked while stroking Nadhira's back.

“It's okay.”

“Ma, make drink dong.” Papa.

“Oh yes. My mother forgot. Finished too happy arrival daughter-in-law.”

Nadhira. His heart immediately warmed to hear Mama's words.

My mother moved from her seat to the kitchen.

“Nadhira help yes, Ma.” Nadhira offered himself.

“Not done, darling. You just sit there quietly. Let Mama alone. Part ‘kan you just came home, have not healed completely anyway.”

“Nadhira is okay, Ma.” kekeh Nadhira.

“Mama's right Nadhira. You need to rest. Let Mama.” Connect Papa.

Inevitably Nadhira followed the words of her in-laws.

Mama came back with a tray in hand filled with drinks and some snacks.

“Come Nadhira drink first the juice, yes.” Mama handed Nadhira a glass of melon juice.

“Thanks, Ma.” Nadhira said softly accompanied by her sweet smile.

“Loh, Mom. Who is Nadhira doang ? Reyhan with Papa nih?” Reyhan Protest.

“Same brother Papa ‘kan can take it yourself.”

“But, Nadhira can actually take it yourself, Ma.” Nadhira said so innocently.

“Nothing. You ‘kan still hurts.”

“Nadhira really is okay, Ma.”

“Tuh ‘kan, Ma. Denger Nadhira says what.”

“Biarina. Mama herself ‘kan. Mama wants to pamper Mama's daughter-in-law as a welcome. It's Nadhira's first day living in this house.”

“Oh... So now Mama don't want to manjain Reyhan anymore ?”

“You yes, Brother. The wife of aja ngiri. Look at your son, Pa.” Upset Mama.

“Children Mama anyway. ‘Kan who likes to envy Mama. Meaning the sister of the child Mama dong.”

“Udah. Hitherto. Maybe Reyhan's a pick-up boy. Yuk, Honey! We're going to room.” Reyhan said pretending to sulk.

“Eh. Brother of Papa Mama's son, really. Yes ‘kan, Pa ?”

“Hahaha!”

Reyhan's thunderous laughter filled the living room. The act of pretending to sulk in fact taken seriously The Mama.

“huust! Laugh at the control dong, brother. Shy same wife.” Mama's Protest.

Reyhan smothered his own mouth with one hand. The other hand still holds Nadhira's hand.

“Iya. Excuse me. Excuse me. Reyhan forgot, Ma.”

Reyhan smiled shyly. Featuring a row of white teeth covered with masks. None of the rooms could see it.

This time he had completely forgotten that his current status was no longer single. But it is legal to be a husband. Husband of Nadhira Aleeana Prayudha.

“Astagfirullah!”

The sentence istigfar slid free from the mouths of Papa and Mama simultaneously.

“Oh... God, Brother. My wife forgot. In fact, from earlier Papa noticed your hands do not loosely hold the hands of Nadhira.” Papa raised his eyebrows.

Nadhira's reflexes pulled her hand from Reyhan's grasp. Then, smile shyly. His cheeks are now red like boiled crabs.

“Pa, don't be seduced, dong. Kasian tuh cheek his daughter-in-law met red that.” Mama glanced at Nadhira with her tail in her eyes while smiling seductively.

“Dek, to room only, yuk!” Bring Reyhan.

“Well, no patience like this, Ma.” Papa again launched the action.

Reyhan pulled Nadhira's hand which had slipped out of his grasp gently. Take her to the room without caring about her parents endless temptations.

“Don't listen, Dek. Papa and Mama. Like kidding.”

Nadhira simply smiled in response as she walked following in her husband's footsteps.

“Kak, make Mama with Papa a lot of grandchildren, yes.” Shouted Mama teasing.

“Quiet aja, Ma. Request aja Mama and Papa want how much.” Reply Reyhan not less tight.

Reyhan's words turned out to be able to invite laughter both parents.

“One more, Ma. Reyhan wants another sister. Don't forget about tonight, yeah. Hahaha.”

The laughter of the couple stopped instantly. Replacing with face-to-face.

Now it's Reyhan's turn to laugh because he managed to tease Papa and Mama.

“Kak, don't be the same old man. Not good.” Nadhira's Sweats.

“I'm joking around, Darling.”

Nadhira just shook his head.

___To Be Continued__