Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 34
“Say ?”
Reyhan drowned his face in the nape of Nadhira. Hugged his wife tightly from behind and inhaled deeply the invoking scent of Lavender entering her senses. The aroma that characterizes his little wife.
“Hmmm,” replied Nadhira without changing the position of his seat that turned his back to Reyhan.
“Thanks.”
Nadhira smiles. Although he knew that Reyhan would not be able to see his smile at all.
“Thank you for accepting this imperfect man as your priest, be your life companion.”
“Thank you for also choosing this spoiled girl as a teacher who will always hear every do’a that you say. Who will always stand one shaf behind brother while carrying out the five time obligation. And who will always be next to brother under any circumstances.”
“Say ?”
“Hmmm.”
“Say ?”
“Iya.”
“Say ?”
“Yes, my husband ? Why ?” nadhira replied then he gently elus Reyhan's hair.
Face lifted. And his embrace the more he moaned.
“Here see brother, darling,” Reyhan twist Nadhira's body to face him.
“Darling, know not ? The days I spent after being in a people's country, felt bland and lacking. Not from the material. However, like half my soul is still left in Indonesia. It was all because of a little girl who had a big influence on my life. You know who that little girl is?”
“Raina, ‘kan ?”
“Salah.”
“Then ?”
“She is a spoiled girl, a twilight girl and is now sitting in front of her sister. Nadhira Aleeana Prayudha, her name is.”
“Iya. Very lucky girl to be a life partner of Mr. Reyhan Akbar Oktara,” reply Nadhira after made blushed by her husband.
“I'm a lot luckier to be the husband of a girl as beautiful as you, Darling.” Reyhan mnyentil Nadhira's nose with his index finger.
Nadhira moved to sit next to Reyhan. Leaning her head on her husband's shoulders.
Very gently Reyhan stroked the top of Nadhira's head which was still covered with her instant hijab.
Nadhira closed his eyes. Enjoying every caress of hands other than the bundle.
“Kak ?”
“Iya, Darling. Why ?”
“Can I ask something to sister ?”
“Of course can.”
Nadhira raised his head. Staring fixed scars that are clearly visible in the corner of her husband's lips.
“Why can there be a wound like this?” he said and touched the wound on the corner of Reyhan's lips quietly.
Reyhan grimacing. However, not answering.
“Sister, didn't sister promise to tell me everything ?”
“Iya, Darling. I'll tell you everything without one left. But, before that. May I ask something ?”
“What ?”
“Let me call you “Aleea” again, yes ? Like we met first. Really am. I missed that call, Honey.”
Nadhira smiled sweetly. So sweet. The smile that always makes Reyhan opium.
“Bby. I've also missed that call a lot.”
“Alright, Aleeanaku.”
“Now tell me!” nadhira pretended to be angry.
“This wound..”.
All the series of stories that created the bruise so smoothly glided from Reyhan's lips without a single trace of lagging behind.
“So, that's the story. What else do you want to know about me ?”
Nadhira just shook his head.
“Yakin ?”
Nadhira nodded.
“Kak ?”
“Iya, Darling.”
“Who would you like to know about me ?”
“As time goes by. Sooner or later, I will know who and how my real wife is. So, I'm not going to force you to know first. And no matter how you are, you are the best God has entrusted to me. I love you, Nadhira Aleeana Prayudha."
Reyhan stroked his wife's shoulder.
"I love you too, Reyhan Akbar Oktaraku."
Reyhan hugged his wife tightly. Like reluctant to take off his embrace again.
“You want to help Mama cook under ?”
Nadhira. Not because I don't want to. He has no talent for cooking. Cooking is something that has never been done before.
Nadhira bowed lethargic. “I can't cook, Brother.”
“Jeez, Babe.” Reyhan pulled Nadhira's petite body and hugged her. “Tak why, Darling. I will learn to cook with my mom, yes. Don't be sad.”
Nadhira nodded slowly.
“You know not ? My mom is smart about cooking. The food always makes me miss home. Especially when I am abroad or traveling with Papa outside the area.”
“Tongue is just that. My mom is the best place to go home. When tired starts to attack. Mama is the right and comfortable home that I will visit.”
Nadhira listened carefully to the words that came out her husband's lips. The sentences he heard were like a fairy tale that Mother often read to him. Makes her calm and reluctant to miss it.
“But now I have another house to go home to. Relieving tiredness and finding tranquility.”
Nadhira quickly looked up at her husband's stern face.
“That place is you, Darling.”
Nadhira smiles. Her cheeks are red as a boiled crab.
“Kak ?” Nadhira looked at her husband.
“Iya, Darling.”
“I just compress it, yeah. Let's not get swollen.”
“No need. It's okay.”
“Created ?”
Reyhan nodded. He clasped Nadhira's hand and kissed her repeatedly.
“Kak ?”
Reyhan looked at the girl carefully.
“Are you good ?”
Next to his eyebrows raised. “Sure, Dear.”
“But, Raina says sister often gets sick. Really ?”
“That's ‘kan because I did a lot of work and less rest.”
“From now on, brother should open up with me, yes.”
“That's for sure, Aleeanaku.”
Nadhira.
“Help me to be a good priest, yes, dear.”
Nadhira smiles.
“We're down, yes. Meet Mama and Papa. Have lunch together. After that you take medicine and rest.”
Reyhan took Nadhira's hand. He led her down to the dining room. Meet both of his parents.
“Siang, Pa, Ma,” saya Reyhan.
“Sit, Son!” said Papa.
Nadhira seemed to enjoy lunch with her husband and in-laws. He felt foreign. Like he was among his family.
“Honey, eat a lot, yes,” Reyhan whispered.
Nadhira. He still felt a little nauseous due to the allergies he experienced.
“Why ? You should take medicine ‘kan, Darling.”
Nadhira still shakes. Then shut his mouth with both hands.
“Nadhira why ?” ask Mama to panic.
“Why, Dear ?”
Nadhira. Down and start sobbing.
Mama and Papa who saw his son-in-law quickly approached.
“Why, Son ?” ask Papa.
“Honey, look at me!” Reyhan holds his wife's chin. Staring at the eyes that still shed those tears.
“News, yes, Darling.”
“I... still. I can't eat,” he said stammered in between his stuffing.
“Jeez, Babe.” Reyhan hugged Nadhira's tiny body that was still shaking.
“But you have to eat. It's okay though a little.”
“Iya, Son. Eat first, yes,” Mama said attentively.
“Or eating in the room is okay. Yes ‘kan, Ma ?” said Papa.
“Iya. Later lunch will be delivered Bibi.”
"Lunch in the room, yeah, honey."
Reyhan led his wife to his feet. Embrace her and walk away from the dining room towards her room upstairs.
“Kak, you also do not forget to drink..”.
Mama's words came to a halt when she found Reyhan's sharp gaze.
“Alright,” pass.