Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 40
her room. He gets bored by himself after being left to the office by Reyhan.
He looked at his cell phone lying on the bedside nightstand.
“I'm bored. I better call Mommy just to accompany me,” he said talking to himself.
Nadhira scrolled her phone screen looking for Mother's name and contacted her. However, he did not get an answer from across. He did it repeatedly. And get the same result. Niente.
“Huh!” He threw out his rough breath.
The door to his room opened. Walk down the stairs to the living room and find Mama is busy doing whatever alone.
“Ma ?” call gently.
“Eh... Nadhira,” said Mama without looking.
“What's up, Ma ?” tanyanya mince words and sit beside Mama without hesitation. He was getting used to his mother-in-law. Just like Mother.
“Mama is embroidering.”
“Raina where, Ma ?” He threw a glance at all corners of the room. Looking for the whereabouts of her sister-in-law.
“Again out Papa. Why, Son ?”
“O. Nadhira bored in room alone.”
“You want to take a walk out too?”
“No, Ma. Nadhira ‘kan also not long ago home.”
“Then ?” Mama's eyebrows are raised next door.
“Mmm... Nadhira wants to learn to cook with Mama. Can't, not ?” she says shyly.
“Created ?” ask Mama back with a sumringah.
Nadhira nodded steadily.
“Good. Let's go to the kitchen. We cook for dinner later.”
Mama took off the cloth and needle she used to embroider carelessly on the living room table. Walk towards the kitchen followed by Nadhira in the back.
“What will we cook, Ma ?”
“Because, you're still learning. We'll cook some simple dishes first, yeah, kid. We cook Reyhan's favorite food.”
“Good, Ma,” her reply was cheerful.
Nadhira began to struggle with tools and kitchen materials that some of which he did not even know his name. With great effort and effort he completed every instruction given by his mother-in-law. Although he failed several times. However, it did not seem to make him give up at all.
“Ma, it turns out that cooking is not easy, yes.”
“That's because you're not used to it yet, dear.”
“True, Ma ?”
“Iya, Son. Mama was married at the beginning just like you. Can't cook.”
“But, Nadhira likes this job, Ma.”
“Indeed it should be, son. To do it well and without burden. You must first love the job.”
Nadhira just heard Mama's words.
“Mama always teaches that to Mama's children. More Reyhan. Because, he is Papa's successor to lead the company.”
He just nodded in response to the words spoken by his father-in-law.
“But, Reyhan is too appreciative of his work. Until he forgets that his body and brain need rest. He often fell ill from exhaustion. And Mama always scolded her.”
Mama chuckles.
“However, no matter how angry Mama is. He always has a way to make Mama's anger subside.”
“Once he acts like a child. After the office, he will tell his every activity to Mama. Including telling stories about you,” continued Mama.
Nadhira looked at Mama.
“Ma, I want to tell you a little about my little girl. Aleeanaku,” said Mama mimicked Reyhan.
Nadhira laughs. She enjoyed the kitchen with her in-laws. Cooking something despite more of your intervention.
“Reyhan often told his Aleeananya to Mama. And Mama always finds a different smile than usual when she tells me about it.”
“True, Ma ?” ask Nadhira.
“Iya, Nadhira. She told me proudly about Aleeana's beauty. And it turns out to be true, Reyhan's Aleeana is indeed beautiful. Just like its name, Nadhira Aleeana Prayudha.”
Nadhira. Her cheeks were hot hearing Mama's praise.
“Ma, don't praise me excessively like that.”
“That's true, Darling.”
Nadhira hugged Mama. Now he no longer just feels blushed. She was a little overwhelmed by my mom's compliments.
“Jari Nadhira being a good wife for Kak Reyhan, yes, Ma.”
Mama returned Nadhira's embrace. “Iya, Son. You two are still learning. Because you are a young couple. Getting married at an age like yours is not easy, son. You need mental readiness.”
He took off his embrace on Mama's body. “Can Nadhira be a good wife, Ma ?” tanyanya doubt.
“Of course you can, darling. Any woman can be a good wife. As long as he wants to try.”
“Iya, Mother. Nadhira will do as much as Nadhira can. Keep teaching Nadhira, yes, Ma. if Nadhira is wrong, never hesitate to reprimand Nadhira. So that Nadhira does not make the same mistake later on.”
“Yes Allah, Mama's daughter-in-law. Of course Mama will help you, son. Mom knows exactly how it feels. Because, Mama also married Papa at a young age. Even younger than you.”
Nadhira looked at Mama with a hard-to-read experiment before she spoke up again. “True, Ma ?”
Mama nodded. “Mama married at eighteen years old. Married when Mama can not do anything, still want to play and enjoy the youth.”
Mom smiled before continuing. “In fact, Mama absolutely does not love Papa.”
“Then ? How can you marry Papa ?”
“Of course because of matchmaking. Because, our parents are friends who are already like family.”
“Mama did not do any rejections at all?” nadhira asked increasingly.
“Obviously Mama refused. Because, Mama is not ready to get married. And Mama has no idea who she's getting married to. Mama has never met Papa stuff though.”
Mama just smiled remembering her story with Papa.
“Continue, Ma ?” nadhira asked again with a burning spirit.
“Lho, Mama's daughter-in-law, what is this spirit?”
“Ma, Nadhira curious,” said plain.
“Mama's parents always forced. Very forced to accept the matchmaking and married Papa.”
“Although Mama doesn't love Papa ?”
“Iya. But Allah is the One who turns the hearts of men upside down, Son.”
“Means Mama ?”
“After Papa grasped the hands of Mama's parents and said ijab qabul smoothly. I don't know where that feeling came from. Mom fell in love with Papa. And the more days, Mama is falling in love. Moreover Papa always treats Mama with special.”
“Wah... Romantic papa, yes, Ma.”
“Iya, Darling. Until now Papa has always been romantic.”
“May Reyhan's brother be the same as Papa, yes, Ma.”
“Mama sure Reyhan will exceed Papa.”
Nadhira smiles. “Ma, when will we finish cooking if we tell a continuous story like this ?”
“Oh yes. Mama even forgot that we were cooking.”
The two women of different generations laughed together. Resume cooking activities.
Both of them were busy playing with cooking tools in the kitchen.
“Aalhamdulillah's. Finally, done too,” Mama said after finishing her cooking.
Nadhira breathed a sigh of relief.
“Ma, Nadhira fear.”
“Fear why ?”
“Fear of cooking Nadhira is not tasty and Papa with the others do not eat it.”
“Tak why, Darling. Mama is sure, Papa and the others must have loved your first meal. Trust me Mama.”
“Hopefully, yes, Ma.”
Mom smiled.
“Other times teach Nadhira to cook again, Ma.”
“Definitely, Dear.” Mama throws a smile at her daughter-in-law.