Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 41

Nadhira stared at the circular watch in his hand with the wall clock hanging in the living room, which exactly showed ten o'clock at night. He walked back and forth waiting for Reyhan's return with anxious hopes.

He stared at the door, hoping that Reyhan would soon appear before him from behind the door that would open.

To go to every time. She tried to contact her husband by phone. However, the result remains the same. Reyhan's contact was totally out of touch.

Chequek. The door sounds open.

Nadhira suddenly threw his gaze towards the door. And all he found was the figure of his sister-in-law who stepped closer and closer. Farhan. Not husband.

"Sister, why are you still here ? It's late at night" said Farhan.

"I was waiting for Reyhan's brother to come home from the office, Farhan," he answered listlessly.

"Sir Reyhan hasn't come home till this hour ?" farhan asked as he glanced at his watch.

"Yes. And I've contacted him several times. But, it can't. Maybe he's very busy and can't be bothered."

"Kak Reyhan's habit is that. Often forgets that it's already working."

"Sir Reyhan hasn't come home till this hour ?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Sir Nadhira has contacted him ?"

"I've been calling him repeatedly. But, it can't. Maybe Reyhan is very busy and can not be disturbed. So, he didn't activate the phone."

"Ahh. Always forget about the others if they are working. In fact, he sometimes forgets to eat."

"Let's. You just got home at this hour, Farhan ?"

"Yes, brother. There's a job Farhan has to finish after college this afternoon."

"Have you had dinner or not ? If not, let me prepare some food for you."

"No need, Brother Nadhira. Farhan's eating out."

"Oh. okay. You take a break directly."

"But what about Nadhira ?"

"It's okay. I'll wait here until Brother Reyhan comes home."

"Is it really okay if Farhan left himself here ?" ask Reyhan reassuringly.

"Yes, Farhan."

"Alright, Brother. Farhan to the room first, yeah."

Nadhira again struggled with his activity to look at the main door expectantly. Hope the door will open again and bring up the figure of Reyhan in front of him.

Until the clock shows eleven o'clock passing. Reyhan hasn't come home yet. Unrestrained drowsiness greeted warmly. However, as soon as possible he brushed off the feeling all the way.

Long walk pacing mandir. He decided to sit on the living room sofa. It didn't take long for him to start sleeping. Fall asleep in a sitting position.

"Nadhira ?" mama woke him up.

"Yes, Ma."

"Sleep in the room, son."

"Nadhira is waiting for Reyhan, Ma. So, it's okay for Nadhira to be here."

"Ah. Habits."

"Mama just rest. Nadhira is okay."

"Related, Honey ?"

"Yes, Ma."

Mama leaves Nadhira who is still faithful waiting for her husband's return in the living room.

The girl sat back on the sofa. Recline body. Because of the drowsiness that cannot be held. His eyes slowly fell asleep.

_____

"Tio, it's late at night. The work is done tomorrow," Reyhan reminded Tio. The secretary who had worked with him for a long time.

"Good, sir."

"Sorry to have taken up so much of your time because of the work I've been living since my wedding preparations. So, your time with family is very rare" Reyhan admitted solemnly.

"That's okay, Mr. Reyhan. It has been my duty and responsibility as secretary."

"Thank you very much, yes, Tio."

"I should thank you for giving me the opportunity to be your secretary. And I will continue to work hard for you."

"alright. Now home. Or am I sending you ?"

"No need, sir. Thanks though. I'm in the office with a motorbike."

"Oh.. I go home first, yeah, Tio."

"Yes, Sir. My wife must have been waiting for me too."

"Yes, Tio."

"alright, Sir. Be careful on the road."

Reyhan walked away from his secretary who was still busy cleaning up his files on the table.

Reyhan chuckles. "You could have, Yo."

He stared at the office wall clock that showed ten o'clock at night.

"Astaghfirullah's. I forgot to tell Aleea. He must be worried. Moreover, this is the first time I left her to go to the office."

Reyhan hastened his pace. So, he quickly arrived at the protest where his car was parked neatly.

He drives his car at high speed because the highway has begun to turn aside at night.

The bright red car stopped right at a luxury house like a mini palace.

Reyhan quickly ran into his house. Opened a door that was not locked at all violently.

Steps ceased. Her eyes widened. His heart pinched to find his wife who was sleeping on the living room sofa with a sitting position. He approached and sat down before the peaceful Nadhira in his deep sleep.

"Darling ?" Reyhan tries to wake Nadhira up. However, his wife did not flinch at all.

"Al, wake up, honey. Just sleep in the room," Reyhan's effort again.

He looked at his wife with pity.

"I'm sorry, Al. You fell asleep here just because you were waiting for me."

Reyhan stroked the girl's cheek gently. And successfully made Nadhira squirm his tiny body. Open your eyes slowly.

"Honey," said Reyhan with a smile that has not been able to cover his tired face.

"Sister, since when did you come home ?" nadhira asked in a hoarse voice.

"A few minutes ago, my dear." Reyhan helped Nadhira tidy up her hijab which was used to cover her beautiful crown.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep" Nadhira said guiltily.

"That's okay, honey. I'm the one who apologized for making you wait a long time and not tell you at all."

"Sister's having dinner ?"

"Here you go, honey."

"Yeah..." Nadhira bowed lethargic.

"Why, dear ?" reyhan was confused.

"I don't think brother has eaten dinner yet. I've cooked something for brother."

"really ?" ask Reyhan quickly.

Nadhira nodded his head.

"Come, Honey. We'll eat," Reyhan asked.

Nadhira looked at her husband in disbelief.

"I want to taste my wife's first meal" Reyhan said cheerfully.

"Clean first, honey. After that dinner."

"Alright, my Aleean."

Reyhan handed his briefcase and suit to his wife. Then, enter the room and clean yourself up.

Nadhira returns to the kitchen to warm up the food that Reyhan has made. Set it on the dinner table with love.

"May Reyhan like my cooking" he said with a fluffy smile.

"Darling ?"

"Have you finished cleaning ?"

Reyhan nodded to answer his wife's question.

"Eat. I can only cook this for my sister. And this is still helped by Mama."

"Yes, Honey. Thats okay. You're still learning."

Reyhan ate the dishes his wife had made voraciously. And Nadhira could only stare happily at Reyhan.

"You don't eat either, Al ? Good food, honey."

"Oh... really ?" nadhira asked in disbelief.

"Yes, Honey. Really."

Nadhira smiled with satisfaction.

"If this continues. I'll definitely miss home more when I'm outside."

"Darling, eat first. Speak later" advises Nadhira.

Reyhan devoured the rest of his food to the toilet.

"Alhamdulillah," he said after finishing the food provided by Nadhira.

"Thank you, yeah, honey."

Nadhira smiles.

"I love you, Nadhira Aleeana Prayudha."

"I love you too, Reyhan Akbar Oktara."