Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 48

Nadhira stared at the cuisine that was already in his hands. His feet stepped with a smile expanding towards his room and Reyhan on the second floor.

“May Reyhan like my cooking this time,” hope when his feet have arrived and stopped in front of the room door.

His right hand that was free of anything immediately opened the door with certainty. Her eyes caught her husband struggling with a large rectangular object on the bed.

“So sick like that. You can still think about work, Kak,”, he said in his heart.

He placed the food he had brought on the bedside nightstand and sat down beside Reyhan who had not yet noticed his arrival.

“Kak ?” call him while holding Reyhan's arm.

Reyhan was shocked. “Astaghfirullah, Al. You just surprised me.”

“How can ? I just called brother in a slow voice.”

“But, calling and touching me all of a sudden just like that shocked me, Al.”

“Surely big sister doesn't know I'm here ?”

“You just came I don't know, Al.” Reyhan is back on his laptop which is still on. Displaying a series of letters, numbers and other images that are not understood by Nadhira.

“Huh!” Nadhira let out a breath. “Now you eat first. I've cooked for my sister. After that take medicine.”

Reyhan didn't chimed in at all.

“Kak, eat first.” Nadhira shook her husband's arm slowly.

“Iya,” Reyhan replied briefly. However, his hands and gaze were still focused on that thing before him.

“Kak ?”

“Iya, Al. In a moment.”

He grunted annoyed.

One minute.

Two minutes.

Until the fifth minute. Reyhan has not yet switched from his busy work with the office.

“Kakak ?” call gently.

“Hmmm.”

“Eat first. It will continue again. Sister should take medicine.”

Reyhan did not answer.

“Kak ?” Nadhira reaches Reyhan's hand.

“I'm at work, Al. Please don't bother me!” reyhan snapped out loud.

Nadhira's mouth was tightly clenched. Hand vibrates. Her tears are puffing. Then, he got up and moved away slowly from Reyhan.

Reyhan who had just realized his attitude instantly stopped the movement of his hand on the laptop. Due to his still weak condition, he walked slowly towards Nadhira who had already reached the door.

“Darling, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you.” Reyhan grabbed Nadhira's small body.

“Continue your work, Brother. I don't want to interrupt,” he said with a slow sob.

He removed Reyhan's hand from his body. Walk back to bed.

“I've prepared food for my sister on the table. I also prepared my sister's medicine

there. Don't forget to drink.”

He pulled the blanket and covered his whole body. Waving her tears in the blanket.

“Do you not feel tired crying continuously, Nadhira ?” ask him to yourself.

The issue gets louder. He felt his chest overcome by a very heavy burden. Until to regulate the respiratory system must also be accompanied by eye strain. Stuffy.

Repeatedly he set his breath to be free from tightness. Niente. His efforts seemed so futile and useless at all. Ja. Asthma attacked him again.

Reyhan stared at the mound of the blanket with great regret. How could he snarl at his wife just for asking her to eat and take her medicine. He approached and sat down beside Nadhira.

“Al ?”

Nadhira did not answer. He was busy with the approaching crowd.

“Say ?” Reyhan only heard a sobbing and the occasional irregular breathing sound.

“Aleea ?” call Reyhan again. This time with worry. She recalled finding Nadhira in the garden and falling ill.

Without waiting for long, Reyhan opened the blanket that covered his wife's body. And found Nadhira struggling to catch her breath. Cold sweat had already flooded all over his body.

“Darling, you why ?” ask Reyhan to panic.

He did not answer Reyhan's question. His hand pointed towards the desk drawer beside

the bed.

Reyhan stared at Nadhira's index finger. With all the rest of his strength he walked there. Open the desk drawer and find the inhaler that Nadhira used to use when his asthma attacked.

“This, Darling.”

Nadhira quickly grabbed the object from her husband's hand. Using it perfectly until he felt a little claustrophobic approaching him subsided.

“How, Al ? Already feel better ?”

He nodded.

He was still trying to catch his breath slowly. Then, sit facing Reyhan. He held Reyhan's hand gently. “Kak, lunch first, yes. I've made my sister's favorite food as Mama told me,” she said so softly to her husband. In fact, he had just cried fearfully hearing the scattering from Reyhan. But, because so he loved and did not want anything to happen to Reyhan. He threw away his fear.

“I'll get you a minute.”

“No need, Honey. I'll get the food myself.”

“Let me learn from the little things to be a woman worth saying wife.”

Reyhan smiled and let Nadhira get food for him.

“Eat. To make your sister improve soon.”

He looked at Reyhan who was eating so voraciously.

“Next time you just make me stock up for the office, Al. So I don't eat out.” anymore

“Hah ? Are you sure my cooking is good?”

“Enak. But, not as good as Mama's cooking. You ‘kan still learning, Honey. I'm certain. Over time, you will be better than Mama in cooking.”

“Good. From tomorrow I will make provisions for brother.”

“Ba..”

He cut Reyhan's words quickly. “No! Not tomorrow. But, later if the condition of the brother is really in good condition. Then you can go to the office. For tomorrow brother I have not allowed to go to work.”

“But, Darling. I ‘kan much work.”

“Sorry, Mr. Reyhan Akbar Oktara. Madame Nadhira Aleeana Pramudya does not accept rejection in any form.”

“Now you have dared to ban your husband, yes ?”

“For the sake and health. Wife can ban husband.”

“Good. I'll follow my little Boss here.” Reyhan ruffled Nadhira's headscarf into disarray.

“Huh! Why is big brother so happy to make my hijab mess?” He pursed his lips.

“Have you forgotten, Darling ?”

He looked at Reyhan confusedly.

“Don't since the first day of marriage, ruffling my hair or hijab is my hobby ?”

“Kakak is the same as Abang.”

Reyhan laughing.

“But your name is no longer Nadhira Aleeana Pramudya.”

“Then ?”

“Nadhira Aleeana Oktara's. Because, ever since I shook Dad's hand and pledged the ijab qabul. You are Mrs Oktaraku.”

Nadhira. He is unable to speak.

“Thank you for accepting me with all the flaws that I even had time to hide.”

“As any sister. My brother is my husband. And it has become my duty to complete all the shortcomings that brother has.”

“You even got that wise in thinking. I'm sorry, honey. Forgive me for thinking what you shouldn't.”

“Kak, any problems you're facing. Open to me. Never hide anything from me.”

“Iya, Darling.”

“Now finish the food and take medicine.”

“I'm fine, Al. Why take medicine.”

“No! Brother is not okay.”

“Al, trust.”

“Say Mama medicine it should sister consumption every day.”

“But, Al..”

“Kak, listen to me. Don't be like a child. My brother needs that medicine. I don't want to drink it. Then, brother anfal again. please do not make me as worried and scared as earlier, yes.”

Reyhan softened. He took two medicines that Nadhira had prepared for him.

“Al ?”

“Iya, Darling ?”

“Are you sure that a sick man like me will be able to take care of you ?” ask Reyhan lirih.

Nadhira took the plate from Reyhan's hand. Put it back on the bedside table. She hugged her husband's body tightly.

“Do not say that again. Brother strong. I believe that. We'll step together, yes, dear.” He rubbed Reyhan's back gently. Without being able to resist her tears shed so hard.

“I've entrusted my life to big brother. Because, I'm sure big brother is capable. I'm always with you.”

Reyhan returned Nadhira's embrace tightly. “Don't cry anymore. I'm so claustrophobic about seeing you like

that.”

Reyhan took off his embrace and wiped away the trail of tears streaming down Nadhira's cheeks.

“Thank you for strengthening me, dear. I love you.”