Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 71

"What exactly is the contents of the box ? So Reyhan looks so scared I opened it ?"

The question was repeatedly dancing in his brain. He grew curious about the unusual attitude Reyhan showed as he held the golden yellow box. Negative thoughts are spoiled along with questions that do not even find answers.

His left hand that was holding garlic was also scratched by a knife in the other hand. Fresh blood is great. However, the pain he did not feel at all.

"Astaghfirullah, Nadhira. Lookyourhand. Why would you get hurt like this ?"

Mama's words that are so panicked have not yet been able to wake him from the imaginary nature he treaded. Far away there he was still reciting the same question. Questions that he never found the answer.

Mama shook her head and patted her shoulders softly. "Nadhira!"

He was aghast from the snare of the reverie that bound him tightly and firmly. "Astaghfirullah," he said as he stroked his chest.

"Mama surprised me."

"Sorry, Son. But, look at your hands bleeding like that."

He looked at his hands with blood still flowing freely. It was a wonder because he didn't know how his hands would bleed like that.

"Why are your hands bleeding, Ra ?"

"Nadhira doesn't know either, Ma. In fact, Nadhira didn't feel any pain."

"Take off the knife. Let Mama clean the wound on your hand."

"Home, Ma. Let Nadhira alone."

"really ?"

"Yes, Ma. But, sorry. Nadhira can't help Mama be."

"No why. Just clean your wounds first. Let's not get infected later."

He passed away leaving Mama. Still with the same questions. He did not leave his brain.

His eyes stared at the wound with fresh blood flowing. The pain that had not yet been felt made him wonder. The blood-red that was once capable of making him shudder in horror and even tremble. It's not the same anymore. He permeated with in the fiery red blood in his possession.

"www." He complained of pain. Holding his forehead which had been hit by a hard object.

"Aleea ? If the road is not while daydreaming, dear," Reyhan explained to him.

"Oh yes. Sorry, Sis. I'm not daydreaming. It's just that I'm fixated on this wound in my hand."

Reyhan grabbed his bloodied hand. "Why get hurt like this ? What have you been doing, Al ? Holy jeez!" Reyhan looked frantically at the hands that were already bright red.

"Come with me! Let me clean your wound and I'll treat it in the room."

He followed Reyhan towards the room without saying anything.

"Aleea ?"

"Yes" he answered lazily.

"What's done so that your hand is hurt ?"

"I was just helping Mama peel garlic. That's all."

"Then, how can it be like this ? Hmmm ?" Reyhan meticulously cleaned the wound on his wife's left hand. Jua gave the drug painstakingly to the scratch wound in Nadhira's hand.

"I just don't know why my hand could be hurt like this" he replied innocently.

"What do you mean, Al ?" reyhan asked confusedly and looked at him strangely.

"Eitherway. The point is I don't know. Mama told me my hands were bleeding."

Reyhan. "Gosh, Aleea. If it's like that, obviously you're doing something while daydreaming."

"No, Brother. I'm not daydreaming."

"It has. It's been. Next time you work, you should focus on your work. Not thinking of anything else."

He nodded. Occasionally grimaced as Reyhan held onto his wound.

"It hurts, huh, honey ?"

"It hurts now" he replied.

He massaged his temple slowly. "I'm dizzy, Brother."

"Rest, Honey. I'll accompany you here."

He laid his body on the bed. Covering half of her body with a blanket. She pulled out the veil that covered her head and threw it at her.

"Darling, don't be. You can ask me to put down your hijab."

Without saying anything she got up and grabbed the hijab back. Take her into the bathroom and pile her up with other dirty clothes.

Reyhan was astonished to see his attitude this time. It's not usually like this. Not focusing on work and causing his hand to hurt. With a sour face and cold attitude that he showed was not as usual.

"Why are you, Al ?"

"No. I'm it's okay. I'm just dizzy and want to rest. That'sthat's all. So, please don't bother me."

Reyhan shook his head. "alright. Just rest. If you wake up and want to see me. Just meet me in my study."

Reyhan stroked her hair slowly and kissed her. Then, move on to leave him who is somehow trapped in what kind of feeling.

He closed his eyes slowly. Take off and blow away all the thoughts that bother him.

_____

In the room with classic shades and old ash color Reyhan threw his body that was still not normal on the sofa at the end of the room. Opening the golden yellow box that Nadhira found was full of dust and looked worn.

He cleaned the dust that had hugged the box with his hands. Open it and smile happily.

A portrait of the past in a towering building with a woman with her last laugh. He held her hand warmly. Looked at him with a loving look.

"Elmeera. Elmeera. The jolly girl who did not know the word give up," he said proudly and with a smile.

"I miss holding that hand. To brush your long hair that you've always been reluctant to tie, Meer. Which you've always let down, blown by the strong wind and will cover your beautiful eyes."

Ja. The portrait contains a picture of him with Elmeera when they were in college abroad. Portraits of memories are saved and only opened once in a while as he misses the woman he considers his little sister.

"Without the name of love. I miss being your moaning place. Missing being your sister. In fact, I miss you more than anything else, Miss Fergaraksa."

Eyes glazed. He remembered the good times with his best friend. The hard times they went through together. There were times when they set foot in beautiful places together. And also with Bagas.

"I'm so sorry about that, Meer. The feeling you have and tell me actually makes it all unusual. I'm afraid I'm made, Meer."

He breathed a rough breath. "My concern as your best friend and brother seems to be that you consider more. You bring it into your heart. And making it a field brings a feeling that makes you expect a lot of me. In fact, I've clearly said from the beginning that we are friends and brothers."

His gaze was fixed on the piece of photo in his hand. He smiled smirk.

"Elmeera Fencing. My sister besides Raina. Can't you go back to being Elmeera then ? Before you're wrapped up and made you a different person than usual. I miss praising you as much as I spoil Raina."

A drop of the clear circle falls perfectly on the photo sheet in hand. The memories of the past with Elmeera revolved beautifully in the memory of her brain. The kindness that Elmeera and Shalu gave her made her want to return at that time.

"Meer, how are you, Sister Shalu ? I miss him too. His care and his way of treating me when I got sick. I owe him. The time Ms. Shalu who she was supposed to use worked was confiscated just like that to take care of my frail body."

His smile came with sobs that began to sound. "He even fought hard to make me recover when life seemed reluctant to settle on my body."

He hugged the photo very tightly. Missing Elmeera made him want to reach out soon. Same with Shalu. Elmeera's sister.

Missing the two girls made him forget that now he had embraced another heart that he had to guard. Nadhira just fell out of his mind.

"I have to go to Elmeera's house. Meet him and Miss Shalu."

He put the photo back in a golden yellow box. Close it tightly and keep it neatly in a regular container. The corner of his personal space.

With wide steps he hurried. Open the door of the room hard.

And...

He jumped when he found a girl with a long, deep black robe combined with a light blue pashmina hijab standing at the door. He also found on the cheeks of the girl was clearly imprinted traces of tears that flowed but tried to be wiped away.

"Aleea ?" call him with a look of surprise.

"I just wanted to ask my brother for permission to go to college. I will take care of my final task" Nadhira said with a sweet smile behind the tears she endured.

"When are you here ?"

"Available earlier. But, I felt bad entering my brother's private room after hearing the sentences that brother blurted out. So, I'd rather just wait in front of the door until brother comes out. I'm afraid to interrupt."

"So you heard all my words, Al ?"

"Yes. But, let's just say I've never heard anything, brother. And I would assume so too. Never heard anything from your lips."

"Aleea, don't get me wrong."

"It seems I'm too late. Can you let me go now ?"

"But, Al..."

Nadhira quickly cut off his words. "If my sister doesn't let me go. Let me just go back to my room and do what I can do. How ?"

"Not that I won't let you, Al. But, I can't let you go crying like this."

"alright. I'm not leaving. And now I'm going back to the room. If you want to go see Elmeera. Go awayl. Observe your misses on your sister and Shalumu's mother."

Nadhira walked away leaving her unseemly.

"Al!" call him. However, the girl's steps did not stop until her small body disappeared behind the bedroom door.

He fell into a deep regret hole. How could he not think of his wife.

"I'm sorry, Al" she whispered.