Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 96

He stared at the banana cake inside the black plastic bag. "Seeing this banana cake makes me miss Mommy."

Reyhan stroked the top of his head. "Let's go to Mother's house, yeah, baby."

"really ?"

"Yes, my wife."

"Sister, just give this banana cake to the employee's sister in the office."

"Aren't you going to eat it, Al ?"

"I couldn't have spent this much cake alone, Brother."

Reyhan laughed a little.

_____

Reyhan's smile expands as his feet tread on the company building he built desperately with Papa. Sometimes he bowed his head as I passed by employees older than him.

"Rianti," she called him in front of the room.

Rianti immediately approached him. "Yes, Sir. Can I help you ?"

"No. But, I brought a lot of banana cake. Please taste it with the other employees."

"Lho, Sir ?"

"No why. Just take. My wife bought it on the street."

Rianti received a plastic bag from his hand. After that, he entered the room.

He sat himself down shortly. The door of the room was knocked. "Lake in!"

He got Tio stepping towards him with a stack of color maps.

"Sir, this is the company's report for the month. You can see."

"Thank you very much, Tio. I'll check first."

"Good, Sir. Then excuse me to come out."

He nodded.

Reyhan unpacked one by one the files that Tio brought. Reviewing each of them.

He took a deep breath as he closed the last map. Just checking the files is making him tired.

"Sshhh," ringer. He stared at the watch that was coiled around his left wrist.

"Medicine. Medicine" he said. He rose from his seat of power. However, his taste was hurting him.

Trudgingly he grabbed the medicine placed on the table.

"Astaghfirullah." Repeatedly he has been involved.

Just as he was able to reach for the medicine. It lost balance. He fell with the medicine he was holding.

With the rest of the energy he had. He tried to reach for the medicine that fell under the table. However, it has not been obtained. Instead, the drug is increasingly shifted to the middle.

Along with that. Cellphone's ringing. He picked up the phone he had put in his pants pocket.

"Aleeana," he whispered and received the call.

"My work on campus is done. But, can I meet Finza and Mikayla first ? While I wait for my brother to come pick me up."

"Aleea," called out to him in an almost inaudible voice.

"Sister ? It's okay, isn't it ?"

"I'm very sick, Al." The cell phone he was holding fell and lay just loosely on the floor. He complained of pain.

"Sister! Brother heard I didn't ?"

The sound of the door clanging did not take his eyes off. He was still trying to find a medicine that had fallen down the table in his room.

"God! Mr Reyhan why ?" tio asked who had just entered the room and ran over to him who was already lying on the floor.

"May I ask for help to get my medicine that fell under the table ?" He pointed down at the table.

Tio followed the direction of his boss's index finger. Found a small bottle lying free under the table. So hurry to get it.

"Here, sir," said Tio as he offered the small bottle. "Let me help." Tio helped her get up and sit on the sofa.

"My phone ?"

"Oh there. Wait I'll get it now, Mr. Reyhan."

"Sister! Answer me!"

He heard clearly the voice of his wife across the telephone in a worried tone. He could confirm that his little wife was crying.

"I'm fine, Al," he said after receiving the phone Tio had taken for him.

"Help, Al. Let me go over there to pick you up."

"Assalamualaik."

The connection was cut off before he answered his wife's greeting.

"Do I need to take you to the Hospital ?"

"No need, Tio. Thanks though. I feel better."

"I think you're completely cured of the disease."

He laughed discordantly. "I also think so. But, actually not."

He took a deep breath. "I also don't know until when I'm able to survive this disease."

"Mr don't talk like that. I'm sure you'll be healed."

"Come on, Tio."

_____

In the large three-storey building Nadhira with an expanding smile stepped outside the room where he was consulting. His heart was calm as his expectations were fulfilled.

"I must immediately tell Brother Reyhan this glad news."

He grabbed his tote bag. He took the cell phone he had stored in it. Find Reyhan's contact name.

"Hey!" greet someone from behind while patting him on the shoulder slowly.

"Astaghfirullah," he said and turned his head. "Kayla ? You've surprised me."

"sorry. Sorry," Mikayla said with a big smile.

"Ah... Long time no see you makes me miss. Waiting." She hugged Mikayla.

"I miss you too much." Mikayla returned her embrace was no less tight.

"Let's meet Finza. Take you to college."

"Good idea, Mikayla Sesilia. But, I have to ask my husband's permission first."

"Wait especially ? Call your husband immediately."

Without a second thought, he scrolled the screen of his phone. Find contact and contact Reyhan.

He was stunned when the call was connected. It was not the heavy, soft voice he heard. Except for a weak voice full of pain.

Body vibrates. She twisted the tip of her hijab just like any. The tears are perfectly well-watered. "Darling," he called me soft. Not the reply he got. Just a groaning voice full of pain.

"Ra, what's wrong with you ?" Mikayla slightly shook her still stunned body.

"My husband.." The sentence depends. Her lips were just for talking.

She bit her lower lip hearing her husband's groaning. His brain immediately imagined how the face of pain was struggling. How that burly hand gripped firmly his chest that.

"I have to go to Reyhan's office now, Kay," she said hysterically.

"Yes. Ja. But, you need to calm down first."

"I can't calm down, Kay. My husband needs me now." Her crying broke instantly. Her tears were mercilessly broken.

"My husband's anfal again, Kay. My husband is sick," he said stammering his sobs.

He stared at Mikayla. "I have to see my husband, Kay."

"Yes, Ra. I'll accompany you now."

He nodded and drowned his face in Mikayla's body.

"Quiet, Ra. Don't cry like this."

He slightly pushed Mikayla's body gently. "My husband's gonna be okay, isn't he, Kay ?" the question is so subtle and heartbreaking.

"Yes, Ra. Your husband will be fine. Believe it."

He stroked his stomach gently and spoke. "Darling, join the prayer with Mama, yes, son. Hope Papa's okay."

Mikayla felt sorry to see him.

"I'm going to the office now, yeah, Kay."

"I'll accompany you. I'm afraid to let you go alone in this state of turmoil. Besides, you're pregnant young. I'm afraid something's going on with you."

"Just calm down, Kay. I'll be fine."

"No! I have to accompany you." Mikayla remained adamant about her decision.

"Come on! Now leave in my car."

"Kay, thank you" he said with perfectly wet eyes. He saw Mikayla smiling sweetly at him.