I Was the Second
Twenty Three

Today Zia has gathered again with Maryam the only princess. And Rayhan has returned to Alfina's house.

For the next three days, Rayhan will not return to Zia's house. Zia took the time to clean up, take care of the laundry and rest.

"Mom...!" call Maryam who comes down from upstairs.

"Dear, Umma is still cooking, let's have lunch" said Zia.

"The boss is alone, there are no playmates, he wants to go for a walk" said the sweet Maryam, who is used to Sulaiman and his many brothers, and now has to be alone again, it makes the little girl lonely.

"Hmm yes, after lunch, we ask Abi permission yes, if Abi allows, we take a walk to the playground in the mall," said Zia.

"Truly Umma??" maryam did not believe.

"Yes, Abi please allow us to go for a walk" said Zia.

"Hmm it's nice now Umma, we have a house, another level, Maryam has her own room and lots of toys, we have a car too, so Umma ga tired and overheated also rained on a bike," maryam recalled everything.

"Yes Alhamdulillah, the sustenance of Allah son, we must be much grateful, how to be grateful?"

"Speak Alhamdulillah" said Maryam.

"Yes, one of them by saying Alhamdulillah, but do not forget to take good care, because it is also a form of gratitude to God, the way his room is cleaned, his toys are finished playing neatly, yes, baby,"

"Em.good Umma,"

"Yuk, now we eat," said Zia who has served fried chicken butter sauce and Cha vegetables.

"Wah chicken, hmm it seems good Umma," said Maryam with sparkling eyes.

"Cobain is just a darling," said Zia who took rice for Maryam's plate and the plate as well.

Zia suddenly remembered when she was still living in a rented three plots first, when Maryam wanted to eat chicken dishes, she could only afford a piece, Zia waited for Maryam to finish eating, she said, to be able to spend the rest of the chicken Maryam.

But now once cooked he can cook half a kilogram of chicken at once.

"Fabiayyi ala irobbikuma tukadziban (That is the bounty of your Lord which you deny)," said Zia.

Finished lunch Zia accompanied Maryam to play in the living room, while she sewed a kurta for her husband. Now sewing has become a hobby for Zia, if it used to be a livelihood, now Zia wants to focus on taking care of the house and Maryam, of course, takes care of her husband when at home. Because the spending money and living given by Rayhan was more than enough for him and Maryam.

Now Zia understands very tired Alfina, must be overwhelmed with Rayhan every day, especially Alfina also takes care of three children at home. Alfina also needs to rest, so Zia considers Rayhan's turn at her honeymoon home as her period of rest, however, terbesit longing with Rayhan's presence in this house.

"Umma called Abi gih, he said he wanted to ask Abi's permission if we want to go out for a walk," said Maryam who was impatient.

Zia picks up her phone, looking for the contact she named, Mas Ray surgaku... Zia was about to call, but was afraid to interrupt when Rayhan was with Alfina.

"I'll send a message, when it's done, he will answer" Zia murmured.

"Bismillah...Mas Ray, I'd like permission to take Maryam for a walk out, she wants to play at the mall, play,"

Zia had already sent that message to Rayhan, and was certainly not immediately answered. Zia put back her phone and continued sewing.

Maryam who was engrossed in playing dolls, suddenly stopped her activities and asked Zia again.

"Udah approved by Umma?" ask Maryam.

"Please a moment, Abi must be busy again" said Zia.

"Old kok ya...why is Abi not dear to Maryam? Mary is not Abi's son." great-grandson of Maryam.

"Sst ..kok by the way, Abi is dear to Maryam, the proof is Maryam made her own room, a lot of toys, Abi is busy dear, later also replied," said Zia persuaded Maryam.

"Maryam, make it a habit to give udzur to others, do not think ill, just think now Abi again works for us for Sulaiman, for ummi Alfina, and other Maryam brothers," Zia patiently gave an understanding.

"Yes Umma" said Maryam, she went and sat on the sofa with her rabbit.

Two hours passed, Rayhan finally replied as well.

"No, Ray was busy with Al" said Zia, who opened a message from Rayhan.

"Yes, go, but don't go home at night, I'll call you, I miss you,"

Zia put her phone back on the table.

"It could be longing, but next to it was his wife too, you little man" murmured Zia.

Zia turned around to call Maryam, but the little girl apparently fell asleep on the sofa.

Zia did not have the heart to wake him up, but remember Rayhan's message if they can not go home at night. With a heavy heart he woke up the little girl.

"Maryam, wake up yuk," Zia woke Mary up gently, slowly the child wriggled and woke up.

"Umma," he said.

"Well, get ready, we take a bath, pray ashar and go for a walk,"

"Abi allowed it?" ask Mary with sparkling eyes. Zia nodded, Maryam who had been sleepy became excited and literate like a hundred Watt lamp.

After they prepared, they finally set off, but Zia did not take Maryam to the mall, but to the mini market near the great mosque, because soon the Maghrib, and did not want to miss the prayer, he said, so they play there, the mini market there are also rides to the game, such as bathing balls, fishing fish, coloring pictures, synthesis sand games and so on.

Maryam played happily, Zia sat on the bench where the waiter watched Maryam.

Drrt.... Zia's phone vibrated, apparently a video call from Rayhan. Zia immediately received the call.

"Assalamualaikum Mas," Zia said, looking at the fresh face of her husband who just took a bath.

"Waalaikumussalam warohmatullahi wabarokatuh, where are you Zi?" rayhan asked across the street.

"In the mini market near the great mosque, back again Maghrib, I do not want to miss the Maghrib prayer, in the mall ga denger adzan," said Zia.

"Where's maryam?" ask Rayhan.

"Maryam, another ball bath, that's it," Zia pointed the camera at Maryam.

"Well, he's smiling" said Rayhan.

"Yes Mas, it's common rame-rame mba Aisyah, Fatimah's sister, and mas Sulaiman, now alone again, so he was whining to go out of the house,"

"Oh so, be patient, Zi, in the Lord I will be with you two days,"

"Yes, Mba Al how are you?" ask Zia.

"Thank God, you're healthy, too,"

"Good Mas,"

"OK I prepare to go to the mosque first, you also immediately pray with Maryam, take care of yourself, assalamualaikum," Rayhan concluded by waving his hand.

"Waalaikumussalam Mas," Zia also waved her hand and ended the video call.