Knights For Mundika
14
"Ukhhh...,” Mundika hooked her ten fingers and pulled them up into the air. The 8.5-hour journey felt long. He blinked his eyes to return to the real world after being lulled in the dreamland. He saw Zayed who was still asleep beside him, then rubbed Zayed's head with gentleness. In his heart he thanked his youngest brother for supporting his crazy idea to go to Indonesia, a foreign country that he had never pursued in his entire life. Only by relying on logical analysis and discreet communication has been done with Ayu, her aunt.
He realized that his actions were reckless, took an impromptu leave and went secretly with Zayed. He could not imagine the reaction of his family and his parents, especially his mother. In the recesses of his heart there was a huge feeling of guilt struggling as if burdensome. But he had to fight it with all his might for a truth that he had to find and only by coming to Indonesia could he get the answers to all the questions that still stuck in him.
Mansoors! Suddenly the man's name fell on his mind. Oh, no, he forgot that he was indirectly the responsibility of the man considering their engagement status. Why did he forget that man? Mundika cursed herself and felt increasingly guilty. He promised that if he reached Indonesia he would inform both his parents and his soul mate. Even if the man would scold him, he would accept it without arguing.
***
"How long will we get to Indonesia?" Mansoor asked riled and worried. Since the phone call Mundika who said that the girl was already in Indonesia, her concerns have become more and more so. He imagined the girl in a country he had never visited without any escort. What if the girl and her sister, Zayed, were tricked? What if they are being bullied by people?What if they get lost without anyone helping them? Various worst possibilities crossed Mansoor's mind like a film roll that continues to spin making his worry even more so.
"Let's remember Sheikh Mansoor, we've just two hours from Dubai to Jakarta, there's still 6.5 hours to land there" Shiddiq said, the man who was given the responsibility of taking care of Mansoor's private plane and always accompanied him on the flight. "You could get high blood if you like this. It's not unusual for you to be so unsettled like this. You'll be famous as an ice man and minimal expression."
"If you have someone who is loved and wants to be protected so that he keeps smiling looking at the world, you'll understand why I'm like this" Mansoor chugged at the orange juice the flight attendant had provided.
Shiddiq laughed at the answer from his young Sheikh. He thinks the wind that says Mansoor bin Maktoum is now turning into more expression after being engaged to one of the daughters of the oil company owner in Dubai seems to be true. He saw the aura around the man begin to show colors other than black, white, and gray. Apparently there is also a girl who managed to conquer the cold heart of the young Sheikh. They are usually just used as wind. He became curious, what kind of figure his fiancee was until an Emir of Dubai happily allowed one of his children not to marry one of the members of the royal family of the ruler of Dubai in order to maintain the bloodline. It is beyond their culture and habits. When viewed from the physical, Mansoor's fiance is a beautiful figure, but she felt beautiful was not enough because around Mansoor there were many beautiful girls who were heartbroken when they got the announcement that the man was engaged. There must have been something special about the girl until Mansoor asked for a flight without planning like this.
"You'd better rest and calm your stiffened nerves. I've asked a trusted agent in Indonesia to look for traces of Mundika and Zayed.”
"Where can I rest if it's like this?!" Answer Mansoor short. His head was suddenly dizzy from the sudden turbulence.
“I told you...,” Shiddiq could only shake his head and go back to checking in the pilot room. If the man in front of him has started to be stubborn, he can only raise his hands and silence him until he returns to his normal emotions.
***
Zayed stared in disbelief at the figure of the middle-aged woman before him. He thought his sister was just following his emotions for a moment so he did not plan their arrival to Indonesia well. Apparently his brother was one step ahead of him.
“Son, can Bude hold you?” Ask Ayu expectantly. His eyes glazed over as if there was a longing burning within the woman's chest. At least hugged Zayed as if he was hugging his beloved cousin who chose to stay away from him.
Zayed turned to Mundika for permission to ask if it was okay if he received a hug from the woman who claimed to be his sister's cousin from his mother and answered a nod and smile from Mundika. Before long the young man received a tight hug from Ayu. Although it felt a little strange and awkward, Zayed felt that there was a warm flow flowing inside him through Ayu's embrace. The same taste as her being hugged by her mother. He also returned his embrace.
Mundika who saw her sister who had just met Ayu could not hold back her day. It was as if the tangled threads within his life were slowly unraveling. He prayed that his decision would not be wrong.
“Oh yes, Mrde Randy sends greetings to both of you and apologizes for not being able to welcome you because you have a week's duty out of town starting from yesterday,” Ayu takes off a hug to Zayed and asks the help of his driver, Mr. Didi, to pick up the two suitcases Mundika and Zayed had brought and place them in the trunk of the black SUV he was supporting. After I felt that no one was left behind, they immediately got into the car and left from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Ayu's house on the outskirts of Bogor and full of large and shady trees.
“Wa’aikumsalam,” Answer Mundika and Zayed compact.
“Tonight you will stay at Bude's house first, tomorrow will Bude deliver to your grandparents' place,” Ayu unceasingly speaks. “Don't be surprised if the night like this is not quiet but increasingly jammed. You guys just be patient, oh yeah, how about we stop by for dinner first. Mr. Didi, you know where my subscription eats..”.
Mundika just smiled then leaned her head back while enjoying the atmosphere of Jakarta at night. Full of sparkling city lights and four-wheeled motor vehicle lights. Slowly the drowsiness that had been lost closed in happiness met with Ayu suddenly attacked and could not be tolerated anymore. He also went back to sleep.
“Kak?” Zayed asked who saw Mundika seem to be asleep. He felt a little uncomfortable with the current condition because he felt left alone by Mundika who was sleeping asleep. However, even though Ayu is his budenya, he is still a new person in his life so that the awkwardness is still felt.
“Already Son, Mundika do not be disturbed first,” Ayu said calming. “Let him rest. Zayed if you want to continue sleeping like Mundika, continue. Bude believes the 8.5-hour journey through the air with a thin oxygen level has exhausted you. After all, the journey to Bude's house is still quite long. Plus we haven't had dinner yet. If you have arrived at the place of eating will wake Bude.”
***