Knights For Mundika
15

"Mundicians..."

"Zayed's..."

"Go home Nduk, son..."

"Go home..."

Artika continued to rummage in half conscious makes Dalmouk increasingly worried about the condition of his wife. He had called the family doctor to check on Artika but the doctor had not arrived yet. He clasped Artika's right hand and occasionally rubbed her black crown, trying to give strength that the woman he loved was not alone. This is the umpteenth time Artika fainted after hearing the news of their two children going to Indonesia and only informed after the two landed there.

"My wife.., my soul mate..," whispered Dalmouk. "Recognize dear, you are strong to face this because there is me here.” He is saddened by the thing that befell Artika and her children. Why is everything so complicated. Though he and Artika had prepared themselves to tell Mundika everything so that his son did not continue his desperate actions. But apparently the girl was one step ahead and more determined than what she had expected.

"Rest Dalmouk," Latifa gently rubbed her husband's back. "You also have to take care of your health, let me take care of Artika until Doctor Hakeem comes.”

"I don't want to, let me be with Artika at this time.." Dalmouk gave a soft, smooth repulsion and pat to Latifa's hand, but there was no anger in Latifa because it was a consequence she had to reap. If time were to be repeated, their story would not be what it is today. But to speak if, it would be tantamount to blaming the Almighty for the destiny given by Him and it would only add to his past sins. He decided to leave the room and found Majid at the door.

"Will you continue to feel guilty like this?" Tanya Majid looked at her mother. He is mature enough to know his parents' past and can only be wise in dealing with it. “I was sad to see my mother like this, helpless and as if to be the third person between Baba and Mama Artika. Baba should have been more fair to share her love for Mama and Mama Artika.”.

Latifa only smiled weakly and rubbed her son's cheeks. The only gift he is so grateful for having. "It's okay, son, it's okay, it's a destiny that you have to live because you've done a lot of selfish things in the past. All you have to do is accept it with sincerity. Thank you for your great soul for honoring Artika as a mother and loving Mundika and Zayed as a sister to you." He tried hard not to show a faint crumbling feeling in his heart.

"Ma..."

"By the way, where are Haya and Maitha? Mama didn't see them from earlier," Tanya Latifa tried to shift the topic.

*"You know they'll never care about anything about Mama Artika and her kids, they're busy hanging*out with her friends outside," Majid sighed when asked about his two younger sisters. "I myself am confused why can't they be like Mundika and Zayed who remain respectful and courteous to Mama? Do they feel better than their siblings despite their mother's differences? They're actually, after all, right..."

"They're Majid's sisters," Not yet had Majid resume his words, Latifa immediately cut so as to make him choose not to continue. "Hows it? Have you heard from Sheikh Mansoor about Mundika and Zayed's whereabouts?"

Majid could only shake his head.

"Last I called him immediately to Indonesia following Mundika and Zayed who had arrived first there."

"Mom don't worry, we leave everything to Mansoor and his team, I'm sure he can soon find the whereabouts of Mundika and Zayed," Majid hugs Latifa to calm him down. “Mansoor is typical of tough fighters. He will not give up until he finds the target. The proof of so many men who fell in love with Mundika, only he was brave and determined to propose to her.”

“Hopefully...,” Latifa said please be anxious.

“Inshaa Allah...,” Reply Majid steady.

“Pardon my late arrival,” Hakeem approached Majid and Latifa.

“Thank God Doctor Hakeem has finally come, let Doctor, I take you inside to check Artika immediately,” Latifa let Hakeem into Artika's room. The man did not expect that the impromptu leave permit filed by Mundika apparently resulted in a disaster that made the mother of his protege must lie limp in bed because of the shock of his son to make a desperate decision to go to Indonesia especially bring Zayed, his sister who is still in high school.

Indonezsian...

A very taboo country was uttered in front of Mundika. Though she deliberately told everything about the girl so that Mansoor, her future husband can prevent intentions that might make Mundika can cancel their marriage because they feel inappropriate with the young man. He prayed that what he feared would not happen. Mundika and Mansoor are good children, may their soul mate always be given ease and smoothness because they both deserve to be happy together without having to be overshadowed by the past presence of Mundika which is enough to make wrath not only from the side of the Artika family but also the Dalmouk extended family if only Latifa was finally honored to be willing to give up and accept Artika as her husband's second wife. Remembering that incident feels like it just happened yesterday and now it seems to be replicated that there are things that still need to be resolved so that there are no more obstacles in the future. Ah, rather than thinking about things that are not necessarily happening, it is better for him to focus on healing and suggest that Artika calm down.

***

"Finally up,” Shiddiq replied as he raised both his hands into the air. “I don't think Indonesia's sky is less friendly to us..”.

Mansoor did not pay much attention to Shiddiq's remarks and chose to walk to the immigration department. In his heart can breathe a little relieved after his feet trace the earth of Indonesia. He immediately activated his smartphone to contact Mundika but was not picked up by the girl. It was late at midnight local time. He just patted his forehead and realized the three-hour time difference between Dubai and Jakarta. It's just so dark here. Looks like he has to stay tonight at the hotel while waiting for news from the team he managed.

Mundica... Mundica...

What have you done to me that has made me unable to even let go of my gaze at you?

Did he actually unknowingly open a pandora box that should remain tightly stored in his place? Lest this is his own fault that makes his originally ordinary life become unusually unsettled because it allows the corner of his heart to open the taste?

Ah, thinking about it at this time will only make him more headaches after some turbulence that he experienced when his private plane passed through the air zone of the island called Sumatra. He better rest now and discuss the next step tomorrow. Hoping this time he could sleep quietly without the disturbance of nightmares for worrying too much about Mundika.

***