Knights For Mundika
25

“Disela-Sela concerns Baba to convey to Baba's parents about the whereabouts of your Mother, Baba is surprised by the obligatory request from Baba's parents to marry Mama Latifa who is Baba's distant cousin,” Dalmouk sighed long and heavy as if there was a stone that hit his chest because it had to be reminded of the incident that made him regret half-dead due to indecision in holding firm his stance fighting for Artika. “In addition Baba got info from Sheikh Maktoum that your mother is not from among the nobility like the grandmother of Sheikh Maktoum who incidentally so far is the only non-Emirati women who are part of a large family Emir of Dubai makes Baba's hopes dashed and weak.”.

“Baba, does Baba have a minute for me?” Dalmouk walked into his babanya's workroom on the first floor of the mansion which was specially inhabited by the Family Head Al Hassimi.

“Ah, incidentally Nak, there is happy news that Baba wants to tell you,” Marwan who just finished talking to his phone then faced Dalmouk who looked tense on his facial expression.

“What is Baba?” After being invited to sit by his father, Dalmouk ventured to ask.

“Baba and your Uncle Adnan have agreed to marry you to his daughter Latifa,” Marwan was so happy to report the news considering that Dalmouk and Latifa are still big families and it is a tradition that marrying one of the big members in order to maintain the legacy of the oil company owned by his family.

“Latifa?” His throat was choked when he heard that name.

“Iya, Latifa bint Adnan, distant cousin and your first little friend,” Marwan continued. “I heard you've loved it since childhood.”

Dalmouk's body squeezed to the back of the chair he was sitting on today when the name of the girl he once knew and was his first love and the first person to break his heart to make it happen it was cold before I finally got to know Artika. How could he be married to that girl? For a long time he had not met and always avoided if the whole family gathered during the holidays because he did not want his wounds re-open. However the name of the first love that ends clapping one hand will certainly leave a real mark.

“Ta..but that was Baba, however human feelings can change..,”Dalmouk tried to strengthen his heart and his initial intention to tell his relationship with Artika.

“What do you mean?” Marwan furrowed his eyebrows as if asking for further explanation.

“I...I already have a lover at this time.” Finally the words he wanted to say but was held back by his surprise to hear Latifa's name mentioned.

“Who?” Marwan's tone of voice turned low and full of emphasis.

“Is the girl you say is your lover the Assistant Manager of Exploration named Artika?”

Not yet exhausted the feelings of shock he suffered, Dalmouk again surprised that the relationship he established in secret with Artika was known by his father.

“Ba...how can Baba know?”

“You think Baba is such a fool that you don't know the scandal you made with that girl, Dalmouk?!” Marwan's voice turned high again. “What do you consider this Babamu?! How dare you do something that doesn't appreciate our surname?”

“A..what's wrong with falling in love with a girl named Artika, Baba?” Dalmouk replied but kept his respectful manners to Marwan despite trying to temper the turbulent emotions inside his chest with fists in both hands. “She's a good and brilliant girl and has had a lot of her services to our company.”

“He is not an Emirati, Dalmouk, do you want to betray our family ancestors who always try to keep their purity?!”

BRACKET!

“That's different Dalmouk! The wife of Sheikh Maktoum still has royal blood in her country while the girl is not there and she is both loved and approved by the crowd because of their love history that shocked almost all the world until marriage it can happen!” Marwan who had run out of words chose to break the table so as to cause excitement all family members to approach the two of them.

“What is this my husband? Until you have to break the table and surprise the whole house?” Tanya Dalisha, Marwan's wife and Dalmouk's mother followed by Dalmouk's two younger sisters, Jaleela and Raana.

“Tell your beloved son that he must end his madness by courting his men in an office that is not Emirati like ours and must be willing to marry Latifa bint Adnan if he still wants to be considered a son by me and the girl keep working in our company!” Marwan's left chest suddenly tight due to excessive emotions made everyone there panic and tried to calm the Head of the Al Hassimi Family.

Dalmouk closed his eyes trying to contain the turmoil of his heart. It felt like it had just happened yesterday.

“And in order to relieve his anger finally Baba temporarily relented to comply with his request while thinking of strategies to persuade in order to cancel the wedding plan. “But Baba did not think that Mama Latifa who was so happy with the matchmaking we immediately made an invitation and distributed it to workers in the office including your mother.”

“You can imagine how Mama felt at that time?” Artika continues her husband's story despite her chest pains each time she remembers the incident. “Mother was like being stabbed by ten swords and thrown into the bottom of an endless abyss so she couldn't say anything.”.

Mundika who imagined the scene design that occurred trying hard to hold back her crying by squeezing the abaya she was wearing. He did not expect his parents to experience something like this.

“Listen to me Artika!” Dalmouk tried to persuade Artika who did not accept it turned out to be herself and her feelings were played by Dalmouk all this time.

“I have to listen to what other reason Mr Dalmouk?!” Artika replied loudly despite the atmosphere that afternoon on the roof of the building. “Content have you hurt your heart with your sweet promise you exchanged stabbing me with an indecision?!”

“This wedding I don't want at all Artika! What I love is you, not Latifa!” Reply Dalmouk no less hard make Artika choked. This was the first time he had seen Dalmouk being so hard on him. “Do you not understand my position as the oldest child and the only son in my family who is relied upon to continue the sustainability of this company and keep you able to work and career here?!” Dalmouk, who saw an expression of pain and hurt when he snapped at the girl, accidentally caused a small, hard pinch in his heart. Never had he said this loud to Artika before made her feel so guilty.

“Lantas you will make me a third party later so?!” Artika's lips trembled with a cynical smile in order to try to contain all the turbulent emotions in her heart. “You are so selfish!”

“Artics..,” Say Dalmouk slowly.

“Sorry Mr. Dalmouk, our relationship ends here,” Artika stared at the guts full of tears she had been holding back since. “You and your family do not need to worry that my presence will disturb your household in the future. Think of it as my karma first for choosing a career in this company and arbitrarily severing my relationship with my former lover first.”

“What do you mean?” Dalmouk felt bad when listening to Artika's words just now.

“I'm not that crazy to pawn my self-esteem just for the sake of a career here,” Artika walks past Dalmouk as if turning her back on the man. “I will resign from this company and return to Indonesia!”

***