Sharing Love: Winning Without Love
New Friendship Circle
This morning, Khaira was again preparing to go to campus. The girl wore a shirt, jeans, coat (thick jacket), and also a scarf that coiled around her neck to protect from the cold of winter in Manchester City which reached 8° Celsius.
"Lecture until what time is it today, Khai?" tanya Radit who is also preparing to wear a coat. During his time in Manchester, Radit always drove and picked up Khaira while in college.
Although on foot and occasionally on a bus that stops directly in front of the Khaira campus, but this man really enjoyed all his activities with Khaira. His second life there was very simple, but in that simplicity Radit was happy. It was no longer about the job title and the materials he had, but because now he had someone he had to fight for, someone who filled his heart with love, sincerity, and loyalty. Even though the winter in this city is very cold, but the days of Radit with Khaira are always warm.
"Lecture until 1 pm, Mas." replied Khaira while carrying a fairly thick book in her hands.
"Yes, I'll pick him up at the usual place" he told Khaira to pick him up.
"Mas Radit isn't soybean?" she looked at her husband's face.
Radit smiled as he shook his head. "No, for you there is no tired word dear. In fact, I can even take you, I also all sports. This is a walk for all sports. My heart is healthy because I exercise, healthier because it's the same you. My immunity goes up." he said with a cry.
Khaira smiled as she sighed. "Now Pinter is really dreadful."
"It's not a fight, honey, but it's the reality I feel" he said lightly.
"Yeah yuk Mas, we go. Afraid late."
Khaira and Radit walk out of the apartment together. They walked through the streets, holding hands together, laughing and chatting until the two had reached the University of Manchester.
Just as Khaira and Radit stop in front of the campus, Khaira's three friends come together and approach Khaira.
"Hai Khaira, healthy today? sapa Tina, the Indian girl who studied there as well.
"Hi Tina's. I'm healthy." she replied with a smile.
"Khaira, it seems we do not know your husband too well how about this afternoon we gather? Lunch together, after this lecture. How's it?" Adam decided to get to know Radit.
Khaira looked at her husband. "Temen-temen on ngajakin lunch together after college, would not Mas? They want to know you" Khaira told Radit.
Radit seemed to nod his head. "No problem. We can eat together later in the day. I also feel good about getting to know your friends."
"Okay guys, after college we can gather and eat together. But remember, I don't want you guys to drink alcohol when I'm there, I'll go straight home" Khaira said, eye-opening.
"I know about it, Khai." replied Mark who already understood that his friend was very unhappy if his friend drank alcohol while with him.
The five smiled together. Cross-race and country friendships are not a big deal for Khaira, Tina, Mark and Adam. As for Radit, he is grateful because now he also knows Khaira's friends.
"Mas, I'm going in first. Be careful when you go home. Salim used to be Mas."
Khaira extended her hand and welcomed Radit. Shaking hands with the back of her husband's hand she pressed against his forehead. "I went to college, Mas." he said, waving his hand.
"Yes, a good college. Pick up again here. Wait till Mas dateng ya."
Radit was still standing where he saw that his wife's back had disappeared. After Khaira was not seen, she returned to her apartment by bus.
"Lo's a good wife, Khai..." Adam walks while teasing Khaira.
"What do you mean?" he asked her who did not understand Adam's words.
"That was a hand salim. A good wife." God.
"Because of my culture from Indonesia, from Java. The hand of the husband honors him as my husband. If there are no salim-salim hands." said Khaira.
"There is a marriage hunt there." replied Khaira fiercely.
***
Three hours later.
The last lecture is finally over. Relieved and happy faces welcome a winter holiday that lasts a whole month.
Khaira, Adam, Tina, and Mark walked together out of the campus. As promised this morning, the four will gather together with Radit to get to know his best friend's husband better.
Outside the campus it seems Radit was standing there, the man was always on time when he picked up his wife back from college. From far away he had already waved his hand to Khaira.
While the one who received a wave of hands from her husband just smiled blushed in embarrassment.
"Have you finished college?" his question was as soon as Khaira approached him.
"It has. Last lecture before the holidays. Finally." he said relieved.
"So where are we going to have lunch?" (So where are we going to have lunch?) radit asked them all.
"How about we have coffee in Pret A Manger? We drink coffee, we can't drink alcohol with Khaira" said Mark, who was immediately approved by Tina and Adam.
Pret A Manger is a cafe that sells a variety of processed coffee and chocolate drinks, sandwiches, and various homemade cakes. This coffee shop is only 20 meters from the University of Manchester.
Finally the five of them walked together to the coffee shop.
Arriving at Pret A Manger, Adam, Mark, and Radit choose to order Black Americano, Tina orders Cappucino, and Khaira orders Hot Choco. In addition they also order a variety of Croissant cakes and other foods they want.
"So, we should call your husband by name or what about Khai?" ask Adam to Khaira.
"As far as you guys are. If abroad there is no mention of Brother, they usually call Brother/Sister or immediately call their names." replied Khaira approved by her friends.
"You can call me Radit. Ordinary, no problem." said Radit smiling looking at one by one his wife's friends.
"If in India, we call our older brother 'Bhai'" Tina said.
"Call it with all you want. I don't think it's a problem." replied Khaira. After all, their friendship is cross-national and cultural, so it does not matter if each person brings their own cultural culture.
"If you call your husband what Khai is?" ask Mark suddenly.
Khaira slightly glanced at Radit who was sitting next to her.
"Hmm, I call him Mas."
"Why not call him Hubby, Babe, and other names like the people here?" Mark found her with questions.
"If in Indonesia, often the wife calls her husband with the call 'Mas' even though it means an older brother for the Javanese tribe" replied Adam.
"So, it's up to you. Just so you're comfortable." Imbuh Khaira in his speech.
"OK, since you are Khaira's husband, you are also our friend. Friends?" said the three friends of Khaira at the same time.
Radit agreed. He did not expect to get a new circle of friends here, his wife's friend also became his friend now.