The Incomplete Love
Keep Stepping

Early in the morning, Devan opened his eyes. Born and raised in Australia, he is not a religious person, but today, he is moved to pray.

Early in the day, assisted by Jack, assistant and waiter, Devan took ablution water and carried out his duties.

Jack looked in amazement at his master who was now honoring God.

His memory goes back to the unfortunate incident almost four years ago. Devan and his wife Stella were riding when suddenly a snake appeared in front of the horse Devan was riding. The stallion was shocked to make Devan slammed down.

The sturdy man was unconscious for several days. When he woke up, both his legs were paralyzed. His family had already brought Devan to various experts. He had several surgeries, but no results.

Devan. His attitude changed drastically. From a warm and caring person, to a rude and angry person.

Every day he blames fate. Take it from a career that has been built. He was working as a surgeon when the accident happened.

Devan refused to talk to anyone, including his wife. He does not want to be close to his son.

One night he went berserk, throwing all the things he could reach. Stella who was initially patient and always loyal to take care of Devan regardless of the curse she received finally gave up. That night he brought their nine-month-old son Liam.

A month later, Devan received a divorce warrant. Devan is getting worse. Only his father, mother, and sister Jessica would still visit him occasionally.

Devan's father was a successful businessman in various fields of industry. One of them is in the hospitality field. MJ Interior Design has worked on several hotels that they have.

When Devan intends to change the interior of the house, his father, Phil, immediately welcomes. Hope this is the beginning of a positive change for Devan. Phil contacts Mario, but no designer can work for Devan.

Until Qiara was present and dared to express his opinion in front of Devan. A heroic act according to Jack. And a miracle because Devan wants Qiara to do his house.

Ever since meeting Qiara, Devan seemed to have spirit. Whether it is the spirit of life or the spirit of fighting against interior designers whose stomachs begin to bulge.

There was no day without quarrel when the two humans met. Qiara won more often.

Jack admired Qiara's intelligence and calmness. Whatever proposal Devan makes will be considered first. If it is good, it will be said good. If it is bad then the woman does not hesitate to express it bluntly. Although that will start a fierce argument because Devan does not like to be denied.

Devan who has finished praying calls his assistant, “Jack, quickly help me to the bathroom. I yesterday asked the physiotherapist to come at seven in the morning.”

Jack couldn't believe his hearing. All this time, Devan had to be forced to practice. Jack immediately helps Devan to the bathroom that has been overhauled to adjust to Devan's condition.

“Master, I'll prepare breakfast. All clothes I have prepared.”

“Good, thank you.”

Jack almost burst into tears as Devan thanked him. The fierce man began to show his gentle nature.

Eagerly, Jack who had worked long enough in Devan's father's family immediately prepared breakfast.

Physiotherapy was done by Devan with great enthusiasm.

At nine o'clock, Devan had been sitting neatly on the front porch of the mansion. Wearing light blue polo and khaki pants, Devan was busy ordering gardeners to change crops. Only Jack knew that the man could not wait for Qiara to arrive.

Twenty-five minutes later, the car carrying Qiara entered the mansion grounds. Jack snorted as he saw the car had arrived since nine in the morning and stopped at the end of the road. Qiara even had time to walk around the car enjoying the fresh air outside the city.

Devan put on a grumbling face. Qiara with a meaningful smile came down and greeted Devan.

“For Doctor Devan, you look very excited,” his reply in a crisp voice as usual.

“Have to really wait twenty-five minutes in a new car want to enter the mansion?” Devan asked in a grumbling tone.

“Yup, I was thinking you would join rather than busy peeking out of the room window. All right I'm briefing workers first, yeah. Today the reading room is finished one hundred percent as scheduled.”

Devan was wide-eyed, not expecting the peep peek action to be discovered. Jack painstakingly endured the laughter that was about to explode.

With light steps Qiara headed beside the mansion where her workers were waiting. Ten minutes the woman spoke to the foreman and the worker before entering to see Devan.

“Okay, you should not wait for the results of re-design for the reading room. But not now, later we make a small launching because this is the first space that is finished.”

Devan was about to refute, but he stared at Qiara's beaming face.

“You will love it, be patient, just a little finishing touch. Now we go to the dining room, I want to show you the prepared plan.”

Qiara walked ahead of Devan and Jack.

“I am always amazed by the view from this dining room. So, this is my proposal. The dining table stays in place. His position is correct. For a clean kitchen I will turn it a little more modern. I know some ceramic ornaments are collectibles so I keep them. I'll add a tea table next to the pantry. Well, I'll add patio outside the dining room. There I will place a dining table for four people. How nice to enjoy breakfast in the fresh air with views of the lake.”

Jack agreed. The dining room that was initially cold seemed warm in Qiara's hands. But Devan's not his name if you agree.

“For what to put a tea drinking table. There is a dining table there.”

“Doctor Devan, this dining table is for eight people. Don't you feel lonely sitting alone at the table? I placed the tea table next to the pantry, the view overlooking the flower garden and the hills behind it.”

Devan snorted, “I don't care about the feeling of loneliness. Throw away the idea of that tea table. Waste of money.”

“I'm sure you do not mind for yourself ..” Qiara paused his sentence. Jack flinched while Devan immediately turned his head towards Qiara.

“But imagine, if you enjoy the solitude while enjoying the colorful flowers. In the summer, there are a lot of butterflies. So you still enjoy the quiet with a different view.” Qiara explained with a moving hand.

Once again Jack had to bite his lips so as not to let go of laughing. Devan gulped while imagining swallowing Qiara roundly. His mouth was ready to refute but he did not want to lose again in arguing with Qiara. So Devan chose to shut up.

“How's Doctor? We agree?”

“Ya.”

“Well that dong. Thank ye. You won't regret it if it's all done. I will change the color of this room to light yellow. Dark brown color is less fitting with the dining room today. Maybe this color is trending in colonial times.” Qiara spoke as she stepped out of the dining room towards the library.

Devan's eyes almost popped due to glaring. He himself chose dark brown paint to highlight a dining table made of real mahogany wood and light brown pantries.

***

In the afternoon delivered a car rented by his office, Qiara arrived at the apartment. His body feels tired. He immediately took a hot bath and made a warm tea.

His legs were propped up on the sofa, his hands rubbing against his achy waist.

“Ouch ... baby, you're again shaky, yes?” Qiara rubbed her stomach while smiling. The baby kicked often. He was amazed how the baby was calm when he worked but started to be agile at night.

“Thank you for not fussing when Buna works. Buna is happy if your night is agile. So Buna doesn't feel alone.”

Qiara lit a murottal in her hape. His eyes closed, his hands rubbed against his back which was now hot.

\~Flash back on\~

“Hmm, Qia wants our kids all wear prefix K. Well if for girls, Qia wants her name Kamelia.”

“Beauty name. It's still a middle name. What about Aira? So Kamelia Aira Princess Thoriq.”

“Iiih Mas, right princess Qia also.” Qiara pretended to sulk.

“Dong sure, Honey. I'll only have children from you.”

“Awas you, Mas ..” Threatened Qiara not expect six months later her husband married Hanna and finally looking forward to the child of another woman besides her.

Thoriq looked at Qiara's face then said, “If it's a boy, Mas who loves first name, Qia who loves middle name. If the boy's first name is Kalandra, yes.”

“Happy, Mas. Kalandra ... Kalandra Akira Putra Thoriq?” Qiara looked at Thoriq with her round eyes.

Thoriq pinched his wife's nose and replied, “Aya agrees, Buna ..”

“Makasi Aya, Buna love equal Aya ..” reply Qiara spoiled.

\~Flash back off\~

Qiara rubbed the tears that escaped on her cheeks recalling the fond memories with Thoriq.

“Kalandra, we will love each other and take care of each other, yes.Just you are the only one Buna has from Aya,” Qiara said to the child in his stomach.

“Yes Allah, this waist seal is great ..”

After making milk for pregnancy, Qiara decided to go to bed early.

***

“Mas, rub Hanna's waist. Very pegel.”

“Yes Allah, Hanna, Mas just entered the house. Assalamualaykum.”

“Waalaykumussalam, come on Mas, yuk rubin Hanna,” the pregnant woman pulled her husband's hand into the room. She gave the essential oil to her husband without noticing Thoriq's tired expression. She herself lay on her side waiting for her husband to do what he asked.

Thoriq rubbed Hanna's waist. His own body was tired from just arriving from reviewing the project in Tanjung Lesung.

“Mas, Hanna has invested Hanna's money into housing. Checkout with Hanna.”

“What home?”

“There is a cluster townhouse in Bekasi. Temen Hanna has participated in the investment and fortunately very big in the first cluster.”

“Who is the developer?”

“No idea, but Hanna believes in Hanna. Hanna transferred fifteen billion.”

“Yes Allah Hanna, it's that direct?”

“Emang so, later the profit is about thirty percent.”

“That's inheritance money from your parents loh.”

“Hanna tau. Oiya really isn't just that. Hanna found an ATM in Mas' closet drawer. There's an account number and a pin. There are about five hundred million, Hanna sisain a hundred million.”

which “ATM?” Thoriq stop rubbing.

“ATM PB Bank in the drawer of the room closet Mas.”

“You unloaded room Mas?”

“Emang why? Husband's own room. Oddly enough, husband and wife don't room.”

Thoriq sighed several times dampening his anger.

“Hanna, there's Mba Qiara's money there. You should have been the same. If it's your money, it's up to you. But if you have Mas ask first!”

“Eh Mas, the husband's money belongs to his wife as well.”

“Yes but Mas was once married to Mbak Qiara, there is money Mbak Qiara there.”

“Lagian Mas strange, why not just behind. Divorce is still money for the ex. How much money is Ms Qiara? Later if there is already profit Hanna balikin,” replied Hanna ketus.

Thoriq close the essential oil bottle.

“Mas is stopping, Hanna is still pegel. C'mon.”

“Mas tired, Hanna, drive from Tanjung Lesung. Want to shower keep resting.”

“You're all by any chance. Try if Mas became a director, no longer need to do the work of the foreman. Hanna's husband is all directors. Everywhere to use a driver, not like Mas nyetir himself. Every month abroad, often also invite his wife,” Hanna chatter to heat up her husband.

“You know the outside is Hanna,” replied Thoriq ketus.

“Hanna is just a motivational love so let the spirit! Mas can work in Grandpa's company, directly become a director, salary is also greater. Salary Mas now to buy a bag just do not know enough! All from money Hanna.”

Thoriq massaged his throbbing forehead.

“If make life, just not?”

“Enough if you want to live ordinary!”

“Life is normal if it is.” Thoriq left Hanna to return to his room.

There he broke down. Don't forget to lock the door because you don't want Hanna to suddenly enter to continue the debate.

Thoriq took a pillow, closed his tired eyes. Head dizzy.

He recalled the first salary that was handed to Qiara. Maybe it's only a tenth of his salary now. But they are both grateful and manage finances to always be enough.

Aware that the maghrib's time was running out, Thoriq woke up staggered, heading for the bathroom to pick up ablution. He held his head which continued to throb.

***