The Incomplete Love
Kalandra Akira Son of Thoriq

Days change, months change. Hanna is already pregnant. Thoriq is now a standby husband. Although the relationship with Hanna is limited to obligations, the prospective father is very much looking forward to the birth of his baby.

Qiara, whose pregnancy was a few weeks earlier than Hanna, was waiting for the day. He had already transferred the work to friends, but there were some clients who were still handled by themselves.

Like the work in the Devan mansion that is now entering more private rooms.

That afternoon Qiara was designing the layout and decoration of the room that Liam used to wear. The room was located next to the main room on the top floor. Devan wants Liam's former room to be his study. Qiara thought, the room is very fitting for a child's bedroom, while for a workspace can be made in another room located opposite the main room.

Qiara wanted to show Devan the design of the nursery first. If his client still disagreed, then Qiara would make it into a workspace.

While humming, Qiara rearranged the existing furniture. He brought examples of carpets and cheerful wall papers to change the feel of the room. He can't wait to present his concept to Devan.

Qiara heard the sound of an elevator arriving on the upper floor of the mansion. He prepares to welcome Devan and explains the concept of a child's bedroom.

Before long Devan entered accompanied by Jack behind his wheelchair.

“Hi, good morning, Doctor D,” greet Qiara friendly.

The warm smile on Devan's face disappeared as soon as he entered the room.

“Qiara, what are you doing? This isn’t what I want!” Devan stared around with a dislike.

“Before, Doctor D, I know this is not what you want, but this room is perfect for a child's bedroom. The lighting and the airflow are very good. For the workspace I can make in the front room of the main bedroom,” explained Qiara. The pregnant woman turned around to explain further.

“Out!” Devan snapped at Qiara making him jump in shock.

“I said get out! There will be no more children in this house. Why are you making a kid's room, huh? This is not your house! Don't you think you're preparing a room for your son. Go!”

Devan shouted while running his wheelchair around the room. Throwing out all the things he could reach.

Not expecting Devan's reaction to be so sinister, Qiara stood still. Devan was still screaming and cursing. Jack approached Qiara and led the woman in shock out of the room.

Just how many steps, Qiara stopped. Her water broke down soaking the floor and her clothes. The pain made him scream. Jack held the pregnant woman down.

Devan stopped raging.

“Qiara!” Anger changes with panic and worry.

“Jack, lay him down. Hurry along! Ambulance phone.”

Since there was no bed in the room and only a baby Liam box, Jack laid Qiara on the carpet and took a pillow. The pain in Qiara's stomach made her continue to complain and whimper.

“Yes Allah, O Allah, help me. Please save my son, O Allah, O Allah.”

***

Thoriq was ready to go to the office when suddenly the pain was so intense all over his body that he fell in his room.

“Yes Allah, sick!”

He tried to lift his body to the bed and lay there.

Thoriq continued to moan, the pain continued to pour out, the pain that had never been felt before.

***

“Qiara I will check you, yes, you know I am an obstetrician.”

In between her pain, Qiara shook her head.

“No, please take it to hospital.”

“Qiara, let me help you.”

“Aaaaah!” Qiara screamed in pain. Blood came out from between his legs.

“Jack, quickly get some big towels, warm water, scissors, and antiseptics. Qiara will give birth here,” Devan said.

“No, no, no! Son, you must be strong. Buna did not want to give birth here. Aaah!”

“Quick Jack, Qiara contraction is already less than 1 minute.”

Devan brought his wheelchair closer to Qiara, who was lying on the carpet.

“Qiara, I suspect you are ready to give birth. Let me check on you when Jack comes.”

“No! I can wait until... until aaaaah!”

Qiara squeezed the carpet until her knuckles turned white.

“Yes Allah, O Allah, astaghfirullah.

Devan looked at the woman in front of him who was moaning in pain. The shadow he had when his wife gave birth to Liam flashed in his mind. How Stella never took off her hand and looked for strength when the contraction occurred by continuing to look into Devan's eyes. The man she loved.

The pregnant woman in front of him is now struggling to risk her life to give birth to a baby, accompanied by a person she knew a few months ago and has just gone berserk before her.

“Qia take a deep breath, contractions are coming soon. I help you set your breath.”

Tears flowed down Qiara's cheeks.

“Sickly. You promise, if there's anything, you will …. You will take my son .. to my brother. Appointment!”

“Let me check on you, Qiara. In the shayah of Allah I can help you,” please Devan with a worried tone.

Qiara nodded. Devan drives a wheelchair to check on Qiara. In times of distress, wheelchairs cannot move at all.

“Yes Allah, laa ilaahaillallaah, laa ilaahaillallaah.” Contractions again whack Qiara. Now he is on the verge of surrender. He felt blood still coming out from between his legs.

Devan was still trying to move his wheelchair when he finally said, “Bismillaahirrahmanirrahiim.”

Trudgingly, Devan rose to his feet, step by step heading down Qiara's body and sat down.

Jack comes and is stunned to see Devan not in a wheelchair.

“Jack, fast! You also have antiseptic, right?”

“Iya, Mr.”

Devan cleaned his hands. In the mansion there are no rubber gloves. He had to help Qiara with minimal equipment.

“Sorry Qiara I started checking, yes.”

Devan bent Qiara's legs and placed a towel over his knees.

Devan carefully examined Qiara.

“Your opening is complete, the baby has also entered the birth canal. You are ready to give birth to Qiara. If contractions come, you hold your stomach and then start straining.”

Jack knelt down while holding Qiara's hand which was now cold.

His voice was soft when he said, “You got this. Think about it in a few minutes, you'll see your baby. Me and Devan will take care of you.”

Qiara glanced at Jack then nodded.

“It’s coming, aaaaah!” Exclaims.

“Push Qiara! Yeah you’re doing great! Push!” Devan's orders.

Qiara clasped Jack's hand tightly while straining. As much as possible regulate the breath when contractions stop.

“Bismillaahirrahmanirrahiim, aaaaah!” Qiara once again strained as the contractions came. Jack continued to grip Qiara's hand giving her strength to women who were risking their lives.

Qiara pushed a few times, until finally the sound of a baby crying loudly.

Qiara breathed a sigh of relief. The whole pain disappeared instantly. He was crying full of laughter. Jack who caught the newborn now placed it on Qiara's chest.

“Congratulations, your son is young and healthy.”

“Maa shaa Allah, alhamdulillah. Thank God.” Qiara looked at the face of her love fruit with Thoriq.

“Assalamualaykum Kalandra Akira Putra Thoriq,” he said with great happiness.

Jack helps Devan get up and sit him in a wheelchair.

The two men stared in amazement at the mother and baby who now seemed radiant.

Kalandra looks very comfortable in her mother's arms.

Outside there was the sound of siren ambulance approaching the mansion.

“Qiara, you and your baby will be taken to the nearest hospital. They'll take care of you there because I don't have the full tools here. Jack and I will keep you company.”

“Devan, can I call you Devan?”

“Can you prosecute my son?”

“In shaa Allah, Qiara.”

Jack takes Kalandra from Qiara's embrace then gives it to Devan.

“Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar. Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar's. Asyhadu allaa ilaaha. Asyhadu allaa ilaaha. Ashhadu anna Muhammadar. Ashhadu anna Muhammadar. Hayya 'alashshalaah's. Hayya 'alashshalaah's. Hayya's 'alalfalaah. Hayya's 'alalfalaah. Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar's. Laa ilaaha illallaah.”

The atmosphere changed syahdu when Devan recited the adhan in Kalandra's ear. No tears escaped the man when he looked at Baby Kalandra's face as if looking back at him and smiling.

“Oh my God's. He smiles back at him,” Jack said with a smile looking at Kalandra warmly.

Amidst Qiara's happiness, grief infiltrated the recesses of her heart.

“Should be you, Mas who pits Kala ..” Inner is sad.

Two ambulance officers went upstairs.

Devan returned Kalandra to her mother and said gently to Qiara, “They will take you and Kalandra now. You’ll be fine.”

Qiara nodded while holding her baby. Very carefully, as if he was sending a love that had been far left behind but still lingered in his heart.

The young mother kissed her baby's little cheek, then said, “Thank you, thank you for helping me and for putting my son on trial. Of all the people in the world, I didn't think you were the one who helped me give birth.”

“Oooh she’s back! A minute she thanked me, a minute later she started mocking me, you see that, Jack?” devan replied while laughing at Qiara's words.

The three laughed with mixed feelings. Happy, sad, gamang, become one.

Two officers inspected Qiara and prepared to move her to a cage. Qiara glanced towards the carpet.

“I’m sorry I ruined your carpet,” he said softly.

(I'm sorry I broke your carpet).

“Oh I think we’re even, dear,” grin Devan.

(Oh we have a series ..)

“Devan! You’re sick,” reply Qiara with a red met face, understand very well the meaning of Devan's speech that has seen the most core in his body.

“Hahaha sorry, no worries about the carpet.” Devan reply reduces awkwardness.

(Hahaha, don't worry about the carpet.)

“Excuse me, we will take the patient to the hospital.” The officer said after laying Qiara down in the cage.

“Good, we will follow from behind.”

“Please Doctor Devan,” an ambulance officer with respect.

Before long, Qiara was already on her way to the hospital followed by Devan and Jack.

***

Thoriq felt his life would end. He had resigned, only regretting that he would not have time to meet his son who was still in the womb Hanna and had not met directly with Qiara to apologize.

His lips continue to recite tahlil. I do not know how long Thoriq felt pain until finally the feeling disappeared itself.

“Alhamdulillah ya Allah.” After the pain disappeared for a few minutes, Thoriq tried to get up. He sat on the side of the bed. His hand reached for hape.

“Assalamualaykum Hanna, where are you?”

“Waalaykumussalam, this is again the same breakfast on the terrace. Here Mas, there are my friends. They stopped by bring porridge.”

Thoriq breathed a sigh of relief because Hanna was fine. He once read a husband who was in pain when his wife gave birth. He put his clothes on and walked out of the room.

On the terrace, Hanna is surrounded by her new friends. They were out of work, wearing only shorts and a tanktop.

“Hanna, Mas depart.” Thoriq undoes his intention to say hello after seeing the clothes of his wife's friends.

“Ya Mas,” says Hanna. Thoriq was waiting for Hanna but apparently his wife was busy with her friends. Thoriq shrugged his shoulders then walked to his car and left for the office.

***

In six different places, Dhanu, Marianne, Alya, Sabrina, Cherish, Ella was strangled in shock and happy to see the photo that Qiara sent.

“Meet Baby Kalandra Akira Son Thoriq.”

Dhanu immediately made a video call with her sister.

“Assalamualaykum maa shaa Allah, My sister. Mas seneng really ..” He said with warmed eyes. He didn't care when he was in an elevator full of people.

“Waalaykumussalam, Mas. Kala abis nyusu. Mas, it turns out that the first nyuin was very sick, yes.” Qiara said innocently.

Dhanu was stunned to realize she was in an elevator full of doctors and patients.

“Qia, Mas Dhanu again in this elevator, do not use hands-free.”

Qiara's eyes widened, aware that her last words might be heard by many. Dhanu hurriedly exited when the elevator door opened.

“Mas! Call from dalem lift. Qia is embarrassed.”

Dhanu chuckled at her sister's mere nagging puppet.

“How are you doing, Dek? What time is it born?”

“So two o'clock if not wrong.”

“Wah alhamdulillah had time to the hospital, yes, Dek.”

“Waah Qia gave birth not in hospital. At the client's place, who helped also his client Qia, thank you he's doctor.”

Dhanu jerked.

“Yes Allah, Qia. Are you okay?”

“Sempet horror, but thank God there is Doctor Devan and Jack nemenin Qia.”

Dhanu massaged the base of her nose, imagining her sister giving birth in the company of two strangers. Guilt was on Dhanu's chest.

“Mas Dhanu will be there Qia. Mas will take care of Qia and Kala.”

“Hahaha no need, Mas. Thank God there are many who take care of Qia. Mom-in-law Mas will soon be together with Mark. Later that night, Stephanie insists on nemenin Qia here.”

Several calls came in at the same time, from his friends.

“Mas, Qia friend.”

“Qia, Qia, has your child been adopted? If not here Mas adzani.”

“Udah, same as Doctor Devan. She blaster Indonesian - Australian. Islam too. Qia was wondering if she could make it. Thankfully, it turns out he can. Most Qia nitip later make aqiqah yes. Qia send money to make him goat.”

“No need Qia, from Mas aja.”

“Qia peeng, Mas. Don't use Qia's money. Qia has sent. I hope Qia calls again. Nih say bye same Baby Kala.”

Qiara pointed the camera at her sleeping baby. After he finished, he picked up his best friend's phone.

“Qiara! Oh my goodness, that's a big deal. Baby What else? What is the weight and length.”

Questions came from mothers who were happy to welcome the arrival of new members in their extended family.

“Again, Onti, abis nyusu. Weighing 3.2 kg, length 52 cm. Gaes, how the hell do nyuin let not hurt.”

The five friends then chatted passionately about the care for the newborn mother. Kala sleeps well, occasionally moves but returns to sleep.

“Qi facilities first yes, must be meeting. Girl, you look glowing. Yeah, gaes. There is no guava nose because pregnant. Very beautiful you.”

“Alhamdulillah, doain me smoothly here ya.”

“Definitely. Take care Qi, later we will often love tips for you. We have been born many times,” concluded Sabrina before they ended the video call.

Qiara put her hape in the nightstand.

“You and me, Kala. We can, both. Buna will take care of you. In shaa Allah.”

While observing her sleeping baby, Qiara realized one thing, how very similar Kala was to her ex-husband.

***