The Incomplete Love
The Stella stratagem

Thoriq was sitting next to Aira's window. Already a few days Aira fever after returning from Jakarta.

Niatan Thoriq to return to Jakarta to Dhanu's house in search of Qiara had to be postponed.

Thoriq grabbed the hape from his pocket. He opened his favorite photo while on the beach with Qiara. Qiara's cheerful smile and rosy cheeks, warmed Thoriq's heart.

It was almost three years since I last saw Qiara. The feeling is still the same.

“Qia, you're fine, right? I hope one day we will be found. May you be happy, my dear. Mas sad, not Mas who makes you happy.”

“Aya, Aya kangen Buna, yes?”

Aira was awake. Sitting on his bed, rubbing his eyes. Thoriq walked to Aira's bed, holding her son's neck which began to sweat.

“Aira is awake, dear? It's hot down, alhamdulillaah.”

“Aya, Aira is good. Want to eat soto.”

If anything good happens in the two years of Thoriq's life, it is Aira's presence. The daughter he was responsible for after Hanna handed over custody at the divorce hearing.

Aira became his motivation to recover and rise from the slump. Now they both live in a house with a large backyard.

After recovering, with the rest of his savings, Thoriq invested into a plot of land on the slopes of Mount Dieng. He built a small villa with views overlooking the city. The modern villa is styled into a cozy residence and rented out.

The unique buildings as well as the beautiful scenery make it trending. From the rent, Thoriq built another villa in the mountainous area of Lawu.

Two years of knowing Qiara made him have the skill to organize the room nicely. The villa features an outdoor Jacuzzi overlooking the top of Lawu mountain.

A pair of honeymooners evoke the beauty and romantic atmosphere of the villa. Since then, the villa has never been empty of bookers.

Thoriq continues to expand his business until now he has a mini resort. He also made a home office where he worked controlling all the villas. Hiring a few people to directly manage his entire property and periodically come to do inspections.

Aira was always coming along when Thoriq visited his villas. The beautiful boy was enjoying the mountain atmosphere. Sometimes if there is an empty villa, Thoriq invites his son to spend the night there.

Thoriq employed an elderly couple in his home. Bik Ratmi and Mr. Katmo. Bik Ratmi cooks and takes care of Aira while Pak Katmo cleans the house and becomes the driver.

The grandmother repeatedly advised Thoriq to remarry. Even introducing some women. Thoriq refused firmly.

“Nek, let Thoriq seek his own happiness. Already, do not need to match Thoriq with anyone.”

“But Aira need mom.”

“Nek, Thoriq please. Let Thoriq determine his own way of life.”

“Thoriq, don't be. You are still young, not much experience like Grandpa and Grandma,” said Grandpa.

“Grandpa, did Grandpa ever remarry?”

Grandpa's throat was choked. Fifty years of living with his wife has never once glanced at another woman.

“No, Thoriq, but ..”

“Have Grandpa lost Grandma an item a day?”

“No.”

“Pardon me, Grandpa, Grandma. The happiness of Thoriq and Aira is my responsibility.”

“We just want to help you be happy.”

“Let Thoriq and Aira as they are today. We are calm and happy, Grandma. Thoriq will marry a woman of his own choice.”

Seeing how hard Thoriq refused, Grandpa and Grandma finally gave up.

“However, Aira laper ..”

Thoriq laughed and carried his son. The father and son duo laughed jokingly.

***

Stella throws a vase of flowers in front of her. The man she paid for had just given a photo of Devan and Liam with Qiara and Kala. The four of them were seen joking at a restaurant.

“Job!”

In other photos, Liam seems fun playing with Kala. The boy is seen protecting and holding Kala.

Stella is angry that Liam did not follow her orders to stay away from Qiara and Kala.

“You need to know who Qiara is,” the man named Tom whom Stella hired.

Stella looked up to the big tall man who chose to remain standing.

“Talk..”.

All the information regarding Qiara and Kala flowed smoothly from Tom's mouth. Nothing is left behind. Including according to his observations, the woman still loved Thoriq.

“You know, she left Indonesia without notifying Thoriq of her pregnancy. If you can get Thoriq to meet Qiara, maybe they can refer to him. Or even if you could get the athoriq to file for custody, Qiara would be messed around with the matter. You can approach Devan, of course not too plain. I’m sure you know what to do.”

Smiling cynically, Stella again saw a photo of Thoriq hugging Qiara during their wedding party.

“Basic male fool. But you will be useful to me to separate Qiara and Devan.”

***

“Hidden Paradise” is how Thoriq named the villa on the slopes of Mount Lawu. Today there is a tenant who will enter, Thoriq does a final check before the tenant comes.

A car is approaching. Aira ran from inside the villa and immediately asked her father to carry her.

Stella looked at the two from the car. The cynical smile instantly changed with a friendly smile as it exited the car.

Aira was stunned to see the beauty of Stella, while Thoriq nodded then lowered his gaze.

“You must be Thoriq, we chat earlier via app.”

“Yes, nice to meet you. We have prepared everything. Please if you want to look around.”

Stella enters and the view towards the mountain. He looked around to a simple villa compared to the villas he used to visit in Switzerland or Canada.

But he praised the arrangement of a comfortable and pleasant space.

“Mam, if all is in order, enjoy your visit. I'm pampering. Thank you.”

“Wait..”

“What's up? Is there anything less?”

Stella sat on the couch.

“Didn't you want to know about a child named Kalandra Akira Putra Thoriq?”

Thoriq's heart stopped beating.

His breathing jolted, his eyes wide open.”

Stella calmly throws at the dining table pictures of Qiara and Kala from the time in Australia until the moment after they return to Jakarta.

Thoriq. Sitting on the dining chair while observing all the photos that Stella spread. Hands shaking. Take and observe one by one.

There is a photo of Qiara holding Kala as a baby. Photo from his first birthday.

“Qia ..” he said.

“The brother who is in the hospital,” said Aira while pointing at Kala.

Kala was grinning widely, his eyes were witty and sparkling.

Thoriq stared at his daughter's wonder, “Aira saw this boy?”

“Call brother sick.”

Thoriq's heart melos.

Then there is a photo of Kala standing watching something, Thoriq like seeing a photo of himself as a child. There was a photo of Qiara holding me Kala who was sound asleep.

Thoriq's eyes warmed. Aira looked at her father.

“Aya ... Aya ..”

Thoriq stroked Aira's head and hugged her tightly. Unconsciously, he had two children.

“When you were born a month before your ex-wife gave birth. Your second wife gave birth with all the luxuries, while Qiara gave birth on the floor of my son's room by a crippled doctor.”

“Qia ..” Thoriq is only able to name the ex-wife he still loves very much.

“They are in Indonesia, stay in Dhanu's home pavilion. Qiara ... Qiara still loves you very much,” Stella said calmly.

“Look, I've booked your villa this week, but ..” Stella looked around.

“But I won't occupy it. You can keep the money. My advice to you is to meet Qiara and your son. As a father, you have the right to meet him especially Qiara has no right to hide it from you.”

“Who Are You? And why did you tell me this?”

“Let’s just say.. I am a woman who hopes her family is whole again.”

Stella stood up and spoke slowly.

“Soon, or you lose them a second time.”

He rubbed his cheeks before coming out and leaving the dumbstruck Thoriq staring at the scattered photos.

***