The Incomplete Love
Maaf
“Oom Dicky ..!” Latifah rushed to see her uncle not far from the immigration area of Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Latifah hugged tightly, her face beaming. Happy for the first time on an airplane and abroad.
“I was flying through the clouds, Oom. Keep the plane rocking,” chattering Latifah excited. Dicky laughed amusedly at the reaction of the nephew who did not stop talking about the first experience of boarding the plane.
“Ifa, help Bu Hanna find a suitcase, later story again.” Dicky pointed towards Hanna, Ella, and Aira who were waiting in front of the conveyer belt.
“Aya!” Now it was Aira's turn to run towards Thoriq who had arrived first and had taken the luggage.
Thoriq hugged Aira tightly. Although he had been abroad, this was the first time Aira left without him.
“Where is the flight?”
“Bumpy but Aira does not vomit, koq.”
Thoriq rubbed the head of his son. He greeted Ella and nodded at Hanna.
Latifah who was carrying and dared to directly clench her hands in front of her chest, greeting her without touching Thoriq.
“He's Aira, huh? I'm Latifah, Oom. I came here with Oom Dicky,”, he said, pointing to his uncle.
Dicky came over.
“Assalamualaykum, I'm Dicky, his uncle Ifah.”
“Waalaykumussalam, Thoriq, his father Aira.”
While waiting for the luggage to come out, they chatted and asked the women to sit in waiting chairs.
Ella, Hanna, and Aira grinned at the endless chattering of Latifah. His first experience on a plane was very memorable.
After the baggage was completed, they headed for the hotel. Dicky walked a little behind. Noticing how awkward Hanna was in front of Thoriq and Aira.
Dicky snorted, Thoriq who heard him immediately turned his head with a questioning look.
“Oh, sorry, would sneeze,” Dicky said as he rubbed his non-itchy nose. Thoriq smiled then walked back next to Aira.
While in Malaysia, Thoriq rented a large car to pick them up. The plan is that they will be there for three days.
Upon arrival at the hotel, Hanna takes care of the check-in. Thoriq chose to wait after his ex-wife finished the new he took care of the check-in for her.
He talked a lot with Dicky who was more or less the same as Latifah. Onion.
“Urus check-in first, yuk.”
“Mmm, I'm not staying here, Mas. But if I may nitip my suitcase in receptionist later tonight after the race I take.”
Latifah who heard his mother's words walked over. Half a whisper he asked, “Oom really do not nginep here? How about tomorrow Ifah?”
“Please, later tonight if Ifah has entered the room, then Oom to the hotel. Tomorrow morning Oom is here again.”
Although still a child, Latifah knew how much Oomnya struggled to provide for them as well as pay his father's debts.
Latifah hugged her uncle and whispered again, “Thank you, Oom. Latifah will fight his best in the race to win. In shaa Allah.”
Dicky kissed the head of his nephew. “Should be the best effort. Remember Mother's message? Eyes on the prize.”
“Ready!”
From her seat Hanna notices the warm interaction between Dicky and his niece. The woman sighed then glanced at Aira who was sitting next to her with a flat face.
“If Mama could hug you, Aira, it would be the most beautiful moment,” her mind is sad.
Ella grabbed Hanna's hand and grabbed it to encourage her.
“Patience, Son,” gently Ella says.
“In by Allah, Ma'am. Let's go to Yuk's room. Take a short break before leaving for the race.”
Hanna then approaches Thoriq and Dicky.
“Excuse me, sorry Mr. Thoriq and Mr. Dicky, we will rest for a while, then after the ashar prayer the plan will go directly to the race venue at the World Trade Center. There they will announce the race time for each participant.”
Thoriq and Dicky nodded. Latifah looked at her uncle and whispered again, “Oom wait where? Can't be in Ifah's room because there is Kak Aira.”
“Quiet, just Oom after Ashar is here.”
“Can rest in my room if you want,” Thoriq offers.
“Thank you, Mas. I'm traveling around here. I'll see you around. Assalamualaykum.”
Dicky left the suitcase to the bell boy and then exited, while Ella's entourage went to their respective rooms. Thoriq was still in the lobby, watching Dicky walking like he didn't know the direction.
After the check-in he walked out. Dicky was standing near the crossroads looking at his hape.
“Mas, where are you going? I'm with you,” he said as he patted Dicky's shoulder.
“Oh want to go for a walk. All search for mosques near here.”
“Udah to eat?”
“Yes find a place to eat. If you say gugel near here there is a good fat rice shop. I want to try.”
“Bargan aja.”
“From photos, the shop is really small, Mas.” Dicky felt bad to see the neat and dapper Thoriq go eat to a small tavern.
“Terus?”
“Ke here.” Perplexed as to what to respond to, Dicky stepped towards the direction the map app was pointing to.
Ten minutes of walking and two wrong turns, they arrived at the fatty rice shop. It was quite crowded and they had to wait until there was an empty table.
Thoriq and Dicky ordered a serving of nasi lemak complete with chili fish sauce. Dicky ate it well. Arriving from dawn at the airport he was only served mineral water and sweet bread because the food at the airport was too expensive.
He sipped warm tea with pleasure. There is nothing to complain about if when hungry and thirsty are still given leeway to eat and drink.
Thoriq eat slowly. Enjoyed bribes after bribes. He remembered Qiara had tried to make chili fish sambal and wal results were even too charred.
At that time they laughed together to see the blackish dish. After a satisfied laugh they took white rice and ate with semi-snarled chili sauce. Two plates.
Thoriq involuntarily smiled reminiscing about the sweet experience with the woman who was still number one in his heart. She was the only woman in his heart.
“Smiling, Mom? Later a sprain of teri loh,” joked Dicky while scooping the rest of the rice on his plate.
Thoriq smiled and raised an eyebrow.
“So every two weeks back and forth Solo-Semarang looking Aira, yes, Mas?” Ask Dicky to get rid of the already slippery dishes clean.
“Betul. Previously had thought of moving to Semarang, but bothered to move office. Must find new people again.”
“Kata Latifah, Aira has a villa in Dieng.”
“Make rented, Mas. Sometimes nginep there same Latifah and her sister, sorry what's her name?”
“Fatimah, Yes. Thanks for the offer.”
“Just when to nginap, just say, later I will not market. It's an invitation from me so free of charge.”
“Maa shaa Allah. May your efforts always be smooth and blessed. Aamiin.”
“Mas doctor right? Which hospital?”
“Dangan Henggal Hospital, in the district next to the pesantren. I am a skin and genital specialist. Ms. Hanna also works there every Sunday.”
Thoriq nodded in response to no comment about Hanna.
“Sorry, his mother Latifah and Fatimah ..?”
“Dead, my late sister was among the victims of a bus accident with her husband and daughter Ustadzah Ella.”
“Innaalillaahi wa innaailayhi rooji’un.”
“Mba Aisya used to be nyantri at Ella Ustadzah boarding school, but not until it was finished because it moved to Kudus. We are from Kudus before moving to Semarang.”
Dicky looked at the man in front of him. Carefully asked the question that had long tickled in his heart.
“Sorry is Hanna Aira's mother? I happened to be in the same room with Mas when the incident in the library first time entered the boarding school.”
Thoriq drank a sweet iced tea before replying. “True, Hanna is Aira's mother. But from Aira is still two years old we have separated.”
“Nagging again?” Dicky asked, now more relaxed.
Whether there is an aura of what is usually Thoriq immediately closed himself once someone asked about his marriage problems. But Dicky's open attitude made him lightly reply, “N't seen a match yet.”
Dicky suddenly felt claustrophobic, as if a burden was pressing on his chest.
“Oh, have not been able to move on apparently ..” he said hanging with a strange look.
“Not the same Hanna, yes,” says Thoriq fast.
Dicky's eyes sparkled again. Thoriq smiled realizing the man in front of him had special feelings towards his ex-wife.
“I am a bad example of polygamous life. Before marrying Hanna, I was already married to Qiara. I married Hanna at the request of my grandparents. I really love Qiara. Seeing my grandparents struggling and begging, I couldn't resist. Then that's how I hurt two women.”
Dicky listened to Thoriq with his mouth open. During this time he heard similar stories only from his patients. He did not expect the man in front of him to be a real example of polygamous polemics.
“Then my first wife? Uh sorry, so kepo.”
“If you remember the boy who went berserk in the library, he was my son with Qiara. Qiara used to leave me when I was pregnant with Kala. Now my ex-wife is married and living in London with her husband and children.” Dicky could capture the bitterness in the tone of Thoriq's voice.
“Qadarullah .. everything is written as destiny. Sincerely yes, Mas.”
“Ya, I'm sincere. I am very happy and grateful to be able to raise Kala and Aira. Still, Mas himself is married?”
“Not yet, nih. Not yet brave.”
“Udah meet the same that is suitable or not?”
“Hanna is still focused on improving her relationship with Aira.”
“Mas, I did not say like Hanna, loh,” Dicky said.
“Not to say I know it too. Don't worry, Hanna and I have been done since before we split. She is much changed now, I hope Hanna will be able to find a suitable man and live a happy life.”
“Tumben there ex-husband praying like that. Usually pray that her ex suffer and be a widow to death.”
“No, good prayers will come back to us. As I said, between me and Hanna there is nothing, so it's fine for me to pray like that. I just hope Aira will forgive her mother.”
“Mas helped what?”
“I couldn't force Aira to accept Hanna, but I kept reminding her to be respectful and not to be rude. Aira has a nature like Hanna. Headstrong.”
“Ember. Eh I mean, yes Hanna is stubborn,” he said anxiously considering Hanna who does not believe him and continues to think of him as a pervert.
There was the sound of an adhan from the mosque across from the shop. Both of them pay and then step towards the mosque to fulfill the obligation of prayer.
***
“The winner for Qur’an Recitation Competition for group of age 10-12 years old is: Latifah bint El-Ibrahim.” The sound of MCs echoed throughout the World Trade Center hall.
Latifah cupped her hands to her face. Happy tears. Then he meets Ella and Hanna, hugs Aira, and searches for her uncle.
Dicky who was sitting in the upper stands was busy waving at his nephew. As soon as she saw Dicky, Latifah ran away and hugged her uncle.
“Alhamdulillah, Oom. I'm win. Yes Allah.“
“Congratulations, Ifa, maa shaa Allah. Oom proud of you. Thanks yes, Darling.”
The camera shines towards Dicky and Latifah. Without them realizing their faces were plastered on the big screen. Many onlookers were moved to see their tears of happiness.
“Miss Latifah please come to the stage with your father.”
Latifah takes Dicky to the stage. There he was welcome to climb to the podium of champion one. Dicky looked at his nephew gratefully and haru.
“Mbak, your son boasts,” whispered in his heart, remembering his late brother.
The MC approached Latifah, then spoke to her.
“Congratulations on Latifah's victory. I see my brother fighting hard in this race. What is motivation?”
“First, My dead mother. Uncle said, one of the uninterrupted practices for people who have died is the prayer of children sholih and sholihah. I just want to be a sholihah child so that my prayers reach Mother.”
The room suddenly quiet. All were moved to hear an honest answer from a child who was fighting for his mother to continue to get practice.
After mastering his emotions, MC continued, “Maa shaa Allah. Greetings takziah, I pray that your mother is given as many grave favors. Aamiins. What is your second motivation?”
“Dad. I wish Dad saw and finally decided to go home. Ifah, miss, Well ..” Latifah's face mutters wistfully. So did the face of the MC who was surprised to hear Latifah's words.
Latifah continued while staring at Dicky, “The third motivation is Uncle who fought for me and brother. Latifah does not know where to go if Oom Dicky is not willing to accommodate us after Mother died. Thank you yes, Oom.”
Dicky approached Latifah and hugged him tightly. He understood that behind the smile of happiness his nephew stored a very longing for both parents.
The room was silent again, all moved to see the uncle and nephew who were hugging. Whether who started, the entire auditorium then stood up and gave an applause for Latifah.
Aira clapped loudly. Her heart was pinched hearing Latifah's words about her parents.
He glanced at Hanna who was busy capturing Latifah's moment on the podium while occasionally wiping away tears from being moved.
Then Aira turned her head towards her father who was in the upper stands clapping his hands giving encouragement to Latifah and Dicky.
“At least my parents are still alive ..” Mumbles while looking back at Hanna.
***
Aira sat by the pool. At night, the light rays reflect off the calm blue water. The night was bright, the stars were scattered.
“Kak Aira kok daydreaming?” Sapa Latifah who apparently saw Aira sitting by the pool and decided to follow.
“Not dreamy, again find calm, tomorrow I'm the race.. Pray, yeah. I want to win your kayak.”
“In shaa Allah ..”
“Ifah, I thought about what you said about your mother. You must miss, yes.”
“Sorry, Ifah made Kak Aira kangen his mother too huh? Yesterday Ifah suddenly missed the same Mother. Kangen hugged the Mother. If you can just once Ifah meet again with Mother ..” Latifah had heard the story that Aira had been left by her mother forever.
“Ult Ifah ever angry not the same Mother?”
“So long ago, even when Mother went with the group, Ifah was angry because she did not want Mother to leave. Nysel. Even Ifah refuses when Mother wants to kiss. Now you can't anymore. Yes, Aira's sister knows how it feels .. Nyesek.”
Aira nodded, although Thoriq was an amazing father, but sometimes he imagined it was like having a mother who was always there for him.
Aira's hand plays pool water. She said softly, “My mother is not dead. I lied. My mom left when I was a kid. I honestly can't remember when I started getting angry with Mama. But obviously, when I met, all the disappointment was overflowing, Fah.”
Latifah.
“So .. So Kak Aira's mother is still alive? Then my sister doesn't want to see it? Brother, my father left when my sister was born. I'm angry with Dad, but if I had one chance to meet, I'd hug him, I'd apologize and beg Dad not to go.”
Tears trickled down Latifah's cheeks.
“So please, I'm not that eloquent, Fah.”
“Don't make it to my kayak, Kak.”
Aira turned to the little girl beside her then grabbed onto her shoulder.
“Kakak. Now sleep, yuk.”
They walked into the room in silence. Busy with thoughts and feelings.
***
Two days Aira worked hard and soon the jury will announce who got the highest score. Nice opponent. They recite the holy verses with sweetness and perfection.
Aira's hand squeezed out the other hand. His habit of being nervous.
“Quiet, Ai, may you win,” whispered Hanna who sat next to him.
Aira nodded but said nothing. Hanna looked at her daughter with pride. Many times he gave thanks because God still gave him a righteous son.
Aira's reading is very melodious and full of passion. Although Hanna did not understand the meaning, but when she heard Hanna recite the Qur’an verses, her heart trembled.
MC announced the second and third winners. Aira's heart was shriveled because they were the best in her opinion. While he made some mistakes.
“And the winner for The Qur’an recitation is .. Kamelia Aira Princess Thoriq!”
Aira was flinching in her chair. Thoriq cheered and called out to Aira. Ustadzah Ella and Latifah patted Aira's shoulders. Hanna silently cried out in tears, not daring to touch her son.
Awakening, Aira got up and went to her father.
“Ayeah, I actually won? I'm not wrong with?”
“Bener, Dear. Aya proud, Ai.” Thoriq hugged his only daughter.
Like Latifah, the MC invited Aira and Thoriq to the stage. Aira's up on the podium. From there, she could clearly see her mother taking pictures and repeatedly hugging Ella to forget her joy and relief.
She can't see her mother's face, but can feel Hanna's happiness. At that moment his heart trembled.
MC asks what to say to loved ones.
“Bismillaahirrahmanirrahiim says. Create Aya who has become the world for Aira. Thank you for letting Aira into the pesantren. This win Aira dedicate to Aya.”
Thoriq smiled, happiness rising with deep gratitude.
“Create who else?” Connect MC.
Hanna.
“Make Aya aja,” replied Aira staring flat at the MC.
Hanna looked down sad.
“For Mama, Aira apologize. Aira .. Aira wants Mama on stage to accompany Aira.” Aira's voice was shaking. Auditorium was suddenly silent.
Hanna looks up. His eyes were round, his mouth open. Ella patted him and told him to go straight to the stage.
Still not budging suddenly Aira was already in front of Hanna. The camera pulls into both.
“Ma, sorry Aira. Don't go again, Aira kangen ..”
Hanna hugged Aira tightly. Tears flowed unstoppably. The mother and son who had been separated for a long time were hugging each other.
“Mama's sorry, Darling. Thank you, thank you for the most beautiful moment in my life Mama.”
Hanna continued to hug Aira, as did her son. Behind Aira's anger and disappointment, there was a longing for the figure of the mother who had disappeared.
From on stage Thoriq smiled, “Alhamdulillah ..”
MC invites Aira to take a picture with her parents. Having separated, Thoriq and Hanna took turns to occupy positions beside Aira.
Hanna still couldn't believe it when Aira took her while taking pictures. Tears keep flowing. He tightly gripped his daughter's fingers.
From the top of the stands, Dicky was grateful that Aira was finally able to accept Hanna. Unaware, Latifah approached her.
“Oom, it turns out that Aira's sister is Bu Hanna. Seneng really can still hug his mother.” Despite saying with a smile, Dicky knew his nephew was missing his mother.
“Sini sits next to Oom. Ifah misses Mother? In shaa Allah now the angel again whispers goodness in the ears of Mother because you and Fatimah are children who sholihah.”
Dicky embraces Latifah. His nephew looked back at Hanna and Aira.
Dicky's heart suddenly throbbed when he saw Hanna and Thoriq talking for a while.
***