The Lives of Five Hundred Thousand
Raihan Support

The next day, my crackers and Raihan were completely dry. I smiled happily as well as proudly to see a pile of dried crackers on top of the winnowing. How unhappy and proud, the crackers that are in front of me today are the crackers of my own ideas and recipes not the recipes of mothers or others.

I prepared a large pan on the stove and put a lot of oil in it. I will try frying it in the hope that the crackers expand and taste good.

After the hot oil, I put some flattened crackers into the pan. A few seconds later, a smile was engraved on my lips to see the crackers of my work inflate perfectly.

After that, I ate it in the hope that it tasted good. I smiled back after eating the crackers that had been fried. One word for my crackers is, perfect.

I continue frying with a lot to sell at each of my subscription stalls. When I was busy frying and without me noticing, someone stood behind me and patted me on the shoulder. I no longer need to look back because from the fragrance of the perfume alone I can guess who is standing behind me.

"Rai.habit deh play nyelonong enter continue ngagetin."I was nagging but my eyes remained focused on the pan and my hands were busy turning back the crackers."

"Huh.ha!how did you know I was coming?"

I turned off the stove first because the raw crackers I fried had already run out in the fry.then I turned towards Raihan.

"Where do not know Rai, from the fragrance of your perfume alone can be guessed."

"Well, if you've smelled the same perfume I mean you've been watching me?"

I was so misbehaved, what Raihan said was true that I often noticed Raihan if I met him, ranging from his appearance to the fragrance of his perfume. But then I denied it because I felt ashamed to tell the truth.

"It's very much your confidence, Rai," I said as I lifted a large jar containing crackers that I had just fried.

"Huh.ha..ha..!" Raihan laughed crisply as his hand stretched out to grab the large jar I was holding.

"I'm the one who brought the mba!" said Raihan, offering up.

"No need Rai, this is very easy!"Refused it.

"But this is a big jar."Raihan is still pushy.

"Don't this jar that weighs nothing, gallons I often lift Rai," I said with pride because what I said was true because I had once opened a service filled with gallon water, well water that has been cooked to boil. But the effort did not last long because of the limitations of firewood that is difficult to find.

"Great dong mba, if lift me strong no yes?"goda Raihan with a mesemic smile.

"Whether I lift you up, you're a child to.....!" I immediately smothered my mouth, almost to mention Raihan as a child. He would have sulked if I called him a child.

"One more time you call me a kid, I kiss you!" threaten me while looking annoyed. It turned out that even though my words were not kept Raihan already knew what I was going to say.

I smiled at her words, because regardless of whether it was true or not, Raihan kissed me often even though I didn't say he was a child.

I sat down on the kitchen floor to wrap the crackers in small plastic sizes. Raihan sat down and we faced each other. He noticed the movement of my hand that was inserting crackers into the small plastic.

"Mba is so painstaking!" puji Raihan's. I smiled and then I begged him," This is my three-year-long job, Rai." My confession made Raihan a little stunned and he asked back in disbelief. "Serious three-year MBA working on making crackers?"

My gaze turned towards him." Otherwise make crackers from which I can eat Rai, while I just don't work outside." Little by little and without realizing it, I opened my privacy to Raihan. I don't know because I'm comfortable because Raihan is one person who is close to me and the person I trust.

"But you have a husband. Why does he not meet the needs of mba and let mba work hard? isn't he working and paying a fortune?"

Instantly I shut up. Where does Raihan know that my husband's salary is big? I asked in my mind. I was confused to answer Raihan's question.

"Mba, just say it frankly with me! mba believe me, right?" ask Raihan again. He's still curious.

"Rai, you haven't tasted our homemade crackers yesterday you know, try this in taste good don't you think?" I switched the conversation. I don't know why I feel reluctant if I tell you the problem of how my husband supports me.

Raihan heard a heavy sigh.it seemed like he was disappointed that I didn't want to tell him the truth. But even so, he complied with my offer to taste the crackers in the jar.

"Really?" or are you kidding and just want to make me happy?"my question is, in his style I use English, a language that I have not used since leaving the company for a long time.

"No, im so serious. He said he doesn't speak English. Lah this what? the intonation is like a real bule."

"Ha.ha.ha ! it could be you Rai! actually, I can speak English because in the past English was one of the job guidelines that I had to master eating I learned to be able to. Because if I don't speak English, I'm having trouble speaking to some of Rai's Europeans."

"Well, cool mba Nuri, besides being beautiful can also speak English and....!"

"Have not praised Rai, it's just the past and now you see me, right? it's my job now to make crackers and....!"

"Successful entrepreneur!" raihan chirps with a mesemic smile.

I paused for a moment to look at Raihan and then smiled warmly."Amin Rai, thank you for praying?"say me. Raihan reached out his hand then rubbed my head wrapped in a hijab and said, "Stay with spirit, yes mba, nothing is impossible as long as we are willing to try and work hard inshaallah what our desires will be accomplished. The important thing is to continue to strive and pray with the giver of sustenance. Get him involved in every business."

Raihan gave me support and advice. Things like this are what I should get from people closest to me such as my mother and husband. But no, I get it from someone else who has nothing to do with me but understanding and loving me.

I smiled warmly. I grabbed Raihan's hand that was rubbing my head and then put his palm on the side of my cheek. Tilted my head slightly and one of my hands held the back of her hand until her palm remained on my cheek. I closed my eyes with a smile on my lips feeling the touch of Raihan's warm palm.

Why am I acting so consciously to Raihan? because I feel so happy with both sides. First, I'm glad my idea worked out perfectly. And secondly, I have the full support of a person who is very sincere in love with me but whose love I have not yet reciprocated. I don't know when I can return her love because of my status of having a husband.

A smile on Raihan's thin lips saw my unusual behavior towards him. Because usually it was Raihan who first behaved like me like hugging and kissing me who suddenly arrived. I stroked my back and wiped my tears as I cried. That's how Raihan is, sweet and gentle treatment to me. The sweet and gentle treatment I never got from my husband.

Raihan fussed my nose and made me open my eyes and then take his hand off my cheek. I'm ashamed of Raihan for my own behavior.

"I'm sorry I fussed at your nose mba, let me not let go of my hand."

I looked down at my embarrassed face. Then Raihan grabbed me until we looked at each other.

"I know you have feelings for me, right?" asked Raihan with a serious face.

"I'm just happy to have the support of you Rai!" I deny.

Raihan's face changed from a serious look to a disappointed look and then said, "well, I will always support you no matter what." Then smile with the smile she forced.

I know Raihan was disappointed with my answer. She hopes I tell her honestly how I feel about her? and more than that, he wants me to return his love. However, how can I repay her love while I have a husband despite being bad to me. I don't want to be called cheating on my husband and I don't want Raihan to be called a player. Although I actually like Raihan and feel very comfortable with him.

I continued my activities of silencing the crackers. Raihan is still helping me. But this time, we worked in silence only occasionally and as necessary we spoke.

"Rai, you'd better take a break you'll be tired!" my spoken. Opening up silence between us.

"I'm not tired mba, let me help you through this." Raihan refused without stopping the movement of his hands that did not look stiff.

I no longer speak but continue my work until our work is done.

"Thank you for finally running too, thank you Rai, for helping me again!"

Raihan did not answer but smiled and said, "mba, I'm ahead first huh?"

I nodded, "would I make you some coffee or tea, Rai?"

"No need mba, I just want to rest up front." Then Raihan left the kitchen.

I tidied back the former place wrapped the crackers that look random. After finishing the repairs I glanced at the wall clock already showing twelve o'clock and I thought that Raihan must have been hungry.

I walked to the refrigerator and opened it.See there are only two spinach ties and three eggs and one tempe board. I was deliberately just stoking those three ingredients to eat Zain.