The Love of Habib
Chapters 31.7

In the evening the family is in an uproar because the grandfather suddenly announces to everyone that Habib and Aish are coming to visit. This news came so impromptu and everyone was overwhelmed with pleasure. Those who yesterday were struggling because of home problems are now filled with happy feelings. Their faces showed bright smiles as if they would be given a lot of money by Aish.

Who doesn't love to connect with Aish?

Now Aish is rich. Both her husband and her mother's family came from families they could not afford to offend. Aish's family's wealth assets are everywhere. So inevitably they are tempted and very much looking forward to the arrival of Aish.

"When did Aish come?" My aunt asked her other brother.

Aunty's over-enthusiastic attitude seemed to forget that she used to often corner Aish and scold her in front of many people. It was as if Aish had a very close relationship with him.

"Son said the day after tomorrow. Let's just wait. By the way, should we buy food to welcome the arrival of Aish and Habib Thalib?" The other aunt replied no less enthusiastic.

If they want to buy food, they automatically have to spend money. If before, they might not hesitate to spend money to buy food. But unfortunately, during these 2 months their wallets have been tossed around to pay off the company's debt. And the most annoying thing is that many investors withdraw from the company so they lose money everywhere. As a result, income that was once abundant is now faltering and makes them all depressed.

It is easy from frugal to wasteful, yet very difficult from wasteful to frugal. They have trouble controlling themselves not to overspend or spend.

Plus they are threatened with eviction from this house. If they leave this house then, they must start preparing for independent living and spending more and more.

They don't want this to happen. That's why they are very happy to hear Aish and Habib Thalib will come to visit after returning home. They hope that the two couples can help their difficulties. For example allowing them to work in KR companies, or giving them an important position within the company. After all, they are family. So they should be given a good position.

"If we want to buy food, we automatically have to spend money. My advice is we should make our own food. More efficient." My aunt disagreed.

Money is too sensitive for them.

"I think making food also costs a lot of money. We have to buy this flour, that flour, sugar, oil, milk and everything. Overspending money. Rather than making it better we just buy it. But if we want to save, just buy traditional food. Habib Thalib grew up in the Middle East and has not spent much time here. He would rarely touch traditional food. So provide him with traditional food under the pretext of Habib Thalib being raised abroad. Isn't this more economical?" One uncle's advice to everyone.

Uncle's idea is great for those who are in financial trouble.

"good. Then I'll order food at a food store in front of the complex. You guys take it easy, the price is not too high and we can get various types of food with little capital."

It was finally agreed that they would buy my traditional food cheaper. Now they can be calmer.

"By the way, I want to ask Aish to give my husband a position in the KR company. Since we are a family, Aish should have given a good position to my husband. It's much more promising than a sister company that's already on the verge of bankruptcy." Auntie said ungratefully.

He used to always flatter Dad's company, saying that there was no better job than Dad's company. But after trying to run into trouble and aunt saw the opportunity of Aish's arrival, she easily turned her face and said that continuing to stay in the company of Father will not produce anything.

"I agree with what you said. I also planned to ask Aish for a position for my husband. Surviving in the company of a sister is also useless. Our paychecks while our needs are everywhere. Instead of enduring the pain, so why not just go and find a better place? It just so happened that Aish came here tomorrow with Habib Thalib. As a family-in-law, Habib Thalib certainly did not reject our request. After all, we are her in-laws. If Habib Thalib refuses, I will complain to Aish. Said her husband was very stingy." Another aunt chimed in and had the same plan.

Confidently, they spoke as if Aish and Habib Thalib would care for them.

"Uncle and aunt, please don't dream too much. My brother can't possibly give you guys a place to cause trouble. Moreover, you all have a criminal record in my brother's eyes. Rest assured, he won't care about your requests." Aira who had heard them sing to each other could not bear it anymore and frankly insinuated them all.

Aira knew how her brother thought. Maybe his brother will not bring up the past in this family but that does not mean his brother wants to make peace easily in this house. Moreover, to the point of giving these people a place to make trouble, her brother was not that stupid.

In addition Habib Khalid must have thought a long time when deciding whether they can work there or not, but Aira more believe, with Habib Khalid's style, in the style of Habib, they all had no opportunity to work in the KR company.

"What empty talk are you talking about? It was then, and now it is now. Aish can't bring up the past with us, the elders. Besides we're your father's brother, where he might refuse our request." Aunty proudly denied what Aira said.

He strongly believes that Aish will submit to him because of their identity. Oh, even if Aish does not submit, then they can lobby Habib Khalid to listen to their words.

Who is the daughter-in-law who does not want to win her heart?

"As for aunt and uncle. Dream as much as you want. But when you fall down, don't tell me I haven't advised you yet. Oh yes just information, I've heard what you said when you vilified Dad's company, and the good news is you'll all be fired from Dad's company, congratulations." Aira generously reminded.

He stood with her listening to all of their songs. Aira was very sad to see Dad look disappointed. His kindness to his sister and brother-in-law was not appreciated. Dad was disappointed and immediately left without interrupting the wishes of his sister and sister-in-law. Let them hallucinate. Later when they all know that it is just their dreams, Dad will not give them the opportunity to re-enter his company. Enough already thought.

After all, his brother-in-law also worked not really in his company. They have a family relationship, they can do anything in the company.

But now it's not. He would not give them a chance even though they were crying blood.

"Is that brother here?" Uncle was uncomfortable hearing it.

After all, Dad was his sister-in-law, and he also worked at Dad's company. You could say Dad was his benefactor in hard times when he had no job.

"Yes, and he just left." Aira said.

Just like uncle, Auntie also felt guilty. But this guilt only came for a moment. Because he thought the benefits that would be obtained during his work in Habib Khalid's company would be much greater than his brother's company.

"If he's here then why? It is true that the company is almost bankrupt. Brother also knows for himself with such a small resource, he can't support us anymore. So what's wrong with finding a better place? Forcing yourself in a small place owned by your brother will not have any benefits and will instead torture yourself. So it's better to step back and go find a job at Aish's company." Aunt confirmed the reason herself.

She already dreamed her days would be better after her husband worked in KR company. Not only will he get better, but he will also have a variety of KR company-owned jewelry valued by many women. You can imagine how jealous people who once humbled when they saw his neck and hands filled with jewelry.

"Huh, keep dreaming." After saying that, he returned to his room unwilling to see the parasites that began to spread illusions everywhere.

"We'll see tomorrow how ashamed you are of my brother. I'm sure you'll be sorry for degrading me." Aira said vengefully.

He would wait for the day their faces were all slapped by reality. By the time that day happened, if they returned begging to his father, he would never let them gnaw his father again. He thought enough. He's tired of these leeches.

...****...

"Dad, is it true Aish is coming home?" Eliminating the disappointment in his heart, father went into grandfather's room.

In the room, Grandpa was chatting with Grandma. Since this morning when he woke up from his sleep, grandfather had a very sticky attitude towards grandma. When I met my grandmother, I had to hold my grandmother's hand and never let her go again.

"Aish said he was coming. I can't wait to meet him." Grandfather said with a big smile, looking so peaceful.

I'm glad to hear that. But when thinking about his younger siblings' plans to ask Aish and Habib Khalid for a position in the KR company, he suddenly felt moody. His family really sucked. Shamelessly wanting to curry favor with his daughter whom they had wasted, was truly shameless.

"But dad, they're still on their honeymoon. And they plan to be back in a month. Why did the plan change so quickly?" He said Dad doesn't understand.

"That's because I wanted to meet Aish and Habib Thalib. Dad misses them both, I want to talk to them. Talk about a lot of things. I'm sure they're different having a lot of stories after marriage." Grandfather said still with the same smile.

That's because Grandpa called Aish, asked him to come home soon because he wanted to meet. And grandpa didn't give Aish any time to think about it at all. He constantly urged Aish to come home because his heart was already very long.

Hearing grandfather's insistence, Aish honestly felt strange. He's got a lot of honeymoon schedules over the next month. Grandpa constantly urged him to go home. Repeatedly saying that he misses her a lot and wants to meet her. Aish is not. He felt sorry for Grandpa. Because after marriage, they only met once and that was for a while. So grandfather's longing should be understandable.

"Why did you do that? Do you know Aish and Habib Thalib are on their honeymoon? If you ask him to come back here, then it means you're messing up their vacation." Said Dad helpless.

Who does not miss Aish, I hope that Aish will come home soon so they can meet. But I also understand Aish and Habib Khalid's position. They are newlywed couples, they are enjoying the sweet time of marriage and want to go to and fro to spread love. Because Father understood their position, he never took the initiative to ask when they came back or when they came to see him at home.

"But, Son. If they don't come home soon, I'm afraid I can't see them again." The word grandfather made father instantly speechless.

Resisting the pain in the heart, father then asked grandfather.

"Why can't you meet them? Where are you going?"

Grandpa smile. His old eyes flickered lightly with a feeling of nostalgia.

"Didn't you guys want to take me to the hospital for a check-up? The doctor said with this condition, I have to have an operation. After the operation I did not wake up. Maybe I'll go into a coma and I don't know when I'll wake up again." Grandpa explained to them.

After hearing the explanation from grandfather, then the two of them could sigh in relief. It is true that grandfather will do an examination in the hospital to decide whether or not he will perform the operation. Looking at the age of the elderly grandfather, actually Dad did not have the heart to let the operation. But there was also no resistance to seeing grandfather tormented in pain every day so inevitably he made the decision to operate grandfather.

"Don't think too much, Dad. Dad's surgery must be going well and Dad must be up as soon as possible. Once you feel better, I'll take you to meet Aish and Habib Thalib. If necessary we will all go umrah together as a form of gratitude for the healing of Father to God. Do you want us to go umrah?" I tried to comfort Grandpa's heart so as not to worry.

Grandfather nodded his head excitedly.

"Dad wants to go umrah. God willing, I want to come with you." Grandpa said excitedly.

"Then calm your mind and don't think of anything until the day of surgery. Dad ready?"

Grandfather smiled widely, looking so reassuring, "God willing."

...*****...

Two days later my husband and I went to visit my dad's house. Actually we still have a few more days in Mecca, but grandfather suddenly called me and asked us to go home. He said he missed me so much.

At first I wanted to refuse because it was a pity that we went straight home without having time to finish Umrah. But Khalid advised me to listen to my grandfather. Afraid that I'll regret it one day.

I felt like there was something strange that my husband was trying to convey. But I didn't know and when I asked, my husband said he didn't mean anything.

After deciding to go home, we immediately bought a ticket and that night we flew and only returned yesterday afternoon. But since we had just arrived and were a bit exhausted from the long journey, we decided to come tomorrow morning.

Now here we are. Standing in front of the house I've lived in for 18 years. The house that bears witness to my mother's suffering, the house that bears witness to the injustices I have found in this family, and the house that bears witness that in my lonely time I still have my grandfather as my warmest lamp.

I've been leaving this house for 10 months. In just that short time I felt that this house had changed a little. The plants in the front yard are a bit withered, probably because they are rarely flush and the paint color of the gate has also been replaced.

"Aish!" Someone shouted from inside.

When I turned my head, my face was eager to look away because the one who called was aunt.

My relationship with him is really bad. Not only did he insult and demean me during my stay here, but he also wanted to take my mother's savings on business grounds. Hah, he's still the same. Just look at it now, his enthusiastic attitude makes me suspicious.

"Aish and Habib Thalib, you've finally come. Come on in, everyone's waiting for you." He took my hand and pulled me into the house.

Inside the house all family members are waiting including father and mother. While Aira, I did not see her figure. Maybe he was ashamed of me because of our long fight?

I hope the relationship between the two of us can be improved. Because even though we come from different mothers, but in this world I only have her as a brother.

"Assalamualaikum, father, mother, grandmother and all. Sorry we just came here. You see we just landed yesterday afternoon and couldn't come here right away because we were a bit tired. Then where's grandpa?" I asked without making small talk.

I came here because of grandfather's call so I have to see him immediately, besides grandfather also said that he misses me very much.

"Vaalaikumsalam. Don't be so hasty, Aish. It's still morning. You guys haven't had breakfast, have you? Incidentally, we've prepared breakfast for you two. In addition to breakfast, we have also prepared some special traditional snacks for habib Thalib. We know that Habib Thalib grew up abroad so he may have never eaten a traditional meal, so we deliberately prepared a special traditional meal for him." My aunt pulled me away to the dining room without waiting for us to speak.

Actually we both had breakfast and for myself personally, I was not having a taste for food. Instead of being hungry to see food on the table, I felt tired because it was too greasy.

"Auntie stopped, we both had breakfast and Khalid was still not hungry so forget about eating. I'd like to meet Grandpa, please show me where Grandpa is?" I said to aunt.

But my aunt was very stubborn and would not listen to me.

"Astaghfirullah, Aishishemale. You may not be hungry, but what about your husband? He must be hungry to taste the cakes we have prepared especially for him." He said he stubbornly wanted to touch my husband.

But my husband avoided touching his aunt.

"Sorry aunt, I'm still ablution. Besides I've had breakfast with my wife at home, for now we're not hungry." Reject my husband not to touch the food.

Aunt's face changed. Let me guess, is he going to scream like he used to scold me or blame me for being ungrateful?

"Oh... If you are not hungry yet. Well, then, I won't force you. Why don't we just talk in the living room?" I thought he was going to be angry but as it turned out, he could still smile after me and Khalid refused.

I'm a little annoyed by auntie. Many times I said this meeting grandfather, but why aunt always kept us from leaving immediately.

"Auntie please, I'd like to see grandfather. Where's grandpa?" I'm just impatient.

Aunt pouted,"Aish, be patient. Why can't you be like your husband, he's always quiet and calm in front of us. Besides what you're in a hurry for, I won't run even if you're after." He started again.

From his appearance today, he must have wanted something from me or from Khalid. I'm not surprised to see it. Merely, I was still a bit surprised at her shameless attitude. In the boarding house he said directly in front of many people that I was not his nephew, then now why was he acting so pretentious to me?

It was as if our relationship had been good.

"Aish and Habib Thalib, Grandpa was bathing in his room. While grandpa is done taking a shower, you can wait for him in the living room." Say aunt's husband to me.

I don't want Khalid and I to go to the living room with the others. In my living room, my mother and grandmother went out of nowhere. Other than the aunts and uncles, I did not find their figures.

"Where are Dad and the others?" I ask them.

POV Author

"They're in Grandpa's room. They'll be out soon." An uncle replied.

Aish again frowned in wonder because Father, Mother, and Grandma were busy taking care of grandfather in the room, then what were these people doing here?

"Why keep on talking, let's have your coffee?" The aunt said, pushing the cup of coffee in front of Habib.

Habib smiled without touching the coffee on the table.

"Thank you, aunt. But my husband doesn't like coffee." Aish said she explained her husband's behavior of not touching coffee on the table.

My aunt and uncle looked at each other. They were ashamed that every treat they gave to Aish and Habib Khalid was rejected for all sorts of reasons. Not hungry or do not like coffee, do not know what reason they will say later.