The Nick's Life
Trying and Praying

Meta took a deep breath before stepping into the building of a car showroom. Today he will be doing a job interview. Through the information Arnav provided, the girl applied for a job in this office. His arrival was welcomed by one of the marketing officers.

“Good morning.. Can anyone be helped?”

“I want a job interview. I was asked to come here by Mr. Sugih.”

“Oh please walk up to the end keep turning right. Go up to the stairs, on the second floor later ask where the room Mr. Sugih.”

“Good. Thank you mas.”

According to the direction given by the man, Meta continues to walk to the end and then turns to the right. He climbed the stairs in the corner of the room. Arriving on the second floor, he was immediately treated to the busyness of employees who worked behind his cubicle. A young woman approached him.

“There can be helped?”

“I want to meet with Mr. Sugih.”

“Please follow me.”

The young woman guided Meta through the cubicle ranks then turned left. He stopped in front of a room that read HRD Headquarters. After knocking on the door and hearing an answer from the inside, the woman opened the door and let Meta in.

Sugih, a bespectacled man whose age is estimated to be around forty years old, invited Meta to sit down. For a moment he saw Meta who wore a blazer combined with a plisket skirt and a long hijab that closed to his chest. He himself has read the girl's application file and will now test whether Meta is suitable to fill the position left by one of his subordinates.

“Have breakfast?” ask Sugih kindly.

“Alhamdulillah already sir.”

“Ok we just start yes. Before the interview, I will give a written test first,” Sugih submit a map on Meta.

“You can use a computer?”

“Can pack?”

“Know how to use excel program?”

“Know sir.”

“Can use Odoo software?”

“Enter several times tried sir.”

“Good. Now try to compile this report. Create the details using excel, then enter into odoo. I want to see your abilities. Please work here.”

Sugih flipped pointing at the laptop in front of Meta. The girl immediately did as the man ordered. While waiting for Meta to do what he asked, Sugih resumed his work.

An hour passed, despite initially feeling difficulties, finally Meta managed to do what Sugih ordered. He immediately handed over his work. Sugih checked the girl's work closely. Meta was able to breathe a sigh of relief as soon as he saw the man's smile.

“Your work result is good. Looks like you are suitable to work here.”

“Alhamdulillah, thank you sir.”

“What salary do you want?”

“As per UMK and company policy pak.”

“Good. I don't think an interview is needed anymore, in quality you have met the qualifications we need. Mr. Fahrul is not wrong to recommend people.”

“Sorry, who is sir?”

“Pak Fahrul the owner of this dealer. You are a recommendation from him and ask me to test your ability and it turns out the results are satisfactory.”

Meta just nodded his head. It turned out that the car dealer he was visiting belonged to Fahrul. Then Arnav deliberately asked Fahrul to find a job for him.

“Starting tomorrow you have started working here. Working hours start from nine to five in the afternoon. Rest for 1 hour. And if working outside the specified hours will be given overtime money. Your gross salary of 5 million rupiah has not been taxed, BPJS health and employment. Anybody want to ask?”

“Ngga sir.”

“Ok.. Welcome to join, I am waiting for his arrival tomorrow.”

Sugih reached out his hand, Meta cupped both hands. Sugih smiled at her and then cupped her hands together. After reading and signing the employment agreement letter, Meta walked out of the room. A happy smile was imprinted on his face.

“Meta.”

Meta turned his head when someone called his name, it turned out that Fahrul was calling him. The man just came out of his room. The girl remained in her place, waiting for Fahrul who was walking towards her.

“Have finished the interview?”

“Already sir.”

“How? Escape?”

“Alhamdulillah..thank you sir for recommending me.”.

Meta calls Fahrul with the frills of the pack in front of his name. Fahrul is his boss now. He should be polite to this man. Fahrul himself just laughed a little at Meta's call for him.

“You come with me for lunch?”

“Hmm.”

“There's Arnav and the others too. Actually I was asked to refer you to Arnav.”

“Iya can pack, thanks.”

Meta smiled faintly, he awkwardly also spoke to Fahrul in front of the other employees who were looking at him with question mark-filled eyes. He rushed after Fahrul who had walked first.

🍂🍂🍂

Lunch was held at Nick's coffee shop which is still in preparation stage. Nick has ordered some dishes for his best friends. Four square tables made into one. Aided by Iza, she arranges the food on the table. Not long after, one by one his best friends came.

Iza was surprised to see Meta coming with Fahrul. He was surprised and happy to learn that Meta had been accepted to work at Fahrul's dealership. Arnav was no less happy, now he has an additional plus in front of Meta. His passion to get the girl just flared up.

The conversation continued throughout the lunch. Denis, who has started to move back, tells a lot about his latest film project. Similarly, Abe asked his friends for their opinion on Sansan. He's still thinking about Vicky.

“According to you, how should I?”

“Ya tell Sansan. It's a pity that he got caught by Vicky's entrapment,” Nick replied.

“But my tar is supposedly jealous. Can big head him, thought I love him.”

“Emang ngga?” ask Denis cuek. Abe reflexively shakes off his best friend's head.

“Emang you really do not have the same taste of Sansan? She's beautiful, all right again. It fits you well,” continued Iza.

“Bawelnya it loh naudzubillah.”

“Suitable elo,” sambar Arnav.

Lunch event interspersed with light talk and laughter, suddenly surprised by the arrival of Ayura. The woman came with a hostile face. He's headed straight for Fahrul.

“Fahrul!! Fuck lo!!”

All were shocked to see Ayura who came directly cursing her best friend. Fahrul just kept quiet to hear Ayura's screams. Maira must have told her what she did to that woman.

“Ay.. You why? Dateng-dateng straight forward,” reprimand Denis.

“You ask your friend this, what he has done,” Ayura pointed towards Fahrul, making all more confused.

“You think doing that could make Mai come back to you? You madman!! It has hurt his heart now you add again with your depraved deeds,” Ayura added.

“She's my wife,” Fahrul replied in a soft voice.

“But that doesn't mean you can do it by force!!”

“But a minute..what is this really. Ayu.. let's sit down first, let's talk about this carefully,” Nick tries to mediate.

“Ngga needs! I remember you the same. Once again you do that to Maira, I will make you regret.”

Ayura immediately left after being satisfied to vent her frustration at Fahrul. He is upset when Maira tells him what the man has done to his best friend.

After Ayura's death, the atmosphere was suddenly quiet. All eyes were fixed on Fahrul who was still silent while lowering his head.

“Rul... What is it exactly?” ask Nick.

“Lo fight again same Mai? You hit him?” cycar Denis. Fahrul just shook his head.

“Continue doing?! There is no way Ayu was angry rich earlier if you do not do something with Mai,” Denis voice tone has sounded emotional. Abe immediately calmed his best friend.

Fahrul raised his head then looked at his best friend's face one by one. He closed his eyes for a moment before telling Maira everything he had done. Iza and Meta can only be silent, though upset at Fahrul's actions but they can't do anything about it. However, Fahrul and Maira are still husband and wife.

“Lo crazy Rul. Do you think doing that will solve the problem? The existing Mai will hate the same lo,” Denis who first commented after Fahrul finished telling the story.

“My mind is dead-end. I don't know what else to do. I had to do that, which was in my head how to let Mai not keep asking for separation. And the only way I think about it is to get her pregnant.”

“Terus you think in just one trial Mai can get pregnant so?” ask Arnav.

“Gue doesn't know. I just wish Maira was pregnant. I don't want to split with him. If necessary I will tell my parents about my actions as long as I can get an apology from him and give him a chance to make up for all my mistakes. I don't want to lose him. I love Mai.”

Fahrul lowered his head again. His back seemed to tremble as he began to cry. All just silently looked at Fahrul who looked desperate. Nick patted his best friend's back.

“If you love Mai, then you have to fight to get it back,” Nick said.

“Signify that you are truly sorry,” continued Abe.

“Gue will always support elo,” Arnav pat his best friend's shoulder.

“For a while you go home first to the apartment. Let Mai nenangin herself first. Fears he hates the same elo if you are still on the same roof with him,” Denis advice.

“Don't forget to pray. Ask God to soften Mai's heart. Because only God is able to turn hearts,” Iza's advice.

Fahrul just nodded his head in response to all the words of his best friend. Roughly rubbing the tears that keep flowing. After his actions to Maira, he ceaselessly regretted and condemned his stupidity. His heart really hopes Maira will open the door to apologize for him.

🍂🍂🍂

The atmosphere of silence surrounded the two people who were on their way. Arnav took the initiative to drive Meta home, it just so happened that he had a task outside the office. Every now and then he glanced towards the girl who was still cool to see the density of traffic in front of him.

“Met.”

“Ar..” sounds both talking at the same time.

“Ladie’s first,” continued Arnav.

“Still yes about work in place Fahrul.”

“You're accepted?”

“Iya, Thank God.”

“You took the job?”

“Yes, how do you do it.”

“Yes every time you change your mind when you hear about the problem earlier,” Arnav rubbed his nape.

“Ya ngga. Those are two different things.”

Arnav smiles with relief, fearing that Meta would abandon his intention to work at the Fahrul dealership because of the incident. He looked back at Meta. There was something he wanted to ask the girl.

“Hmm.. Met, can I ask you your opinion?”

“What's the problem?”

“Begini. I have a friend, she has a crush on girls. But the girl is very alim, rich you are. My friend is a real jerk. He often intoxicated, shuffled girls, even often slept together also just any girl. But after meeting the girl, he stopped everything. He focused on improving himself to be with the girl. How do you think?’

“Ya good dong, means that the woman has a positive influence on your friend.”

“Hmm.. if the girl were you. Do you want to accept my jerk?”

“Temen you mean it yourself right Ar?”

Arnav was quite surprised to hear that. With a clumsy smile he nodded his head. Meta just smiled knots looking at Arnav's nervousness. Meta does know a little about the lunge of the five friends. But he does not want to judge their bad deeds, because he is not necessarily better than them.

“Hmm. If in my opinion, when deciding to be with someone, then I have to accept all the advantages and disadvantages of him including his past. When I decided to get married, I meant to build a future with her. The bad past is enough to be a lesson and a warning so that we do not make the same mistakes. No matter how bad a person's past, if indeed he really repented, then he deserves a second chance.”

“What if the woman is you? Would you accept my situation plus my bad past?”

“Why not? Like I said, we live for the future, not the past. But we do not know who will be paired with whom later. Sometimes what we want is not good in God's eyes. If we are fooled, thank God. But if not, I hope you don't go back to your past. Stay on the path to becoming a better person. Who knew you'd get a better woman than me.”

“Aamiin. I will remember your advice. So.. I have a chance to get you?”

“Iya, Ar.”

“YESS!!”

Arnav shouted loudly while clenching his hands into the air. A hue of happiness clearly emanated from the face of the man of Pakistani blood. His spirit just got more and more excited. He will strive to be a decent man for this woman of his.

🍂🍂🍂

Congratulations Arnav.I support from behind. Tar if you found my living hole jorokin🤣

Make Fahrul.. hand over what you want, my quail ama life problems lo😝.