The Story of Aira
33

A new round of Aira's journey begins. At the age of 20, Aira has officially become Arlan's wife. His plans to set the future with Ryan are over. Both are now living their lives with their partners.

Aira felt a little regretful. When she is upset with her feelings, she is haunted by guilt for marrying Arlan. Apparently the man he had been saying his name in each of his prayers, that day married another woman. Without any intention to tell him.

Who would have thought, before he finished everything, his past had resolved everything by itself. Is this what is called destiny?... Unexpected, unpredictable ending will be like what. And now, Aira has been with Arlan. Trying to accept Arlan, though difficult. Because Ryan still has his heart.

After living in the house of Aira's parents, they decided to move after the tiny house that Arlan built ready to live in. They occupy a new house located not far from the mini market Arlan. It was deliberately Arlan bought land there, so that he was not too far from his shop.

This morning Arlan found Aira cooking in the kitchen. He was busy frying tofu eggs, and preparing soy sauce chili.

"We had breakfast, yeah. There's not much stuff in the fridge" he said.

Arlan is just a mangosteen while enjoying tofu eggs. Because they have not focused on filling all food needs. Arlan buys more outside.

"I'll go to the store after this. Wanna come?"

"No, mas. I'm just at home."

"alright. Don't forget to lock the door, and keep the key. I've brought the reserves." he said.

"Mas Arlan is leaving now?" ask Aira later.

"Why?" Arlan looked at Aira.

"I was going to go grocery shopping. I want to buy vegetables and side dishes. Here there is no passing vegetable trade" said Aira while presenting warm tea for Arlan.

Arlan then looked at his watch.

"There is rarely any selling of vegetables here. The market is also far away. There's no way I'm gonna tell him to go alone."

"All right, let's have breakfast first. I'll take you back."

"Yes, mas. Thanks."

After eating a makeshift breakfast menu, they went to the market on a matic motorcycle. I don't know what's in Aira's brain?... Every time he's ridden by Arlan on the bike, his memories of Ryan just pop up.

"I'm sorry, Arlan. I really don't want this to happen. But the shadow always appears suddenly." Inner Aira.

Not only delivering, Arlan did not even mind entering the market and bringing his wife's groceries.

"There's eel." chirped Arlan. "Buy ya!" her word.

"Mas can clean it? I'm amused.." fought Aira while taking a little aim.

"I will clean and cut you, if you want." said the mother of the seller.

"Oh, yes. Then buy half yes, ma'am." said Aira.

After getting the eel, they moved to another place. Buy vegetables, and other fisheries for stock at home. Not going to the market too often. Aira also did not want to trouble Arlan continuously.

"Recuredly already?" ask Arlan before they go home. "Given, it's still here!"

"How come, mas." replied Aira sure.

Their daily life seems normal. But every night comes awkwardness begins to haunt the two.

"Sleep, I'll be out for a while" he said.

"Where's Mas Arlan going?" ask Aira.

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. I'll just finish some reports up front while watching TV." he explained.

And that's true. While living with both parents the same. The difference is, Arlan did not leave the room. But he always busied himself. Either with his phone or his book, to sleep.

"I'll make you some warm tea, or some coffee?" tawar Aira's.

"No need, you just sleep. Don't be too tired" he said.

Arlan is out. He sat in the living room watching television. Until he fell asleep. And that's always been the case since the week they moved house.

"Did Arlan deliberately not want to sleep with me?" thought Aira when she saw Arlan falling asleep without a blanket.

"Maaas.., Arlan's mas is awake...!" Aira woke her husband up carefully.

"Why are you here?" Arlan tried to open his eyes.

"Move to the room. Mas sleep here continue, later his body pegel. It can also hurt." said Aira.

"Did I fall asleep?" Arlan seemed to be remembering something.

"Second week of sleeping outside. Are you uncomfortable sleeping in your room?" aira asked full of probes, then sat down beside Arlan.

"Yes" she answered briefly.

"Why mas? What makes you uncomfortable?" ask Aira.

"I'm a normal Aira man, how can a man like me be calm when sleeping with women...? But I have to hold something..." Arlan hung up his sentence.

"Aah.., that's it. You better get some sleep" he said.

Aira was struck with Arlan's words. He realized that long ago. How could Arlan not have taken it down for a month of their marriage?... Aira thought her husband was not normal. Or maybe there's something else he's hiding.

"Mas, I'm your wife. You shouldn't have to." Aira lowered her head as she was still embarrassed to say so plainly. Aira hoped that Arlan would understand the meaning of her words.

"I know you're my wife. And I know very well, it's just status to you, isn't it?" chirps Arlan while glancing at Aira.

Aira was surprised, she looked at Arlan questioningly.

"How can I touch my wife? Which in his heart and mind there was only one man in his past." the satire was on target.

"Mas.." said Aira.

"No need to say anything, Aira!" disallow Arlan. "I'm just asking you for help. Let this be our secret. If we meet family, keep your attitude as if our household is fine. Until you get bored, and finally determine your life. I don't know what you want it to be like." she said.

Arlan's long words made Aira's heart hurt even more.

"Go to the room! Don't think about me!" arlan's orders.

Without saying much Aira left Arlan.

"Oh Allah.., it's my fault...!! I was wrong, my law is God...!! I'm not a good wife. I betrayed my husband. I have been indirectly accusing him...!! Forgive me God...!!"

Aira moaned guiltily. Until he fell asleep. Just hugging the bolster that had been partially wet on its side, and not blanketed.

......................

Early in the day, Arlan went into his room. An extremely cold temperature gushed out at Arlan.

"Since when did he sleep with AC like this?" mumbling slowly.

"God...!" Arlan takes the AC remote and turns it off.

Arlan rushed up to his wife, then covered her up.

"Moor..." Arlan was getting worried.

"Mas.." The voice was very soft, powerless.

"I'll make you a warm drink first."

After making sure Aira got warmth on the bed, Arlan ran out of the room to the kitchen. Luckily his wife always provides warm water in the tramos. So Arlan just need to dip the tea and add sugar in the glass.

"Drink...!" Arlan helps Aira drink her warm tea.

Arlan noticed Aira's pale face, her eyes were red and swollen.

"Did she cry all night, forget her AC?"

"We go to the doctor, I'm afraid you're okay" said Arlan. Aira just shook her head.

"Is anyone sick?" ask Arlan.

"No." answered Aira.

"Let's just rest then."

"Mas Arlan is going out again?" ask Aira.

Arlan could not see my wife's eyes. He held Aira's hand.

"I'm here, sleep. If there's anything call me" he said. Aira nodded.

In the morning, Aira returned to her usual activities. Although the condition of his body is not as healthy as yesterday. Aira is very dizzy, and sometimes feels nauseous. Last night's effect of forgetting to turn off his room AC.

"Rare you sure you don't want to go to the doctor? You're so pale" Arlan said as they ate breakfast.

"Just in the wind like, mas. Just rest enough." reply Aira.

"I'm sorry if my words hurt you last night, Aira." Arlan stopped his eating.

"I'm the one who's sorry, mas." said Aira.

"Today I'm not going to the store. I'll accompany you. You're afraid you need nothing." Arlan did not want to discuss anything related to Ryan.

"Mas said he'd grab something at the store." Aira reminded.

"I'll call the kids to drive him home."

And it's true what Arlan said. By noon there was one of the store employees who came carrying two cartons of packages.

"Lho, where's the guy?" asked Aira when she returned from the kitchen. He brought drinks for Arlan's employees.

"It's back." replied Arlan.

"Then make it a mas. I put it on the table." Aira put a glass filled with orange juice on the table.

"Thank you" said Arlan.

Aira was not out of thought, Arlan could make a special room for their needs. Starting from soap, shampoo, and all sorts of things. He did not forget the personal needs of his wife.

"Mas has opened a shop at home." murmured Aira who was arranging things with her husband.

"So we don't have to go far if we need to" he said.

"That means you in that house, too, have initiative?" ask Aira.

"Yes, make it easier for you when you need something." Arlan smiled.

The same thing Arlan did for the Aira family. Arlan's kindness makes Aira feel even more sinful, because her heart has not been able to accept Arlan completely.

"Thank you, Arlan also provides the same facilities for my family" said Aira sincerely.

"Because they're my family too." Arlan replied.

A lot of things Arlan does all day at home. Starting from arranging things, to cleaning the outside of his house.

"Where is Arlan?" aira asked herself, when she just woke up to take a nap. Because the dizziness back attacked him after arranging the goods with Arlan.

"Tok the fence open?" muttered.

"It's very fine with Arlan..."

Aira heard the voice of a woman out there. He's coming to the front soon.

"Just clean a little. From where?" ask Arlan.

"Just getting home from work, mas." the woman looked towards Aira who was already standing behind Arlan.

"Mbak Aira.." said.

"Just come home, ma'am?" reply Aira politely.

"Yes. Excuse me, ma'am, mas.." pamitnya then.

Aira continued to pay attention to the woman named Desy. Which is their neighbor.

"Easy?" ask Arlan.

"Yes, mas. Here I help."

"No. You take a shower, gih!" reject Arlan followed by an order. "Mother's phone, we're asked to come home. I miss you" she said.

"Ah, yes. I take a shower, yeah, mas."

Aira dies Arlan who keeps seeing her departure.

"God is the One who turns back the hearts of men. May God do the same to you, Aira."

......................

"I used to say your name in my prayers so we could be together. Now I speak your name, that God may cast away my memory of you.

I already have a good husband, I should be grateful. Not even mengdukannya with my past, especially those who are married too.

Forgive me, O God. I will keep trying to open my heart. And become a full wife for Arlan mas. Guide me God...!!!"