The Substitute's Love
The New Spirit of Yudha

Ningrum gasped at Yudha's words, and swallowed his saliva roundly.

''Didn't you ever promise to do it for me?'' yudha asked as Ningrum remained silent as if he was still thinking something.

''I-iya, I didn't forget that, '' Ningrum replied stiffly.

''But that does not mean I will also massage your feet Mas, I only help you to make herbal oil only.'' he continued again in the heart.

Yudha gave a small smile as she saw the anxious and tense look in Ningrum's eyes.

''Sorry to surprise you, I won't force you if you can't do it.' Yudha said at last.

Ningrum slightly frowned, apparently Yudha could read his anxiety.

Does it look like? thought.

''No. I'll do it. After all I am also your religiously legitimate wife. Then serving you is an obligation for me.' said Ningrum steady, although honestly his heart was very shaky and his body suddenly became weak.

Whether the courage from which he could utter the word serve was an obligation for him. Although there is nothing wrong with what he said.

Inexhaustible thought with the words 'serve' he said directly to Yudha.

Now it was Yudha's turn to be silent while her heart suddenly thumped.

''Aye! Oh come on, why is this again?'' yudha in the heart

Their gazes clashed, Yudha saw sincerity in Ningrum's clear eyes.

''All right let's do it right away.'' Yudha said at last.

''And you can come out now, '' Yudha told her nurse.

The nurse simply nodded politely and then immediately left the room.

''Alright Mas, let's start.'' said Ningrum.

''Hemm,'' Yudha replied while nodding.

In Ningrum's heart had not she promised, that she would serve her husband well.

Although her marriage was based on coercion and covenant. But for him a marriage is a sacred thing and not a playful thing.

Remembering the ijab qabul is not only witnessed by humans, but also witnessed by God as well as angels.

''Bismillah.'' murmured Ningrum.

Ningrum rolled a small cloth under Yudha's feet.

With Yudha sitting on the bed, she immediately did her massage slowly from around the knees to the soles of Yudha's feet. And of course with the massage techniques he learned from his father.

The massage was indirectly their physical contact for the first time.

Yudha gave a small smile looking at the activities that Ningrum was doing. Because he felt the tension through Ningrum's touch.

Yudha knew that the woman before her must have never been in physical contact with the opposite sex. Yudha could see a red tinge decorating her cheeks.

In contrast to Yudha who relaxed and relaxed to respond.

I don't know why Yudha's heart warmed to the face of Ningrum, who was focusing on her activities right now.

How this simple girl had a very warm and gentle heart. Unlike Eliana who is spoiled and wants to be alone.

Suddenly, Yudha's chest felt tight remembering about Eliana. Because since his departure abroad he has never once contacted him.

Although Yudha had contacted him at other times, there was never any response. I don't know if Eliana's there.

*

*

A month passed, during which Ningrum was painstakingly caring for Yudha. From the start of massaging, accompanying him to eat until he learned to teach.

Just bathing and dressing Yudha's clothes he didn't do. Because he's still awkward.

Nor did Yudha ask for it, perhaps she was the same as him. Ningrum only prepared the clothes that Yudha would wear.

Slowly but surely, Yudha momentarily forgot the figure of Eliana.

The presence of Ningrum incised a new color in Yudha's life. The originally dim spirit bias is now slowly returning bright and has a color.

Slow but surely Ningrum's name stuck to the bottom side of his heart. Although her marriage began with compulsion. But somehow it brings warmth and a new spirit to be healed again.

By late afternoon Yudha was sitting in the back seat of the house struggling with her laptop.

He's checking the job data that Dean sent him.

Ningrum placed a plate of snacks with warm sweet tea on the table.

''Mas please eat the snack.'' said Ningrum who saw Yudha was very serious with his laptop.

Yudha just hugged without looking at Ningrum.

Indeed, when it comes to Yudha company is always serious and cannot be disturbed by its concentration.

Therefore the company is very advanced and became one of the largest companies in the country, even abroad.

Ningrum sat next to him while watching him. He subconsciously stared at Yudha's face intensely.

Thick eyebrows with a firm jaw. Sharp eyes and plump eyelashes. Perfect with a sharp nose and sensual lips. What a perfect creation of God.

Ningrum smiled to himself, until a deheman awakened his daydream.

''Why,,? I'm handsome huh..?'' chirping Yudha smiled obliquely but her eyes could not be separated from the screen of her laptop.

Ningrum was excited and embarrassed when Yudha stole a glance at him.

''Em-sorry, '' that's all that said from his mouth.

Yudha knew she was being looked at, because at a glance she glanced at Ningrum with the tip of her eye. And it turned out that the girl was staring at his face without blinking.

To be honest in his heart was very nervous and uneasy at being looked at so intensely by Ningrum, hence he broke Ningrum's daydream to cover up his own nervousness.

Yudha closed her laptop indicating that her business was done. His eyes glanced at the plate of snacks before him.

''This is what,?'' tanyakanya.

''This fried yam Mas, very suitable in cemil in the afternoon with sweet tea.'' explained Ningrum.

'' Ubis.. '' Inner.

Without saying much more he instantly picked it up and devoured it.

''Isn't it Mas,?'' ask Ningrum.

Yudha just nodded and smiled. Without him realizing it, he remembered Rumi.

''If Mas is done I will do another massage on Mas's feet, '' said Ningrum.

''Alright, do it.'' Yudha replied.

In addition to the massage by Ningrum, Yudha also did Physiotherapy by calling her therapist home.

For the healing process to run fast, but the most important thing is to grow a new spirit in his heart.

Not denied by Yudha if the spirit grows because there is Ningrum beside him.

Actually a wife like Ningrinumumum is what Yudha needs. Always by her side and support her.

But she also cannot let go of Eliana, because she is bound by a promise to her father Eliana. Who will always take care of him and make him his wife.

As tight as Yudha was feeling, she let out a rough sigh.

But his heart was slowly at peace when he looked at Ningrum's face which was painstakingly massaging his legs.

Yudha smiled again.

****************

Seriate...