
Early in the morning, after morning prayers Azam returned to sleep, while Stella immediately went down to the kitchen with her cellphone.
The woman saw the leftover rice yesterday which is still a lot, she was confused what to do. Should it be thrown away?
He saw the rice, according to him the rice was still worth eating and not stale. But, do you have to serve the leftover rice yesterday to her husband?
The woman was struck by confusion, moreover she never set foot in the kitchen, only yesterday it reaped drama as well.
“Ah I tried to call sister Maryam just” Murmured Stella, hoping her sister-in-law was not sleeping anymore like her husband.
“Assalamu’alaikum” Sapa women across there.
Stella breathed a sigh of relief, finally being picked up in just one call.
“Wa’alaikumsalam, kak” Reply Stella.
“What's up, Stella? Something going on?” Ask Maryam.
“What's up, brother? What busy? Stella wants to ask a little bit” Stella answered still with a sense of arrogance.
“I just finished teaching, just folded mukena. Just ask, God willing I will answer if I can” Sahut Maryam.
“Begini brother, this will be the rest of the rice yesterday. Can I throw it away?” Stella asked plainly.
There was a sound of rarity from across the street, it sounded like an uneasy ruckus due to Stella's innocence, rather than an understatement.
“Begini, Stella. The behavior of throwing away food is a bad thing, because it belongs to the attitude of belittling the favors given by Allah SWT to us, because it belongs to us, except yes, if suppose we are eating in a restaurant then, the portions are too much and we already feel full before the food runs out, then it is permissible we leave the food.
Why that? Because according to the letter Al-A’raf verse 31, there explained that we, Muslims are instructed not to overdo eating and drinking, because Allah SWT does not like anything excessive. That we can call Israf” Obviously Maryam, the woman explained patiently to her sister-in-law.
“Then, how is this, sis?” Ask Stella.
“It's okay, anyway the rice is still warm right? Your husband will receive whatever is served to him, lucky that he is not a selector” Sahut Maryam.
“Emm, okay. Thanks Kak” Say Stella.
“You want to cook for your husband?” Maryam asked, the woman is very sensitive to the surrounding.
Stella replied with doubt, “Iya, kak”
“You want video call? Let me help” Bargain Maryam.
He knew that Stella was not used to being in the kitchen, as seen from Stella's style when she arrived at the cottage at that time. The type of rich city people whose skin only looks slippery with care.
But, Maryam did not want to offend about Stella not being able to cook. She understood that, considering the background of the Stella family was clearly an equally busy businessman, and the woman was always served by the waiter in her house.
“Emm, I'm afraid to trouble sister Maryam” Stella said. It felt, very hesitant with her husband's sister, afraid to make mistakes in front of him.
“Ah, it's okay. I happen to be not busy”
Tok
Tok
Tok
“Sister Maryam, are you awake?”
Stella heard the knocking of the door and Khalisa's voice afterwards. Honestly, Stella did not want to look weak and could not do anything in front of her husband's ex-wife.
“Kak, I'll cook it myself. Sister Maryam can continue with sister's work. Thank you, kak” Stella said.
“Oh so? Alright, happy learning yes, good luck” Sahut Maryam.
“So, thank you. Assalamu’alaikum” Pamit Stella.
“Wa’aalaikumsalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh” replied Maryam.
After that, Stella turned off their call.
The woman immediately opened youtube, an internet video service that provides a wide variety of content. Search, ‘How to make fried rice’.
With the step by step he saw in the video.
Occasionally on pause, so as not to miss the next step.
With a stir, finally that morning he finished cooking.
Fried rice with half-cooked beef eye eggs. The eggs do not need to see the tutorial, he used to cook half-cooked beef eggs and also instant noodles when the night first. Then one cup of tea for her husband. She didn't know her husband was a coffee drinker or not, so she chose the safe route instead.
He looked around, really cooking the fried rice alone was like a broken ship, inwardly.
Stella quickly tidied up the kitchen, despite the slight distress of not being used to doing homework.
At exactly 05:45, he went upstairs to clean up first and woke Azam up.
“Eunghh” Azam looked*uh, he opened his eyes and found Stella with slightly messy hair in front of her face.
The man smiled, “It looks like dating after marriage will please” he muttered.
Stella immediately distanced her body from Azam, she was ashamed.
“Work today? Get ready, I will prepare your clothes first” Stella said then go, open the closet and see the arrangement of the suit, shirt and even tie neatly arranged there.
Azam who styled it yesterday, when Stella and Maryam and Khalisa cooked below, he chose to arrange his clothes and his wife's clothes into the closet.
“Rasulullah likes cleanliness and neatness. You've heard, ‘hygiene is part of faith?’ well, that's one example of” Azam said then went into the bathroom.
A few days with Azam, he learned a lot. It's like getting the jackpot.
“You cooked it yourself?” Azam asked after he reached the dining table.
Stella nodded in doubt, “I watched the video tutorial earlier” he replied.
“It's okay. Thank you for learning to prepare this” Azam replied, stroking the top of his wife's head slowly with a sweet smile.
In the first feed, Azam was silent for a while, looking for the flavor presented in it.
“What's bad?” Stella asked after seeing her husband's facial expression.
“Enak, maybe less salt alone. This is already very good for the size of the new learn” replied the man as he continued his breakfast.
It does not taste as good as the brothers who sell usually but, according to Azam it can still be eaten.
Stella tried it. He thinks it's not bad, he thinks. Seeing her husband eating voraciously, it also didn't seem so bad for Azam.
“I'll learn again” Stella said.
“Thanks yes. Or want to take cooking training?” Ask Azam.
“What can?” Stella Sahut.
“Of course I can, I will not prohibit you from doing activities as long as it's a positive thing” Azam replied as he stroked his wife's hand on the table.
“But, later my study time with sister Maryam so cut?” Stella Sahut.
The woman really wanted to take the science of religion seriously like her.
“I leave everything to you. Let me know if you're willing to take a class, I'll find it and give you permission” Azam said.
Stella nodded in response, a sincere smile that Azam had never seen before finally for the first time the man looked at his wife with that smile.
“Cantik” Gumam Azam.
“Hah? Why?” Stella asked, not so close to Azam's murmur.
“Ah, it's okay” Azam immediately aware, “so delivered to sister Maryam?” Azam asked, switching the conversation.
Stella nods her head vigorously, “So. In a moment yes, I took the bag first” he said then ran to their room.
Black plisket skirt and lemon-colored tunic, combined with a rectangular hijab size of 130cm x 130cm black became the outfit of choice Stella this morning.
So graceful in the eyes of Azam, especially if you remember how his wife used to dress. So different from now.
They left, not far only about 15 minutes away, had arrived at the rented house of Maryam, he said, there was Maryam who was watering plants accompanied by Khalisa who read a magazine on the porch of the house.
“Assalamu’alaikum” Sapa Azam and Stella together.
“Wa’alaikumsalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh” Replied Maryam and Khalisa.
“Loh, have you guys arrived?” Ask Maryam.
“Iya sis, want to take Stella and go to the office” Azam replied.
Seen Khalisa walking towards them, “You have breakfast?” Ask.
“Already, my wife has cooked it for me” Azam replied as she looked at Stella in love.
Anyone can see that loving glint.
“New bride, if kasmaran yes this way. Yes already, go” Goda Maryam then expel her sister.
Azam nodded, “I go first yes, take good care of yourself. Later in the afternoon I'll pick you” he told Stella.
“Be careful” Sahut Stella while kissing the back of her husband's hand.
Azam smiled, the man kissed his wife's forehead in front of his brother and also his ex-wife-to-be.