The Whore That Gus Azam's Wife
I'm sorry, Stella

When it came to lunch, Stella picked up her phone that was ringing.

“Assalamu’alaikum” Sapa Stella after lifting the call.

“Wa’alaikumsalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh” Azam replied from across there.

“What's up, mas?” Ask Stella.

“Say to sister Maryam, no need to cook, I've ordered lunch for y'all” Azam said.

Stella smiled with that little attention from her husband, It was unexpected that Azam was so considerate, even with little things like this.

“Why not tell yourself with sister Maryam?” Ask Stella.

“I called him earlier but, it looks like his phone is off. So, I just called my wife” replied Azam who successfully made Stella blush like boiled shrimp.

“Alright, you also don't forget your lunch” Stella said.

“Iya. I'm closed. Assalamu’alaikum” Pamit Azam.

“Wa’alaikumsalam warahmatulli wabarakatuh” Replied Stella then, call disconnected.

“What's up?” Ask Maryam.

“Mas Azam has ordered food for us, he said sister Maryam does not need to cook” Said Stella, inexplicably told Azam so it makes his heart beat so fast.

“Often-often here, Stella. You make my work light if it's like this” said Maryam, ending with a slow twitch.

“I'm here every day, brother. As long as Sister Maryam is here, I will definitely come” Sahut Stella.

They look so familiar, while Khalisa is staring at the brothers-in-law.

“Mas Azam didn't even call me as well” Mumbled but, still can be heard clearly by Maryam and Stella.

The two stared at Khalisa.

“Oh yes, sis. What about someone who understands religion but, does not practice it?” Stella asked, switching the conversation.

“It is about Islam and also Faith yes, Stella. If the person knows about the rules of religion and its sharia, he also practices it but, not based on faith it is called a hypocrite.

Whereas if he is a person who claims to believe but, does not practice the Shari'a of Allah SWT and His Messenger then, he is referred to as an ungodly person” said Maryam.

The woman explained in an easy-to-understand language.

“I'm sorry, Stella. Of all the things I've taught you since, you didn't record them at all. Do you understand?” Ask Maryam.

“My study technique is listening, sis. I've been recording everything since, on my phone. I can note it later” Stella replied with a smile, showing her another phone. It was the phone that Stella used to work on first but, she had already deleted all the contents, she had also thrown away the number that was inside since that night, too, the night before Azam said the agreement in front of the ruler.

“Oh yes? You belong to a smart person then. If you may know, where is your last education?” Ask Maryam.

“At the University of Adelaide Research Scholarships, I majored in media” Stella replied.

“Loh, Azam used to have a seminar there but, he said at the business faculty, knowing that time he really wanted to develop a family company so, when undergoing education, he wanted to, he often goes abroad to research overseas interests that are suitable for his own company” said Maryam.

“Wah, a coincidence. Too bad, we did not meet at that time” replied Stella.

“When Azam did not want to get married at all, he was so focused on his work. Moreover, he is also a preacher, his time is spent working and studying” Sahut Maryam.

One more thing Stella doesn't know about her husband.

“He is commonly called Gus Azam. The title ‘gus’ will be given to a boy of kyai descent or son-in-law of kyai” said Maryam.

Tok

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After that, there was the sound of the door being knocked.

“Mbak Stella must be her life free once out there huh. Moreover, living abroad for several years, surely the culture there is ingrained with mbak Stella, evident from how some time ago mbak Stella came to hut” said Khalisa.

For some reason, the woman really wanted to burn Stella's emotions since yesterday. Whether intentionally or indeed her character is like that but, Stella is really fed up actually.

“I'm sorry, Khalisa. My past let me embrace myself, if my husband says, Allah SWT has kindly closed my disgrace then, it feels so sinful if I alone indulge in my disgrace.

Is not talking about a man's disgrace the same as eating the flesh of his own brother? Again forgive me, chicken and beef are still delicious” Stella said.

Finally the woman said her words.

“You can definitely get better than Azam mas but, I have absolutely no interest in answering things that concern my privacy. I don't want us to be enemies, what happened today is destiny.

You heard Maryam's story yourself, didn't you? About the angel Gabriel who asked the Prophet about the believers? There the Prophet replied that it is when we believe in Allah SWT, His angel. His Messenger, His book and also the last day and we who BELIEVE in DESTINY that Allah SWT wrote, both bad and good’ ” Sahut Stella then smiled.

Unknowingly it turns out that behind Stella already stands Maryam carrying a large plastic bag.

“Good, Stella. You can take my word well. Khalisa, I know you still don't accept it but, this is fate. You must not hate and be emasculated, you are a smart girl, lest your anger lead you to the abyss of hell”, said Maryam.

Khalisa lowered his head he cried, somehow it felt so painful when everyone defended Stella while he was the most hurt here.

“Ikhlas and patience, that's the only key to self-sufficiency. Don't lose both of them because of liver disease. Be aware, it is not good, Allah SWT hates those who have liver disease. Expand Istighfar, Khalisa” Said Maryam again, he brought Khalisa into his arms.

Stella just saw it, “I don't want to have enemies or someone who doesn't like me here, I'm here to change my bad destiny, to learn and walk in the way of Allah SWT. I'm sorry if I hurt you so much, Khalisa. But, I do not mean at all that” he said softly.

Khalisa finally hugged Stella with tears, “I'm sorry. I'm sorry” he said as he hugged Stella.

Only that sentence can come out of Khalisa's tiny lips.

“I'm sorry too. Come be friends, I'll think of you like my sister like Azam took care of you like in your story. I'm an only child, you can think of me like your brother, I'm alone, I don't have a brother. It would be nice to have a brother whose age is not so far away, right?” Stella said, hugging Khalisa back.

The woman actually wanted to cry as well, her eyes were already teary. But, maybe because since childhood he was not used to vent his tears in front of people, he ended up just harboring it himself.

Mary smiled when she saw both.

“No more drama, yes. I don't like fiery things, I prefer peace or warmth” said Maryam.

The woman took the plate for them to eat together. At that time, they finally felt warm because Khalisa who no longer felt burdened with the marriage of Stella and Azam.

Furthermore, as previously scheduled, it was Khalisa's turn to teach Stella to teach, occasionally they joke if Stella starts to feel dizzy. Meanwhile, Maryam continued her script while waiting for the two.

Until it was not felt, the afternoon greeted. Azam had already arrived at her brother's residence, waiting for Stella to take a bath.

“Kan can shower at home, why should shower here hm?” Azam.

“He was flooded here” Byisik Maryam.

Azam frowned, “Where is there a flood?” tanyakanya.

“I mean she just got a sudden period. So, the skirt is dirty. She actually just wanted to borrow a skirt but, yes all take a shower so that when she gets home later stay relaxed” replied Maryam.

Khalisa sat with them. He doesn't talk much, focus on his digital prayer beads.

“Already?” Azam asked, seeing that Stella was already out of the living room.

The woman had changed to Khalisa's robe, she was borrowed.

“Sudah” Answer.

“Already, let's go home” Take Azam.

They went home after saying goodbye, not forgetting Stella carrying a plastic bag containing her dirty clothes.

“Thanks, sis. Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullah” Pamit Azam.

“Be careful. Wa’alaikumsalam warahmatulli wabarakatuh” said Maryam and the answer greeting along with the voice of Khalisa.