(Not) The Substitute

Eps 47 - Our Household

Elsa returns to the hotel with a very irritated feeling, what else remembers Arfan's words that seemed to never love Elsa in the least. So rude and his words were heartbreaking.

Elsa picks up her cell phone and calls her mother.

"Assalamualaikum, Ma.." cried Elsa lazy.

"Waalaikum hail, why is it so upset, Sa?" ask the Mama.

"It's okay, just bored today there's no work. Tomorrow's just another photo shoot"

"Loh, she said she'd go to your sister's house. Is he not there? Your sister also definitely didn't do anything, right?"

"So it's been there, but Elnaz's just as Arfan doesn't like me there"

"Why is that? Are you bothering them?"

"Yes there's no way I'm like that, Ma. Last time I saw that Elnaz was sick, his feet were on bandages, and I offered to help him. Kasian also Arfan was cooking, he still has to work"

"Continue?"

"Yes his Elnaz did not want to, his word could take care of everything on its own. I just feel sorry, Mama. What's more, Arfan's gotta take care of it, finish the house, cook, work"

"Why is that kid talking like that? Yes, yes, Sa. Let it go, later if you need something, call you"

"He'em, it's okay, Ma..."

"Yes, you can walk or shop, Sa. Don't take what Elnaz said, he's still a child"

"Yes, Ma. I understand it..."

.........

Arfan has finished his cooking of course with Elnaz who helped him.

"Hem, fragrant..." Elnaz inhaled the aroma of cooking that had been served by his sister's "El stomach directly rumbling, Brother" kekehnya.

"Yes must be a rumble, from noon you must have not eaten" exclaimed Arfan serving an empty plate in front of his wife.

"Indeed not to eat, right said Arfan should not move" Elnaz answered casually that makes Arfan anxious and immediately pinched the chubby cheek of the wife.

"And you have prepared bread, to prop your stomach up until you go home"

"But El is lazy..." Elnaz answered him again with a cry.

"Next time it can't be like that"

"Ready, Doctor..."

.........

After the Isya prayer, Arfan and Elnaz just fell on the bed while watching a movie.

Elnaz sat on his back and leaned on the head of the bed, while Arfan half-layed down with his head on his chest while his hands wrapped around his belly.

Even Arfan's mischievous hand had infiltrated the back of the T-shirt that Elnaz was wearing, making Elnaz gasp as she felt the warmth of her husband's hand on her stomach skin.

"Honey.." call Arfan wiry while rubbing the stomach of Elnaz who also feels warm.

"Hmmm" replied Elnaz still focused on the television screen.

"Why?" elnaz asked in a low voice.

"Just ask, you know you won't be ready to have children now. Brother also does not agree we have children now, brother wants you to go to college and pursue your dreams" said Arfan at length who made Elnaz smile. He lowered his head and kissed the husband who was so understanding to him.

"El wants to have children, and will be loved now or later, it's okay, brother. Insha Allah El ready." said Elnaz who made Arfan smile happy.

"How many kids do you think we want, baby?" asked Arfan again while peeping Elnaz's stomach from behind his t-shirt, making Elnaz tingle amusedly.

"One, sister." she replied with a small laugh because of Arfan.

"Why just one?" tanya Arfan still continues to kiss the stomach of the wife.

"El is afraid if for example have more than one child, later El can not love all of them. It's another kasian, brother. Later sad." replied Elnaz with a voice immediately stuck in his throat. Given that he never got the same affection as Elsa so far because he had a loving parent.

Arfan who heard his wife's words made his heart gasp, he immediately reached out his hand and stroked Elnaz's cheek gently. While his other hand grasped Elnaz's hand and kissed him, comforting Elnaz from the sadness he felt.

"You're not going to be like that, honey." exclaimed Arfan reassuring "You're going to be the best mother in the world, who will love and love our children as much as you can"

"Mama's a good mother, too, brother. But why doesn't he love El as much as he loves Sister Elsa? Even Mama blames El because Kak Arfan does not want to pick up Kak Elsa at the airport, Mama says pity Kak Elsa, but Mama never pity El..." Elnaz said while looking down sad. While Arfan was a little surprised to hear the words of Elnaz who just knew he was angry with his mother because of Elsa.

"When did Aunt Isna upset you, honey?" ask Arfan.

"So morning, but Brother Arfan doesn't have to be upset with Brother Elsa. El has always been blamed on Mama." said Elnaz while laughing blandly.

"You're patient, I'm sure one day Aunt Isna will love you, dear.." cried Arfan comforting that made Elnaz smile and his heart guaranteed it.

Elnaz's phone, which was cas, suddenly rang.

"Sir, get up first." pinta Elnaz tried to get rid of Arfan from above his body but Arfan instead increasingly tighten his hand circles in the stomach of Elnaz.

"Don't want to.." exclaimed spoiled Arfan "Lift it, speaker. Mostly grandma.." she exclaimed. Elnaz answered the call and it turned out that his mother was back on the phone.

"Assalamualaikum, Ma.." said Elnaz while loading the speaker phone.

"Greetings waalaikum, El. You where? Elsa said you were sick?" ask the mother who made Elnaz feel happy because he noticed. While Arfan was just listening and he was still hugging the spoiled wife.

"Yes, it's just a minor injury, ma'am." replied Elnaz.

"Why did you keep Elsa from helping you?" asked the Mama again who immediately made the pleasure of Elnaz perish instantly while Arfan who heard it immediately lifted his head from the chest of Elnaz.

"It's not banned, Ma. El just did not want to bother" replied Elnaz began to be upset, because once again he would be wrong in the eyes of the mother just because of the complaint Elsa.

"Elsa offered herself up, right? Yes, it means it will not be troublesome, you just do not want to be helped. Her word is Arfan is also ripe, indeed you do not pity all your husbands? Your brother's well-intentioned, El... "

His mother's words made Elnaz a little furious but he held her back. Elnaz tried to defend himself and just as he opened his mouth to speak but Arfan immediately preceded him.

"This is our household, Auntie." exclaimed Arfan firmly that made Elnaz look directly at her husband.

"And we don't need anyone else in our household, if Elnaz can't take care of the house then her husband will. That's not a problem, household life is like this, right? Sharing tasks..."

"That's not someone else, Fan. He's still Elnaz's sister and your cousin's sister too" Bu Isna's voice sounded upset, probably because of what Arfan had said was quite brave.

"In the household, what other parents only in-laws are other people" replied Arfan who must have made Bu Isna angry.

While Elnaz can only be stunned to hear Arfan's answer that he never thought it was.