(Not) The Substitute

Eps 84 - Birthday Preparation

Arriving at home, Elnaz immediately went to the kitchen and he saw his father who was busy decorating the cake while watching his tutorial from YouTube. The kitchen was also very messy and there was a burnt-out cake.

Elnaz was not upset, he was even moved by what his father did.

"Assalamualaikum, Papa.." exclaimed Elnaz who made his father jump in shock, even he almost made his cake decoration was damaged.

"Greetings waalaikum, El. When home? How come Papa didn't hear Arfan's car open the door?" ask Mr. Malik who made Elnaz chuckle.

"My twelpa focused on making the cake" said Elnaz then he tasted the cake that was charred, he took part in his not-so-sniff "Hem, delicious. Though this is the first time Papa made a cake, Papa can order the truth" said Elnaz later.

Arfan went in and tasted the cake made by his father-in-law.

"Lumayan" his comment.

"Papa wants to do it himself, which is special" replied Mr. Malik who makes Elnaz certainly feel very happy.

"Thank you, Papa. Papa's arrival here alone has been very special for El" said Elnaz full of haru that made Mr. Malik teruhuh hear him.

"Now you should take a shower and rest, let Papa clean your kitchen which is like a broken ship" said Mr. Malik who made Elnaz again chuckle.

"Can it be?" elnaz asked with a smile.

Arfan who saw the smile of Elnaz certainly also smiled, now his wife is fine and looks happy.

"It could be, before marriage Papa was often help mother, do not get me wrong you know" said Mr. Malik who made Elnaz laugh.

"Papa is indeed the best" said Elnaz "El change clothes first, later we clean the kitchen together" he said and then he rushed to his room.

Now in the kitchen lives Arfan and Mr. Malik.

"You had a fight with Elnaz, Fan?" asked Mr. Malik then put his cake into the refrigerator.

"No, Pa" answered Arfan.

"Don't lie, Fan. I can see it since this morning" said Mr. Malik who made Arfan immediately lowered his head "Is it because of Elsa?" ask her later.

"No, Pa" answered Arfan quickly "I'm just disappointed that El can believe people's stories for granted, even he's not afraid to go to a man's apartment alone and that's without my permission" arfan.

"If she asks permission, will you allow her?" mr. Malik asked later and Arfan immediately shook his head.

"I also know your mother, my own mother. She kept talking about the baby to Elnaz, and there she even kept talking about the same thing with her friends. I don't want Elnaz depressed, he's still in college, Fan. And as Elnaz's husband, I hope you can talk to your mother, your sister, Fan. She's not married at the time she should be married, so don't force her to be a mother when she shouldn't be"

Arfan felt gasp listening to the words of his Father-in-law, he seemed to have just realized it. Said his father-in-law as if piercing right in his heart.

During this time Arfan only asked Elnaz not to listen to his mother without Arfan berinisative in the slightest to stop his mother. Arfan never even thought about the position of Elnaz as a daughter-in-law in his family, what else with the basis of marriage that became a problem.

The marriage brought Elnaz to a vortex of endless trouble, trouble with his own brother, the sneers of the neighbors, and pressure from his in-laws. And as a husband, Arfan couldn't protect Elnaz from all that.

"El.." exclaimed Mr. Malik when he saw Elnaz entering the kitchen "His cake Papa had entered into the refrigerator"

"Thank you, Papa" said Elnaz, then helped his father clean the kitchen.

"We'll celebrate your birthday tonight yeah, three of them. Because it will be right on your birthday will still be celebrated" said Mr. Malik.

"Actually El doesn't want to make a party, Papa. El just want to make a thanks, if for example Mama and El's in-laws want to come. But if they can't come, El doesn't hold any events" Elnaz said. Arfan was a little surprised to hear the words of his wife, because Arfan was eager to celebrate the birthday of Elnaz as usual.

"But why, El?" ask Arfan at the end.

"Getting year is celebrated only once, tonight is its celebration. So why celebrate again?" Elnaz said without looking at Arfan. Makes Arfan feel sad because like he had greatly disappointed Elnaz.

While Elnaz does not want to celebrate his birthday with his Mama what else is his mother-in-law, because Elnaz knows it will not go well.

"Alright" said Arfan then "I want to go back to the hospital, enjoy your time with Papa" said Arfan then kissed Elnaz's forehead. Makes Elnaz's eyes glassy but he hides it.

Without a hug and without a kiss her husband makes Elnaz feel like there is something less than his life, but Elnaz is still very upset at Arfan. He remained silent until Arfan left.

..........

After cleaning the house, Mr. Malik gets a message from Arfan. And Mr. Malik smiled as he got the message. While Elnaz looked exhausted and he also looked sleepy.

"You just sleep in the room, El" said his father.

"But Papa will be alone" replied Elnaz, yawning.

"Papa also want to take a nap" replied Mr. Malik who made Elnaz smile thinly, he did feel tired and wanted to sleep immediately.

"Yes, El sleeps first, Pa..."