A Ghost To Mak

Become a Son-in-law

Azan Maghrib reverberated, Laila and Paul preparing for prayer. Mak Nur was waiting for the two in the prayer room, which was next to the middle room which was only given a curtain. Paul stood at the front as the priest, while Mak Nur and Laila at the back as the master.

"Goddessa ...." Paul started takbir. The chanting of the holy verses of the Quran sounds melodious. The man recited very eloquently. Laila's heart was filled. How fortunate he was to have married a Paul, not only handsome as well as a man who was good at keeping his prayers, and was fluent in reciting the verses of God.

After Laila's prayer kissed the back of Paul ta'zim's hand, the man rubbed Laila's head and kissed her forehead. Followed by Paul kissing the back of Mak Nur's hand, the woman gently rubbed her son's head. Lastly Laila kissed the back of Mak Nur's hand, then hugged her in-laws tightly.

"Eat first, Mak's prepared at the table." Mak Nur took off the mucus and hung it, tidied up the cloth worn on his head and went to the kitchen. Laila takes off her face justifying her veil which feels slanted then heads towards the kitchen helping Mak prepare dinner.

Still wearing Paul's holster sitting at the dining table. Laila took the plate and filled it with rice and placed it in front of Paul, then took the rice for the Mak. The last for himself. Simple menu served, tomato sauce is also fish, and a bowl of spinach vegetables.

"Yes, Mommy. What brother's favorite food, huh?" ask Laila. Mak Nur smiled looking at the two. No wonder Laila asked this question, because during the ta'aruf period she did not seek any information about her future husband.

Mak Nur says it all, especially if a Paul doesn't like to eat vegetables. The bespectacled man must be threatened to eat vegetables. Not much, at least one spoon.

"Oh God, Mother. Let not the ugliness of the brother be told all. Malulah." - Malulah."

"What is shame. Laila is Brother's wife. Watch out for Abang. Mak's gonna give you a lesson first."

"Emang Brother naughty huh, Mak?" ask Laila.

"When there are adult children whose attitude is rich toddler children, yes it's Laila's husband," explained Mak at length. And that made Laila laugh. Happy to see Paul's closeness to the Mother. Also very grateful with this fast can feel so close to her in-laws.

After the meal, Laila helped clean the dirty dishes and washed them in the well. While Paul had already left the dining table and sat back in the living room watching television.

Mak Nur went straight into his room, he felt a pain in his waist. Laila offers to massage him, but is rejected. The middle-aged woman did not want to trouble her daughter-in-law at all even though she knew that Laila would be very happy to be able to help.

Laila tidied the dishes that had been used on the shelf and sat next to Paul who was busy watching comedy shows on television. The man who was originally sitting leaning against the chair, now laid his head on Laila's lap.

Paul looked into the face of Laila who was watching TV. Aware of being stared at so, Laila covered her face with both palms.

"Why ... don't you like it on the same side?"

"Mad's part of Laila's habit of seeing her all the way."

"Keep Laila will, brother see another woman besides Laila?"

Laila looked at Paul who was looking at her, there was a bit of pain from the word Paul had just said. Even if he was just joking, he didn't like it at all. Laila grabs Paul's head on his lap and asks him to get up, without a word Laila leaves Paul and goes into the room.

Realizing something strange, Paul turns off the television and catches up with Laila in the room. As Laila sat cross-legged on the bed against the wall and turned on the laptop and focused on the flat screen before her, she paid no attention to Paul standing behind her.

"Laila why? Something's wrong, brother, hmm?" Paul approached and sat down behind Laila.

Laila did not answer, she kept focusing on the files and started typing. His shady face looked sad, slowly tears welled up. With the tip of Laila's veil rubbed rough her tears.

Paul grabs Laila's shoulder, hugging her. With the palm of Paul rubbed the tears that flowed more and more. Laila twisted her body, immersing her face in Paul's chest.

"Abang's sorry, honey. I know Laila's not used to it. Sorry if you like to be nosy."

Laila laughed, indeed she should have gotten used to Paul's fad. He should not take his jokes seriously. Laila lifted her face and looked at Paul.

"Review, don't talk about any woman. Laila doesn't like it!"

"Yes, Honey. Brother's sorry." Paul kissed Laila's forehead and asked her to pray Isya because the azan had been reverberating from earlier. Both of them did not find the figure of Mak in the place of prayer, may have prayed and immediately slept.

Laila tidied up the scattered files on the mattress and turned off the laptop and put it on Paul's desk. Laila takes off the hijab and hangs it behind the door, while Paul takes off the sheath and makes Laila close her eyes. Paul chuckles at Laila who always misbehaves so.

"Oh Allah, Laila. When's it gonna be a surprise to see you take off the sarong?"

Laila opened her eyes, watching the man before her. Though Paul has often said, despite wearing a sarong he always wears knee-length pants. Paul changes Koko's shirt with a shirt and Laila with a nightgown.

Paul rests his body on the bed, and Laila puts her head on Paul's arm.

"Tomorrow my brother opened a shop. Laila's okay being left behind?"

"It's okay. There is Mak. So you don't have to worry."

"Yes already. Brother sleeps, tomorrow has to open a store right?" ask Laila. Then he closed his eyes. But it opens again when it hears Paul clucking.

"Which why? How rich are you pissed?"

"It's okay" Paul answered briefly, pretending to close his eyes.

"Related?" Laila looked up, watching Paul.

"Grand."

"Yes already." Laila shifted her body, away from Paul's body. Then put his head on the pillow.

"That's not okay" said Paul in a slightly upset tone. Laila smiled, this time she managed to tease her husband.

Pt ....

Laila kissed Paul on the cheek, making him open his eyes. A happy smile spread on the man's face.

"Laila loves you, brother."

"Dragon is also dear Laila."

Slowly Laila approached back and lay her head on Paul's chest.

**

After the dawn prayer Laila prepared breakfast also for Paul. The man was busy heating his favorite motorbike which had been left in the garage for several days.

"Thank you, sweetie." Paul replaced the sarong with trousers and T-shirts that Laila had prepared on the mattress.

After Paul leaves, Laila helps clean the house. Initially Mak Nur forbade Laila to sweep and mop, but after being seduced finally Mak Nur let Laila do it all.

Laila keeps the broom in place, then helps Mak cook in the kitchen. The middle-aged woman cheerfully recounted how she struggled to deal with Paul alone. Paul was a good boy, friendly too. So many people misunderstand his attitude. But to have what close friends a woman is, Paul is never careless.

Until finally Paul met Laila, and wanted to ask for her soon. Before Laila, there were some parents who came to ask Paul as a son-in-law, but wisely rejected him. How else, happiness and the future are in his hands.

"Thank you for accepting Brother, Laila." Mak Nur looked at Laila, his heart grateful to get a good daughter-in-law also insyaallah.

"Thank you Mak for accepting Laila in this house." Laila clasped Mak Nur's hand.

"This please finish, Mak wants to go to the field. Kalo cape break. This is Laila's house too. Don't be shy." Mak Nur walked outside and left Laila alone. Deftly Laila finished cooking, and cleaned up the dirty utensils. After feeling neat, he went into the room and completed some tasks that must be completed when his leave is up.

**

The shop was tidy when Paul arrived, Ridwan came early and with a warm smile welcomed Paul's arrival.

"Coconsider, Bang? The honeymoon?" ledek Ridwan as he saw Paul enter the tavern. The bespectacled man put the provisions and packages containing cakes that have been prepared separately for Ridwan. The fat man thanked Laila for the cake.

"Oyeah, how's the store. A lot?" ask Paul. Ridwan handed over the books a few days ago when Paul didn't come to the store. Thank God the turnover went up and there were several orders of clothes. In addition to selling in Paul's store also opened an online business, so that his business can be reached outside Sumatra.

"Assalamu'alaikum's chat. Bang Paul has come too." Naurak came and went inside, directly approaching Paul who was sitting checking the income book.

"What's up, Naurak?"

The shoulder-haired girl fell silent, her eyes sweeping around the shop. He himself does not know what he is doing, his heart is blind to his love, and does not know if Paul already has a wife.

"It's okay, Bang." Naurak came out of the store. Ridwan and Paul looked at each other.

"Naurak, why, Wan?"

The man explained these few days that Naurak often looked moody, even crying. Also told that all this time Naurak kept the feeling of liking Paul.

"Don't make you, Wan."

"For God's sake, Bang. Why would I lie."

The conversation halted when a woman entered the tavern. Ridwan directly serves the buyer.

By noon, Paul ate Laila's lunch. And Ridwan bought soto from Mba Naurak stall. The two chatted casually with the topic of the store and how ahead.

Time goes by so fast, before dusk Paul paid first to Ridwan. As usual the glasses guy entrusted Ridwan to close the shop. Without waiting for time, Paul immediately gasp back home. His heart had already missed that round-faced woman.

"Assalamu'alaikum." Paul went into the house. He did not find his two favorite women. The man placed the lunch box on the dining table, and then went into the room. There Laila fell asleep in a sitting position in front of her laptop.

"Assalamu'alaikum, dear." Paul kissed Laila on the cheek and shocked her.

"Vaalaikumsalam. Uh, you're home?" Laila immediately grabbed Paul's hand and kissed him ta'zim. He stood up to get some water for Paul. But quickly the man pulled Laila's hand and grabbed her body in an embrace.

"Abang misses Laila" Paul whispered in his ear. Laila smiled and returned the man's embrace.

"What about in the store? Smoothly?"

"Alhamdulillah."

Paul let go of his embrace, and repeatedly kissed the forehead also around Laila's face. The woman let the husband let go of his longing, because he himself felt the same feeling.

"Bag a shower first. Prepare coffee for brother, yeah."

Laila nodded and prepared a change of clothes for Paul and placed it on the bed. After that Laila went to the kitchen to prepare the order of the husband.

"Where are you going, honey?" paul asked, after changing clothes and praying. The man then sat in the living room, enjoying a coffee made by Laila.

"Mr to the field. He said for a minute, but it's not coming home yet."

From the back door came the sound of the door opening, Paul was right if it was Mak Nur who came home from the field. The man walked into the kitchen, followed by Laila behind him.

Both kissed the back of Mak's hand. Then let the middle-aged woman clean up. While Laila prepared a cup of warm sweet tea, it was Paul who told her.

After bathing and changing clothes, Mak Nur sat joined in the living room, enjoying a drink made by Laila.

"Yes, Bang. How the shop. Smoothly?" ask Mak.

"Alhamdulillah, the turnover in the store is quite good," explained Paul.

Mak Nur finished the tea in his glass and went inside the room to rest. Again Mak Nur refused Laila's desire to massage him. Paul also explained, if Mak is an independent parent. If he can still do it himself, Mak won't ask anyone for help. Except for picking up the coconuts, it was definitely asking Paul to take it.

"Yes, Bang. Laila sorted out the school files first, yeah. Taking leave must be easy." Paul nodded and let Paul watch television by himself.

the bespectacled man entered the room and sat leaning on the mattress, his eyes fixed on Laila who was cleaning the scattered papers on the table.

"Darling ... here!" paul's hand waved gesturing for Laila to approach.

"Why, Bang?" laila asked as she stood next to Paul.

"Get in my brother's sarong here!" Paul pulled Laila's hand, hugged her and laid her on the bed.

Laila smiled at Paul's slightly aggressive treatment. He let the man open the hijab as well as the buttons.

"Maomi ...." Paul calls Laila's name with his voice that gets more and more hoarse as the two are engrossed in love.