A Ghost To Mak

Old Friend

After almost a week more Paul did not come to the tavern helping Ridwan. Not without reason he did not go there, only this time he had to pay more attention to Laila who was containing the fruit of their love.

This morning, after breakfast and carrying laila-made provisions - although with repeated nausea due to the smell of freshly cooked rice, the woman also finished provisions for her beloved husband.

"It's nothing, brother's phone, yeah." Paul kissed Laila on the porch. After that, turn on the motor and go splitting the street. Paul's spirit is burning to make a living, because this time not only Laila and Mak are dependents, but there will be prospective children.

Along the way Paul smiled to himself while fantasizing about the child Laila was conceived was born. Who will he look like or look like Laila, male or female? Ahh .. for him whatever the sex of his son will be, the same. The Son is the sustenance that God gives.

Thirty minutes after Paul arrived at the school where Laila was teaching, he walked into the teacher's room and took a leave of absence. After talking with some fellow teachers who asked about Laila's condition, Paul resigned and returned to the store.

Today's weather was clear, as bright as Paul's hopes were for his little family. From the outside looks parked Ridwan motorbike, while the fat man looks to be packing goods in the store, assisted by a man who has a stature like Paul, tall skinny, but has a yellow face, not like Paul the black but the sweetness of barbarity.

"Assalamu'alaikum."

Paul entered the store, after parking his vehicle next to the Ridwan motorbike. The two men in the shop looked over and smiled.

"Waalaikumsalam" said the two together. Ridwan also introduced his brother who came from far away.

"Paul ...." The man reached out his hand, which the straight-haired man immediately greeted.

"Adam ...," he said.

The introduction was short, because Ridwan asked Adam to accompany him to deliver goods to a fairly distant area. After saying goodbye to Paul, both of them passed from the store. Paul put his little bag on the table, then began to check the items as well as the notebook.

His hand justifies the location of his glasses that feel slightly tilted, his heart can breathe a sigh of relief, grateful to have employees and honest friends like Ridwan. The fat man had been with Paul since he was in school. Until this moment, Ridwan was still the most loyal person, continuing to be by his side.

**

Laila grabbed the broom located in the corner of the kitchen. He feels bad for his body if he sleeps too much. Anything else until doing nothing. Medication given midwives the other day actually makes the nausea slightly reduced. Laila also tried to eat even a little, plus she did not want to constantly make the husband worry.

Laila stopped the sweeping activity as her phone lying on the bed rang. 'Baby's name is on there.

"Assalamu'alaikum, dear. What again?" ask for a voice from across.

"Laila again nyapu, Bang. Sleep on cape tau!"

"What is strong? If you can't afford to rest in the room."

"Yes, Brother."

"Yes already. Brother continued working again. Laila don't forget to pray, and take vitamins. Let our children always be healthy."

"Yes ...."

The phone connection was cut off, the flat object was placed on the table and Laila proceeded to clean the floor that stayed a little. After that he went to the kitchen, his stomach felt a little hungry.

Laila looks for Mak's figure, she does not meet there. There was nothing in the back garden. Laila was cooking, although occasionally nausea afflicted her. As much as possible Laila held back until the cooking was finished, then he would return to rest.

Two hours later, Laila's cooking was ripe. After returning to clean the tools, he went back into the room. The hunger goes away after cooking. He also put his body in the bed.

**

Adam and Ridwan return to the store. Ordered items have been delivered to the right address safely. Both of them then go in and serve the buyers who come shopping.

"Adam, if cape takes a break. Just sleep there first. It's for me to serve the buyer" Paul told Adam. The lentic-eyed man nodded, then walked past Paul and entered the small room that Paul or Ridwan used to rest for prayer.

Adam emerged from the toilet and entered the room. On a whim, Paul walked over and observed the attitude of his new employees there looked Adam was performing the Dhuha prayer, because when the glasses man turned to the clock on the wall only eleven o'clock less.

Paul's heart was a little calm because Ridwan was not wrong to invite people to work in his shop. He himself never forbade Ridwan to delay the delivery of goods and prioritize prayer. For him, prayer is the most important thing.

Ridwan sat in the corner, and tidied up the cardboard shoes and arranged them neatly. Paul calculated the expenses and income. Buyers who arrive a little, Ridwan can relax a little until later will make another delivery if Paul asks.

Paul wrote the total expenditure on the small agenda book, but his hands were stopped when both ears heard the chanting of the holy Quran from inside the rest room. He narrowed his eyes and looked inside, seeing that Adam was teaching. His voice was so melodious, it made anyone who heard it melt.

The man chanted short letters, but hearing them made the mood calm. Paul tried to refocus on the paper before him, his head bowed. He felt nothing compared to Adam who had a very melodious voice.

**

After Zuhur's prayer, Paul gave permission to say goodbye to Ridwan and Adam. He said he was still worried if he left Laila at home in a weak condition. Both of them understood. The glasses guy left the store and went home.

**

Paul parked his motorcycle in the garage, then went into an unlocked house. Say hello and then go into the room. There, Laila was engrossed in front of the laptop.

"Assalamu'alaikum."

"Waalaikumsalam, when did you get in? Sorry Laila didn't hear?" Laila immediately grabbed Paul's hand and kissed him ta'zim. The bespectacled man grabbed Laila's face and kissed her forehead.

"Laila's engrossed in laptops, anyway. Brother came home until he did not know," said Paul with his lips slightly reddened.

"Ish, Abang ngambek. It's gonna be a fairy, you know."

"Brother's strength won't go away, darling. It's permanent." Paul chuckles and lays his body on the bed. He pulled Laila's hand and put her to bed next to him.

Laila laughed at her husband.

"Don't want it." Paul's tone of voice suddenly sounded serious. Laila looked up at Paul's face.

"Ask what?"

"Laila nerima khitbah brother why?"

"Any brother is that?"

"Abang wants to know. Can't you?"

"Anything. My brother suddenly came home at noon and this was nanya. What's up?"

Laila got up and sat down next to Paul. He looked at Paul's face, which was there. The man exhaled heavily, taking a quick glance at the wife who was staring at him.

"Abang is just afraid of losing Laila someday. You don't want to, and you're not ready." Paul tilted his body and laid his head on Laila's lap.

"Kok Brother said that. Weird ah. What was? Laila doesn't understand!"

"Ridwan ngajak his brother works in the store. His work was good, too. earlier brother saw him pray Dhuha and njai. Her voice is so sweet. I am envious."

"What does this have to do with Laila, brother?"

"Abang is afraid Laila moves to another heart. And better nyari than brother." Paul further buried his face in Laila's lap, not expecting that he would be this cute.

"Absite ...."

Paul lifted his face and looked at Laila.

"The perfection belongs only to God. To Laila, brother was a good husband. Laila is happy to have a brother. That's enough." Paul got up and sat facing his wife, and clasped her hand.

"But brother's voice isn't as good as Ridwan's."

" Oh, ah. Brother is a gini baperan, anyway. Meningan eat. Laila cooked my brother's favorite meal."

"Laila's cooking?"

"Grand."

"Well, don't you get nauseated?"

"Little bit. But forced. And that's okay, really. Laila's better now."

"Alhamdulillah. Laila must be healthy. Let our children be healthy." Paul gently rubbed Laila's stomach.

"Yes .. btw, Ridwan's brother what's his name?"

"Adam ...."

Laila's heart stopped beating as Paul mentioned the name of his new employee at the tavern. 'Adam .. Laila's memory seems to draw her to someone who has the same name.

"His full name, who, Bang?" Laila tried to cover up her shock.

"don't know. But his characteristics he has a rich body posture brother. His hair was straight, and a bit white" Paul said. Explain the characteristics Adam had.

Laila's mouth slightly opened, she stared fixedly at Paul's face that was not looking at her. The man stared straight at the ceiling of the room as his position was back lying down.

"Why? Laila know?" paul asked, now the two were staring at each other.

"N-not knowing, Bang," said Laila slightly stuttered. He then took Paul to the mango tree next door. Suddenly Laila wanted to eat a young mango.