Akad Shackle

It Turns Out We're Close

Stay in the room until it turns dark. After returning from school and finding the husband was making out with his lover in his own home made Rahma very furious. Although there was no love in her heart, Rahma was hurt. According to him Anggara is very outrageous to bring his lover to his home and without shame to do disgusting things according to Rahma, even her married status has never done it.

Dropping his body on the bed, staring at the ceiling of the room which every night became the object of his gaze. His mind glared far, treading on every journey of his life until now he is in this phase.

Rahma reluctantly comes out of her room, choosing to rest herself and her soul from everything that happened today. A pretty hard day for Rahma, not only physically tired because of the crowded school activities but her heart and mind are much more tired. Receiving a confession of love and at the same time finding the husband who is with his lover in the house where he lives.

Rahma blinked her eyes, she gathered her consciousness after a long time of falling asleep. From the window of his room looks like the day has changed to dark. Rahma grabbed the phone that kept vibrating in the sling bag that was still on her shoulder.

Five missed calls from the number he named my mother's contact. Rahma took a deep breath, relieving the sense of tightness that came back when she remembered the event earlier this afternoon. Given the mother, I don't know what would happen if she knew the state of the household her daughter lived in, she would be very sad.

Rahma was stunned when she found that her back skirt felt wet, even the light blue bed sheets were now stained red, apparently she came to the moon. Rahma decided to clean up before contacting her mother again. Her mother will definitely discuss the wedding preparations for her sister, Maya.

Finished cleaning himself and feeling fresher, now it's his stomach's turn to ask for his right. Rahma hesitates to open the door of her room and comes out, afraid that her husband and lover will still be in her house.

Just now Rahma was about to open the door, her hand was already holding the handle of her room door to get out of the room after remembering and weighing finally she decided to face with any tough that she would face later. However, the ringing of the cell phone again stopped his movement, he forgot if he would return to contact the mother and make his mother contact him again.

"Assalamu'alaikum, ma'am.maaf teteh keti.." said Rahma who will also explain the reason for not picking up the phone paused.

"Wa'alaikumsalam, where are you? from earlier on the phone was not lifted wae, mother became worried. Have you finished your show at school? it's already night, quickly go home pity son Anggara from last wait. Tetah directly here aja yes" the mother immediately scolded him with questions and information that made him confused and surprised when their calls were connected.

"Ma....What does mother mean?" the question was stamped, Rahma could not digest any information from the mother's chat.

"This, son Anggara is already at the mother's house. He said there was an event at school, because at home there was no one he played here. Is it finished at school? Yusuf said that right through the school was quiet" after the mother's explanation made her round her eyes, her head with her husband's behavior.

Now that she understood the purpose of the mother talk, this must be a strategy that her husband did to keep looking cool in the eyes of his family. During this time Rahma's family always proud her husband who is a policeman, without knowing if between us since the agreement was spoken had an unwritten agreement that seemed to hold me with his agreement.

"Yes ma'am, but immediately to the mother's house" finally answered Rahma resignedly, he rushed to take his jacket and sling bag.

Out of the room, his eyes were immediately fixed on the sofa that was in the middle room. Rahma's bedroom door went straight to that room. As the shadow of the scene he saw back in the afternoon loomed, Rahma even shook her head to remove the shadow. Her heart was sliced, as a woman and as a wife Rahma felt her self-esteem had been deeply torn apart.

"Huhh" Rahma's rough breathing stopped her daydream, she returned to the room and picked up a sheet from inside the closet. Covering the single sofa with sheets does not want the annoying shadow continues to haunt him when he returns to see the sofa.

Twenty minutes it took Rahma to get to her mother's house. Rahma parked the motorbike right next to her husband's car. Taking a deep breath before entering the house, whether what her husband is doing now and what to do, Rahma is still confused.

"Assalamu'alikum" greeting became a mandatory greeting when opening the door and entering the house, Rahma entered her parents' house through a side door, the door is connected directly to the living room which is usually used as a family room.

"Wa'alaikumsalam" as soon as everyone answered Rahma's greeting, turning to Rahma who was pecking at the door saw everyone gathered in the room, complete. Even his older brother and his family pin were there after a few months they did not meet because of the distance that separates them.

A happy sparkle flashed in Rahma's eyes, signifying how much she missed her brother.

"Well, when is it coming?" rahma's gaze immediately focused on her brother, turning to her father and everyone who was sitting around on the carpet surrounding the dinner dishes.

"Strick, long time. Go home first, huh? already fragrant" Maya who first greeted and approached him, he grabbed Rahma's right hand to kiss her hand.

"Huh? yes still from home" he replied Rahma while hugging the sister. Stepping towards the father who was sitting close to his brother and husband, also Yusuf the younger brother.

Rahma greets the father, then greets his older brother and hugs each other to let go of months of not seeing each other. The last time they met seven months ago when Eid al-Fitr, even Budi was not present at his sister's wedding.

There was something warm in his eye patch when he hugged his brother, he immediately wiped the edge of his eyes as their arms unraveled. Not wanting all his sadness to be clearly seen by his brother, Rahma Budi was his protector, always taking care and making sure he was always okay. Budi can read what happened to Rahma just by looking at her body language. Rahma also tried to behave appropriately, so as not to see her true state.

"Lho..why cry" Budi rubbed the head of Rahma wrapped in hijab, staring fixedly at the face of his favorite sister. Honestly, he also felt that his inner bond with Rahma exceeded that of his other two siblings, either because their age was quite close. Budi and Rahma always go to school together.

"Kangen Aa" Rahma replied as she continued to rub her cheeks as her eyes were unbearable.

"Aa also misses, now you've met" Budi replied by again rubbing Rahma's head lovingly.

Rahma turned to greet her sister-in-law, they embraced full day. Rahma knows that the journey of Budi's love is not as smooth as people think. Budi is not easy to fall in love, he has experienced a deep heartbreak because of being left married by his lover and how lucky Budi got a woman who is understanding and accepts himself with all his shortcomings, and how lucky he is, he is a psychologist with love and patience to help Budi treat his heart wounds, the wife is so warm and mature, help him out of the most difficult times, he said, she loves herself and her family so much that they have been blessed with two cute and beautiful daughters.

"Steh, thank you always take care of Aa and make Aa happy" whispered Rahma in her sister-in-law's ear as they hugged her.

"Always, you will always try to make Aa happy" she replied soothingly, she rubbed Rahma's back which hugged her tightly. Feeling if Rahma is experiencing something but reluctant to say but for her sister-in-law who is a psychologist she understands Rahma's body language as if speaking.

"Mas" Rahma also greeted Anggara, she just reached out without looking at her husband.

"Where's mom?" asked Rahma to shift her heart

The family dinner took place with warmth, there was a happy twinkle in the eyes of both Rahma's parents. Infinite happiness for parents is to see their children grow up well and love each other, finding their own happiness that is contagious to all other family members.

This very rare moment of family gathering is not wasted, their chatter continues on Maya's wedding plans. Mom seemed excited to talk about the wedding plans of her third child, everyone was supportive. Although different from Rahma's sudden and simple marriage but it does not make Rahma envious, he was enthusiastic to give ideas and input for the smooth running of the sacred event of the sister.

"Teh, just stay here. Poor Nak Angga, it's already night he must be tired if he has to go home" mother suggested to Rahma when her daughter said if she would go home.

"No Ma'am, Mas Anggara." Rahma's words came to a halt when Anggara suddenly came into the kitchen and held her shoulder.

"We will stay here, Mom" Anggara said by holding Rahma's shoulder from behind who was sitting in a chair.

"Huh?" Rahma also refused,

"Kin Mas?" tanyanya made sure, though,

"Dear dear, after all, since we were married we have never stayed here" he replied sweetly, he rubbed Rahma's head when saying it, looking romantic and full of love. My mother smiled happily at the sight.

"Alright" replied Rahma indifferently, Anggara was saying goodbye to return to the front after getting what he wanted, a cup of green tea made by Rahma.

'Great acting you, Mas', Rahma muttered in her heart,

"Teh kudu much grateful to get a good husband like Nak Anggara, Alhamdulillah he looks very affectionate teteh, not angry when coming home even busy at school. I am happy that one by one, my children find happiness. From now on, we must prioritize the husband, however the number one obligation is now that. For a married woman, husband ridho is everything, do not forget to ask permission properly if you want to leave. If allowed to leave if not, you should prioritize the wishes of the husband. Because the husband's ridho is the key to our blessings, Tea"

I kept giving advice to Rahma. At the moment Mom and Rahma are in the kitchen cleaning up the dinner marks, Rahma helps wash the dishes while the mother tidies up the leftovers and puts them in the food cabinet. Maya and her sister-in-law are accompanying her two nieces to play, while Budi, Yusuf and Anggara are having a chat about their work. She just silently listened to everything the mother said without interrupting in the slightest.

"Honey I'm sleepy" Anggara suddenly returned to the kitchen, he stood on the doorstep staring at his wife meaningfully.

Rahma turned her head, their eyes met, but soon Rahma turned. To be honest, seeing Anggara now reminded himself of the events of last afternoon, with his own eyes he saw Anggara so enjoying what he was doing.

"Euleuh, nak Anggara is sleepy. Teteh, quickly take your husband to the room. The room has been prepared since this afternoon, the sheets have also been replaced. Let it be mah later the mother who continued" at the same time Maya also came,

"Teh, let me continue. Teteh mah rest aja A Anggara" said Maya who had heard the mother speak, saying,

Unable to resist, Rahma washed her hands and immediately walked towards her room without speaking followed by Anggara behind her.

"Please, good rest" Rahma spread a blanket over her bed. Simple room that looks neat and comfortable, again there is admiration in the heart of Anggara when he saw the photos of Rahma displayed on the wall of his room. Photos depicting how Rahma metamorphosed with various achievements to grow into an extraordinary girl.

"Here are your friends in college?" Anggara pointed to a photo set against a waterfall. The photo together when Rahma attended her High School reunion, they played to curug orok, one of the tourist destinations in the Cikandang Garut area after the reunion was over.

"It's not the friends of High School" replied Rahma as it is,

"Oh, a reunion?" Anggara took a photo printed size 10R, his gaze was fixed on each face photographed it. But actually Anggara's gaze was more focused on Rahma who sat on a large rock and next to her was seen a man whose eyes were not fixed on the camera lens, but on Rahma. He even unfurled his jacket to protect Rahma from the splash of the waterfall.

"This is your ex?" tanya Anggara pointed at the person in the photo who had been grabbing his attention since then,

"Huh?" Rahma frowned hearing Anggara's question,

"I've never dated, so I don't have an ex" Rahma replied steadily, she has never dated even though many have expressed love and professed love for her since long ago, but Rahma always makes the ending just a friend.

"really?" Anggara turned his head, there was a thin smile painted on his lips.

"She looks very caring, very protective" Anggara again commented on the photo,

"Who?" Rahma was curious, she walked closer to Anggara who crossed with her bed blocked.

Rahma grabbed the photo in Anggara's hand, she stared fixedly at each face photographed. Suddenly his chest pounded, when he saw someone Anggara meant very similar to someone. Rahma really just realized the whereabouts of the man in the photo. They

Reunion activities attended by Rahma at that time were followed by five ten generations. After the reunion, the children of OSIS at his alma mater asked for time for all alumni who had been managers of OSIS while in school to discuss and share their experiences with them. Agreed, all agreed the meeting will be held outside the school precisely in the waterfall.

Rahma stared fixedly at the man beside her, who unfurled his jacket to protect Rahma from being hit by the waterfall. His face is not foreign, Rahma was even very shocked when she found out that they had met before, even they were tied to the same alma mater and met specifically because of fellow former OSIS administrators. Rahma cursed herself why the stone realized with the whereabouts of the person photographed several months ago on the wall of her room.

"It turns out we did meet and it turned out to be so close, it's worth saying he has known me for a long time and liked me it turns out we are an alma mater, Pratama Ardhan"