Behind Aisha's Veil

The veil.

Alvian made up his slightly messy bed, thinking it seemed like his wife had just gotten word that Ummi and his sister-in-law were going home too. So inevitably tonight they will sleep one more room.

Alvian took one pillow and kept it on the sofa. For this night, he would sleep on the couch, and let his wife sleep on the bed.

I heard the bathroom door open.

"You sleep on the bed, tonight let me sleep on the couch" Alvian said without seeing Aisha behind him. Busy to clean the sofa which is also messy by his clothes.

"You don't want to sleep with me?"

Alvian was startled, he instantly turned his body looking at Aisha behind him.

His heart suddenly thumped.

Aisha stood in front of him without wearing a veil.

Alvian. His breathing seemed to stop for a moment.

Aisha approached him, the closer he came, the more his heart pounded.

Aisha took the dirty clothes in her hands.

"Give me. I'll wash it tomorrow" Aisha said to her husband.

Alvian did not reply, as if unconscious, he just kept staring at his wife's face unblinking.

It turned out that the veil had not only covered her aura, but had also hidden her beauty. His wife turned out to be very beautiful, even very far from her shadows all this time.

"You're not wearing a veil?" asked Alvian to vent.

Aisha who was busy folding her clothes, because it would be put in the closet just shook her head slowly.

Alvian approached his wife.

Aisha was shocked because her husband kept coming towards her.

"Does this mean you've accepted me as a husband?"

"Have I ever rejected you as a husband?" aisha replied while looking at her husband who was already standing right in front of her.

"Would I remind you who rejected who?" ask Aisha again.

Alvian immediately shook his head.

"no need. I'm sorry."

Alvian approached Aisha even closer. Make Aisha step back.

"I mean does this mean you're willing to give me my rights as a husband?"

Aisha gulps.

"I'm..." Aisha looks nervous.

"What?" Alvian smiled as he looked at his frightened wife. He no longer saw his usually straightforward and confident wife.

"I-I'm ready," replied Aisha stuttering.

Alvian smiled at Aisha who was getting nervous, only this time he saw her expression like this.

Alvian raised her hand, making Aisha startled and even more afraid to see her husband's hand that kept approaching her face.

Aisha closed her eyes. Holding his breath.

Aisha opened her eyes again when she realized that Alvian was touching her forehead.

"I thought you were embarrassed because your face was red, but apparently because you still had a fever, your body was a bit hot" Alvian said, retreating.

Aisha took a breath. Relieved.

Alvian exits the room, intending to get the medicine for his wife, while continuing to smile to himself given how tense Aisha was.

He went back into his room. Looking at Aisha who was still folding her clothes.

"Take medicine first" Alvian said, giving medicine and a glass of water.

Aisha took it and drank it immediately.

Alvian continued to pay attention, as if enjoying the face of the wife.

"Sleep. Continue to fold the clothes tomorrow. You need to rest to get back to health." Alvian took the shirt in his wife's hand.

___

Aisha could not close her eyes, nor could Alvian sleep beside her.

This is the first time they have slept in a bed.

"I'm sorry" said Alvian.

"For what?"

Glanced at Aisha beside him.

"I once denounced your shar'i shirt, the veil on your face."

Aisha speechless.

Aisha was silent for a moment.

"Previous humans were almost naked. As civilization developed, they began to dress. Closing the aurat is not just a command of God alone, which I have used so far symbolizes the highest civilization and thought ever achieved man."

Alvian smiled proudly.

"Thank you for teaching me so much" Alvian glanced back at his wife.

"I'm lucky that my children will be born to a smart, smart woman like you."

Aisha's face looks red again.

Alvian smiled funny.

____

Aisha was amazed to look at the face of the husband who wore a peci complete with a sheath, not as usual, she saw her husband looked more handsome and charismatic, so that there was something else in his heart.

They perform congregational prayers, so solemn pus shahdu. Alvian carried out his duties as priest and head of the family, leader in the household.

Finishing the prayer and reciting the prayer, Alvian turned his body, looking at Aisha behind him, staring at his wife's affection.

"It doesn't matter if you're bored or don't hear it. I want to go back to apologizing or any of my mistakes to you."

Aisha looked back at her husband while nodding small.

"I'm sorry too. For all my behavior to you."

"From today we begin again. Together we build a family that Sakinah mawadah warahmah." Alvian said seriously.

Aisha nodded.

Alvian approached his wife closer. Aisha was closed when her husband kissed her on the forehead.

Alvian then held Aisha's face and stroked her, admiring her natural beauty.

"I'm not willing to share this beauty of your face with other men, never take off your veil except in front of me" she whispered softly.

***

Alvian kept smiling happily, all day long he seemed very happy, remembering the times when he kissed his wife's forehead, his first kiss.

He who had just had surgery, walked quickly to the room of the father-in-law, in addition to wanting to check on Abah, actually he missed his wife very much.

But on the way he was intercepted by someone he knew very well. Aunt Desi, Anita's mother.

"Why are you treating Auntie's son like that?" desi asked disappointedly after Alvian asked him to sit on the bench.

"Sorry Auntie, I know if Aunt is disappointed."

"Not only have you humiliated him, you've ruined his life and career." Desi looks upset.

Alvian kept his head down.

"Why would you do that to Anita? What's the meaning of your five years together?"

"Destroyed Aunt. Anita destroyed it."

"Why are you blaming Anita? You turned around and betrayed him, right?" Desi looks angry.

"I wouldn't turn my back on her if she was better than my wife. Sorry my aunt has to say this. But Anita's behavior really disappointed me."

Desi smiles cynically.

"Why can you last five years if you think Anita is so bad in front of you."

"Because I haven't known my wife in five years."

"You continue to boast of your wife, that veiled woman?"

"Sorry aunt. But the truth is like that. I know if Auntie is disappointed in me. But I'm sure if Auntie would understand if the two of us were not a match. I asked Auntie to give Anita an understanding of it, I'm sure that Anita will definitely listen to all Auntie's words."

"I can't do that" replied Auntie quickly.

Alvian shocked.

"I'm going to go see your wife, ask her to leave you because Anita actually has more right to get you. You guys have been dating for a long time."

"I'm here." Aisha suddenly made a sound.

Alvian and Desi were shocked, Both standing up.

Aisha approaches Desi.

Desi stared at Aisha disgustedly from top to bottom.

"Nobody is more entitled to a husband than his own wife" said Aisha softly.

"If you were Anita, what would you do? Your boyfriend is marrying another woman," asked Desi half-stomping.

"If I were him, I would choose not to date let alone for many years. Courting. Activities that are not desired by God, every second is haram, every moment of sin, leads to adultery and loss of honor, married not necessarily, betrayed can be, abandoned maybe. Dating is cheap love that only destroys faith. Happy in sin."

Alvian.