Behind Aisha's Veil

Roommate

Aisha forced herself to finish her meal, she knew that if she had to fully recover, she couldn't get sick like last night because no one would take care of her. After eating and cleaning the kitchen, Aisha went back into her room with no glance at the envelope containing the money as well as her business card, both of which were left to be seen in the place where Alvian kept it.

Aisha rested again, taking a break from writing and playing her laptop, spending more time just lying on the bed.

As usual, her mother would call to ask the news and Aisha was definitely lying, although it was difficult and with guilt, Aisha said if things were fine as well as her husband, Alvian.

'I'm sorry for my lies Ummi, I did it because I don't want to worry you, let's just think if this marriage is okay first..'

***

"She was sick, last night she asked me for a heat-lowering drug" Alvian told Anita last night.

"illness?" anita asked in shock.

Alvian nodded.

"I was so confused all night, I almost called you so you could come and see how things were."

"Why not do it?" anita asked a little annoyed.

Alvian immediately looked at Anita who was sitting in front of him.

"You want to meet him? Is it okay?"

"Of course it's okay, why?" answer Anita quickly.

"I'm afraid you're jealous" Alvian said hesitantly.

Anita frowned.

"Why should I be jealous? She's your wife, but I know you only love me."

Alvian nodded.

"Then how is he doing now?"

"So morning I saw she was better, she went to the kitchen and cooked."

Anita was silent for a moment.

"I feel sorry for her" Anita said slowly.

"Why?"

"This must have been the first time away from her family, during this month she also continued to be at home, plus your cold attitude towards her, it was certain that she was stressed and depressed."

Alvian. Actually, he was thinking the same thing. Therefore, he gave Aisha some money earlier, so that Aisha could go for a walk and seek entertainment, but Aisha firmly refused the money.

"In addition, here he has no one to talk to."

"He must have talked to his family on the phone a lot" Alvian said.

"That's for sure, but Aisha won't tell him what really happened, she'll lie to her family, say if she's happy here."

Alvian was stunned to hear Anita's words.

"I'm woman. I understand how she feels right now" Anita said, looking at Alvian who just kept quiet listening to her words.

"I want to meet him, I want to be friends with him."

Alvian jerks. Looking straight at Anita's face.

"Tell me if I'm your best friend." Anita looked at Alvian with a pleading gaze.

Alvian did not answer, he looked confused. Let the two meet?

Suddenly his phone rang, Alvian immediately picked it up which turned out to be an emergency call, asking him to come to the patient's room immediately.

Alvian told Anita to go first, she asked her lover to stay there and finish his meal.

Anita stirred up the drink with a straw in her hand while half daydreaming, she thought of Aisha.

Pity enveloped his heart, for some reason now he became sympathetic to the wife of his lover.

Anita now desperately wants to meet Aisha and offers her friendship, she knows just like Alvian, Aisha does not want this marriage either, therefore there was no reason for her to be jealous of Aisha let alone hostile to her, since there was nothing they were fighting over, she was sure that Aisha did not want Alvian. Alvian still belongs to him despite being Aisha's husband. Both are tied to a forced marriage.

***

Alvian walked in a hurry while continuing to call to his apartment, not even being raised really irritated him, he continued to grumble in his heart, he continued to grumble, wondering what Aisha is really doing so she doesn't pick up the phone.

Until finally he reached his apartment, in a hurry he opened the door and barged in hastily.

Alvian was shocked to see that his parents were already there.

"Son. You're home yet?" His mother welcomed Alvian affectionately.

Alvian stuttered while looking at Aisha who was sitting next to her mother.

"When did you get there? Sorry when you called earlier, I was in the operating room, so I couldn't pick it up" asked Alvian, kissing her parents' hands.

"Just arrived, it's okay. We know you must be busy."

"Why are you guys here so suddenly? Do not tell me in advance," asked Alvian while sitting next to his mother.

"Your mother who suddenly invited me here ba'da Ashar earlier, said she misses her daughter-in-law." I answered while looking at Aisha.

Everybody laugh.

"Part of why don't you go home" the mother replied, chuckling.

Alvian forced a smile even though he actually looked very upset.

Mother then told her son to take a bath and change clothes first, she also asked Aisha to follow Alvian into the room.

"Your husband's husband's there. Get the clothes ready."

Alvian walked towards her room, she saw Aisha hesitantly following her from behind.

Eventually, both of them arrived in the room. Alvian hurriedly closed the door. Seeing Aisha in front of him.

"I called a few times why don't you pick up? I wanted to let you know that mom and dad are going to be here, so you have to move out of that room here. How now? My parents must know that if they were actually sleeping apart, not one room." An annoyed Alvian held his head.

"I've moved all my belongings here before mom and dad came" Aisha replied as she walked over to the bed where many of her clothes were.

Alvian shocked. He immediately saw his slightly messy room.

"You know mom and dad are gonna be here?"

"They called when they got to the lobby of the apartment" Aisha replied again as she tidied up her clothes.

Alvian seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He then understood why Aisha had not picked up the phone earlier, must have been busy moving all her belongings into this room in a hurry.

***

Nightfall.

"Sleep in the bed. Let me sleep on the couch." Alvian saw Aisha who was going to lie on the sofa.

"No need." answered Aisha while lying down and turning her back to her husband.

Alvian relented, he laid his body.

Silent. Silent.

"Are you used to sleeping with that face mask on?" asked Alvian suddenly.

Aisha fell silent, a little surprised by her husband's question.

"You can open it, it must be crowded if you sleep using it, just relax I won't see your face, after all the lights are off."

"Actually it's not just my face, if you want my whole body to see it."

Alvian was shocked to hear Aisha's reply.