Behind Aisha's Veil

Widow

Alvian sat down beside his wife, staring fixedly at the face of his wife who could finally fall asleep after her hard work and everyone calmed her down, asking her to stop crying and mengikhlaskan Abah's departure.

He occasionally checked the drip fluid infusion a little tight, deliberately he accelerated to keep his wife ternutrisi because he knew exactly if not a drop of drink or food that entered his stomach from morning.

Alvian looked back at Aisha's face, a puffy-looking face, with puffy eyes and a flushed nose. A proof that Abah's departure was so profoundly shaken his wife's soul, making it perhaps the worst moment of his life.

He then held Aisha's hand slowly, as if to say if she would always be there for him, he knew Abah's figure would be irreplaceable, sadness cannot be removed but at least he wants to reduce the burden of his wife's heart because of loss.

Suddenly Aisha's eyes opened, seeing her husband still faithfully sitting next to her, holding her hand.

"Do you need anything?" asked Alvian gently.

Aisha shook her head slowly. She simply shifted her body slowly, then pulled her husband's hand to sleep next to her

Alvian followed his wife's will, lay down and hugged her tightly.

Aisha drowned her face in her husband's chest with her arms around his waist.

"Sleep baby" whispered Alvian.

Aisha did not answer, she only tightened her embrace.

***

Next day.

Mourners are still arriving, the atmosphere of mourning is still very felt, the boisterous sound of people who teach is heard blaring at the place where Abah was buried, behind the mosque which became a special family burial area.

From her room directly opposite the mosque, Aisha and sitting pensively on her bed saw how many people passed in and out of the mosque to just pray and pray for her brother.

The pensive Aisha was awakened by the ringing sound of her phone. She saw if her husband called.

"I've just arrived at the Hospital." Alvian, who is forced to work because there is an important operation that must be done, informs Aisha if she has reached the Hospital.

"After the operation I'll be home soon, take good care of yourself. Please eat a little." Alvian was actually feeling anxious about leaving his wife.

"Yes" replied Aisha slowly.

They stopped the conversation. Aisha kept her phone back.

He again saw the more crowded people who came either to the mosque or his house, outside the room he heard his mother and older brothers busy welcoming guests whether it was close or distant relatives who came to offer their condolences.

Suddenly the door opened, Aisha saw Anita walking up to her with a bowl in her hand.

Anita looked smiling while sitting next to her.

"Ummi was busy receiving guests, but he still took the time to make porridge for you and asked me to feed you."

"So eat, don't make Ummi sad because you didn't eat his porridge." Anita looks at Aisha expectantly.

Aisha nodded with a smile.

Anita then feeds Aisha.

Aisha forced herself to finish her meal, she knew everyone was worried about her situation, especially the mother who actually felt her loss was greater than her, but he knew that Ummi was trying to stay strong for the sake of his children.

"I've been feeling better, can you open this infusion," Aisha pinta after finishing her meal.

Anita did not immediately reply, she looked confused.

"Finely ask your husband. Call him first, after he lets me open it."

___

Anita will open Aisha's infusion after Alvian allows it, carefully opening it so that Aisha does not feel pain.

"Why are you here?" ask Aisha suddenly.

"It is not that today you and Zaidan will meet for Nadzar (The Ta'aruf Stance where a man may see the face of the woman he is about to ask for, is done before the Khitbah)."

"Why?"

Anita smiles. He saw Aisha.

"If you think only Abah's children feel sad and lost because of her disappearance, you are wrong. There's a lot of people who feel the same way including that's me."

Aisha speechless.

"Although short, I feel lucky to have lived here and learned so much from both of your parents, felt their affection and taught me so much." Anita showed her sad face.

Aisha held her hand.

"Yes. I get it." Aisha tried to smile.

***

Aisha hugged Ummi after they performed congregational Dzuhur prayers, on the other hand there was Maryam who also hugged Ummi tightly.

Ummi rubbed the heads of his two daughters who were both perched on his shoulders.

"Ummy. No matter how we know that time will come, but we still grieve when death comes" Aisha said, closing her eyes.

"How much we grieve, son. Remember that we will feel it too. So make someone's death also a warning to us that sooner or later we'll catch up with him."

Suddenly Lela came to Ummi and told him that Siti's ex-husband had come with his entire extended family.

Ummi immediately got up and opened the door. He soon went to meet Joseph and his family.

Ummi accompanied by Ahmad and Ali received their arrival warmly. Not to forget Ummi also apologized on behalf of her late husband if there was a deliberate mistake or not.

Yusuf who turned out to be married again took his two wives with him, he asked Siti and wanted to meet her to express his condolences directly.

Siti comes after being summoned along with Aisha and Lela who are following behind her.

Seeing Aisha, Yusuf seemed to want to boast about himself being married again, he then introduced his new wife with pride.

Siti and Aisha do not care, but they remain friendly considering the good intentions of those who come to accuse.

"Sir. Mas and family here in addition to serve also with good intentions want to invite Siti's deck to refer, or rather we are here also to apply. I want us to get married again." Joseph seemed sure.

Siti and her entire family looked shocked, especially Aisha.

"Mas is married again, but Mas promised to treat his three wives fairly."

"Both wives have also agreed, they have sincerely married again." Joseph pointed to his two wives.

Siti immediately looked at the two who were smiling while nodding her head.

Aisha looks very angry.

Everyone looked at Siti to wait for an answer.

"Sorry mas, Siti does not want to," replied Siti confidently.

"Loh why? Why wouldn't you? Than living a widow like this? Isn't it ashamed of people's talk?" Yusuf's mother voiced out, visibly upset that Siti continued to refuse to return to her son.

"What's wrong with being widowed?" ask Aisha suddenly.

"I told you. Only by bearing the status of a widow does not reduce the value and quality of a woman, by bearing the status of a widow does not necessarily become a 'second-class' citizen who is underestimated. Not all widows are synonymous with seductresses who are hungry for affection. Many of them are fighting for honor."

"Change the way you think. Do not demean widows because being a widow is not their ideal, think positively on them because it is not impossible tomorrow or whenever the turn comes to you. Who knows, if God wills." Aisha raised her shoulders.

Everyone is silent.

"Oh yes. Both my sisters are widows and I am proud, they are too special and precious. Rather than being made a wife just for collection" Aisha said as she looked at Joseph's two wives.

"And made a wife but sought death."