Devotion of Love

The Failed Dinner

A FEW MONTHS LATER

"Please enter my beautiful sister-in-law!" greeting Hanna kindly, Aura nodded while putting on the sweetest smile. Arkan stood right beside Aura. The two came together using a blue sports car. Tika's favorite sky color, Arkan's most beloved person besides Aura and Hanna.

Arkan extended his hand in front of Hanna. Hanna's gesture of kissing her hand. Halfheartedly Hanna kissed the back of Arkan's hand. Then alternate with Aura's hands. Arkan chuckles at the look on Hanna's annoyed face. Arkan intentionally did all this. For Hanna to be able to understand the manners to the older ones. It was too late, but Arkan had to try.

"That's my beautiful new sister!" arkan said shortly after seeing Hanna kiss Aura's hand.

Hanna bleated while letting Arkan into the house. A magnificent house that Arkan never lived in. A house that should feel warm and full of laughter. Real feels cold with tears of pain. Arkan stepped slowly into the house of the Agam family. The house that his father worked for. The assertiveness seemed to be too late, after all these years he waited.

Arkan embraced Aura very tightly. Hanna sees the warmth and great love Arkan has for Aura. The woman who is now Arkan's legal wife. Arkan's son-in-law is chosen for Tika and Agam. Arkan is married to Aura with bismillah. For the sake of a dream and a step together towards His jannah. Arkan threw away his fear. Replacing it with confidence in true happiness with Aura and Tika.

"Welcome to papa's house!" agam said kindly, Arkan and Aura nodded almost simultaneously. Arkan kissed the back of Agam's hand, alternating with Aura.

Agam hugged Arkan tightly, Agam vented a long-buried longing in his deepest heart. Fifteen years of longing, away from Arkan and Tika. Leaving a festering wound in his heart. Agam is now learning to understand Arkan. He won't force Arkan to get close to him. Arkan is not a child to be forced. Arkan can understand right and wrong.

"Papa, sorry Arkan is late!" arkan said, Agam shook his head weakly. Agam pulls Arkan's body towards the dining room. Hanna hugged Aura. Hanna was happy to have a sister-in-law like Aura. Aura's reserved and sincere attitude rattled Hanna's heart. Hanna's jealousy will be Vahira. Not a single bit was felt on Aura. Hanna loved Aura very much. Like a sibling who just met.

"Arkan, this house is yours. It's never too late for you to come. The door of this house is wide open, whenever are you coming? Your room stays the same, papa never changes it. This house belongs to you and Hanna, papa who hitchhikes on you later. When my body is no longer strong. Just you and Hanna, papa's body is leaning!" agam said softly, Arkan looked down sluggishly.

Agam's words like a thin incision in his heart. Arkan was crying in his heart. Both of his hands were weakly chosen. He wanted to embrace both his parents. But the separation of Tika and Agam, became a limit that Arkan could not break. Choosing between Tika and Agam. Arkan is not capable, but considering the struggle of Tika all this time. Arkan cannot go hug Agam by leaving Tika alone.

"I'm sorry Arkan, sorry!" arkan lirih said while looking down. Agam nodded while putting on a smile. Agam embraces Arkan's body tightly. Agam understands the dilemma of Arkan's heart. Worrying that Agam had felt and only Agam knew the pain.

"Papa didn't expect more. You're ready to meet papa. Eat one table with papa. Laugh with papa, sit down for coffee with papa. For me, all of that is more than enough. Papa wouldn't expect more, fifteen years papa away from you. Papa doesn't want to lose you!" said Agam warmly, Arkan nodded. Both of them walked to the dining table.

"Aura, please sit down. Consider it your own home!" agam said softly, Aura nodded slowly. Sit in the middle seat. Arkan and Aura sat side by side. Hanna was sitting next to Agam.

"Don't take heart, you're here for me. You do not need to be hurt just because of the inappropriate attitude of others. I'm here to take care of you. I'm gonna get sick for you!" whispered Arkan softly, while grasping Aura's hand. Arkan would not let Aura get hurt by Salma's attitude. Grandma who never agreed with him and Tika.

"It turns out he's your special guest Agam. It's free for me to hold back the hunger, just for their sake!" salma said cynically, Agam shook his head in disbelief. Salma's mother's nature remained the same, Hanna turned her head full of anger. He did not like it when Aura was insulted. Like Tika who is always seen one eye by Salma.

"Grandmother is enough, sister Aura is no one else. She's Hanna's sister-in-law. Once Grandma insulted him. Hanna won't stay quiet. Hanna's gonna forget Grandma's older!" as Hanna said, Arkan stared intently at Hanna. As if he didn't like Hanna's words. How is Grandma the older one? It's not proper for Hanna to say that.

"Salma's grandmother started it, Hanna doesn't like to see it. The eyes of the grandmother were only the most important treasures. Until the blind grandmother saw the sadness of papa. Now grandma wants to insult your relationship. I'll never let it!" sahut Hanna was much colder and sniffier.

Agam quietly listened, the content of Hanna's heart deserves to be spoken. Hanna had been holding back her frustration for so many years. It was time for Salma to listen to the opinions of others. Even though it was from his very young grandson. Reminds you that possessions will not bring happiness without a complete family.

"Hanna's enough, brother didn't come to see your anger. Be polite to grandma, she's much older than you!" arkan reminded.

Hanna silently lowered her head, upset to see Arkan defending Salma. But Arkan's words are not wrong, Salma is not someone else. She was the mother who gave birth to Agam. The man Arkan and Hanna should have respected.

"You shut up, I don't need your defense. I know Hanna more than anyone? He wouldn't say that harshly. If no one is going to instigate it. You and your mother took Hanna away from me. He hated me after you came. Why did you come here anyway? It's been good you've been gone for fifteen years. Moreover, you came with the village woman!" salma said cynically, Agam stood up from his chair. Arkan held Agam's hand, asking Agam to sit back.

"Arkan, papa was too full to hear the words of mother. We better eat outside. You came here, because papa asked for it. So it's not appropriate that papa be silent to see you insulted. Aura is no one else, she's papa's daughter-in-law. Another papa's daughter. So it's appropriate that papa is sick to see him insulted!" agam said, Salma stood up. He was inflamed to see Agam who was about to leave the dining table.

"Games!" salma shouted, Agam turned his head.

"Mother, Agam used to be silent when he saw Tika continue to be insulted by you. Today Agam will not be silent. Arkan the flesh and blood of Agam, Aura daughter-in-law of Agam. I will never let you insult them. One more thing, Tika is not the mother who will impose the will. Tika never demanded anything from Arkan. As long as Arkan is happy to live his life. Not like you'd prefer my tears, rather than my smile!" said Agam cold and firm.

"Papa's cool!" sahut Hanna as she held two thumbs up in the air.

"Hanna, shut up!" arkan.