I'm a Savings Woman

21. Family Gathering

Arka, Alia, Devan and his assistants have arrived at the Reyhan and Izzah residence. They got out of the car at the same time.

"Please enter Mr." Said Arka's assistant to the three of them.

"You go in first, I'll catch up soon." Devan said with a smile.

Alia nodded her head and she with Arka entered the house simultaneously.

Both Arka's parents and Arsha, sitting in the living room and seem to be discussing something.

"Oh my God, Alia." Izzah said with a panicked face and then stood up from above the sofa.

While Alia smiled and hugged her in-laws.

"How are you doing, baby?" Izzah asked in an affectionate voice.

"I'm fine Mom. What about mom?" Alia asked back with a smile.

Izzah saw Alia's hand which had a purplish bruise because it was caused by the rope bond earlier.

"What really happened?" Izzah asked with an expression that looked so worried.

"Calm down, ma'am. He's fine now. Thanks to Devan for helping me." Said Arka smiling.

"Where is he now?" Ask Izzah.

"He's still outside." Reply Ark.

Izzah then invited Alia to sit together in the living room. Shortly after, Devan came in and sat down next to Arsha's wife.

"Mas all right?" Ask Arsha.

"I'm good, baby." Reply Devan rubbed Arsha's stomach so bloated.

Reyhan and Izzah then ask what really happened to Alia. Arka explains to her parents that Alia was kidnapped by Nadia.

"Mother wonder, how did you all know that Nabila had a twin sister?"

"We're investigating everything." Reply Devan.

Reyhan himself explained that he had met Nadia once after the day of Nabila's death. At that time Nadia came on the grounds of wanting to meet with her siblings who had often given her money for living expenses.

However, when Reyhan says that Nabila is dead, Nadia does not accept and tells Reyhan that he will meet Arka and hold the answer because Nabila died because of giving offspring to the Wijaya family.

Reyhan, who knew full well that Arka was still in a state of grief and so down, finally decided to give some money to Nadia as long as she did not appear before Arka. Given that time Arka was really like a madman who lost his mind due to the loss of his beloved wife.

At that time, Reyhan did not want if Nadia met Arka, then Arka's condition will be more out of control. How not, a man who saw his wife died, even buried her own instead had to see the exact figure of the woman who had just been buried.

"Why didn't Dad tell us from the beginning?" Izzah asked after Reyhan explained everything.

"Father just does not want to burden your mind especially Arka. So did Mom and Arsha. I know for a fact that you're all very close to Nabila. If Father told Arka that her condition was unstable at that time, she was afraid that Arka's condition would be out of control. If Dad tells Mom, it looks like Mom lost it to Arka, too. And for Arsha or Devan, I don't want to burden you with such a thing considering that Arsha just finished giving birth." Reyhan.

Izzah could only sigh and hold her husband's hand.

"Next time, don't hide everything alone. At least tell Mom, so we can deal with it together." Reply Izzah.

"How many times has he asked Dad for money?" Ask Arsha suddenly.

"Just then. After that, there was no news from him. Even Dad forgot he ever met Dad." Reply Reyhan.

"Truly greedy woman." Devan shook his head.

Since then, Alia has been silent. She could only listen to all the talk her husband's family had. But one thing that can not be separated from him is the grip of Arka's hand.

"Thank you, Alia, since your presence, this mother's child can smile again." Izzah.

Alia smiled and looked at her mother-in-law.

"I also thank you, because this family has accepted me as the new person present in this family." Reply Alia.

Everybody smile.

The family finally celebrated their happiness by throwing a small party that was just her from them all in the backyard of the house.

"Party without me." Shouted Dafa when it came.

Alia walked closer to Dafa and lifted up Dafa's body and carried him.

"No dear. You're our little star and without the little star, there wouldn't be a party here." Alia said and pinched Dafa's cheek in a fit of anxiety.

Dafa laughed and hugged my mother.

After that he went to dive into his Opa and his Oma. And don't forget also with Arsha and Devan also with Denis cousin.

***********

At midnight when everyone is asleep. Alia was asleep on her bed while Arka was standing nearby. Arka then held Alia's hand and made her sit up and said, "let's get up, we go to the porch."

"Why? I'm still sleepy." Blas Alia and lie back on the bed.

"Wake Alia. I beg you." Speak Arka with sparkling eyes.

"Aarrgghh, all right." Alia then got up from the bed.

Arka smiled and held Alia's hand tightly then took her away to the porch of the house.

After a few minutes later, Arka sat down and made Alia sit next to him.

" are we here to count the stars?" Alia asked with a face that was annoyed because it was still sleepy.

"Well, we can do that later." Said Arka with a small laugh.

Alia smiled and then leaned her head on Arka's shoulder.

"So what do you want to tell me?" Ask Alia.

"There's still one thing you don't know." Said Arka with a serious expression.

Arka sat in front of Alia and made Alia look at her.

After hearing that, Alia became so serious and ready to listen to what Arka was going to say.

"I want to admit everything so there's nothing else I have to cover." Arka.

"Tell me." Reply Alia.

"From the beginning, I never wanted our marriage to happen. I never wanted to marry anyone. I never even thought of loving anyone. To be honest, in my heart I hated you the first time I saw you on our wedding day. The resentment is increased when you arrive late and even display your sad face on that day. You seem to be showing everyone that you are forced to marry me. Although I actually know very well that you were forced to. We were both forced to. Even though I don't know what exactly is your reason for having to marry me. And right now, I want to say that I love you so much. I don't know since when that happened, considering our marriage is only a corn. I didn't expect that I was so quick to fall in love with you and could forget about the late Nabila so quickly. And I'm also sorry that I hurt you by still keeping all the memories of Nabila in my room. I promise that I'll let go of everything and...."

"Aren't you tired of talking at length?" Alia asked cutting off Arka's words.

Arka just smiled and shook her head.

"I understand everything. You don't have to say everything like a man making a speech. I get it." Said Alia who made Arka laugh. "I also don't know when I started falling in love with you. But clearly at this time, I say that I love you completely Arka Wijaya." Alia.

Arka smiled, she then held Alia's chin and was about to kiss her. But Alia quickly dodged.

"Come on, this isn't in our house. People could see." Alia.

"Who will see? Everyone's asleep." Reply Ark.

"Khaemmm...."

Suddenly from the side came the sound of people beating.

When Alia and Arka look towards the source of the sound, there is Reyhan and Devan who are sitting playing chess.

Alia immediately covered her face and ran into the house. While Arka sat and slowly scratched his head that did not itch.

"When have you been there?" Tanya Arka looked nervous.

"Since then." Reply Devan.

"Ja.. So, you heard what we were talking about?" Ask Arka again.

Arka shook her head then stood up then approached the two of them and sat down to join them together.

"Next time do it in the room." Ejek Reyhan's.

"You should have told me you were here." Archa Protest.

"Who told you not to look at people or not." Reply Devan.

"But it..."

"After that, you better go after your wife there." Reyhan said again.

Arka shakes.

"That's it." Reply Ark. "Oh yeah, I'd better get some sleep. It's late, it's not good for your health if you're still awake let alone staying up at this hour."

"You're as chatty as your mother." Reply Reyhan. "It can't be seen Dad likes to play chess with a suitable opponent."

"This time let me fight Devan." Arka.

"Who said I wanted to play against you. I'm going to bed, come on Dad, let's continue tomorrow. You better go meet your wife soon." Devan Ejek.

"This one." Arka looked upset.

"Haha... Never mind, we better get some rest now." Reyhan then stood up at the same time as Devan. "Oh yeah Arka, I suggest, you better take Alia on vacation and honeymoon. Leave Dafa here with us. And as for the office, let Daddy take care of Devan."

"True, since marriage you've never been anywhere. Ask Alia for a leave of absence from the model world first to go on vacation. At least you can have some alone time. Because all this time I've seen, Dafa has always been among you." Devan said then stepped in following Reyhan who had walked first after patting Arka on the shoulder.

Arka was silent for a moment, then she thought about where she should take Alia to go on her honeymoon.

"That's exactly what Dad and Devan said. I have to take Alia to the honeymoon. But where? Should I ask him first?" Said Arka then stepped inside the house.

Arka then went into the room and looked for the whereabouts of Alia who was not on the bed.

"Where is he?" Thought Arka while moving towards the bathroom in the room.

But still, Alia wasn't there.

"Did he sleep with Dafa?" Arka said as she walked towards the room that was prepared by Reyhan and Izzah for their two grandchildren.

When Arka opened the door of the room, it appeared that Alia was indeed asleep by embracing Dafa.

Dafa himself looked so good. Arka looked towards the other bed where Denis should have been. But the truth is Denis wasn't there.

"Maybe she slept with her mom." Said Arka then approaching towards Alia and also Dafa.

Arka smiled at Alia who was fast asleep, as well as Dafa.

Arka then rubbed Alia's forehead and kissed her.

"Good night, my dear, sleep well." The Ark whisper in Alia's ear.

Just as Arka was about to turn around, Alia immediately held her hand.

"You haven't slept?" Ask Arka in a whisper.

"Sleep here." Reply Alia while patting the bed by her side.

Arka smiled then climbed onto the not-so-big bed.

"This bed is small, you're gonna get pinched." Bisik Arka's.

"Originally you didn't move much, and kept hugging me. Everything's gonna be okay." Reply Alia while re-embracing Dafa with the position of her back to Arka.

Arka smiled then hugged Alia so tightly. Both are soundly asleep.

**********

Next morning....

Everyone was up and sitting in the dining room at exactly 7 a.m.

"How about today we go to Nabila's grave." Izzah's proposal that made everyone who sat down for breakfast instantly speechless.

Arka herself stared straight at Alia.

"Sorry before to Alia, I didn't mean to..."

"I understand Mom. After all, I myself had planned to go there. But since yesterday I haven't had a good time." Reply Alia.

"Alisa...." Arka held Alia's hand tightly.

"I want to meet her, I want to send her a prayer." Alia.

Everyone smiled at Alia's words. Except for Denis and Dafa who have absolutely no idea who the adults around them are talking about.

"Papa, who's Nabila?" Ask Dafa.

Everyone looks shackled.

"Why silence?" Ask Arka again.

Alia sighed and smiled. He then returned to Dafa.

"Darling, finish the food first. Mama will definitely." Alia said with a nod to Dafa.

After she finished eating, Alia stood up and said, "everyone get ready. We'll be gone in a minute."

Alia then went to the room carrying Dafa followed by Arka.

The three of them sat on the edge of the bed.

"Darling, my mom wanted to tell me something about Dafa. Wanna hear no?" Alia.

"Hmmm...." Dafa nodded.

"Dafa knows when Dafa was born?" Ask Alia.

"Xx date xx month xx year xx..." Reply Dafa.

"Smart kid." Reply Alia. "Then, does Dafa know who gave birth to Dafa?"

"Mama..." Reply Dafa.

Arka smiled then rubbed the head of Dafa.

"Dafa knew that Mama wasn't the one who gave birth to Dafa?" Ask Alia again.

Dafa nodded, leaving Arka and Alia speechless.

"Dafa knew that Mama was not the one who gave birth to Dafa. You just became Mama Dafa after you married Papa." Dafa Say.

Arka and Alia were stunned to hear the words of the four-year-old boy who was already eloquent in speaking. Arka then held the cheeks of his son.

"I'm sorry Papa ya son, never explained everything the same as Dafa."

Dafa smiled and nodded.

"Will Dafa visit Dafa's biological mother?" Ask Alia.

"What is the birth mother of Dafa whose name is Nabila?" Ask plain Dafa.

Arka nodded her head then kissed Dafa on the forehead.

"Then, what are you waiting for. Let's go." Dafa spoke with Alia's hand.

Alia smiled too. After that they all prepared to go to Nabila's tomb for the first time with Dafa and Alia.

'This is the beginning of it all.' Alia said inwardly as she got into the car with a sigh.

Seriate...