Let Time
Part 6's
After nearly 6 hours of standing while greeting guests finally they can now rest. Initially Arkan and Zara were just as insistent as wanting to sleep in their respective rooms used before marriage but finally with parental and physical coercion that was tired enough to argue they relented.
Now they are in one room. Zara was still busy cleaning up her makeup while Arkan sat leaning on the sofa while closing his eyes like he was enjoying the rest of his energy. Zara, who could see Arkan with the tip of her eyes, could read if the now-husband was exhausted from her face.
"Sir.." call Zara from the dresser while slightly facing her towards Arkan.
Arkan who was not asleep heard clearly Zara's call.
"Hm." replied Arkan without opening his eyes.
"If Zara may give you advice mending the father of the bath first just rest" said Zara gently afraid if Arkan felt Zara arranged herself. Zara knows herself religiously and stately status is indeed Arkan's wife but for Arkan himself Zara does not know for sure what she looks like Arkan. Zara does not want to hope and does not want to demand enough to try to live without forcing.
Without speaking Arkan got up from his seat, took his towel and clothes from the suitcase and walked into the bathroom. Zara cleaned her makeup after she finished, but Arkan did not come out of the bathroom. Because his body is tired and wants to get freshness from the touch of water Zara decided to take a bath in her cousin's room.
After the shower, Zara returned to the room. No Arkan in the bathroom door was open. Where exactly is Arkan? Ah already Zara did not want to take a headache about the irritable man said the poor expression. Her body is more demanding to rest now. Zara laid her body on one side of the bed. He sleeps sideways, do not forget Zara is also still wearing her long veil. It's nothing but Zara's just still scared. It didn't take long for Zara to be sound in her sleep. Before long there was also the sound of the door opening and it was Arkan. Instead of walking towards the bed, Arkan actually walked towards the sofa. From the direction of the sofa Arkan could see clearly the face of Zara who was already sound asleep.
"I never knew what it would be like going forward. But let me be selfish to promise you there will never be a farewell in the future" Arkan said with his eyes staring at Zara.
Arkan laid his body on a sofa. I don't know what's in his brain but he thinks instead of sleeping in the bed and on his back it's better to sleep in a clear sofa that he can see the peaceful face of the girl who is now his wife, who always managed to make Arkan's mind messy and always attracted his attention even though the girl was just silent. Arkan shook his head like he was throwing away all the thoughts he had in his brain. Arkan began to close his eyes.
The sound of knocking greeted Zara's hearing he woke up and saw the clock on the wall of the room apparently already at 04.15 because too tired the girl had to be willing to lose her night prayer time. After really waking up from his sleep Zara was surprised by Arkan who fell asleep in a sofa without a pillow and without a blanket.
"Once you refused, huh?" zara said while looking at Arkan. Honestly there is a little bit of sadness in Zara's heart this way instead of the more obvious rejection that Arkan showed? That's what Zara had in mind. Zara took a deep breath she gathered the courage to wake Arkan up.
"Sir.." call Zara. There's no sign Arkan's gonna wake up.
"Sir.." call Zara again. The reaction remains the same. Doubtfully Zara tried to stretch out her hand to pat Arkan's arm. Without Zara knowing Arkan has actually been awake since Zara's first call. Even Arkan was awake before Zara woke up. Arkan had performed the tahajud prayer before he decided to lie down again. But Arkan is still strong, he wants to know how far Zara's efforts to wake him up. Zara's response has now shaken Arkan's shoulder slowly.
"Back Wake up." said Zara. Arkan started to open his eyes. After Arkan opened his eyes as fast as Zara went to the bathroom.
"Just woke up already salting" Arkan said while shaking his head. Arkan went outside the room to hitch a ride in the other room because if waiting Zara could be late Arkan for dawn in the mosque.
Arkan prayed in a nearby mosque with other families. Zara decided to pray alone in the room after Zara's prayer decided to teach for a while. Zara's teaching activities ended when a knock was heard from the door before long a handsome man with a suit of cocoa, sarong and pecinya. Still with the cover of mukena Zara approached Arkan intend to shake his hands to refuse Zara he still knows the limitations of his obligations to the husband. Although Zara hesitantly extended her hand to Arkan, she hesitantly gave her hand to Zara and was pulled by Zara to kiss Zara. There was a warm feeling that lay in Arkan's heart whenever Zara's lips hit the back of her hand just as it was yesterday the first time Arkan's hand was kissed by a woman other than her sister.
"We went home with the others this morning" Arkan said.
"Yes Zara knows it." replied Zara while distancing herself from Arkan.
"I ask your sincerity to stay with me in my family's house" Arkan said without seeing Zara.
"Today too?" ask Zara. Honestly, she is still not ready far from her parents but how also now she must be more obedient to her husband.
"Yes, come home from here we go straight to Papa's house. For your goods let us be great-grandchildren" Arkan said.
"OK." replied Zara.
"I'm not sorry I'm not responsible for not giving you a place to live and inviting you to first stay in my family's house. I realize we are still the same trying to accept I am just afraid when we are not fully ready we will win each other's egos. At least when we live with mom and the others there can always remind me when my faith is lower than my ego. You also will not be lonely because there is Alisya, Mama and there is also Sabiya" Arkan said.
"Yes." replied Zara briefly.
"You mind?" ask Arkan.
"No." answered Zara. Honestly in his heart Zara objected why so soon why he was not given a day or two at his parents' house.
At 09:00 their entire family had left the hotel. On the way home Arkan and Zara were in one car in an Arkan car because it happened yesterday Arkan brought his own car. For a long time they reached the home of the Arkan family.
"You've come in there's a Mama" Arkan said. Zara just nodded stiffly. Zara came in first but no one there everyone must be resting right now. They did arrive longer because they went to the mother's father's house first to take Zara's goods. It was Zara's first time to the Arkan Zara family home confused where to go again but when at the front door of the house he almost collided with Arkan who was carrying his suitcase and Zara's suitcase.
"Where are you going?" ask Arkan.
"That's Zara confused where to go. No one seems to have rested" said Zara, looking down. Arkan seemed to smile at a glance at Zara who was still very awkward like him.
"Follow me" said Arkan walking ahead. Zara follows Arkan to the 2nd floor of the house and Arkan brings Zara to the room.
"This was my room at first. But I have to share a room now, right? So this is also your room right now" Arkan said. Zara just nodded.
"When do you want to stand there?" arkan asked as he saw Zara still standing by the door.
"Rather than silently mending you start cleaning your goods. Well, the closet over there I've prepared an empty place for you" Arkan said.
Adhan dzuhur made Zara stop her activities. Zara who saw Arkan asleep again was made nervous to wake him up.
"Sir.." call Zara who is standing next to Arkan to sleep.
"Back up" Zara said again. Until now and not until when Zara still at home call Arkan as father. Twice his call got no response from Arkan Zara trying to reach out her hand to shake Arkan's body. Three times Zara called while shaking Arkan's body finally the man woke up from his sleep.
"Sorry Zara interrupted my sleep. But it's time for dzuhur" said Zara.
"Quickly take ablution first" Arkan said. Zara said she walked into the bathroom to ablaze. When Zara was about to leave the bathroom Arkan was waiting for her in front of the bathroom door.
"Wait for me we pray together" Arkan said as he walked into the bathroom. To the right of the bed Arkan has held two prayer mats. There is no mucus because Arkan does not know where Zara keeps her.
This is their first time praying together. Arkan is said to rarely pray at home. Praying maghrib, Isha and dawn he usually prays in the mosque while praying dzuhur and Ashar he often prays himself in the office. After the prayer, they were called to lunch. The dining table has Mama, Papa, Alisya, Hafidz and Sabiya.
"Duh penganten abis why is it so long down?" tanya Ica teases her brother and sister-in-law. Arkan and Zara were equally silent no one would respond to Ica's temptation.
"Ih was beaten up" Ica said annoyedly.
"Dearnest of all don't be teased ah" Hafidz told Ica.
"Udah come Arkan Zara you sit we eat the same" said Papa. Mama immediately scoops food for papa followed by Alisya who scoops food for Hafidz while Zara he is still confused should he follow Mama and his sister-in-law but he is also afraid if Arkan is uncomfortable with action. As if understanding what Zara was thinking Arkan directly thrust his plate at Zara.
"You must learn to take it for me" Arkan said. Zara receives a plate from Arkan she scoops the rice first. Everyone at the dinner table seemed to stumble over a smile watching Zara who was still awkward to serve Arkan.
"What do you want to do with it?" ask Zara while looking at Arkan. Hearing Zara's call to Arkan, everyone suddenly laughed.
"Dear you call Arkan father?" asked Mama who had started to stop laughing while the others were still with the rest of her laughter.
"I'm sorry" said Zara, looking down.
"Would you not be told what his wife should call him?" ask Mama.
"I'll tell you. But Zara wants to call Arkan Om, Arkan thinks you're better than Om." replied Arkan as he was. Yes, when he first heard Zara call him father of Arkan had protested but when Zara gave a choice between father and om yes according to Arkan it is better father. The sound of laughter filled the dining table.
"Darling you don't call my father. From now on call him that. Arkan Mas would be better at the horrors of your age is also not much different" said Mama.
"Yes ma. Sorry." said Zara, looking down.
"Jaudah let's eat" said Papa trying to end the conversation.
They ate quietly without a sound, only the clanking of spoons and Sabiya babbling accompanying their lunch.
That night Arkan laid his body on the bed. While Zara is still cool sitting on the sofa while reading a novel. Arkan saw this clock is already quite late. Arkan gets out of bed he takes Zara's novel forcibly.
"Sleep is already night" Arkan said. Zara was a little surprised by Arkan's way. Arkan returns to bed with Zara's novel on purpose so Zara doesn't read it again. Somehow Arkan felt neglected when Zara was engrossed in her novel while she herself was confused as to what to do.
"Where's Zara sleeping?" ask Zara.
Arkan looked at Zara while frowning. "So seriously you ask like that?" ask Arkan.
"Zara was just afraid that what Zara was doing was considered presumptuous and made the father emm mean Zara Mas uncomfortable" replied Zara.
"You sleep in bed" Arkan said briefly.
"Do not impose. Zara knows I'm not comfortable with that. Sorry yesterday Zara sassy first to sleep and let mas sleep on the sofa. So Zara thought I'd be comfortable letting Zara sleep on the couch tonight." replied Zara.
Arkan is surprised by Zara's words he did not expect his behavior yesterday was considered a rejection by Zara. Though actually not so yesterday he was just still comfortable looking at the peaceful face of Zara while asleep. Is it not too early their marriage must be seasoned with misunderstandings?
"Like not want me now your husband. Follow my word. Sleep in bed now or I can't sleep until tomorrow morning?" arkan said in a slightly raised voice accompanied by his extremely flat face.
***
**To be continued...
See you next part**...
