
Three pieces of medium-sized chicken breast were finished marinated with salt, olive oil, and pepper powder. Nayla put the chicken into teflon with moderate heat. The smell filled the kitchen, looking at Nayla's olfactory nerves. The oil was already hot, Nayla stuffed the long-long potato pieces into the frying pan. Nayla stuffed the broccoli and asparagus into the teflon that contained the chicken. Andi and Fahad's favorite food. Only that food he could cook quickly— lit two stoves at once.
Nayla to the room, she delivers food to Fahad first. But her husband instead ordered her to go to deliver Andi's food and accompany him. “I'll eat later, honey, meet Andi first. He really needs you.” Fahad.
Not that Nayla does not care for Andi, she prioritizes Fahad because it is her obligation as a wife to prioritize husband. Hearing Fahad's order to go to deliver food while accompanying his sister to eat, Nayla smiled with relief. Her husband understood exactly what she wanted. As an older sister, Nayla must have felt the need to be with her younger sister. Andi is being broken, just like her. But, different. Andi is more disappointed and devastated, seeing the person she loves the most must accept injustice from her mother-in-law.
“Andi, eat first, yes.” Nayla sat on the edge of the bed. He forced his brother to sit down.
“Andi is not hungry, Ma'am, just take it out.”
Andi was about to go back to sleep, he really did not want to eat. His stomach felt full of anger that could not be channeled all. “Andi, we eat together, yes Fahad also do not want to eat, if you have not eaten.” Nayla stabbed into the chicken meat, then sliced it slowly.
“He wants to eat what he doesn't, I don't care. If you need to just let him die!” sudang Andi's.
“Yes Allah, how fierce are you. Here open your mouth.” Nayla brought the fork with the chicken and potato into her sister's mouth. “Andi.”
“Mbak haven't eaten?” ask Andi in her lowest voice. Nayla shakes. Andi took over the fork, you brought it closer to Nayla's mouth. “Mbak, can't do that. Ma'am, must eat, pity my hero starve.”
Nayla opened her mouth, accepting the sister's bribe. However, a blow was also slung onto Andi's arm, making the man protest in annoyance. “She's a girl, Andi. Where is the hero!” exciting Nayla.
“Ya, same. He's jagoanku. Later if big, I want to teach him to race.” Andi and Nayla laughed. Trying to entertain each other.
Andi's room door was not closed perfectly, Fahad had a chance to see the laughter of the brother and sister. Her smile expands as she sees Nayla and Andi feeding each other, sharing the laughs—even possible, sharing wounds and disappointment. Nayla and Andi can't, if not together. They need each other to live. If one of them was injured, surely the wound would be contagious as well. It was as if the pain was creeping through, gnawing at each of their hearts.
Fahad was not angry or vengeful at his brother-in-law. All sisters, or brothers, would do the same if their sisters were hurt. The pain that Andi put all over her face and body, was not worth the pain that Nayla had to endure. If Andi had eliminated him, Fahad felt he had no right to refuse. He is ready to accept all of that.
***
Two days, Fahad and Andi did not say hello. Fahad tries to get closer to Andi, but his sister-in-law avoids him. Nayla has been trying to help Andi and Fahad get along as they used to. However, he had no right to force Andi. His sister has her own principles, let time answer everything— that will bring them closer back.
Enjoy the Sunday morning together in the living room. Fahad and Andi are both busy with laptops in their laps. Nayla came, took her husband and sister out for a walk. They shop for necessities for their babies.
“I don't want to, Ma'am.” Andi refuses Nayla's invitation. He didn't want to be near Fahad. Now he sat down on the sofa, because his brother told him to. Andi tries not to make Nayla sad, soon her brother will give birth. Although not sure what the tense moments were like, Andi tried to keep Nayla's heart and emotions in order to remain stable. He wanted Nayla to stay healthy, so that later after giving birth .. he could bring his brother and nephew to Indonesia immediately.
“Where are you going?” ask Fahad.
“Ke park for a while, run out it's just shopping to mall.”
Fahad said he told Nayla to get ready. “You don't want to come out?” Fahad asked Andi.
“Don't—” Andi saw the door of Nayla's room, “I'm still kind enough to love you when you're together Ms. Nayla, because I know she still respects you as a husband. If after this Mbak Nayla cry, I will definitely make the same calculation you.” Andi threatened. His index finger was pointing right at Fahad's face.
Hand-in-hand as usual, Fahad did not give his wife a chance to groan about the grip of his hand that was released. Enjoy the atmosphere of the crowded garden—Nayla smiles knot looking at some children who are nuanced with their parents. Later, it will be so too. Playing with his little daughter, running around in the park, rubbing sweat that poured from the temple of the princess. Ah, must be so much fun.
The weather is getting hotter, Fahad decided to invite Nayla to go to the mall. Buying baby necessities. Before his hand opens the car door for Nayla, Fahad is startled by a call from a girl. “***!” cursing in the heart. There's Benazir. Yeah, that girl called his name.
“Kak Fahad, why don't you answer my phone?” ask the girl.
“How many times have I had to say it, Benazir? You are my sister, how can I marry you?!” Fahad started to puff up. Benazir's attitude really pissed him off. “Come home, I'll book a ticket for you.”
“I don't want to, Brother, I want to be here. We must go together to Kashmir, soon our wedding day.”
Fahad scooped his face, feeling confused about how else to make Benazir go and forget the marriage. “Listen. Until when—” Fahad was made surprised, both eyes were fully rounded. Nayla's. His wife slapped Benazir.
“Fahad has asked you to leave, so why are you still here?!” sulk Nayla. “Go now!” banish him.
Benazir stared intently, one hand still on his left cheek. The heat of her cheeks was not comparable to the heat in her heart. “You—”
“I said go!” nayla Tuas.
Benazir looked at Fahad. He wishes Fahad had defended him. But no, her future husband just put his shoulders and held back a laugh. It looks very clear.
“You go alone or you want to be dragged from here, huh?!” Nayla exclaims. He was fed up with Benazir's spoiled attitude.
After Benazir leaves, Nayla and Fahad get into the car. Nayla put on her seatbelt, her lips unceasingly nagging. He's very upset. “Why are you smiling like that?!” Nayla asked.
Turning on the car's engine, Fahad was delighted to see his slightly fierce wife. “I want, tomorrow-tomorrow you like gini continue, yes. Don't just shut up. I'd rather see you bar-bar.” The laughter broke, but Fahad could not hold it anymore.
“Ya, you. Tell him to go that time can't. Do you like being pulled by him like that? Enjoying you!”
Fahad touches the top of his wife's head, but Nayla brushes him off. “Still in fierce mode.” Fahad murmuring.
***
In three days, Fahad's wedding will be held. The ringing of the cell phone never ignored Fahad. He ignored Ammi. Focus more on the work and the estimated days of Nayla's birth who just wait for the time of—shore, night, or morning. Fahad never came home late, he did not want to linger away from his wife. Despite Andi's presence, she still cannot ignore her responsibilities as a husband.
“Fahad, this is your shirt I have entered in the bag. Tomorrow if you go to Kashmir just take it.” Nayla shows off the backpack Fahad used to carry when he went to Kashmir.
Fahad was upset. His wife never tired of telling him to go to Kashmir. “I'm not going anywhere, Nayla!” angrier. Fahad couldn't help himself if Nayla kept telling him to leave. “One more time you tell me to Kashmir, I—”
“Fahad, your marriage is three days away. You must go to Kashmir.” Nayla is still trying to persuade Fahad.
“You like me madramin?! Not kapok either?!” fahad's forehead creased inside. His wife never really gave up.
“Fahad, but—”
Fahad silenced Nayla's lips with a soft kiss. He put his lips as deep as possible. There was no chance for Nayla to continue her sentence. Fahad felt ill when Nayla asked him to go to Kashmir. How could he go, remarry another woman. Maddened. It doesn't make any sense.
Looking at the face of the woman he was angry with, there was always a sense of regret in the corner of Fahad's heart. The woman, who could always make her smile, always reminded her not to make the heart of Ammi sad—hati from the mother-in-law, who obviously hurt her wife very much.
***