Love Shielded Risue

start a new life.

The atmosphere of the day was a little cloudy. Maryam had just finished cleaning up her house. The woman wiped the sweat softly on the forehead. It feels so sultry, even though only wearing a veil that is not too big.

The woman put the mop in the corner of the kitchen after which she took off her hijab for a moment, and sat down at the dining table. His hands slowly grip the phone on the table, then open an incoming chat message.

His lips looked flat, when he found news from Arshila who said he would visit. The message was sent an hour ago, and he had only read it. Until not long ago, the sound of car horns was heard outside.

"Alhamdulillah," he murmured while wearing another ropes just below his chest. Merr hurried out to her best friend.

––

"Assalamualaikum," cried Arshila as she closed the door of her car and Daffa rushed to Maryam.

"Walaikumsalam. Hello–" Maryam crouched down, hugging Daffa's little body, also kissing her cheek. "Tante, I miss you, same as you."

"Daffa too..." Kissed Maryam's cheek by the boy, making Merr smile happily.

"Huuft... finally can also play here," said Arshila when hugging the slim body of Maryam.

"Alhamdulillah, come in," he asked.

In Maryam immediately served cold drinks, as well as brownies that happened to have just been bought yesterday afternoon.

"Ngerepotin yes, I am.." chuckled.

"Not really Shila. This is already there, so do not bother," replied Maryam while sitting down. He held Arshila's hand.

Feeling homesick after a few months of not seeing each other. Understandably, since marrying Dayat, the girl followed her husband to live in Serang Banten. So a little far from his home, and today while in Jakarta Shila really took the time to visit Maryam.

"How are you, Merr? The power is not okay.You're getting thinner."

Mary laughed a little. "You know, I'm skinny."

"No 'ah. when there was no He you were a bit fat."

"He who?"

"The woman is the point. Males I called his name."

"Arshila, you can't hate people until they're rich."

"Not hate, but I don't like it. You know, his son is rich. Males is."

"Astagfirullah al'azim, that is not the case..."

Arshila sighed while Istighfar. "I'm really a mother. So, you can't control speech. Astagfirulah..."

Maryam smiling. "In Shil's drink..."

"Yes Merr..." Arshila complied, he took his cup. While Maryam turned to Daffa who was busy playing her Ummi phone. His hand rubbed the child's head slowly. "Oh yes Merr... You know? Uwa Nyai repeatedly asked your address to me and also Ummi, loh..."

"Ask the address, me?"

"Yes Merr, but we don't love her. Yes.it was at Bang Akhri's request as well. He wants you to focus on healing the wounds of the heart. And live quietly. So Brother closes everything, no one can disturb you he said."

Maryam was silent, only to hear the name made her recall the figure of the man who once filled her heart and mind.

"You should know? There was once a big thing between Bang Akhri and Nia."

"Big deal, what?"

"Now, no one knows what the problem is between them. The point is that Bang Akhri even wanted to divorce Nia."

"It's natural..."

"And again, he seemed to have been hit once. When divorced from you, Merr? He is still often locked up. Always resisting calls and so on. Even the cottage became a little less managed."

Maryam pensive. His mind caught Akhri's face the last time they sat face to face before actually dropping the talaq pledge in front of the judge.

"Uwa Nyai might want to apologize anyway to you, or maybe want to talk about this." continued Arshila made Maryam's view back focus on him. "Even my Ummi, he had triggered the word: If only there were no second marriage it might not be like this. Uwa Nyai is sorry..."

"What to regret? Umm Salma was not entirely guilty. All the decisions are with me. It is still me who has forced Bang Akhri, until finally like this."

Arshila held the hand of her best friend. "Merr, sorry. I think I made you think again."

"No papa, to be honest I was worried about you. Emmm.. Wait a minute, yeah." The woman went inside her room, took the notebook as well as the questioner. He sat back in his chair facing Arshila. A hand stroke began to fill in the blank sheets in his book.

Arshila could not read clearly what Maryam had written. Because he was busy with Daffa who began to put down his phone, then ran out, until he had to catch up with him immediately.

May you permeate every word I write for her. And he can fix his life.

***

In front of the mosque, Arshila stopped Akhri's steps.

"Take this, Bang," he said, handing out a letter.

"This what?"

"From Maryam. You can read it yourself..."

As if his spirit was returning, Akhri slightly smiled. "You met, did he? How's things going?"

"Alhamdulillah He is fine. Even just finishing her work, her novel will go up in print."

"MashaAllah's... My brother was happy to hear it. May he be successful."

"Yes, Aamiin." Arshila's smile dimmed as she saw Kania coming out from the side door of the mosque. As with Akhri, the man immediately put Maryam's letter into Koko's pocket. "I'm going home first Bang..."

"Yes, Sil. Thanks, yeah..."

🥀🥀🥀

Akhri is looking for a solitary place, which is a reading room in his Ummi house. He stared for a moment at the letter he had in hand.

Longing again rumbled, so quickly he took the letter out of the envelope.

The Ustadz Akhri...

Ustad, Ustadz. How are you doing?

Sorry, I sent this letter. Without meaning to. It's just that, hearing one bad news, makes Merr have to say to Brother.

Is it true that you are no longer willing to preach? Wh why?

Akhri only read in his heart, without the lips muttered. While his net was staring softly, holding a little water in the corner of his eyes.

To be honest, Merr is more happy that you can live your life well. Like myself. Who has started to manage my life well...

The man sighed, after which closed his eyes. He remained silent for a while before finally returning to reading.

Brother often said the same Merr first; if we have made a mistake.... then we regret? so do not make that regret even grow other mistakes.

Excuse me... I also know, Brother is having problems with Nia too, right? Why Bang...

I know Brother, as the most patient husband to face my temperament all this time. I also remember, Brother told me; that the wife was made of the most crooked ribs. That's why I'm trying to understand it.

"Bend you not like Him, Dik.." murmured Akhri, before returning to read it.

Don't keep leaning back, yeah... My life should go back to normal. Brother had to love Nia completely for Hussein's sake. Like my brother's message to me, that Merr should be happy. That also applies to Brother, who must also be happy with his son and wife.

Akhri is no longer able to read. He folded his letter and put it in an envelope.

His breath blew quickly, dispelling the tightness.After a few minutes he heard the sound of knocking on the door.

Nia came in with tears. "Bang, let's talk from heart to heart. Nia's sick at diemin keeps. Nia beg for mercy, Bang..."

Akhri was still silent, letting the woman get closer and squatting under her feet.

"I'm sorry Nia, Bang. It was enough for Brother to give Nia a punishment. Now Nia resigned that Brother really wanted to divorce me..." The woman was as much. "If you want to come back again with Cece also not papa... You can still see Hussein."

Akhri touches his shoulder, then kisses Nia's head. "Wake here..."

Nia complied, along with him who also moved. Akhri hugged Nia's body.

"I'm sorry, brother, too, it's been like this. Brother shouldn't be doing this the same to you... My brother just felt pain."

Kania was sobbing in her husband's arms.

"Abang won't divorce you. Not for anyone... We will try to repair our relationship. We start everything again. You want to help you get up again, don't you?"

Kania nodded. Her crying made her unable to answer anymore. Akhri kissed the top of his head, long enough. Closing his eyes.

Merr's right... I lost him because of my mistakes. Lamenting the mistake yesterday and making the same mistake today, it was the same as me plunging into the same hole. Now it's time to fix what's still there. Nia must have had a reason why it came to that. I wish I could give my whole heart to Nia, who is already my only wife now.