Mahabbah Love Khalisa

99

As Khalisa promised Naira to make him a robe, they finally met today. Khalisa completed the game within one week of his busy lecture and organization schedule. Even Khalisa brought his sewing materials to the Azfan store so that he could still finish the robe while accompanying the husband.

Khalisa and Naira meet at Mangan Gelato after Khalisa completes his final class. As usual Mangan Gelato is always crowded by visitors until Khalisa and Naira have to wait a while to get an empty table.

Khalisa ordered two Vanilla Butterscotchs for himself and Naira and sat in one of the seats near the entrance.

Naira was enthusiastic when Khalisa took out his robe from the paper bag he was carrying. His eyes widened when he saw a black colored robe with a very beautiful pearl accent. Naira was impatient to wear it.

"Good as God." Praise Naira sincerely. "Khalisa, you're a pharmaceutical kid who not only mix drugs but also sew clothes."

"It's my hobby from childhood."

"I love it, too bad I have to go to Yemen if not for sure I ask to make one more robe." Naira re-entered the robe into a paper bag when an employee delivered their order.

"Aren't you planning on staying there for a long time?"

"Maybe I won't be back." Naira smiled bitterly, it was hard to leave her parents here but she also did not want to share the sadness on them even though by leaving them. Naira will draw near to the Creator.

"Khalisa, I'm interested in your pregnancy." Naira reached out with her hand to Khalisa, "may you always be happy with Azfan, may this child be born healthy and perfect."

"Thank you Naira." Khalisa tightened his grip on Naira, he did not want their meeting to end quickly. They only know each other and make friends for a while but Naira has to go with the illness she suffered. "May you be happy wherever you are."

"On that time I apologize for my spontaneous reaction when you asked me if I was willing to marry Azfan "Naira paused for a moment before continuing her sentence, it was like swallowing a thorn that could make his throat hurt. "I cannot admit it to you, I cannot be happy if I am present in the midst of you and Azfan, although until now I still love Azfan but after leaving here I will also throw away this feeling." Naira tried to swallow her tears back, she could not cry. Can't do. Failure in health and failure in love will not make Naira die.

"Azfan couldn't possibly be suing you either."

They looked and smiled softly, two strong women who had a great sincerity towards the destiny of God.

"I'm transferring now." Naira reached into her phone in the bag.

"No need for Nai."

Naira ignored Khalisa's words, "you've made me some nice clothes, Sa."

"No need, consider it a memento of me."

Naira shook her head, she had to still appreciate Khalisa's hard work let alone cloth to make the shirt look expensive.

"Udah." Naira puts her phone on the table after transferring some money to Khalisa.

"Naira, this is a lot." Khalisa turned to look at the number of money Naira sent him, "the fabric is not this expensive really."

"Calculate it as a gift for your child later even though maybe just buy a piece of clothes."

Khalisa shook his head, "Naira, this can buy a dozen baby clothes."

Naira laughed as Khalisa's words sounded exaggerated, he only paid the amount Khalisa deserved because making the shirt was not easy.

"Udah don't argue anymore, let's eat melted hunger." Naira scoops the vanilla gelato and devours it. Naira will certainly miss the atmosphere of the city of Yogyakarta and its closest people. But this is the way of life that he chose and may Allah be the way that He is also ridhoi.

"Gelato won't melt that fast." Khalisa went through his gelato. "Mas!" Khalisa waved his hand seeing Azfan enter Mangan Gelato.

Azfan smiled at Khalisa, he arrived late because he had to meet with Fawas who was willing to be his Tahfidz Park guide later. Fawas has been kindly willing to be a guide on the program that Azfan wants to do even though he is also busy with teaching schedules.

Naira greeted and commented a smile on Azfan.

"Try me, it feels a bit different from what I usually eat because it has not been here for a long time?" Khalisa thrust his gelato near Azfan.

Azfan prepared a little gelato and tried to research the taste, "his Butterscotch sauce is lacking." His comments.

"It is."

"I'm asking for more sauce." Azfan took Khalisa gelato to ask for additional Butterscotch sauce.

"Kok Azfan can be careful?" Ask Naira.

"Mas Azfan used to work here."

"Oh yeah?" Naira raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Early in college." Khalisa gave a big smile considering the first time he and Azfan met. Khalisa would not call this love at first sight but watching Azfan from afar made him slowly have feelings he had never felt before. His heart rumbled even just by hearing the name Azfan mentioned. When Azfan chanted the holy Quran in the mosque of Ulil Albab, Khalisa could not help his tears to fall. Azfan's voice touched Khalisa's deepest recesses. Azfan is not a popular guy like Hasan or Levin who when passing by, girls will scream or whisper in joy. Azfan was actually closed and always lowered his gaze when talking to the opposite sex.

The reason for Khalisa's love is simple: if he is close to Azfan, he will also be closer to Allah. However, home life is not as simple as falling in love.

"Please, this one must be delicious because I concocted it myself." Azfan returned with a plate of gelato that he had recompiled.

"Thank you, Mas Azfan isn't cool either?"

Azfan shaking.

"Naira's leaving tomorrow, let's take Naira to the airport."

"Can." Azfan could only comply with Khalisa's request, he had no reason to refuse.

"No need, the plane takes off at 10 you must have class." Rejecting Naira even he refused his parents to come to the airport, he did not want to feel increasingly heavy heart to leave his hometown. Naira was just a driver and her brother. "Don't come, I don't want to be at the airport." He said once more.

"Yes already." Khalisa nodded in agreement.

The meeting ended after they finished the vanilla-flavored gelato. Naira will remember this as one of the most beautiful moments of her life. Naira is grateful to have been given the opportunity to meet and know Khalisa. Although new to know but Khalisa is a valuable figure in Naira's life. It will bring all the memories in this city far to other parts of the country. A country called a land without clouds.

"I'm glad I know you." Naira hugs Khalisa as a sign of separation. "May you and Azfan be blessed with children who are sholeh and sholeh."

"May you always be healthy, Nai." Khalisa rubbed Naira's back.

"Be careful Ning Naira." Azfan said before Naira left them in the car.

They wave at Naira until the car that took her leaves Mangan Gelato's yard and is nowhere to be seen.

"Oh." Khalisa complained while holding his stomach.

"Why Haura?" Azfan saw Khalisa panicking, he spontaneously grabbed Khalisa's shoulder from the side.

"Laper's." Khalisa.

Azfan breathed a sigh of relief, he thought there was a body part of Khalisa who was sick.

"Let's go home, I'm masakin." Azfan pulled Khalisa's hand towards his parked bike in front of Mangan Gelato.

"What are you getting?" Khalisa hugged Azfan's stomach from behind as Azfan started running his motorbike. He wondered what kind of food Azfan was going to cook.

"Portrottle soup with eggs." Azfan remembered they bought carrots on the market a few days ago.

"Yes, it must be good especially if the weather is cloudy."

"Otherwise, with me."

Khalisa laughed pinched Azfan's stomach. It was a pity that Azfan could not see Khalisa's current expression. Khalisa's face flushed like he was in the hot sun.

Arriving at home, Azfan immediately prepared the ingredients to make carrot soup which later also given a whisk of eggs. They didn't have lunch because of different class schedules.

"Where was the meeting with Brother Fawas?" Khalisa follows Azfan into the kitchen.

"Alhamdulillah Kak Fawas is willing, he does not mind the salary and so on because opening guidance for children memorizing the Qur'an is also his goal."

"Alhamdulillah, may all be well, Mas." Khalisa rubbed Azfan's back.

"Thank you baby, it's thanks to your support." Azfan rubbed the top of Khalisa's head briefly and kissed him.

"It's my job."

Khalisa opened a medium-sized box next to the refrigerator where he stored salty vegetables that he made four days ago. Khalisa is not sure if the salted vegetable will be the same as Renata. Khalisa recalls Renata saying he should be able to make his own salty vegetables because it is his favorite food. But Khalisa only dared to make it, in addition to feeling unsure of himself, Khalisa will also definitely remember Renata every time he saw one of the bitter mustard preparations.

"Mas hasn't told you what Mas Azfan's conversation was with Ama at that time." Khalisa again remembered the question he asked Azfan while in the Kafa apartment elevator at that time. Azfan had not answered the question and always avoided asking Khalisa no more.

Azfan turned to Khalisa who was moving salted vegetables to the plate. If you remember the conversation, Azfan always felt sad and did not want to tell Khalisa. But Azfan could not keep avoiding.

"Ama said she was worried about her because her children and grandchildren were Muslim because no one would pray for her." Azfan's voice sounded very slow. "Ama wanted to see her great-grandchildren from Haura and Kara and her other grandchildren but she said as much money as she had could not prolong her life."

Khalisa tightened his grip on the plate in his hand, slowly closing the box of salted vegetables and placing the plate next to the stove.

"I asked Ama if she wanted a female or male great-grandchild, Ama said a male because if she were a female then she would bear such a great responsibility as Haura."

Khalisa's shoulder shook, he tried to hold it as hard as he could but finally his tears were shed as well. Khalisa closed his face and looked down deeply.

"Honey, soon Ama's wish will be fulfilled." Azfan pulled Khalisa into his arms.

Khalisa hid his face in Azfan's chest, he didn't want to cry. Now Khalisa understands why Azfan always avoids every time he gets the question.

"Don't be sad anymore." Azfan rubbed his eyes that were also wet, he had to be strong in front of Khalisa. Azfan never felt the weight of living in a different religious family until he married Khalisa. "Yes already?" He broke down Khalisa's arms and cupped his cheeks. "Bismillah, Haura is strong through everything, there I am."

Khalisa nodded repeatedly strengthening himself. Azfan wiped Khalisa's tears and gave a kiss on the forehead.

******

Two calligraphy measuring half a meter has been completed Azfan working on. Azfan just make one more calligraphy tomorrow to fulfill his customer's order. Azfan stretched his body after sitting long enough in his work chair inked on the glass media. He has to go home because Khalisa said he cooked dinner for them.

"Astaghfiullah!" Azfan looked at the calligraphy he had just completed had broken into pieces when it was a fairly thick glass and should not be easily broken. "Oh my God the cat!" Azfan finds a cat hiding behind a chair, he lifts up the cat that has broken his calligraphy. "Oh my God, I just finished the calligraphy." Azfan took the cat out of his shop, he left the calligraphy for a while and suddenly the cat broke it.

Azfan rubbed his face rough, it felt like his efforts since the last three days to make the calligraphy were in vain.

"Oh God." Azfan squatted to notice the shards of calligraphy scattered on the floor, he was tired. Azfan had put all his energy and time into making the calligraphy.

Azfan went to take the empty cardboard and collect the broken glass, looking at it until tomorrow will not make them reunite.

Azfan had to make from scratch starting from buying a new glass medium and painting it again.

"Gee!" Azfan screeched at the tip of his finger as he unintentionally held a sharp shard of glass. But it was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. Azfan rubbed his bloody finger on the paper on the table.

Azfan's gaze swept through his quiet shop because he had already closed it since an hour ago. He let out a heavy sigh, he accepted with sincerity all the trials God had given him. It was a sign of the love of God for Azfan.

Azfan put the cardboard containing the fragment of his calligraphy next to the table, he will throw it away tomorrow because it is too late. Azfan can't make Khalisa wait too long.

Arriving at Azfan's house saw Kafa standing next to the door leaning against the wall while playing his phone.

"Congen't go in?" Azfan asked after getting off his bike.

Kafa puts his phone in his pants pocket to see Azfan coming.

"Cece says I can't get in before Mas Azfan comes." Kafa pouted, "look at my face until red-bite by a mosquito."

Azfan said his greetings and turned the doorknob.

"Come on in." Azfan pulled Kafa in, "where is the red one?" Azfan looked at Kafa's face.

"It." Kafa pointed at the red bentol on his cheek.

"Ntar diobatin."

"Waalaikumussalam Mas." Khalisa from the kitchen. He kissed Azfan's hand and took over his bag.

"Why is Kafa's face so?" Khalisa sees Kafa pouting like a new breakup but Kafa is not that type of man.

"Bite by a mosquito he said in front." Answer Azfan.

"Cece's Cause." Dengus Kafa's.

"Yes sorry, let's eat first ntar Cece love medicine ya." Khalisa as if talking to a small child who craves because they are not given pocket money.

Hamcoi chicken, tofu sapo and butter fried squid have been served on the dining table.

"It must be good." Azfan sat in an orderly manner receiving a plate of warm rice from Khalisa. "Thank you for cooking everything, baby." Her speech.

"Duh can be diabetic if later here because Mas Azfan said it was very sweet."

"You want to be called baby?" Azfan Sahut.

"Relieve it!" Spray Kafa.

"Kafa, why do you look so familiar lately with Mahira?"

Azfan's question made Kafa surprised, he did not feel familiar with Mahira. They only went to the Mall once and only briefly.

"Oh yeah?" Khalisa's looking at Kafa.

Kafa shook his head kicking Azfan's leg because he felt trapped by such a question.

"Not Ce."

"Yes that dong familiar with the same cement, if on campus tuh Cece most comfortable if your nyari, ask your friends also no one knows, do not be alone continue Kafa."

"I'm not the same frequency that they can't be friends."

"Can."

"Can't be Ce."

"But there is no way you yourself will continue to be sure there will be tasks that must be done in groups."

"They just want one group with me." Kafa is proud.

"Oh yeah? looks like you're also popular with girls."

"Not really, I actually often hear them talking about Mas Azfan who said his voice was very melodious until they said, jeez want to invite Kak Azfan to stay home." Kafa imitates the style of his female friends when he hears the voice of qiroah Azfan.

"Astaghfirullah, fortunately I lamar Mas Azfan first if not, surely Mas will be confused to choose a prospective wife because many like the same Mas." Khalisa rubbed Azfan's arm for a moment.

"I can't possibly be confused, Haura is the most alluring among women."

"Please stop your fighting." Tegur Kafa, he just wanted to eat quietly without hearing the romance of Azfan and Khalisa. Her single soul thrashed around wanting to immediately have a partner. No. gabe. Can't do. Not so fast.

"It's delicious, it's the first time I've eaten Hamcoi's chicken." Khalisa asked Azfan what he thought tonight.

"Hamma?"

"Hamcoi is a salty vegetable that I made at that time, delicious?"

"His son, although at first a little strange but long accustomed and more delicious."

"Don't, I'd like to add." Kafa took the rice for the second time, he didn't care even though it was late and he shouldn't eat too much.

******

Khalisa and Azfan drove Kafa to the front of the house after dinner and treated the mosquito bite marks on Kafa's face. It was just an ordinary bump that would actually disappear by itself. But it seems Kafa almost never bitten by mosquitoes so he panicked just because of the bentol.

"What's the big deal?" Khalisa only realized that Azfan's hand was injured.

"Because of the shard but it's okay, the blood is not flowing."

"You can, what's the bell?" Khalisa again opened the P3K box that was still on the table after treating Kafa earlier. Khalisa took out the red medicine and plaster.

"The new calligraphy broke."

"cracked? how can you?" Khalisa was surprised to not even noticeably drop the bottle of red medicine in his hand.

"So suddenly there is a cat entering and breaking, yes so— I also don't know exactly because it fits snatch the bag to the back."

"Oh my God, so you have to remake it?" Khalisa looked at Azfan worried, the glass media was not cheap not to mention the time that Azfan had devoted to making the calligraphy. "Propay me." Khalisa hugs Azfan. "God willing, everything will be replaced more."

"Yes dear."

"It's a shame I can't help." Khalisa is adept at drawing but making calligraphy or lettering he can at least.

"Haura has helped a lot." Azfan rubbed Khalisa's cheek gently. "Thank you, my wife." He kissed Khalisa lama's forehead, it was Azfan's way of treating his pain and disappointment. Azfan wanted to get angry when he saw his artificial calligraphy was out of shape, breaking into pieces. But it is impossible for Azfan to vent anger at a cat who does not understand anything.

"Is my child full?" Azfan rubbed Khalisa's stomach.

"What a joy Papa." Answer Khalisa.

"Papa?"

"What would you call me? Papa, Father, Father, Abi, Abah, Daddy, Papi, Buya or what?"

Azfan has not thought about what call he will teach the child later.

"Nothing."

"Oh, big brother!" Khalisa pinched Azfan's stomach.

Azfan laughed, "why now does Haura like to pinch my belly?"

"Because it's getting bigger so I'm gnawing."

"Try me to ask him what he wants to call me." Azfan attached an ear to Khalisa's stomach. "He agreed."

"No, I don't agree, this is our child not our sister."

Azfan laughed again and pulled Khalisa into his arms, he clutched the tiny body of the wife. Finally the phase of life where Azfan has to think about what nickname suits him after having a child will happen as well.

Sad and happy things come together. Such is the wheel of life, God tests His servants with trials while giving them the gift and strength to go through them.

Khalisa's expression at Mas Azfan

kafa's fierce expression when he met Mahira.