Mahabbah Love Khalisa

113

The voice of Azfan chanting the letter Yusuf pulled Khalisa from the dream world into the real world. Khalisa fumbling mattress. Blank. Azfan is not there. Khalisa thought it was just a dream.

"Why not wake me up?" Khalisa woke up with his eyes half open. Why did Azfan not turn on the lamp of the room, he read the Qur'an in the midst of the dim light from the yellowish lamp of sleep.

Azfan raised his face and found his wife had woken up, he placed the Qur'an mushaf on the nightstand and sat down beside Khalisa.

"I deliberately did not wake up because Haura had difficulty sleeping and several times went back and forth the bathroom earlier." Azfan grabbed Khalisa and rubbed his arm. "Sleep again." Khalisa only sleeps about 2 hours because lately he has difficulty sleeping soundly.

"No way, I have to be ready to eat sahur." They intend to fast the Sunnah on Thursday.

"Hot a meal last night, Haura don't cook anymore."

"But there's only two-piece chicken leftovers in tempeh." Khalisa remembered they only had the leftovers in the kitchen.

"It's okay, it's enough." Azfan did not want Khalisa to painstakingly cook again because he knew cooking was exhausting. Moreover, Khalisa's body looks weak in the last few days.

"Bikin vegetable clear spinach huh?" Khalisa looked up to see Azfan's face, even in the middle of the black he could see the good looks of the husband. Khalisa can't wait to see his son's face, will it look like his Abi? or even similar to himself with narrow eyes and pale white skin.

"May if Haura wants to eat vegetables." Azfan kissed Khalisa stomach, the activity he usually did when Khalisa just woke up "today Umma want to fast ya dear."

"Udah through HPL two days, like he's still at home in there."

"May the spit is born safely and does not make Umma in pain."

"It's kind of sick anyway Mas's down here." Khalisa pointed at her lower abdomen, feeling that her baby would come out while walking but of course that was impossible.

Azfan straightened his body to see Khalisa, "are we going to the doctor?" His face was worried.

"Then I went to the doctor." Khalisa rubbed Azfan's cheek.

"Today sure Haura wants to fast?"

"Yes, the doctor also said it's okay to fast, let's go down." Khalisa got out of bed as did Azfan.

"Let me finish the bed."

"I went to the kitchen first." Khalisa came out of the room after grabbing the hair strap he put on the dresser. He will wash his face in the bathroom below while preparing water to make clear vegetables. Last night he had cut spinach and carrots in preparation for sahur.

Khalisa's feelings are currently mixed between impatiently meeting with the baby as well as fear of facing birth. Maybe because this is the first time Khalisa wants to give birth. Khalisa never stopped praying that God would carry out his birth.

Azfan took out two rice dishes from the rice cooker so as not to overheat as they ate them in a moment. There were two pieces of chicken and a piece of tempeh, Azfan split them in half and put them on their plates respectively.

"We do not need to be too hard prepared food for sahur during the Sunnah fast, Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq was angry when his wife prepared a lot of sahur food, he said, he said the Sunnah fast should not beat the Ramadan fast but because Haura needs more intake, so I want to peel apples and pears."

"By me." Khalisa tasting a clear vegetable sauce that is soon ripe. "The apple doesn't have to be peeled, I want the same skin."

"Okay, my dear." Azfan washed the apples and pears and peeled them. He cut it smaller and put it on a plate.

They prayed before the meal, a simple menu that would make Khalisa eat voraciously. Khalisa's weight gained about 5 pounds entering the third trimester. Khalisa often worried because he only gained 5 kilograms but the doctor said everything was fine and asked Khalisa not to think too much about it.

"Haura sure you want to fast?" Azfan asked once more because he saw Khalisa's face did not look like usual. Khalisa's skin was pale white but Azfan felt his wife's face was paler.

"What's up, Mom?" Khalisa smiled because Azfan had asked that.

"Later if not strong immediately abortin ya."

Khalisa clasped Azfan's hand and nodded.

"His stomach still hurts?"

"Sometimes it hurts but I don't know if it's a contraction or not, I'm afraid it's a false contraction Mas."

"When we go to the doctor, yes, I don't want anything to happen to Haura."

Khalisa nodded in accordance with Azfan's will. Khalisa felt that his back hurt a lot more than his stomach, he had never felt this kind of pain. It felt like the moon came but it hurt many times more.

After eating Azfan washed all the dirty containers while Khalisa took a shower preparing for dawn prayers. Azfan also swept the kitchen floor as well as mopped it. He heard the conversation of Khalisa and Kafa at that time. Kafa asks why Khalisa does not use ART services at home. Azfan felt discouraged when he heard that, he continued to try his best to help Khalisa as much as possible. Azfan doesn't want Khalisa to be exhausted. They have a myriad of activities and almost no free time. Even during the semester break Khalisa used it for internships at the campus pharmacy.

Azfan always said that Khalisa did not need to force himself to do everything himself. Khalisa had to rest when tired of homework. But Khalisa always said that he does not like to be silent without doing anything. Various jobs make Khalisa feel better than sitting without doing anything.

"I went to the mosque." Azfan's wearing his coffee.

"Mas Azfan was handsome wearing that shirt." Khalisa watched Azfan from above until that, the white robe fit perfectly in Azfan's body.

Azfan's smile was praised like that by Khalisa.

"Haura is also pretty wearing it."

"Wear this?" Khalisa belied in disbelief because he only wore a white bathrobe that he wore every day - meaning there was nothing special about the white towel but Azfan said he was beautiful.

Azfan chuckled, "I mean, Haura is pretty wearing anything."

Khalisa pursed his lips in disbelief, he felt dozens of fireworks bursting when Azfan said that.

"I'm leaving first huh, assalamu'alaikum."

"Be careful." Khalisa answered the greeting staring at Azfan's departure.

Azfan went to the mosque before the adhan roared, sometimes he also proclaimed the adhan in the mosque not far from their home. Khalisa was often spoiled by the voice of the husband who was singing the Adhan.

******

Kafa looked at himself in front of the mirror, he scowled at the scar on his forehead for learning to ride a bicycle. Kafa thought it would be easy but it turned out that he had a hard time balancing his body. What if this wound cannot disappear, Kafa must immediately buy medicine to remove the scar.

"The week has not gone away either." Gerutu Kafa, intent to boast in front of Mahira, now he did not dare to show his appearance to Mahira because of the scar.

"Wait a minute, why should I care about Mahira's judgment, whether there's a scar or not this has no effect on my good looks." Kafa praised himself while posing in front of the mirror. If there was Mahira here he would have yelled at Kafa, you narcissist!

Kafa did not dare to learn the bike again after falling and his head hit the palm tree. Kafa regretted not putting his helmet on properly.

"I think I have to learn the bike in an official place, surely this is because Mas Azfan just can't teach it." Kafa snatches the car keys and exits his apartment unit. Kafa's left hand was carrying two Castella boxes that he would give to Khalisa. It was Khalisa's favorite Japanese sponge. Castella made by Renata is the most delicious, the cake that has a taste exactly like made by Renata is not sold anywhere. Kafa knows Khalisa has never eaten Castella since Renata died probably because nothing can match the deliciousness of Renata's sponge. But accidentally Kafa finds Castella tasty in a cake shop near the apartment. Kafa hopes this can treat Khalisa's longing for Castella.

"Why are you here?" Kafa is surprised to see Mahira in the lobby, is Mahira going to come to him?

Mahira was as surprised as Kafa was, the universe was always kind to him. Even when Mahira had no intention of meeting Kafa, he was met. What is his name if not a soul mate.

"Do you have any morning classes?" Ask Kafa again.

"There's proof that I'm wearing an alma mater suit, I'm just saying flowers just help my aunt, what are you doing here?" Mahira asked back.

"This is where I live."

Mahira mangosteen, surely Kafa apartment unit is very spacious even though the guy lives alone here. Mahira is not surprised because some of her friends also live in luxury apartments like this. It feels like only poor Mahira in UII.

"Why are you?" Mahira mis-focused on the plaster on Kafa's forehead.

"Oh this." Kafa touched his forehead with a misdeed. "Bent the door." Said flutter.

"You look like a hobby hit ya, we three times the collision now bosen same I even hit the door."

"Who is the same as you." Kafa circulated a glance in any direction before him, which was important not in the figure of Mahira.

"What?"

"I mean who is also a hobby crashing, there-there are only you." Kafa goes first while Mahira follows him.

"Good morning, as usual Kafa is always handsome." A receptionist greeted Kafa kindly.

Kafa chuckled back the short-haired woman's receptionist greeting.

"The confident patrons are high, every day praised receptionist beautiful." Mahira sneered in a soft voice not far behind Kafa.

"It's for you." Kafa thrust a box of Castella at Mahira.

Mahira widens, it feels like he wants to capture this moment with his phone. Mahira accepts happily despite not knowing what the contents inside are. Even if it was an empty box, Mahira would still accept it.

"Thank you."

Without answering Kafa passed leaving Mahira, he was going to eat the cake himself but let's just say this is a reply because Mahira once made delicious fried rice for Kafa. After all Kafa can buy again whenever he wants.

******

One by one the students left the room after the lecturers ended their class today.

"Khalisa, what's wrong with you?" Huma looked at Khalisa with a worried face because from earlier his best friend was just silent and sometimes looks grimacing like holding back pain.

"I think I'm really contracting." Lirih Khalisa, he could not distinguish between false or genuine contractions but if this he felt heartburn and pain in his back more intense. Fortunately Khalisa can still follow until the last class today. Khalisa had contacted Azfan several times but missed, surely Azfan class is not over.

"Telfon Azfan gih, you will be born here." Huma panicked himself when Khalisa looked calm.

"Udah, not lifted." Khalisa's voice trembled, he let out a cold sweat from enduring the pain.

Huma knocked on Azfan's classroom door and said his greetings. Turns out right, Azfan hasn't finished class so he didn't answer Khalisa's phone.

"Excuse me ma'am, I want to talk to Azfan." Permission Huma.

"Please."

Hearing his name mentioned, Azfan looked at the door, he went to Huma after asking permission from the lecturer.

"Fan, like Khalisa contraction deh, mending you there now take my bike." Huma handed Azfan the keys to his bike.

Azfan asked permission to leave the class first to his lecturer. Azfan's feelings were also not good since they separated and went to their respective classes. Today Khalisa looks different, Azfan thinks it's because Khalisa is sleep deprived.

Khalisa was seen standing in front of the class when Azfan got there.

"Darling, sorry I'm late." Azfan embraces Khalisa waist. He knew Khalisa must have called him from earlier. "We're going to the hospital." Azfan's voice gasped for air, trying not to panic even if it was in vain.

Khalisa nodded, "my back hurts a lot." Sluggishly.

"Mas, Cece, what's wrong?" Kafa was shocked to see Khalisa like a person who was holding back pain.

"Kafa, you brought a car, didn't you?" Azfan saw Kafa, he and Khalisa set off on a motorcycle this morning.

"Bring, Cece has a stomach ache?" Without waiting for an answer, Kafa ran from there to the place where he parked his car. He threw the cake box that was to be given to Khalisa to the passenger seat. Kafa did not understand why Khalisa is still in college if it is like that.

In an instant Kafa's car was parked right in front of Khalisa's class.

"I can walk." Khalisa clutched Azfan's arm as his stomach grew heartburn.

Azfan ignored Khalisa's remarks and carried him to Kafa's car.

"I'm coming!" Huma came to sit in the front seat beside Kafa, he was so worried about Khalisa and wanted to accompany him.

Azfan grabbed Khalisa and rubbed his back slowly, whispering sholawat in Khalisa's ear to calm him down.

"Haura drinks first yes, cancel her fast." Azfan took a bottle of mineral water from inside his bag.

"I'm saying Aunt Ica yes." Huma shouted while taking out his phone from his suit pocket.

"Yes, thanks Huma." Azfan Murmuring. "Down sweetie." Azfan helped Khalisa drink the mineral water.

Khalisa bit his lower lip hard, he wanted to cry but no tears came out. He felt there was liquid seeping up to wet the car seat he was sitting on.

Azfan clasped Khalisa's hand tightly while continuing to pray that God would launch Khalisa's birth.

The journey from campus to the hospital should have taken more than 10 minutes but Kafa drove at a high speed and made it to less than 5 minutes. Kafa is indeed a champion speeding on the road, maybe if he does not go to medical school, he will become a racer.

Several nurses came to help Khalisa get into a wheelchair.

"Bu haoyisi," Khalisa apologized to Kafa "Cece wet your car." He said, although Khalisa was not sure if it was urine or other water.

"Meiguanxi." Kafa shook his head, there was no need to apologize, Kafa could clean it up as long as Khalisa got to the hospital.

"I'll check on Mrs Khalisa first." Said Dr. Evelyn, he is an obstetrician who has been doing regular checks on Khalisa.

Azfan came in while Kafa and Huma waited outside anxiously. Huma had never seen anyone who was about to give birth, his mind went everywhere because Khalisa looked very sick.

Kafa sat in the waiting chair bowing in praying for Khalisa to be all right. He could not see Khalisa that way.

"The contract feels intense?" Ask doctor.

"The doctor." Khalisa had prepared an app on his phone that could calculate the intensity of the contractions but had forgotten to do so.

"It hurts more in the back?"

Khalisa.

"It's opening two." The doctor said after examining Khalisa. "can go for a walk first so that it is more palpitating to the next opening, the road around here alone."

Khalisa had to change his hospital clothes first to be more free to move then he was transferred to the delivery room.

Azfan chanted sholawat while accompanying Khalisa on a walk around the room. If you already feel a great cramp then Khalisa will stop for a moment.

"Oh God." Khalisa made a soft voice, his eyes closed along with tears that melted past his cheeks feeling stomach cramps and pain in his back. "Mas."

"I'm here baby, Haura eat first yes I bribe, Haura hasn't eaten all day." Azfan wraps Khalisa's body.

Khalisa nodded, to be honest he was hungry but because his heartburn and cramps in his stomach dominated Khalisa so ignore his hunger.

"What do you want to eat, soto rice?" Azfan asked softly.

Khalisa again nodded the important stomach filled because he definitely needs extra energy to give birth later.

While still embracing Khalisa, Azfan ordered soto through an inter-messaging service.

Huma and Kafa were there too. Huma tells Khalisa that Ica and Daniel are on their way after booking the fastest flight today.

******

Khalisa and Azfan performed magrib prayers in the room. Khalisa prayed in a gurney because he felt unable to stand up again after feeling a contraction since this morning. It's just that Khalisa felt his stomach cramps more and more after he finished the last class.

Azfan thought the contraction process would not last that long but Khalisa had to be in pain since last afternoon. Khalisa's face was pale, there was no more hue on his beautiful face.

"I'm sorry if all this time I've been wrong with Mas Azfan." Khalisa kissed Azfan's back and palm for a long time.

"I never felt Haura did anything wrong, Haura was already a good wife and is now struggling to give birth to our child, may Allah strengthen Haura." Azfan shed a tear while kissing Khalisa's forehead. Azfan did not feel the pain of contractions but he could not see Khalisa pain longer.

The doctor checked the opening and two nurses were in the room.

"The opening is complete, we'll begin." Doctor Evelyn gave Khalisa a smile. "Is Miss Khalisa comfortable in this lying position or want another position?"

"The position of the head is less high doc." Pinta Khalisa's.

A nurse immediately raised the position of the gurney on Khalisa's head.

"Bismilahbornrahmanirrahim." Azfan held Khalisa's hand.

Khalisa clutched Azfan's hand tightly together with the contractions that came so intensely. Khalisa pushed firmly according to the instructions of Dr. Evelyn.

"Mom."

Khalisa pushed back on the bottom of his stomach. The process took place several times until Khalisa's body was bathed in sweat. Even Khalisa felt the sweat dripping on his face mixed with tears.

Azfan could see a red streak on Khalisa's face while pushing. Azfan held back his tears, he really could not see Khalisa suffering.

"Ah doctor." Khalisa felt like giving up.

"You can, you can, a little more yuk." Doctor Evelyn is encouraging. "Hair looks lo Mom, Papa wants to see?" He looked towards Azfan.

With a doubt Azfan nodded, he could see their baby hair poking out from there.

"Mas." Khalisa looked at Azfan who nodded several times.

"You can love." Azfan again grabbed Khalisa's hand and kissed him.

When feeling such a strong pressure on the lower part of his body, Khalisa again strained still by holding Azfan's hand. Khalisa could hear Azfan's finger joint cracking as he gripped it too tightly. But the voice was soon replaced with a baby cry that boomed throughout the room.

"Praise God!" Evelyn raised the baby and showed it to Khalisa. "Male."

Azfan's cries broke to see their baby placed on Khalisa's chest. The cry from earlier restrained automatically came out by itself after the process of giving birth which was not short.

The pain that ruled Khalisa disappeared instantly upon hearing their baby's cry.

"Alhamdulillah dear." Azfan peeked at Khalisa.

Khalisa was crying and smiling at once, he felt the tiny body of his baby in the arms. Their son's cry was so loud that it was deafening but after a while in the mother's arms, he slowly calmed down.

The nurse cleans the babies Khalisa and Azfan and weighs and measures their length.

"3.2 kilograms and 51 centimeters." Said the nurse. He immediately wrapped the body of the tiny baby Khalisa and Azfan with a cloth so as not to get cold.

Azfan pitted the baby in the right ear with a full day, a voice that is usually melodious when it sounded trembling because he could finally see the baby born into the world. Continue with Iqamah in the left ear. Baby Azfan looked calm when he heard his Abi reciting Iqamah.

Azfan's index finger touched the reddish cheeks of his tiny baby, rather than looking like himself the baby was actually like Daniel.

"Thank you for fighting with Umma dear." Azfan whispered, I don't think he believes the baby is his son. A baby born from Khalisa's womb. "It looks like you'll be taller than Abi."