Mahabbah Love Khalisa

176

"Assalamualaikum Khadijah son of Abi and Umma, thank you for being born healthy and happy dear." Azfan fondled the tiny body of Khadijah who was born 15 minutes ago from the womb of Khalisa.

Khadijah's tiny body was wrapped in a pink bedong by doctors after being cleaned. He stuck out his tongue while his hands tried to get out of the cloth bedong that wrapped around him.

Azfan's voice trembled as he chanted the Adhan in Khadijah's right ear. A voice far from Azfan's expectations. He regularly chants the Adhan in the mosque and many people praise his voice. But when pardoning the baby, Azfan's voice sounded discordant. Azfan wants to do his best for Khadijah.

Tears flowed to form a tributary on Azfan's cheek, he was grateful that Khadijah was born safely although this was much faster than doctors had expected.

"Thank you for fighting with Umma to be born into the world." Azfan kissed Khadijah's forehead which was still soft, he did it carefully.

Azka's desire to have a younger sister materialized. The Azka celebration while in the Nabawi mosque really happened. They named him Khadijah Nasywa Alindra. Nasywa has the meaning of joy or joy as they feel when they know Khalisa pregnant after returning home umrah.

Khalisa was still lying on top of the gurney, he looked at Azfan who was behind him. His gaze descended upon Azfan's feet filled with paint stains as well as his shirt. Azfan was in the mosque when Kirana called him earlier, he could not change clothes.

Doctors removed Khadijah to transfer him to Khalisa's sling to get his first ASI.

The corner of Khalisa's lips lifted to form a wide smile when Khadijah was in his arms.

"Yesterday you are still in Umma's stomach, today finally Umma can hug Khadijah." Khalisa touched Khadijah's rosy cheek with his index finger.

Azfan clasped Khalisa's hand, thanking him that Khalisa had struggled to give birth to their child.

"We'll learn again." Khalisa murmured, every day they learn many things from a child. They will never be perfect parents but both have done their best for Azka and Khadijah.

"We will continue to strengthen each other." Azfan looked at Khalisa lekat, when he saw the face of his wife he recalled the struggle Khalisa so far.

"Thank you Bi."

Azfan shook his head, "i have to thank you, I have many shortcomings but Umma always completes them." Azfan nodded at Khalisa's forehead.

"Abi is the perfect husband for me." Khalisa rubbed the ink stains on Azfan's cheek. From earlier Khalisa did not realize there was a stain on the husband's face.

"A lot of stains huh?" Azfan rubbed his face.

"It's a handsome one." Khalisa tried to remove the stain but the ink was not easily removed.

Azfan's face flushed to the ears praised as such by Khalisa.

Khalisa laughed at Azfan's facial expression, almost every day he praised Azfan but his expression was always like that.

Since the beginning of knowing Azfan is indeed a shy man, it is much different from Khalisa who is expressive and always confident.

Khalisa used to think if the type of husband later is the one who has the same nature as him. Friendly, easy to blend in with others and confident. Khalisa thought his life would be perfect if he had a life partner who was similar. But Khalisa is wrong, the difference between him and Azfan actually makes their marriage colorful.

Khalisa already proved by looking at the pair of Kafa and Mahira, the nature of both is almost the same. That is why almost every day they fight even for small things. But of course Kafa and Mahira have their own ways of dealing with it.

Azfan took over Khadija who had fallen asleep after satisfied breastfeeding, he petted it for a while and then put it in the box.

"I went home for a while to pick up things that were not good enough to pick up Azka."

"Yes, I promised to tell her that her sister was born."

Azfan lowered the bed so that Khalisa could lie down comfortably.

"Let me take care of you." Azfan kissed Khalisa's forehead once more before exiting the room. Since they had rushed to the hospital, there were many items left behind.

"Be careful Bi."

******

Azka was so enthusiastic to see her sister directly, all this time she could only see through the monitor when Khalisa doing USG. Now Azka could even hold Khadijah and hear his voice.

Azka's eyes sparkled like getting a new toy but this one wasn't just a toy. Khadija will never run out of battery—ah no, Khadija is human. For Azka, Khadijah was a miracle that could come out of his Umma stomach.

"Why look at Umma?" From earlier Khalisa noticed Azka seeing himself and Khadija alternately.

"I also came out of Umma's stomach?" Azka walked closer to feel Khalisa's stomach is no longer distended.

"Yes, Umma never showed a picture of her when Umma was pregnant with Azka."

"Umma said it didn't hurt but why did Umma wear this?" Azka pointed an infusion at the back of Khalisa's hand.

"Umma didn't say it didn't hurt but it hurt a little." Khalisa rubbed Azka's chubby cheeks, after this he would face two children who asked a lot. Khalisa and Azfan have to read more books because children's questions are often unexpected.

"Umma's face is also pale."

"This must be because Umma doesn't wear lipstick."

"If so Abi take lipstick Umma ya." Azfan reached into the bag he had brought from home. Not only brought clothes and toiletries but Azfan also brought Khalisa skincare and makeup. Azfan now understands that makeup is also the main need of women, almost like food.

"Please Umma who's pink."

"Bi please get me my phone too." Khalisa.

"Well, Azka likes Umma to wear pink?" Azfan gave Khalisa a make-up pouch, he also put Khalisa's phone there.

Azka nodded, "but Umma is pretty wearing any color."

Khalisa almost dropped the liptint in his hand when he heard Azka's words. Surely Azka often heard Azfan say it until he imitated it.

Khalisa turned on his phone to share his happy news with the next of kin. They are still shocked by the news.

"Bi, today is Clarin and Jason's wedding." Khalisa just remembered that tonight they should come to Clarin and Jason's wedding. They had a wedding at the Aswatama Hotel.

Khalisa sent a congratulatory and apologetic play to Clarin and Jason because he could not come.

"How about we send them a gift."

Khalisa thought about what gifts they could give Jason and Clarin.

"They love to travel."

"What if traveling organizer bag."

"May, if that's what I ordered first." Azfan grabbed his phone and opened an online shopping app. They can send the gift to Jason's house.

"Clarin sent us a photo of their blessing." Khalisa's smile widened to see the photo Clarin sent him.

Azfan stepped off the sofa to see the photo. They look harmonious, Clarin wears a white dress with a long tail stretched while Jason looks fresh with a neat haircut.

"They're compatible with Bi." Khalisa is happy, finally Jason found his love harbor after feeling desperate because Rindang married Levin.

"Like us." Azfan was about to kiss Khalisa's head but Azka called him first.

"I want to carry Khadijah's sister." Azka had been wanting to hold her sister since Nadira showed her a picture of Khadijah.

"Come, Azka's sitting on the couch."

Azka obeyed Abi's words to sit on the sofa.

"Be careful, baby." Khalisa.

Azfan put Khadijah in the lap of Azka with a pillow because Azka's hand will not be strong enough to hold the head of the sister.

Azka smiled awkwardly as Khadijah was on her lap. Her sister was so small that Azka did not dare to touch her.

"Azka can hold it but slow down." Azfan sat next to Azka.

Azka touched her little sister's arm carefully.

"According to Azka, whose sister does Khadija look like?"

"Like Koko." Azka pointed to herself, when she first arrived at the hospital and saw Khadija, Azka looked at herself. More precisely when he was a child. That's because Azka often sees her photos as a baby.

"Next night Azka came home with Grandma."

"I want to stay Bi."

"So Azka had promised when Abi picked up, Azka wanted to go home with Grandma if it was too lazy."

"Tomorrow Umma and Khadijah's sister have come home dear." Timpal Khalisa, she's done using makeup. Khalisa only apply liptint and a little powder so as not to be too pale.

"Not Abi did not want Azka to sleep here but in the hospital it was noisy, later Azka had disturbed sleep, well tomorrow morning Umma and Khadijah had gone home to see Azka again."

"But I'll sleep in Umma and Abi's room."

Azfan and Khalisa looked at each other, they had difficulty teaching Azka to sleep alone in her own room now the child just wanted to go back to sleep with them.

Khalisa gave a faint nod in reply, they had no choice but Azka could sleep with them for a few days.

Azfan finally agreed to Azka's request to sleep together. After this Azfan will witness the commotion, joking, laughter and cries of his children. Azfan could not imagine what their life would be like after this. Azfan was impatient. Having one child is enough to train Azfan patience. When compared to Khalisa, Azfan has a stock of patience that is much more.

One day Azfan had just returned from studies, when he opened the door suddenly Khalisa burst into his arms. Azfan did not know what happened because Khalisa was crying while complaining of pain. Then a while later Azka followed with a face full of guilt while carrying a spoon in her hand.

"Azka hit me in the forehead with a spoon!" Khalisa complained to Azfan while holding his forehead which felt sore and throbbing.

"Let me see." Azfan lowered Khalisa's hand, surprised to see Khalisa's forehead bleeding. "I'll treat ya."

Khalisa hugged Azfan again, according to him, the best medicine of all pain is Azfan's embrace.

"Sshhhh, patient dear." Azfan could only pat Khalisa's back trying to calm him down. He also could not bear to see Azka bowed not far from them. Azka must have accidentally done this. "Azka must have been unintentional." Azfan cupped Khalisa's cheek and blew his wound even though it wouldn't relieve his pain.

"Sorry Umma, Azka wasn't on purpose." Azka raised her face that was already crying. "Umma don't cry, Azka's afraid." Azka ran to embrace Khalisa's leg.

"Why did Azka hit Umma with a spoon?" Ask Azfan.

Azka explained that she accidentally did that, but she was too happy when she saw her favorite tv show. Azka swung the spoon in her hand until it accidentally hit Khalisa.

"Umma already ingetin Azka to not play the spoon?"

"Yes." Yeah." Azka nodded, she was very sorry. "Azka wrong Bi."

"Azka don't repeat that like again yeah, pity Umma hurt her forehead bleeding."

"Sorry Bi, Umma."

Azfan crouched down near Azka and hugged her. He asked Azka to promise not to repeat such a thing.

"Why are you smiling?" Khalisa saw Azfan silently smiling. He wondered what Azfan was thinking until he smiled like that.

"I just remember something funny." Azfan did not want to tell it now because surely Khalisa would be embarrassed if he remembered the moment again.

It's only natural that Khalisa is crying. At that time Khalisa was a 21-year-old woman who had just become a mother, the feeling was still unstable and not as strong as it is now. As time went on, the hardships that befell their household made the two become stronger. Their love is so thick that no one can disturb them.

******

The next day Khalisa was allowed to return home from the hospital because his condition was stable. Daniel and Ica were in the house. They were shocked when Khalisa suddenly sent a photo of the baby. Initially they planned to go to Sleman next month but it turned out that Khadijah was born sooner than expected.

"Congratulations, now you have a son and daughter." Ica hugged Khalisa and kissed the boy's forehead several times. "You're a great mother."

"Mama is the greatest mother in the world." Khalisa tightened his embrace on the mother.

"You've got two kids but for Papa, you're still Papa's little girl just like Zunaira." Daniel hugged Khalisa.

"That means Khalisa ageless Pa."

"If so Papa and Mama can bring Azka home, there is already Khadijah."

"Father!" Khalisa whined, even though there was Khadijah but he did not want to part with Azka. "Don't Pa."

"Just a week."

"It can't be." Khalisa. Split one day only Khalisa has been careless let alone one week.

Daniel chuckled, "Papa's just kidding." He returned to Khalisa.

Daniel immediately carried Khadijah who had been in Kirana's arms. Daniel asked Kirana to rest because she had been looking after Khalisa all night until this morning.

Of course Kirana does not mind keeping Khalisa, after all Khalisa is not fussy and can do everything himself. Khalisa never bothered Kirana.

Daniel and Ica also congratulated Azfan. They thanked Azfan for being a husband for Khalisa and Abi who was good for Azka and Khadijah. They loved Azfan like a real child.

"You're carrying Akong!" Azka stretched out her hand to Daniel.

"Akong again carrying your dear sister, carrying Ama aja ya."

"So, I'm not strong enough to carry me." Azka pursed her lips.

"Akong, his most handsome grandson asked for a sling." Ica took over Khadijah so that Daniel could carry Azka.

"Udah so Koko still ask for a sling aja nih." Daniel kissed Azka's cheek, "eh if Umma again take care of sister, Koko do not fuss must be a good Koko ya."

Azka mangosteen.

When entering the room, Khalisa's attention was immediately fixed on a super large gift box in the corner of the room. Khalisa tried to guess who had sent him the gift so early. Khalisa had just told those closest to him about the birth of his second child.

From your best friend. A friend who knew Khalisa from a baby.

The corner of Khalisa's lips lifted, it must be from Rindang. In addition to telling the closest family, Khalisa also shared this happy news with Rindang and Huma. The three of them were both pregnant, only one and two months apart. Of course they think Rindang will give birth first, that's why Khalisa prepares gifts for prospective Rindang children. But Khalisa actually received the gift first.

Yesterday Huma visited the hospital, she was shocked not to play when Khalisa told her that her son had been born when they had only met a few hours earlier.

Khalisa prayed for his two best friends so that their labor went smoothly. Because this is their first pregnancy, especially Rindang, which requires special treatment.

"I helped open it." Azfan helped Khalisa open a gift from Rindang.

"Thank you Bi." Khalisa took a step back to make room for Azfan.

A cupboard and carseat popped out immediately as Azfan tore through the wrapping paper and opened the box. Khalisa turned his back in disbelief if Rindang gave him a closet. Rindang knew that Khalisa did not buy here specifically for Khadijah because Azka wardrobe when the baby was still used.

Khalisa also did not buy a lot of baby clothes because Zulaikha used clothes are very much and still worth using. Khalisa only bought some clothes and items that were really needed. Khalisa has been reducing consumption habits since marriage. He appreciates money more because he knows Azfan works hard to support it.

"Khalisa, we have news that Rindang gave birth this morning." Ica came from downstairs, she put Khadija to bed in her box.

"Oh yeah?" Khalisa's looking for his phone, who knows Levin or whoever sent him a message about the happy news.

"Rindang is indeed the time to give birth, even through one week of her HPL." Add Ica.

"Hp Umma is downstairs, let me get you." Azfan rushed to pick up Khalisa's phone in the living room.

"What do you want to eat?" Kirana followed to the room.

"Mom don't bother making Khalisa eat."

"It's okay, I don't have a job."

"Well, I'll help you." Ica, it's lunch time soon. They have to cook for everyone.

"Let's Miss Alisha." Kirana left first.

"Mama is actually embarrassed if you cook with your in-laws, he is very good at cooking, at most Mama just help cut vegetables there peel onions."

"My parents already know that you can't cook, don't be ashamed Ma."

"Yes, Mama's gone, you're resting." Ica leaves Khalisa's room following Kirana to the kitchen.

Khalisa was sitting in a chair near Khadijah's box, looking at the sleeping baby. If noticed, Khadija is very similar to Khalisa as a child.

Azfan came with Khalisa's phone.

"Thank you Bi." Khalisa checked his phone, he immediately opened two messages from Levin. "God willing, Alhamdulillah Bi, Ko Levin sent a picture of the baby."

Azfan sat next to Khalisa, he saw a photo of a tiny baby wearing a pink bedong.

"Just one day apart from Khadijah."

"It's a fusion of Ko Levin and Rindang." Khalisa put his phone on the nightstand after replying to Levin's message. He hopes Rindang will recover soon.

Azfan embraced Khalisa, "Umma, I'm sorry." Sluggishly.

"Sorry for what?" Khalisa narrowed his eyes seeing Azfan suspicious.

"There's actually another woman in my heart."

"Bi, don't joke like that ah I don't like." Khalisa let go of Azfan's hand that was embracing his waist. He frowned because Azfan said so. "I'm the only one who can occupy that heart."

"But I couldn't resist, he suddenly came and immediately stayed in my heart, I couldn't take my mind off of him."

"Well, I was just trying to get our son, who's that woman?" Khalisa's eyes flushed with anger. It was not the woman who sent the letter of that time to Azfan. Just look out, Khalisa will scratch the face of Azfan to formless!

"It's Khadijah."

Khalisa clenched his teeth irritated with Azfan's joke, it's not funny at all. He almost cried thinking that Azfan could have drugged him.

"Not funny!" Khalisa went out of the room down the stairs, "Papa, Mas Azfan jahilin me!" Khalisa hugged Daniel who was playing with Azka in the living room.

Azfan panicked because Khalisa complained to Daniel when he was just joking about it. This will be the last time for Azfan.

"What's wrong?"

"Mas Azfan said there was another woman in his heart." Khalisa was crying like a child. Her emotions are unstable because of the birth. In some cases of childbirth, they sometimes experience the baby blues.

"Who is that woman?" Daniel moved when he saw Azfan in the doorway of the middle room.

"Pa, Azfan was just joking, that woman is Khadijah."

Khalisa was crying so much in his papa's arms. It was the most painful joke, Khalisa did not like it.

"Azfan, why are you kidding me like that?" Daniel was furious that Azfan had made his daughter cry.

"Azfan's sorry Pa, Umma, I'm sorry, I was wrong." Azfan had hurt Khalisa's feelings even if it was just a joke. "Sorry Umma."

"Don't repeat this joke again." Firm Daniel.

"Azfan promise Pa."

"I'm sorry Azfan." Daniel's whisper to Khalisa.

"Umma," Azfan was holding onto Khalisa's arm, he didn't know it would end like this. "I can't possibly wish for Umma, never will." Azfan pulled Khalisa and hugged him, apologizing repeatedly to Khalisa.

Daniel was just shaking his eyes on Khalisa and Azfan. At home he saw Kafa and Mahira fighting almost every day. Now Khalisa and Azfan are like that too. Daniel knows it is a wedding spice but if too much is definitely salty and the taste is too strong.