Marrying Ustaz Ganteng

Episode 71

At around 2pm, Rifky and Naira were still at home and were getting ready to go to school. The man with the green sheath sat on the sofa waiting for his wife to finish dressing up. Staring at him Naira was putting equipment in a bag, seen ropes of clothing that may not have been finished he neatened still not tied. Rifky approached, half hugging Naira's waist to help.

Naira turned her head and immediately smiled, she had expected that Rifky would notice her. "Thank you, Mom."

"Yes. Done already? Let's go!" bring Rifky a smile.

"Udah, yuk!" Naira nodded and held her small bag. His left hand prepared to be tucked in Rifky's right hand for them to walk hand in hand.

They say goodbye to Bi Ira for a while, then head to the car garage to leave immediately.

Arriving at the destination, there was only Ustaz Hanan who directed the children, while Iyan did not enter because he was still taking care of his wife in the hospital. As usual, Naira and Rifky are greeted with joy by their student's son, who turns to greet the backs of Rifky and Naira's hands in reverence.

"Assalamualaikum, Pa." Rifky smiled at his papa, looking down respectfully as he grabbed the back of Ustaz Hanan's hand.

"Waalaikumussalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh," replied Ustaz Hanan. Rifky sat back in his usual spot, starting his level briefly before the children faced.

A few minutes of the surau was filled with the sounds of recitation of the Qur'an from each of its inhabitants. When the ears hear, calmness and tranquility will be obtained. The chanting of the holy verse is beautiful and melodious.

Naira who is still learning, trying to fluent her reading while teaching children. Of course what he taught according to the knowledge he got from Rifky-husband as well as his ustaz.

"Come, kids. We're starting to pay now, okay?" Ustaz Hanan. One of his students faced to study, in order of who first arrived in the surau.

Rifky also started activities. Patiently the man led the direction of the reading which had not been eloquently mentioned by his disciples. Minute to minute, the whole kids almost got a turn. Until the time came for the Ashar prayer after they listened to the short advice of Ustaz Hanan.

"Come, Honey. Why?" rifky asked when he saw Naira grimacing.

"Attent, Mas. My legs are a bit cramped," replied Naira quietly. Naira was still sitting tight while stomping her feet.

Without many words, Rifky crouched down in front of his wife and massaged the tiny sock-clad leg. Naira enjoys, feeling a little light while being massaged.

"No papa keram because read the Quran, hopefully later facilitated our steps to heaven," said Rifky sincerely. Her lips developed a sweet smile for Naira.

His wife fell silent. More precisely touched to hear Rifky's narration to him. Really, Naira thinks that she is the luckiest woman to have a husband like Rifky.

Rifky stared at Naira's brown eyes that looked teary. He smiled again, knowing that a soft heart was a heart that was easily touched, and now he found it from his own wife.

"Udah, Mom. Let's pray!" invite Naira to stop. With help from Rifky, Naira stands up and walks out of the surau. They wash their faces and return before entering the mosque for congregational prayers.

The place was empty for a moment. Sometimes only the voice of takbir from the priest, followed by his worshipers who kowtowed simultaneously. Their prayers are done.

Shortly after, the parents guided their children home because it was time to go home.

Rifky also took Naira to the car after saying goodbye to her father, if usually Ustaz Hanan with Iyan, this time the middle-aged man went home and drove his own car.

"Mass?" Naira called out concisely, staring at her husband's glance who was focused on the steering wheel.

"Yes? Why, Honey?" sahut Rifky.

"dm ... Rifky won't buy me meatballs, will he?" Naira expressed her wish in the form of a question, making Rifky chuckle to watch her clenched lips.

"hey are. If bought." Naira was singing her lips with her hand twisting the tip of the hijab. Occasionally looking at Rifky hesitated.

"Yes, can. But don't go too far, huh? Not healthy." Rifky smiled looking at Naira. The man found his wife's happy face and nodded several times.

Rifky turned their car to the right, right in front of a meatball stall whose fragrance instantly burst and stirred.

"You wait here, huh? Let it go down!" Naira nodded again, unable to bear to immediately taste the meatballs.

Just minutes he waited, finally Rifky returned with a meatball that had been wrapped in plastic.

"A lot of it, Mom?" Naira's forehead frowned. Stare at the blue plastic that contains three servings of meatballs.

"Make Bi Ira the same Mas, too" replied Rifky simply. His teeth were spotted by Naira because Rifky chuckled.

Naira just nodded happily, meaning there would be more parts for her later. Naira hid a smile when she thought so, while looking at the beauty of the road that welcomed dusk this afternoon.

***

Iyan walked down the hospital corridor with a fruit parcel in his hand. A few turns and stops in front of room number 35. The man knocked on the door, then walked in after getting the sound of permission from inside.

A nurse smiled kindly at him, in contrast to the patient he was seeing, only able to bow weakly.

"How are you doing, Rani?" Iyan sat next to the gurney where Rani was being treated.

Rani looks up at him, a bad guess that she guessed was immediately dismissed when she found a sincere smile from the man beside her now.

"I'll excuse you for a minute" the nurse left them.

"Not to be afraid, Rani. I came here just to apologize," Iyan said softly. His gaze was fixed on Rani's pale hands squeezing the blanket firmly.

"Ma-sorry?" rani lirih. He was surprised whether he heard wrong or not. Isn't the one who should be apologizing is him?

"Yes. Sorry for making you this way. I never hated you or hated you, I even wished you good. Change, Rani ...." Iyan said slowly. Looking forward to Rani's eyes looking back at her.

The woman seemed to be keeping a clear dew, her pale lips twitching small, occasionally unaware that a slow sobbing was heard.

"Am I not the one who should be apologizing? Why did you come here just for this ...?" Rani's words are choking. He lowered his head, erasing the soft tears that were bleaching his heart.

"There is no harm in forgiving each other. For we are only human beings who do not escape sin." Iyan smiled, held his breath and exhaled slowly.

"This is for you! Eaten, huh? May it heal soon." Iyan stood up and handed the fruit parcel on the table to Rani. The woman accepted with a doubtful smile, saying thanks through her watery neutrality.

"Assalamualaik." Iyan turned towards the door.

"Mosuraforu ...." The soft answer momentarily stopped Riyan's footwork, then left the woman's room with a small smile.

Iyan heads to his wife's room, which is a few turns away from Rani's room, leaving Rani to wish her to change. Let the sanctity of her soul touch the eyes of the woman's heart.