My husband's cousin

Chapter 6

 Getting married at a young age is not easy. Moreover, a marriage that is still considered strange, a cousin marriage like the one that I and Bang Danil live. 

   At first it felt strange and like a kind of disgrace. But over time I began to accept my status. Maybe it was a hand that my soul mate came from the same grandmother. 

    That afternoon I decided to take a walk in the city park. Just enjoying the solitude. A book I brought as a friend, pretty not too bored.

  At the same time from the north I saw a couple or maybe a husband and wife were fighting. It reminds me of the little quarrel between me and Bang Danil. 

 Immature age sometimes makes me unable to think long. They are easily carried away and often suspicious. Understandably, I was never given a chance to recognize the world. 

  Everything I do is always under Bang Danil's supervision. He should know where I'm going, who I'm interacting with. Whatever I do when he can't keep company. Yeah, that's how tight his guard has been on me all this time. 

  Maybe that's what makes all the family sure that he's the best mate for me. Because so far he's always put me first. Always watching me. 

  

    The couple was still fighting and looked fierce. At first I ignored but over time I began to get uncomfortable, especially when I saw the man's hand floating slapping his partner. 

   On this bench I was suffocating. I wanted to go to them and curse the man but I had no right to interfere. Fortunately, a father broke them and advised the man. 

    At that moment I remembered Bang Danil. He was always gentle with me. Never be rude let alone play physically. When he was too upset he chose to silence me. Later when it subsides he returns to his usual attitude. Always has. 

  When I was a kid, he was a body guard for me. Guarding me from a prankster disorder of children. Invited me to play by carrying me on his back. 

  "Adek wants to play? Come on, big brother!"  Little Bang Danil crouched down before me in a back-to-back position. With gusto I will jump onto his back. We walked around the Grandma's house. 

  "What do you want to snack on? I'll go home from school, yeah!" 

I still remember all my childhood memories with him. When he always appeared as a guardian angel since the passing of Mother, his biological aunt. 

   Mother is the youngest of five children. Uncle Anggoro, the father of Bang Danil is the eldest son. Oldest brother of late mother. 

  Mother's departure was not fully understood at that time. Because I'm five years old. 

Since my mother died, I have lived more often in my grandmother's house, or even in my uncle's house. I was the first child and the only granddaughter in the mother's family at the time. No wonder their love abounds with me. 

  My father raised me and my sister Bian lovingly. Sometimes he had to leave us when he had to work. Bian was only two years old when the mother died, she could not recognize the face of the mother. 

At the suggestion of a large family, the father finally remarried to Aunt Ines, the mother's cousin. Yes, our family wedding is not far from the word cousin. 

  It was Aunt Ines who replaced Bian's mother. While I live more often in the house of uncle or grandmother. 

   

And the one who took care of me the most was Bang Danil. Until I considered him no longer my cousin but my real brother. 

   But fate says something else, we never guess where it comes from. Like I finally accepted the persuasion of all the family to be married to Bang Danil. 

 Next after the ijab we still live in the house of their parents. I'm at my dad's and Bang Danil's with his parents. 

   Only after finishing High School, we moved to the house that Bang Danil had prepared. Three years he worked to collect rupiah to be able to install a two-story house. 

   I originally went to college, but decided to quit in the fourth semester. 

I asked Bang Danil for permission to open a curtain business. At first there were only two employees.   While I only served as manager and marketing. Now the employees have grown by three more people. My activity also increased. 

We started all from the beginning. Really from the beginning. 

  Even though we live in the same house, we are still like before. He is like a cousin in general. Not like husband and wife. 

  Bang Danil kept his promise not to touch me in the sense of being a husband until I was completely ready. To me, that's proof that he's a real man. 

Is not what a man holds to be his words and promises? If holding a speech is not able how can he protect his family? 

 I am grateful to be with him. 

 

…

  

 "Are you sure you'll love Bang Danil until later, Dis? Don't you ever know what it's like to fall in love? Are you sure your feelings for your husband would be the same if one day there was another man who tempted you?" 

  

Hana's question yesterday still rang tonight. Beside me Bang Danil was already fast asleep. Maybe he's tired. 

 While I, still remember what Hana said before we parted after coming out of the cafe after lunch.  

  The question kept haunting me. I have never felt the love of any man other than Bang Danil. So not knowing exactly how I felt about her was real love. Or just an admiration for comfort. I don't know. 

   In my heart there is another anxiety, isn't Bang Danil the same as me? He never fell in love with another woman? All this time, the focus was on me. Is this real love or is it just a form of care because of responsibility and pity? 

 Only God knows the answer. I just hope this marriage goes like any other wedding. Sakinah, Mawaddah warohmah until it reaches Jannah. But can? 

____Connected