Pursuing Love in the Past

Visit to Orphanage

Ayunda led the father to the living room. "How did you get to be like this?" asked Ayunda when they were all in the living room.

The father also told of the fateful event that had befallen him. Ayunda stared with a sad face as the father told how he could escape the danger of death that almost took his life.

"Alhamdullilah, father given a miracle from Allah SWT." Ayunda hugged her father again with tears.

The whole family who was watching both also felt good.

 

The Alfian apartment.

"Your apartment is big too. I want to ask grandfather to give me an apartment like this" said Siera, the daughter of his adoptive uncle.

Since Alfian's adoptive uncle was in prison, the grandfather always obeyed the will of his wife and son. The grandfather did not want any grudges to continue. He wants his adopted son to repent after he gets out of prison.

"Papa.", call Zahra when she sees Alfian has just replaced the shoes he wore with slippers.

"Dear Zahra", greet Alfian by stretching out her hands.

Siera looked at Zahra with a look of dislike.

"Who is this aunt?" ask the little girl who will be entering the age of 3 years.

"Know, this aunt is her brother papa", said Alfian introduced Siera who is older than 2 years.

Whats? The sister? siera said inside.

Siera smiled awkwardly as she looked at Zahra. "Hey... Whose name?" asked Siera lazily.

"Zahra, auntie", said her tiny mouth.

"Oh, Zahra" said Siera, who was not interested in asking the boy's name. Though usually people will pinch the pinched cheeks puffed up Zahra, in contrast to Siera who instead ignored him.

"Which room am I in?" ask Siera while opening one of the rooms. "I want this room" she asked before Alfian gave her a room.

"can't. That's Zahra's room" Alfian said, then stepped up his legs while holding Zahra. "This room of yours", appoint Alfian to a room used by Siska before.

Siera shuddered in horror as she looked at the room that Alfian had just opened. "Em, Zahra dear. We'll change rooms, baby. Please.", he persuaded Zahra as he flashed a smile.

Zahra descended from Alfian's lap, then she stomped her tiny legs. "Don't want to" he said as he looked at Siera with glaring eyes.

"Hus, it's not polite. Must respect the older one" Alfian advised.

Zahra ran crying, upset that the father was not defending her. Alfian raised both his shoulders. "Please, this is your room."

Siera stepped in while walking through every corner of the room. Suddenly the feathers stood up. "Let's.. I don't want to be there", point Siera at the room.

Alfian did not respond to Siera's overreaction. He was only focused on persuading his sulking little daughter.

 

Ayunda and her family are distributing compensation for children in the orphanage. They are grateful to be given the sustenance to share with those in need.

The father seemed happy in the midst of the circumstances he was experiencing at this time.

"Thank you for the donation you and your mom made. May Allah SWT always bestow a baroque sustenance, give complete health and be waged what the Father and Mother deserve."

"Amin.." they said at the same time.

Ayunda's family was about to say goodbye, but Azzam was nowhere to be seen.

"Azzam.." call Adrian when he sees his son who is learning to walk is fun playing with the children in the orphanage.

"Papapapa.", the funny voice of Azzam makes Ayunda immediately hold Azzam and kiss the swollen cheeks of her puffer.

"We're going home, ma'am and the kids. Assalamualaikum..."

"Wa alaikumsalam wa rahatulli wa barakatuh", they answered simultaneously.

Then the Ayunda family walked together, leaving the orphanage far from the city.

 

The sky has returned to its contentions. The Ayunda family arrived at their residence when the sky was dark.

Azzam who was fast asleep was rushed into the room by Winda. Adrian followed his wife.

"Mother take your father to the room first huh. He said he wanted to pray."

"Good bun", said Ayunda who left him alone. He immediately dropped his body weight on the sofa. Then he took the phone from his bag, because some incoming notifications had been ignored during the trip home.

Ayunda gave a rough snort when he saw his busy schedule tomorrow. Then he got up from his seat and walked into the room.

 

In a mall.

Alfian was forced to follow the request of Seira who wanted to shop for clothes in the mall. He did not want to just because the trivial matter of the grandfather would be bothered.

"Come, let's go there" he took to a boutique store. With heavy footsteps Alfian followed him. He could not imagine that Zahra was with them at this time.

"His husband is very handsome", said the shopkeeper who was watching Alfian. Siera blushed to hear the shopkeeper's words.

"I'm not..."

"Em, he's not who you think he is" said Siera cutting off Alfian's speech.

"I mean brother?"

"He's actually shy" Siera whispered to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper again noticed Alfian. "It seems impossible" he said.

Alfian who began to be careless because it had become a conversation between them, finally moved from his position. He walked out of the shop and left Siera who was still busy gossiping.

"Sister, her husband is gone" said the shopkeeper. Siera turned her back, then chased after Alfian.

"Alphian!" siera shouted to him, but Alfian ignored Siera's call. He continued his steps walking out of the mall, without turning his head at all.

Siera did not stop chasing him, even to the car park. "Where is he?" he said muttering while circulating his gaze looking for the whereabouts of Alfian's car, but he did not find it. Then he reached for his phone to contact his grandfather.

---

Alfian had just entered his apartment door password, the phone inside his pants pocket was ringing. "Grandfather", he said when he saw the name that appeared on his phone screen.

"Assalamualaikum, cake" said Alfian when he just shifted the green button on his phone screen.

"Waalaikum... Where have you been? Why did you leave Seira alone at the mall! He doesn't understand the area there!" sergeant the grandpa bertubi.

Alfian had expected that Siera would report it to the grandfather. He casually answered his grandfather.

The grandfather's anger subsided when Alfian explained that Zahra was left alone in the apartment and his little daughter was starting to get scared because Alfian was gone too long.

"Next time don't leave Zahra alone" said the grandfather from the other end of the phone.

"Good, cake", said Alfian. Then they hung up on each other.

Not long after Seira came out of the elevator and stepped foot to walk toward Alfian who had just entered the apartment.