Tarnished On The Bride's Night

Punishing Him Without Pardon

“You are still a bit feverish,” Alif said early in the morning as they were preparing to pack the goods. How many times had he touched Dara's forehead to check her temperature.

“It's not very Alif. After all just a regular fever.”

But Alif still worried about him and still told him to swallow paracetamol caplet. “You have a fever often.”

Dara. “I also don't know why it can be so. But I do remember the time I ran out on ..” Dara lets Alif guess himself. “This is the same. It's just not as bad as that time.”

Alif silently understood. And isn't he the culprit?

“Do we need to see a doctor first?”

Dara refused gently, “No. No need, I just need a break.”

“Well later in the afternoon we go, now you rest,” said Alif finally decided.

That afternoon, Dara did nothing but lie on the bed. Even Alif ate and fed him. Not only that, but he was very protective because he also bought her fruits, bought her young coconut water and always reminded her to take medicine.

This treatment was very different when he was still with Chandra who instead ignored him when sick. Or maybe all men were at first? And change when they get bored.

Ah, no, no. It seems he was too bad to judge Alif. Dara thinks her husband's not like 'her'. His style of speech was firm and impressed fierce. But the real thing is attention even though the way he shows it is different.

“Crocodile, very good crocodile,” Dara quipped when Alif again checked his body temperature with a thermometer he deliberately bought a while ago.

“Because if the evil crocodile can not ration.”

“Ya Lord .. it turns out that is the reason,” de sah Dara while smiling amusedly hearing the honesty of this mighty crocodile.

"But the main reason is not that. I'm worried about you."

After Ashar, Alif began to heat the car while entering the items that had been packed this morning. He also checked the feasibility of his car first to the nearest car repair shop to be safe during the trip. Immediately he filled the full gasoline so as not to stop at the refueling.

First they say goodbye to his parents' house, before finally the gas pol heading to Mama Kota, namely Jakarta.

“How many years have I not been there huh, Lif?” dara asked as they entered the highway. “I forgot to remember. But surely now has changed a lot.”

“Yes, there you have it,” replied Alif briefly.

“Wake me up if you're tired, Lif. I can help you finish the rest.”

“Most,” Alif replied.

In addition to the son of a driver, Dara had also previously crept into a driver in Jakarta to connect his school—because at that time, his father had not been able to fully finance him. Because he has only had a pick up car for the last few years. In the end, he fell again.

So no doubt, Dara is good at driving alone and very reliable. This sometimes makes Alif very proud of his wife who is so independent, and can do anything, including ... satisfy him?!

A few hours passed.

Dara woke up from a dream because she felt someone whispering while patting her cheek, “It has arrived.”

Dara was immediately surprised when Alif said so. He looked around and found himself in the family home.

“Yeah, I told you earlier. If you're tired, you can wake me up. We can take turns driving,” said Dara very unpleasant.

“Stop being a boy, Dara. You have a husband now. From now on I will take you wherever you go unless you are in a state of urgency.”

“Hehee ... maybe because it's used to anything by itself,” said Dara chuckling. “What time is it now?”

“Jam two morning.”

“You're speeding, huh?” ask Dara again who only responded with deheman. “Omong by the way why do I sleep so soundly? Know it has got here. Is it because of the effect of the drug?”

“Could be,” Alif replied.

“Say our house is close, keep which side?”

“There,” Alif shows his hand to the left. “Pause two houses from this house. It's not too big. But I think it's more convenient and easier to clean. Tomorrow I'll show you the place. Umi said it was cleaned and ready to use. But for a while we sleep here first so we can meet them in the morning.”

Dara nodded her head after listening to Alif's explanation just now. Both of them came down and were immediately greeted by a security who seemed to be trying desperately to endure the drowsiness.

“Welcome, Mas Alif, Mbak Dara,” be friendly.

“There can be helped, Mas? Or maybe I want to wake up Umi and Abah?”

“Don't, Sir,” sergeant Alif. “Do not wake anyone. Fear of interrupting.”

“Good, Mas. Any items to drop off?”

“It looks like there isn't either, sir. Because later in the afternoon we want to directly move to the house next door.”

“Good, Mas,” answered the security estimated at fifty years old.

“Come in.” Alif invited Dara inside. Heading to Alif's room, which somehow has not been occupied but still looks well maintained.

“Your room is spooky, Lif. Wear all black paint, again. So gloomy,” said Dara when they reached inside. Put down his little bag and lay himself down for a moment on the bed.

“The name is also the male room. If the color is pink I can be guessed to have abnormalities.”

“Not many other colors?”

“I like black color.” Alif answered while taking off his top shirt. Go to the bathroom to wash your feet. Same with what Dara did. They also had a hot game there because Alif forced Dara to accept his pending passion during their trip. And beat him mercilessly!

“You are really!” sumpul Dara but not the power to refuse all kinds of treatment that is very challenging and impressive. “We just arrived but you've attacked me like this.”

“We had a day off yesterday because you were sick,” replied Alif did not care much.

“But I have not completely healed, later I can fever again if too long playing water, Aliiiiff.”

“Hopefully no.” Alif rolled up Dara's body and clenched it to his plain chest so that his wife felt overwhelmed. They used their best to close their eyes for a moment before dawn.

***

“Umi, I saw Alif's car outside, is Alif the same Dara already coming?” ask Vita when they are after praying together in this small Musala house.

“Umi also do not know, Son,” Umi replied. “Why doesn't Aunt wake us when it's here?”

“Maybe it's bad to wake people up to sleep,” Abah replied. “Already, let it go. Later if breakfast they will definitely down join.”

And real, at breakfast, Dara and Alif went down to meet them all. The breakfast table became full and the atmosphere was so crowded like an impromptu market. Not to mention the sound of screaming children who are this early have been up and along ruffled the dining table.

“From there what time?” Yudha asked.

“Before maghrib, Mas,” Dara replied.

Umi says, “Wah, fast, yes. Yesterday we had a long time maybe because of the entourage, Bah. So should compensate for the others.”

“Yang nyetir also elders, yes fast,” Alif chimed.

Yudha says, “I'm still young, Lif. Don't you say I'm old too.”

“What age are you, ha? Want to stay young!” alif said he would not lose.

“Eh, but he said if you have a young partner can come young huh, Mi?” said Dara raised her eyebrows while glancing at the woman who was next to her, namely Vita.

“Oh, yes, Son. Yudha is very much the same age as Vita. When I got married, Yudha was twenty-eight, Vita was twenty" replied Umi Ros. And he asked his first son to be more sure, "That's it, son?”

Yudha nodded. “Free adrift eight years.”

“Eight know what to say Just. If abroad you can be called a gladiator,” said Alif who was suddenly invaded by all the mothers who were there.

“PREDATOOOR!?”

Now alternately Yudha who sneered at him with great annoyance, “Mam pus, Lo!”

***

SERIATE.

The quieter the woy, the squeeze the like😭