The Chased Heaven

Husband Wife

Sunlight has sunk, the orange sky was slowly lost replaced with a black color that makes the animals night out to find food. Slowly the moon shows its shape, today the moon is so round glowing makes the night so beautiful. The steps of people towards the mosque want to perform the congregational magrib prayer heard from outside.

The prayer memorization that Zulfa said blended into one with tears flowing down her white cheeks. She performed her own magrib prayer because her husband had not returned from this afternoon. The chanting of the holy verse of the Quran sounds melodious even if the person who hears it will shed tears.

The chant of remembrance for the sake of remembrance came out of her lips, she waited for her husband who had not returned from noon. The specks of rain made Zulfa's worry grow more and more he just kept staring at the wall clock. Until the voice of the chastisement of Joseph had not yet returned, with a feeling of anxiety he was performing the prayer so that his heart was a little calm.

The sound of knocking on the door made Zulfa run with a face that was still attached to his body. She saw her husband soaking wet with such a sad face.

"I'm sorry" he said suddenly in a soft voice.

Zulfa unsuspectingly agreed with Joseph and helped dry his body. After bathing and changing his clothes, Joseph patted the seat next to him so that Zulfa would sit there.

"Mas Yusuf from everywhere, Zulfa had been waiting for Joseph from earlier".

"I'm sorry" he said again.

"Mas Yusuf keeps apologizing".

Joseph just shook his head, he stroked his wife's white cheek. "Fa can I ask you now?".

Zulfa who knew the direction of this conversation she nodded in agreement. He smiled and laid his wife in bed. Joseph didn't say much he kissed Zulfa's old forehead like there was a peaceful feeling doing it. The kiss went down his two eyes and then his nose, not forgetting the two white cheeks of Zulfa.

Zulfa who was treated gently by Joseph felt his heart very peaceful, they looked at each other. Without a word coming out of their mouths, Zulfa realized that her husband had very pliable eyelashes and thick eyebrows. Zulfa's eyes began to shut as Joseph kissed her, a kiss he thought was long.

Joseph drew his mouth to Zulfa's ear and recited a prayer that caused Zulfa's tears to fall.

"Don't cry" said Joseph soothingly.

Zulfa nodded and the two of them combined love like a married couple. The dark room with moonlight passing through the cracks of the window makes the atmosphere more romantic. Tonight they are silent witnesses between two human beings united through halal bonds, two human beings united by destiny and united by His command.

"I love you Fa".

"I love you too" said Zulfa with tears streaming down her cheeks.

°°°

The wall clock shows at two in the morning, Joseph leaning his head on a pillow he made higher while his wife Zulfa fell asleep from exhaustion. Zulfa's shady face made Joseph stroke his cheeks gently then tidied his wife's messy hair.

Joseph lifted a blanket over his wife's shoulders, a close hug that Zulfa gave him made her smile.

"Thank you for taking care of her for me".

Yusuf's gaze stared straight at the ceiling, the smile on his face suddenly disappeared when the incident this afternoon re-covered in his brain. He was very angry and upset towards her who was unable to do anything this afternoon. He was eager to refuse but in fact he just kept quiet and agreed to the request of the father.

Flashback..

This afternoon after the preaching was finished, Yusuf rushed to the boarding school because of the message of the abi. After the study, he was told to stop by. As a filial child without suspicion he agreed with the words of his parents. How surprised Joseph was when everyone gathered and one of the women was crying in his arms.

"Yusuf" call his brother.

"Yes bi".

Ali smiled sincerely and then hinted for his son to sit down "Sit down son, abi wants an important talk with you".

Joseph nodded and sat down. His gaze turned to look at the woman who was hugging his um, heard from here if the woman was crying.

"Son, Abi wants to talk to you seriously".

"Do you see that woman over there?".

"Look abi, why".

"He's your future wife".

Joseph who heard the words of his brother was shocked instead of playing, "What does abi mean?" ask him who restrains anger.

"Quiet Suf, calm yourself first. He's Salsa's friend abi's son, two months ago Salsa's parents went on a business trip abroad. But yesterday the disaster received them, the plane carrying Salsa's parents crashed and they were found lifeless. Abi used to betroth you to Salsa because of our deal.

Joseph raises his eyebrows "Stupid?".

"Yes, Salsa's father and I plan to match you up when you grow up, but when you choose your own partner, we break that intention. Abi also almost forgot our old promise Suf when you were happy with Zulfa but when I heard the news of my best friend's death I intended to keep our promise first".

"Abi meant, should I marry her?".

Ali silently nodded, and Yusuf observed his umi to ask for a defense, but his general response was the same.

"But I already have a wife bi, I already have Zulfa no way I'm wishing for her".

"I'm sorry abi nak, abi can't do anything".

"Abi.. Zulfa" said he asked his wife for understanding but her ashes were silent. Joseph also saw uminya to give a defense but the general response was the same as his brother. Yusuf sighed in frustration, he rubbed his face rough and looked at his ashes.

"Joseph think about bi first".

"Please think carefully Suf, pity him. He loves you too".

Moreover, this fact, he was so shocked by this matchmaking that made his head dizzy especially coupled with the girl's feelings. He was confused as to how to explain this to his wife.

Off Flashback..

Joseph closed his eyes again, thinking how to explain to his wife. A gentle swipe made Zulfa wake up from her sleep.

"Mas Joseph did not sleep?" asked Zulfa in a hoarse voice.

"You don't sleep the Fa?".

Zulfa woke up from her sleep and followed her leaning husband, "Kok mas Yusuf asked again".

"Aahh.I'm sorry, I'm having a lot of thoughts so I'm not focused".

"Yusuf is okay, right?".

Joseph stroked Zulfa's rough hair and leaned his wife's head against his chest. "I love you so much Fa, you will be the only woman I love".

"Apaan mas Yusuf suddenly said that rich, dreadful".

"Hahaha, look at your reddened face" the laughter of Joseph who got a pinch from his wife.

"Would you sleep or take a shower?".

"Mandi aja mas" replied Zulfa spirit.

Very passionate, surely you have trouble walking. Here I carry, said Yusuf then carrying his wife to the bathroom to clean herself. Although this morning the air was very cold but the warmth of their love made all of it feel nothing. After bathing they rushed to perform the tahajud circumcision prayer and waited for the dawn prayer time to come. What a beautiful morning for a couple.