The Faithful Heart

Warmth of Ginger Milk

Instead of helping her husband clean the fish in the kitchen, Hana just sat back with her new father and mother-in-law. All three seemed to dissolve in chatter accompanied by almond cheese sponge and ginger milk, the mainstay recipe of the Hana family that warms the body.

" Bolu is indeed very delicious Honey, you are indeed good at making cakes. Especially enjoyed with this warm milk. Mmmm, perfect. It's called milk what Honey I forgot." Aleena seemed to be enjoying the food in her mouth.

" Ginger milk Ma. Similar to the milk fennel that I don't know what the name was that Mama gave us. It's just that ginger milk is coupled with many other spices besides fennel, there is cinnamon, cloves and of course ginger. Spice that adds to the aroma and taste of this milk as well as efficacious warm the body." said Hana.

"Ginger milk huh? Okay next time I'll make it. Please make the recipe Honey."

" Ok my beautiful mother-in-law." Hana smiled gently.

" Honey tell me about you and the gods so I can get to know you guys better." Aleena asked.

" Me and the gods? Where do I start?"

" From your life. I'm curious about you. Your childhood must have been adorable. Your parents must be very happy to have a child as sweet as you." said Aleena looks very enthusiastic to hear the story of her daughter-in-law.

" True tell me about yourself dear I also want to know the figure of the woman who managed to become the mooring of my son's life. And from God's words, you are an extraordinary woman who can pull herself out of the abyss of disappointment and sadness. You are very important in his life. I'm so curious about your life, baby." Russell added.

" It's too much Papa-in-law. I have never felt meritorious in the life of a God. It is precisely I who is very lucky to be able to be with a man as handsome as himself." Hana blushed in shame.

" Well, I'll tell you about my life. But hopefully you won't get bored because there's nothing special about me."

" I am the first of two children. Dad was a PNS and Mom had a small pastry shop to help our family economy. Our lives were simple but my parents never let me lack one thing. I grew up with a lot of love. They taught me many things and did not hesitate to scold me if I did anything wrong. Especially my mother, even though she used to nag and call me a scorching pot but I was very sure that she loved me very much." suddenly Hana started to shed tears.

" I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. Why are there tears on my cheeks? He he." Hana tried to smile to cover her longing feelings that suddenly erupted when she told me about her parents. This was the first time Hana had gone far away from her home.

" Are you okay Honey?" Aleena stroked Hana's back gently.

" I am okay. But I don't know why I missed my mom and dad so much. I miss my mom's nagging that used to say me to a charred pot. Hiks. Although she was often angry, but I always felt safe and comfortable around her. Hiks. Mothers....... I miss Mom, Mama.... I miss him."

" Hey, calm down Honey. Your mother must have missed you too. Why not just video call? All of you I also want to know the woman who raised you." Aleena suggested.

" Ah, Mama's right. Why have you never thought of me?" hana's countenance turned carefree for a moment.

" I'll call Mom." Hana started to brush her cell phone. And in an instant the video call was connected. The face of the woman who had given birth to herself 24 years ago appeared on a flat object that was in her hand.

" Mother Assalamualaikum.." cried Hana.

" Waalaikum....Hoamm.." replied Hana's mother.

" Mom, how are Mom and Dad?" hana's voice sounded cheerful.

" Heh the charred pot, you still remember us too. How many days have you been there, and only now do you call mom?" ask Hana's mother.

" He he, sorry Mom. Hana forgot. But I miss you and Mom very much. You're okay, right?"

" We're fine, son, how are you and the gods. It's okay, right?" hana's father's face was now on his wife's side.

" father?! Me and the Gods are fine, Dad. Wait a minute, Mom and Dad's faces look sleepy. Am I bothering you?"

" Of course not, son, I'm so happy to see you like this" Hana's father said.

" Your father was asleep, but as soon as he heard your voice, he woke up." said Hana's mother.

" Ah really? But why is it that Daddy's sleeping at this hour? Is Dad okay?"

" What do you mean at this hour? It's almost twelve o'clock in the night. It's only natural that my lord Hasanudin sleeps." after Hana's mother.

" I'm sorry I forgot there was a six-hour time difference. He he." Hana grimaced revealing the white row of her teeth.

" My lord Hasanudin? Who's Honey?" asked Aleena who had heard Hana and her parents talk earlier.

" He's my father Ma. My mom used to call me that." explains Hana.

" Hana, whose voice is that?" ask Hana's mother.

" My mother-in-law, Mom. I was with my Mom and Dad. Look, they want to know Mom and Dad." Hana pointed her phone towards Aleena and Russell.

" GUSTYIII.... Why don't you tell me if there's a besan near you." Hana's mom quickly tidied up her messy hair.

" Hey.." said Aleena waving her hand as Hana's phone panned towards her.

" Hi.." Hana's mother waved back with a stiff smile.

" Include me Aleena, mother-in-law of your daughter." Aleena smiled towards Hana's mother.

" Are you able to speak Indonesian?" unknowingly a silly question slid just like that from Hana's mother's mouth.

" Ah I mean hi Madam Aleena I Dina God's mother-in-law and she is my husband Hasanudin." replied Hana's mother with a slight clumsy.

" I'm sorry if you had to hear me say no."

" It's okay. I'm glad to see your familiarity and Honey, so sweet." Aleena praised.

" Is that so?"

" Yes, I feel you must be a very lucky woman to be able to get a child as sweet as Honey. I can't wait to see you in person, it'll be so exciting."

" oh? Ja. I will wait for that day." said Hana's mother.

" Hey Sir. We're Hana's parents. Greetings know." said Hana's mother seemed to be careful in speaking. I don't know why he feels awkward with his mother and father-in-law.

" Hi, I'm Russell. Greetings." replied Russell briefly.

" Oh, Mom, how's evi doing? He's okay too, right?" asked Hana who remembered her only sister.

" He's fine. Arriving in Jakarta, he contacted us. Oh, baby, where's your husband? You guys aren't together?" ask Hana's mother in a more subtle tone.

" Oh, she's cleaning up the fish in the kitchen" Hana replied flatly.

" What did you say?! God is cleaning fish in the kitchen, and you're even good at sitting back? What kind of wife are you? What is the opinion of your two in-laws with your attitude like that?" hana's mother started to grumble.

" It's okay Madam, Hana's a good daughter-in-law. And regarding the God who was cleaning the fish in the kitchen it was not Hana's fault, but it was my punishment because God lost the match" Russell said in defense of his daughter-in-law.

" Ah sorry Mr. Russell. Not my point. It's just that sometimes Hana's kind of outrageous."

"It's okay. I'm even happy to see Hana's attitude that doesn't let others bully her." Russell added.

" Thank you Mr. Russell, you and Mrs Aleena have treated Hana well. Once again I say thank you and apologize if there is an attitude of my son who is less pleasing in your heart."

" There's no need to be this kind of a bitch, madam. Hana and Dewa are our children too. So don't be too shy" Aleena said.

" Okay, then, excuse me. Enjoy your togetherness. May you always be given health. And I send greetings to my dear handsome son-in-law."

" Wassalamualaikum" said Hana's father and mother at the same time while waving their hands. Both of them seemed to smile with relief at the state of his son is fine with people who love him.

" Waalaikumsalam" replied Hana ending her video call.

" How's Honey, it's better now?" asked Aleena with a fluffy smile.

" yes. Now it's a lot calmer after seeing the faces of my parents both fine." Hana breathed a sigh of relief.

" Let's continue your story about you and the gods. Tell me I'm curious about your love story. And this time no more lies. Don't tell me you've eloped because you didn't get parental blessing." Aleena recalls the lies of Fewa and Hana.

" all right. But I'm sure our love story isn't worth the love story of Papa and Mama-in-law." Hana began to tell stories of herself and the Gods from the beginning of the meeting until they were married.

" Darling you didn't tell me about our fight with the RAME team or the criminals?" continued the God who arrived just sat down near his father.

" fight? Oh you must have been very scared when you were in that situation Honey." Aleena looked at Hana.

" Frightened? Don't get me wrong, Mama. My wife is a taekwondo black belt holder. He's very good at fighting. Even he can topple four men with his bare hands." said the god cuek while taking a cup filled with ginger milk that was prepared for him.

" What are you talking about? Why are you discussing this in front of Mama and Papa?" whispered Hana while glaring towards her husband.

The god just shrugged, not feeling intimidated by his wife's gaze.

" Certainly Honey? Are you good at fighting? Wow, I didn't expect at all that a woman as sweet as you turned out to have a wild side either." Aleena's eyes seemed sparkling.

" Not only is it Ma, my wife is also very good at driving cars and even motorcycles. His skills are almost on par with real racers." The god seemed excited to tell the other side of his wife that made Hana's face flushed in embarrassment.

" Who really? Tell me the full story, baby. I didn't expect Hana to do that at all." asked Aleean who seemed to have been impatient to hear the interesting side of a Hana.

"It's with pleasure that beautiful Mama Aleena."

The god began to tell me about his wife who likes to fight and fight. Even the gods also told about Hana who was sentenced to run around the field during MOS and clean the toilet because she did not wear a hat during the ceremony.

Damn God, why did he tell this all to Mama and Papa-in-law. It's so embarrassing. But how did God know about the punishment I received during the MOS and the ceremony? Has he been silent since he noticed me?

" Ha ha ha......" Aleena and Russell laughed loosely at the God's words about the other side of his daughter-in-law who also turned out to be a little wayward and tomboyish.

" How is Honey? Isn't that all right? Why does your face look so red? You're embarrassed, aren't you?" jeered God found his wife's face blushing.

Just watch out for you gods. I'll pay for all this. Let's see if you can still laugh after seeing this.

" Ah okay. What my husband said was true. I love to fight and race." Hana took a deep breath.

" I'll show you the other side of my husband too."

" I don't have another side, baby. All my depravity I have left. Papa has also heard it straight from my mouth." The smiling God felt nothing was covered from him.

" Really?" Hana grinning.

" Look at this Mama." Hana showed a picture on her phone that made Aleena widen her eyes and a moment later laughed out of her lap to tears.

" Ha ha ha. It's so cute and adorable Honey. Ha ha ha." Aleena was still laughing out of her lap.

" Hurry and show me, baby." Russell asked.

Hana pointed her phone at her husband and father-in-law. Suddenly, Russell did the same thing with Aleena, even holding his stomach and his other hand hitting his own thigh.

" Heh what are you doing? Why are you showing this to Mama and Papa? This is so embarrassing. Quickly remove that picture!" The god tried to seize Hana's phone which showed a picture of her posing in the style of a cosplayer cat centil with costumes and makeup that supports and accessories cat ears on her head. The appearance is more total with high heels and pink hair light.

" Did delete that picture!" The gods chase Hana to snatch her phone. But as usual Hana kept running and tickling from her husband. This made Russell and Aleena laugh.

What an unprecedented sight in this beautiful house. The house that used to look lonely now sounds boisterous laughter from the owner. In it there is a furor of the pursuit of a couple who forget the cold weather in Giethoorn in November.

Either because of ginger milk or your love that has been able to warm the cold air this season.