The Pawned Marriage
Mysterious Man
Nafisa stood on the edge of the bridge facing the river. His eyes looked tired because his soul was tired.
The area was deserted, there were almost no vehicles. Nafisa closed her eyes feeling a clear grain continuously flowing down her face.
A dozen years he survived to always be tough and kind, but this time it seems Nafisa wants to give up.
The memory of torture for the sake of torture in prison flashed in his mind. The moans were held up every night when cellmates were bustling with him.
Unaware, he climbed over the bridge. Ready to throw himself.
“I'm not strong, Mother. Sorry Mbak Nafi is not strong.”
Out of nowhere, Nafisa calls herself like Mother used to call her.
The woman closed her eyes.
“I'm sorry, Daddy, Mommy. But Mbak Nafi is tired.”
Nafisa was ready to drop her body into the river when she felt someone pulling her.
“Nafisa, don't!”
That person's energy was so strong that Nafisa instantly fell into his chest.
“Don't, please, don't ..” Pinta the man in a panic tone.
Nafisa closed her eyes. That voice again.
His body was held strong.
“Hold, Nafisa. Do not go this way.”
“Who are you? Why are you everywhere? Please let go or I will scream.”
“Shout if it makes you relieved.“
“Please let go, we are not mahram. Haram for us to be like this.”
“Suicide is also haram. Never thought of doing that again, yes.”
“Appointments, now release. Or I bite,” threatened Nafisa, ready to go berserk.
Behind the mask, the man smiled.
“I'm off but promise it won't be weird. If you jump, I will jump too. We die both.”
“I promise,” Overt Nafisa.
The man took off his arms. Nafisa immediately tried to see the man's face but was disappointed that he was wearing a mask and sunglasses. His hands are wearing gloves too.
“Who are you? I've heard your voice in the hospital.”
“Mmm I'm a doctor there. But I wasn't assigned to take care of you. Just once in a while.”
Nafisa frowned.
“Reno?”
“Who?” Reply to that person again.
“Your talking style reminds me of my ex-husband. Also your voice, but you are more hoarse and deep.”
The man snorted.
“Not moved-on.”
“He betrayed and took my children. There is no more love for her.”
The man did not answer. They were now standing on the edge of the bridge, staring deep into the stream that emptied out of nowhere.
“Life is not always as expected. But we must always have hope. Expect good to Allah SWT,” he said slowly.
Nafisa did not answer. He wiped away a tear that escaped his net.
The desperate woman replied, “Thank you for giving me hope to stay alive.”
“What makes you want to end your life?”
“Trials are endless. The last time I was accused of murder. Been in jail for months. Now I'm a former prison resident. Thin was my hope of getting custody. This is the heaviest. They have children but cannot raise them.
Behind his sunglasses, the man's netra groaned.
“Perhaps, your ex-husband wants to keep having fond memories with you.”
Nafisa grunting.
“He doesn't think of me anymore. I don't know what's wrong, but my ex really hates me. Fates. Already a kara, dumped husband ..”
The man didn't make a sound.
“Nafisa, as I know, we're the ones who have to create happiness.”
“Have succeeded?” Tanya Nafisa wants to know
There was laughter coming out of the man.
“I have to marry a woman I don't love. If I survive it is because of my children from my former wife and because my present wife is pregnant with my child.
Well, if it fails, maybe you will read the news about men plunging from a bridge,” he replied chuckling.
“Yes already, the hell we are plunging now aja,” reply Nafisa back to look into the river under the bridge.
The man laughed then immediately stopped when Nafisa looked at him sharply.
“Open your mask. You're Reno, right?”
“Yes Allah, not Nafisa. I don't know who Reno is and for one reason, I won't open this mask.”
“Why?”
“Let's have a crush and your problems grow. I was married.”
Unexpectedly, Nafisa was outraged.
The man looked until Nafisa was done.
“Thank you, maybe this is the first time I can laugh after months. Not insulting you, but suddenly there is an urge to laugh,” explained Nafisa while wiping the tears that arise from laughing too much.
The man nodded then returned looking far ahead.
Nafisa replied, “Alau not too sure if I can be strong, but at least I am a little relieved after chatting with you, mysterious man. May we soon find each other's happiness.”
The man nodded then turned towards the parked motorcycle not far from where they were standing.
“In the meantime, Zayn Malik and his men will pick you up. I saw him at the hospital he almost died of fear of getting you out. I called the hospital when I realized you were standing on the side of the bridge. Looks like they contacted Zayn.”
Nafisa nodded, her eyes returning wistfully in light of the suffering Zayn had created.
“Pardon him or make his life difficult,” said the man while grunting.
The words of the man managed to daub a smile on Nafisa's sad face.
“Good idea. But I'm not the kind of person who likes to make things up. Even though problems always come to me. Thanks, yes.”
From a distance, a motorcade can be seen heading towards the place of Nafisa. He was about to ask how he was found but the masked man had run the motor and then moved away from sight.
Nafisa took a deep breath. Still with limp feet stepped closer to the accompaniment of the car.
Soon the cars stopped.
Zayn ran out followed by Mikail and some bodyguards.
Again Zayn's shadow slapped and kicked him without Mikail preventing it from flashing.
“Nafisa,” call Zayn Malik, his face looks anxious. Ruffled hair.
“Do not cry in front of these two jerk men, Nafisa,” he said inwardly.
Netra Nafisa looked straight at Zayn and Mikail.
“Back, yuk. Bude is waiting,” continued Mikail also with an anxious face.
“What's my fault with you two?”
Zayn and Mikail were stunned.
“Jawab! Is it my fault that you two did not have the slightest chance to defend myself at that time?”
Zayn's throat was blocked.
“Did I ever cheat Sepuh Mom? Have I ever done anything bad while I've known you both?“
Netra Nafisa was starting to warm up. Rubbing it rough to wipe away tears.
“Three months I was treated like an animal, Mr. Zayn and Mr. Mikail were honored. And who hurt Mom? Your wife, right? Is he being tortured now? To this day, how many times has she been harassed?”
Zayn stuttered, “Nafisa, I'm sorry.”
“You are the rotten man Zayn Malik. I will never forgive you forever. Go awayl. I don't want to deal with the Malik family.”
“Don't do that, Nafisa. Mother ... I ..”
“What, Sir? You want what? Want to force me home? Want to hit me if you don't want to come?”
Nafisa's eyes were staring.
“Where are you going Nafisa? Isn't there still a custody you want to fight for? I promise I'll help,” persuade Mikail.
“That's my business, sir. What help for? My name is already listed as a killer as well because of you guys, right?” The sound of Nafisa trembling restrained the emotions and cries.
“Not to care. Tell Bu Sepuh not to look for me again.”
“No can,” replied Zayn firmly.
“You do not have the right to chat me, Mr Zayn! Whahuh? Now you want a slap? Want to kick?”
Zayn nosed his nose.
“Nafisa, we go home to Mom, yes. I beg. Let me make amends for all my mistakes,” at once begging.
“With what, dear Mr Zayn Malik? Can you give me back the life I was like before I was in prison? Can you remove the digital trail so that I am no longer known as the killer?”
“Can. Nafisa give me a chance. Give us a chance. Our mistakes were both huge. Allow us ... I, take care of you.”
Nafisa snorted followed by a cynical laugh.
“Keep? Wasn't I broken because of you-you too? Alright, I'll forgive you but after this, there is no longer any relationship between us. Agreed?”
“Agree,” Reply Mikail.
“No way,” replied Zayn as he glanced at his cousin.
“Nafisa, you will go home Mom.”
“No!”
“You don't give me a choice, Nafisa. Forgive me again.”
With one move, Zayn warmed Nafisa's body, carried her like a sack of rice and then carried her to the car.
No matter how strong Nafisa's efforts revolted he still lost power. Shouting was useless because the place was deserted. He was indeed looking for a lonely place to end his life, not expecting him to be found by the man he hated the most after Reno.
Zayn sat Nafisa in the back seat and restrained her from escaping.
“Lease! Mr Zayn, off!” He shouted while struggling.
“I'm sorry again,” said Zayn then nodded towards Mikail who had slipped behind Nafisa with a pungent-smelling cloth.
Mikail smothered the unconscious Nafisa.
“I'm sorry, I. But I won't let you go before making amends, somehow.“
“Are we not getting him depressed?”
“We think about it later. Even if he is depressed, I can call the best psychologist or psychiatrist not only in Indonesia but from abroad if necessary. But what if he's alone and ends his life?”
A motorcade passed by a man who was repairing his motorcycle at an intersection.
From the sidelines of the motorcycle section, the man observed.
“Defend, yes, Nafisa.“
Once it felt safe, the man ran his motorcycle to the rented garage where he hid his car.
***
