The Pawned Marriage
Unbranded Regret
“Nafi, please get volleyball ball in warehouse.”
“Good Mr. Cik.”
“I want to help Nafi,” exclaim some excited children. That's how Nafi, only a few hours in the dorm but he has made friends with some students.
“Eeeh, Just take the breath. You want Mr. Cik give me a job.”
“Aaah Mr. Cik, we will help Nafi,” hanker one of the students while embracing the shoulder of Nafi who replied by embracing back.
“Hish. Nafi, please take two volleyballs. Others follow Mr. Cik.”
“Abis that we play, Nafi,” exciting other enthusiastic students.
“Beres, I wasn't long, really. The warehouse that decets the back gate, right?”
“Iya,” reply Pak Cik sports teacher while pointing towards the warehouse .
While kicking, Nafisa walked towards the warehouse. Although still sad about the incident last night, but at least he met new friends and can now focus on learning. Free from the duties of the house that are always charged to him.
Arriving at the warehouse, Nafisa opened the door and then entered to look for volleyball balls. His eyes were squeaking because the room was dark. He was trying to find a light plug.
“Ah meet. Dark bener.”
Haven't had time to grab the plug suddenly he felt a pair of burly hands smothering him. Nafisa tried to scream but the handkerchief smelled pungent closed to her nose and mouth.
After that, he remembered nothing more.
***
With a chaotic feeling, Yusuf listened to the Royal Police who gave information that Nafisa was missing.
Nina kept holding her husband's hand. Tears running down the cheeks.
Ms. Reni was unable to look at Yusuf because she felt guilty. Decades of being the head of the dorm, he never lost a single person.
“Pak, we suspect Nafisa is running away. No sign of abduction. We have checked CCTV,” explained the Royal Police Commander.
“I want to see CCTV footage.”
“Please.”
Ms. Reni turned on the CCTV footage. He also hopes there is a bright spot from the loss of Nafisa.
From CCTV, seen from behind Nafisa while looking down to walk towards the gate, open it and run towards the big road.
The Royal Police then diverted to traffic CCTV showing Nafisa riding in a public vehicle to New Town.
“We have deployed officers there to search for Nafisa.”
“No, not possible. Even at home, Nafisa has never been taught to get out of the complex alone. Especially in a new place. Where does he know where to go? Maybe it wasn't Nafisa. Maybe he fell asleep in one place,” Yusuf said expectantly.
Covered in guilt Bu Reni explained, “We have three times checked all over the girls and boys dormitory with the police, Mr.”
“I ask you to take responsibility! This is not a lost thing. My son is missing, Miss Reni!” Yusuf yelled while breaking the table.
“Mas, relax. I'm sure Nafisa will be found soon. Try me to call Mamah. Moga Nafisa just kangen then want to go home.”
Nina called her mother.
“Mah, how? Is Nafisa there?”
Through audible speakers, “No, Nin. Ooh Mama is afraid and worried. Mana Farrel from earlier fussed.”
“Titip Farrel first yes, Mah. Kabinin also if Nafisa gets home,” said Nina with a tone that sounded very worried.
“Iya Nin's. Mamah's kabarin too, yeah. Here Mamah also prayed continuously so that Nafi would meet soon.”
Joseph's bones were shed.
“Nin, you take the car and go straight home. I'll find Nafisa.”
“Mas, better Mas go home. Who knows, Nafi is looking for a way to get home. There are already police looking for.”
More senior police said, “Betul, sir. We believe this is not a kidnapping. We have also spread the notification to the public transport fleet to report if you see a child with characteristics such as Nafisa.”
“I'm sure Nafi only misses the same one of us and desperately runs away from the dorm so he can go home. Yuk, Mas, we wait at home.”
Yusuf nodded. After ordering to continue preaching it, he stepped foot. Behind her secretly Nina smiled as her plan was a success.
***
In a barge, Nafisa lay unconscious.
“Prepare his letters, soon check,” a man who was seen leading in the boat.
A couple and a child of Nafisa's age look nervous. The husband, Abduh, clasped his wife's hand, his eyes anxious.
“Nur, we do this for Salman,” Abduh told his wife.
“Dad .. Zura was afraid,” the girl who had previously disguised herself as Nafisa and exited the back door of the dormitory.
“Sini sits near Dad. Nur, the boy's bench, make it look as if he is asleep from seasickness,” whispered Abduh as he pointed towards Nafisa. His wife obeyed and put Nafisa's head into his lap.
Not long after the ship stopped according to the orders of maritime patrol vessels.
The captain of the ship showed the papers, after everything was done, the officers entered the passenger area and examined them carefully and thoroughly.
Lately, many illegal immigrants are in and out through the waters that connect Malaysia and Indonesia.
“Goodnight Mr. Cik. Want to travel to Indonesia?”
“Goodnight. Right. Visit exit.”
Officers observed the faces of Abduh, Nur, Zura, and Nafisa who were still asleep.
“Kenape die?”
“Motion sickness. Already taking medicine to sleep.”
Officers read the submitted letters and then compared their faces and the photos in the passport.
Unexpected Nafisa moves then mutters, “Dad ..”
The faces of the three men stiffened. Abduh directly stroked Nafisa's head while whispering, “Sssh, Father is here, go back to sleep.”
Officers observed Nafisa's face covered in a veil.
“Buke, please. Saye want to see the face.”
Nur rubbed off Nafisa's veil. The officer watched and nodded.
“Saye juge's son is always seasick. It's suratnye. All of you passes.”
After all the officers returned to the patrol, Abduh grabbed the shoulders of his wife and son while breathing a sigh of relief.
In the heart of the man said, “Salman, soon I will release you.”
Two hours later the captain again told all to prepare the papers because now the patrol from Indonesia will check.
Suddenly a loud siren sounded and floodlights illuminated the barge.
Abduh, Nur, and Zura sat down with a look of fear. They hold hands with each other.
“Dad ...” Lirih Zura who then close the body to her father.
Abduh, who was scared to death, tried to stay calm.
Police officers stormed in and headed towards them. Abduh tightly gripped one of his wife's hands while Zura closed his eyes. Sweat drenching the forehead.
“You! Stand up!”
Abduh tried to calm himself. He can't seem to panic.
“Stand! You hear me, don't you?”
A mature brown-skinned man sitting beside Zura stood up. Not until a split second, he grabbed Zura who was still closing his eyes and then stuck a knife to the little girl's neck.
Zura suffocated in fear, “Dad! Bonde!”
“Zura!” Abduh and Nur shouted along with a panicked tone.
Police officers told the two to sit down.
Now the gun is directed towards the man who continues to stare nyalang towards the officers.
“She will die. You will watch her die!” His impact.
“Ayaah ..” Pekik Zura again.
“Shut up! Just shut up you little b*tch! You wanna die in front of your parents?”
“Lepaske die. You can't run kemane-mane. You just make more trouble,” command the officer in charge.
The man's chest went up and down. The knife was still drawn to Zura's neck.
One officer continued to stare at Zura then moved his lips, silently saying, “Look at me.”
Zura had no other choice. He felt a fluid drain from his neck.
“Bloody, bloody die!” Called one of the passengers.
The officer who was staring at Zura, “Look at me.”
Zura nodded.
Suddenly he heard a subtle eruption followed by a swish of air beside his face. The fugitive man instantly collapsed the moment the hot lead pierced through his heart.
Agilely the officers pulled Zura and captured the now lifeless body of the man.
Zura went to his father.
Without a fuss, maritime police officers carried the criminal's body out of the ship. Paramedics of the maritime police rushed to treat Zura.
The police commander said, “Sorry for the disturbance. Hope the trip is smooth.”
One of the passengers asked, “Siape die?”
“Buronan human traffickers. So that's the fate of human traffickers if faced with us. No one's trying, yeah.”
Nur felt Abduh's body tremble.
Before leaving the ship, the commander looked towards Nafisa who was still asleep in Nur's lap.
“Is he okay? He did not wake up during the incident. We have a doctor if Mr. Cik's child needs to be checked.”
“Ti .. no. I love Nouvoumine before I leave. Thank you Mr. Cik.”
The commander nodded then along with his men returned to the patrol boat which immediately moved away.
Abduh felt Zura's body still trembling violently. There's a red stain on his veil.
One of the passengers brought tea from the flask.
“Drink, Deck.”
The warm sweet tea managed to make Zura calm but still leaned back to her father asking for protection and warding off fear.
Nur looked at Nafisa who was still asleep.
The woman is impassive, “You will definitely be very frightened when you wake up and see unfamiliar faces.”
The maternal instinct made her close Nafisa to her body.
“Im sorry Ms. If you don't have to release his brother Zura from prison, Mak Cik won't keep you away from your family. Sorry,” murmured softly.
***
Not a single bit of Joseph could close his eyes. Dozens of times he called the Royal Police asking about the progress of the Nafisa case.
Every time also Joseph had to swallow the pill of regret having left Nafisa in the dormitory.
“Yes Allah, wherever the son of the servant, protect him. Surround the slave boy with those who love him. Servant is sinful. This hand had already hit Nafi, this heart had already doubted him. The servant left her when she was very frightened and confused. Forgive the servant who was unable to protect Nafi. Servant is a cruel father. Forgive me God.”
After he finished spilling his guilt, he opened the Nafisa bag that was returned by the dormitory.
Her chest is cramped to see a photo of herself, Jamila, and Nafisa while enjoying a swivel comedy in Dufan. The three laughed cheerfully.
Yusuf cried violently while hugging the photo tightly.
“I'm sorry, I've failed to carry out your message to look after our son, Mil. Sorry.”
Tears of Joseph mentioned the name of his wife who had died many times.
***
Abduh received punch after punch without resisting.
“This is a punishment for not being able to carry merchandise. It's still a good thing I didn't sell your son or wife.”
The man whose neck and face were covered in cobwebs tattoos kept kicking and punching Abduh in the face. Nur and Azura cried while pleading for the man to stop torturing Abduh.
“Boss, we have to go. Soon patrol passes.” One of the thugs who was holding a communication device exclaimed.
The man grabbed Abduh's hair. Between being aware and not, Abduh heard, “You should feel lucky because your wife is ugly and your child's appearance is flawed, otherwise they've sold for a high price.”
Nur tightened his embrace to Zura while looking at her husband who was dying.
The tattooed Bengis lashed out a blow with all his might to make Abduh lunge. Together with his men then boarded the jeep and disappeared from that place.
“Abang ..”
In between breaths that stay one-on-one, Abduh advised, “If I am not safe, please release Salman. Educate him and Zura to be good people, do not fail like his father.”
“Dad, dad hold on. Zura will find help.”
“Zura jangaaan!” Shouted Nur frantically seeing Zura run darting through the thickets.
Nur hugged Abduh who felt heavier for a long time.
“Abang do not stayin Nur.”
Abduh moved his finger, his eyes opened for a moment and was imprisoned.
“Abang ... Abaaang ..”
Nur moved her husband's body. No movement until the minutes pass.
“Bonde, Zura bawe bale help.”
The girl came followed by several young men and a doctor dressed.
“Zura!” Nur exclaimed, between relief and worry. The doctor or the young men will definitely report the incident to the local police.
It did not rule out the possibility they were interrogated about the cause of the beating of her husband.
Zura approached her mother. Worrying looks.
“Dad is alive?” His whisper.
“Alhamdulillah still,” said the young doctor who examined Abduh replied Zura.
“Bring to the puskesmas, we take care there,” he continued.
A young man helped Nur to stand up. The woman slightly staggered then collapsed accompanied by Zura's terrified cry.
The doctor and the young men took the little family to a remote puskesmas on the edge of the forest.
After two days of treatment, when police came to check on the victims of the persecution, doctors and health care workers could not find Abduh and his family who had fled to Malaysia.
***
The Flash Back On
After disembarking at the port, Abduh rented a vehicle to the hills in the west of Sumatra Island. Early in the day through the darkness of the night that still reigns.
The three of them rode in silence, only the sound of Nafisa's breath sounding gently in order.
“Abang, Nur does not want to be released this slave alone. Zura was already scared when held hostage human trafficker. What else this slave if it is aware, die does not know ready-siape,” pinta Nur after back and forth weighing before saying his objection to Abduh.
“Kite takunye Nur's choice. Kite must release Salman. Between this slave or kite's son, Brother prefers Salman.”
Nafisa is still sound asleep. Zura watched the beautiful look that was closed in her lap. They continued to drive towards where someone was going to buy Nafisa.
“Kak ni gorgeous nian. Zura wants a face like Big Brother,” murmured softly.
Nur looked at his daughter with affection. Born with abnormalities in the lips, Zura was lucky to get a donor to finance the operation. Although the former surgery is still visible, but at least it has closed the internal abnormalities.
“Zura juge beautiful,” said Nur raising his daughter's teak.
Reflex, Zura closed the stitches on the lips. Not sure a little about his mother's statement. Her neutrals continued to stare at Nafisa.
“Dad, Brother want us ready?” Mumbled Zura who could not imagine life without his parents.
“Die has been awaited with Markus, want to be taken to Thailand or Vietnam.”
“Innalillaahi! Child trafficker?” Nur.
Netra Abduh stared straight at the street that lay in front of him. His hand squeezed the steering wheel. With a face as beautiful as Nafisa, it is certain that she will be sold to child prostitution pimp.
“Dad, we have to bring Brother back to Malaysia,” Zura said as he shook his father's shoulders who was still holding the wheel.
Tears wet Abduh's rancher. Hurriedly rubbed violently because they do not want to look shaky.
“No, Darling. Later we are filed and arrested.”
“Bang, are we better off staying this kid in an orphanage? We already got paid.”
“We are paid to take this slave from the dorm. But the money was still lacking to free Salman. That is why Mark's brother contacts. Die want to buy at a high price.”
“Bang, no. There is a law of the harvest. Bise so later Zura was hit by reinforcements from kite's actions. It's bad nian kite ni kidnap die from dorm.”
“Dad, no Father. Ustadzah word is not blessed..” Say Zura lirih.
Abduh stopped his car. His hands covered the face of Salman, his eldest son, who was battered when he visited in prison.
“Your brother should be out of jail immediately. Kite has to pay a guarantee of five thousand ringgit. We just got two thousand ringgit. Markus promises six thousand ringgit to slave ni.”
“Bang, this is wrong. I agree with Kate Zura. Kite found an orphanage, lived there. He only realized two to three hours more.”
“Dad, it's no orphanage.” Suddenly Zura pointed at a simple two-story house by the side of the road.
Nur looked at her husband's face with a pleading look. Although he also wanted his son to be released from prison but did not want the little girl in his lap sold and made into a slave ****.
The sound of Nafisa muttering something. Abduh looked back then took a long breath.
“Abang agrees. Check the kid's clothes again, make sure that no papers are brought. Also, do not miss. We have to burn all the documents about this boy.”
Nur exchanged glances with Zura who nodded. His hand then checked the pockets of Nafisa's clothes. After finding nothing the woman told her husband.
In front of the orphanage, the car they were driving stopped. Abduh went down and carried Nafisa, who was still asleep, and carefully placed her on the terrace floor.
“Sorry Mr. Cik, may Allah always take care of you,” his murmur before leaving Nafisa and going to meet Mark.
Flash back Off.
***
“Astaghfirullahaladzim, Ms. Intan, there is a child in front. Buuuu ..”.
Nafisa looked at the confused looking girl before her. Within seconds, several girls of her age scrambled out to see Nafisa.
A woman called Bu Intan rushed out of the house and approached Nafisa.
Panicking, Nafisa retreated and prepared to flee.
“Assalamualaykum, Son. I'm Miss Intan, what's your name?”
Nafisa.
“Waalaykumussalam, I .. I don't remember.” His voice shakes.
“Mother, she's scared. Let's go in, yuk. Sandra has made a sweet anget tea,” said the child who is sorry to see the condition of Nafisa.
“Fried beans and wheat porridge are also ready, Mom. Let's invite in,” propose another child.
“Son, hopefully after your stomach fills up, your memory returns.” Madam Intan slowly extended her hand towards Nafi.
Nafisa looked suspiciously at everything. But they all nodded and convinced. Still hesitating but Nafisa finally grabbed the hand of Bu Intan.
“Dimi, you grab a plate. We ate a rame-rame in the middle room,” said the biggest child.
The middle room that was not too large but neatly arranged and comfortable was immediately filled with several children who had just descended from the top floor. Everyone looked at Nafisa with curiosity.
Some understand what Nafisa feels because that's how they used to arrive at the orphanage. Abandoned.
“Sini, Son, sit next to Mom. Don't be afraid.”
The boy named Dimi poured warm tea into the glass and then reached out to Nafisa.
“I Dimi, drink, in the Lord you will be calmer.”
With her hands still trembling, Nafisa grabbed the glass and drank slowly. Warm tea feels delicious to wet the throat that has been dry for hours.
“Te .. thank you.”
Another child thrusts a plate containing fried bananas.
“Eat.”
Nafisa hesitated but seeing the look of friendly eyes she picked up a piece of fried banana.
Slowly he bites the legit banana and recognizes the familiar taste.
“It seems like before I often eat fried bananas,” he said softly.
“Ssssh is no longer worth thinking about. You're safe here, son. Eat well. Come on everyone, we also have breakfast,” take Bu Intan and then fill the bowls with wheat porridge.
“Hi I'm Sandra, this is my sister Naima.”
“I'm Karin.”
“I Leli.”
Each child is fighting to get acquainted. The once frightened breath now became calmer staring at the friendly and warm faces surrounding him.
***
HELLO ALL
See you soon.
Because it is still Shawwal so I pray that Allah will accept all our services in last Ramadan and we all meet with the next Ramadhan-Ramadan.
Enjoy this new novel. Sorry if apdet nda routine krn skrg activities sdh a lot offline yes. So munghalu ration reduced 😁.
Please, like, fave, comment on the sisters.
Love, though,
Freya Alana's
