The Pawned Marriage

When Love is Untasbih

Valerie welcomed Zayn with great joy. After being disappointed because her husband and his entire family left her after the marriage contract.

“Zayn you're finally back. I'm tired, honey, can you massage my legs?” His ink while struggling spoiled.

Zayn took Valerie's body away.

“I really hate you, Valerie. Don't think I'm marrying you and we're gonna build a happy family. Nah! This is a punishment for you. Your mistakes for me have been so much. You tried to poison my mother, slander Nafisa, and now you ruin my marriage.”

Zayn's tone sounded cold making Valerie's feathers stand up.

“Nafisa turned me into a better person, yet you have returned a bit of my bad side. I bought this house to fulfill your request, but you will not enjoy it as you imagine. I've prepared the room in the back with the other workers. You will work as a waiter.”

Valerie slips.

“Ah come, don't be surprised. I've fulfilled your request, you see. Oya I'll stay here, but you won't be able to see me.”

“No! I'm your wife and I'm pregnant with your child.”

“Is that really my son? Or the child of one of the young men who became your toy?”

“Your mom already showed you a video? Bad woman base, all that fit ..”

With a single move, Zayn gripped Valerie's neck.

“You're the bad woman!” Zayn snapped right in front of Valerie's face.

“Zayn last!” The new Maryam came.

Zayn violently took off his hands until Valerie coughed.

“I didn't really strangle him, Mom. The baby in the womb deserves to live even though it is not necessarily my baby.”

“Your baby, Zayn. Please ...” Valerie sobbed with tears in her eyes.

“You know what, Val, you've been so mean that your tears are no longer able to move my mother's side. I thought about putting you in jail, but Mom and Nafisa's gentle nature kept me out. You should be thankful and repentant, no one I'm told to rape you every night or beat you every chance. Like I did with Nafisa.”

Now Zayn's voice shook with guilt.

“You know why I didn't send you to jail? Because a manipulative woman like you is likely to get away with all your cunning wits. So enjoy your prison here while doing household chores. Mbok Mi and Lastri will be watching and giving you jobs.”

Two women who hated Valerie so much appeared with fierce faces.

“Pair the tracking bracelet on that woman's leg!” Tell Mbok Mi.

“No!”

Valerie fought back but the two bodyguards had restrained and fitted the tracking bracelets.

“You won't be able to escape, Val. Oya if I really intend to run away, I have gathered all the young men who have been slaves to your naps to testify to the media so that your name is destroyed. And I've thought of another punishment for you if it happens.”

“Zayn, Mom, want to rest,” pinta Maryam while ramming her son. Tired of seeing the face of a woman he never liked..

Valerie tried to hold Zayn's hand before the man passed.

“Please, this is all slander, I am not guilty.”.

Zayn forcibly took off Valerie's hand while muttering, “Be quiet, because everything that comes out of your rotten mouth is a lie. Quickly to the back, do your job.”

“Zayn! Zay! I'll report you to the police.”

“Why? Because of living in a luxury home? For doing household duties that have become the obligation of a wife? Because your husband told you not to work outside to keep the pregnancy?” Zayn asked in a cynical tone and then coded Mbok Mi and Lastri to bring Valerie back.

Valerie still yells at Zayn's name then swears when two of Maryam's executioners drag her into the kitchen.

“Already, do not have to pretend to be a mistress. In the Malik Family there is only one young mistress, Madam Nafisa, until anytime. Wash the dishes from your extravaganza, not much cingcong.”

“Your bastards! I don't want to! Try it if you dare to ration ... will ..”

Valerie suddenly felt wet all over her body.

From the back, Lastri splashed him with cold water.

“Backed!”

“For a pregnant woman, you are swearing too much. And for a villain like you who acts like an angel, the Malik family is already very good. So shut up and enjoy your punishment.”

“I didn't do any of Mother's accusations! That crazy woman doesn't like me! Zayn affected his persuasion.”

Mbok Mi and Lastri sat.

“Look, let me know how lucky she is to be compared to Madame Nafisa.”

“Nyonya Nafisa? She's just a maid like you.”

“Sabar Mbok, Madam Nafisa definitely does not want this attached mak dead we hit. Well Queen Halu, take a look at this, and don't slam my hape because per-cu-ma,” Pastri said in a condescending tone.

On the screen, Valerie sees herself buying chemicals to poison Maryam.

Not only that, CCTV in the park area that managed to capture his face when Maryam who died pulled the veil used to cover Valerie's face to slander Nafisa.

The video continues to his wild behavior with young men with plain faces and bodies clearly displayed.

“The young men in this video already intend to report you. They used to be scared but now you're nobody. Only a madman thinks life in prison is better than here. No matter how bulky you are.”

“You're all crazy!”

In an impatient tone, Mbok Mi responded, “Wash all tableware until clean. Every time something breaks, your stuff I take.”

“Basic maling!”

Mbok Mi and Lastri broke down and called some senior workers who all hated Valerie for her arrogance during her time as an employer.

“All, we have a new assistant. Consider him deaf mute. Don't talk unless we want to order him. His first job was to wash all the utensils. Oya said Mr. Zayn, every time he got it wrong, we can take his stuff. It's just that we still have to feed and drink decent.”

“Ready,” replied the workers with an anxious and satisfied face.

“Quick washing!”

Full of reluctance Valerie approached towards the sink then her face looked disgusted.

“Kerjain aja ..” Urge workers.

“Honey nails removed first tuh ..”

“If it breaks I want one eye diamond ring which is pink.”

“Pecahin all aja Val!”

While holding his anger Val would not want to wash one by one dishes, glasses, spoons, forks used by guests before the wedding ceremony began.

Every time something broke, the workers cheered with excitement.

If Valerie's audience usually stares with admiration, this time until somehow she will become a laughable spectacle.

There were no tears because for Valerie, crying was a symbol of weakness.

After finishing, Mbok Mi, Lastri, and the other workers went to Valerie's room to pick up the items they wanted.

Valerie shouted hysterically then chased them away from her room which was far from luxurious. He slammed the door and looked around.

The room is 2x3 meters. Even the bathroom used to be wider than the size of his bedroom now.

There are cots, cupboards, and little nightstands. Without AC however there is a small window facing into the narrow ground behind.

There was no bathroom in the room until Valerie had to share it with other workers.

“Arrgh!”

“Awas you, Zayn!” Frustrated scream.

From outside the room came a low boisterous sound of workers mocking Valerie.

***

Unlike the condition of Valerie, in Banyuwangi, a pregnant woman looks very enjoy life in a simple village.

There is no human who takes the life of others.

All walk on the wheel of life.

Finally they knew who Nafisa was, yet no one had any intention of leaking her identity for personal gain.

Villagers welcomed and supported to rise.

Nafisa opened a small kiosk in the market selling light snacks. Then it evolved into a rice shop.

After that, he rented a cozy beach house and built a small pavilion for his residence. The main house section is made into a small restaurant with a charming sea view.

Resort guests really enjoy a restaurant that is beautifully arranged and serves delicious dishes typical of the archipelago.

Mikail opened a car wash business and with its connections, helped batik craftsmen there to develop their business abroad.

The younger cousin of Zayn Malik kept his promise to look after Nafisa.

Dian on the other hand is now keeping her feelings from Mikail. The beautiful midwife could see how handsome the man adored his best friend.

He is sure, Mikail will soon marry Nafisa once her period is over when her baby is born.

Dian midwife always monitors the health of Nafisa and its contents. Take her to a large hospital for an ultrasound examination in certain months.

The irresistible longing that Nafisa felt for Aurelie and Milo was treated with prayers in each prostration.

Nafisa now more calm and sincere and fight for the baby in the womb.

All flowed beautifully for Nafisa, although admittedly she still thought of Zayn, but she invited the man who had become her ex-husband to live happily.

Moreover, he saw the show Zayn and Valerie is checking the content. Both of them looked tired but tried their best for the baby.

Nafisa never guessed that it was all a setting. Zayn forces Val to think he's okay. Once at home, Val is nothing more than an abusive worker.

Without Nafisa knowing, Valerie had to work from morning until night. Just like he used to be in prison only without physical violence.

The arrogant and greedy woman was like being deprived of her glory. There was no access to the outside world because Zayn asked the media to no longer provide jobs or interviews so that Val could focus on her pregnancy.

The outside world including Nafisa can only surmise that Val is living happily without knowing Zayn is creating suffering for her. Keep Val away from all dreams, destroying him slowly by calculation.

***

A middle-aged man got off the plane at a private airfield. Although using a cane, but his body is handsome and his good looks are still clearly drawn.

The man breathed the air of the earth of Indonesia that he had long left behind.

A man greeted her and opened the car door.

“Mr Joseph, are we going to your hometown.”?”

“Yes, I'm sure my daughter was there after her husband's betrayal.”

***

The Flash back On

Almost a year ago, when the news of Nafisa was thrown into prison for allegedly poisoning Maryam Malik, the miracle touched Joseph.

His brain began to function, even little by little. He began to respond to every stimulus in the nerve points given by experts. They all worked on the orders of Shaykh Rashedi to take care of Joseph.

For Shaykh Rashedi, the presence of Joseph despite being in a coma like his son's successor who died of illness.

He used to be upset when driving a car in Malaysia to hit Yusuf who was also confused because Nafisa was lost kidnapped on the orders of his new wife.

With painstaking care, Shaykh Rashedi always read the story and verses of Qur’an every day.

Wishing Joseph could still hear and not feel alone in a coma.

Ensuring the best nurses and doctors look after Joseph. Reporting all developments.

The nurse tells Joseph that Nafisa Salsabila is his daughter.

Shaykh Rashedi moved quickly but remained cautious because at that time Joseph could not be spoken to.

With a heavy heart, the Shaykh recounted Nafisa's apprehensive condition with severe charges up to the death sentence handed down to him.

Joseph was crying in silence. But his spirit to heal is burning.

Little by little, his body that was more than ten years immobile began to be able to function.

He wants and must recover to save Nafisa.

Shaykh Rashedi placed a monitor screen and opened Nafisa's social media account to show Joseph.

Every day Joseph would practice by looking at all the activities of Nafisa before going to prison.

Joseph's condition is still up and down. There were days when his body showed healing but there were times when he could not respond at all.

That is why Sheikh Rashedi did not want to rashly and quickly let Yusuf back to Indonesia.

When Nafisa married for the second time, then Joseph just finished surgery to remove the blockage that appeared on his head.

Longing for his only daughter is the main motivation to recover.

Yusuf often looks at photos of Nafisa with Aurelie and Milo on social media. Search for news in online media.

Three months later, Zayn and Val's video went viral. Although not one hundred percent recovered, finally Sheikh Rashedi allowed Yusuf to return to Indonesia to find Nafisa.

“Take your son here. I will guarantee your lives. You know for yourself, right, my son and wife are home,” Shaykh said when Yusuf said goodbye.

Joseph was determined to bring Nafisa to Dubai if indeed his daughter suffered so much there.

“Thank you for all your kindness over the years Shaykh,” Yusuf said while trying to kiss the reverence but was subtly rejected.

“Already, Son. I caused you a coma. May God forgive me. Give news. Introduce me to your son as a grandfather. You want to, right?”

“In shaa Allah, Shaykh.”

Yusuf also left for Indonesia on a private plane belonging to the Shaykh accompanied by a personal bodyguard who will accompany him until Yusuf can be independent.

On the plane, Yusuf is endlessly praying and hoping to meet Nafisa, his beloved daughter.

***

Joseph sat beside his wife's grave. His hand rubbed the headstone.

“Mil, sorry, I failed to keep your trust. The journey of Mba Nafi's life is so winding that she faces it all alone. I'm sorry ..”

From his neighbors, Joseph knew when Nafisa decided to live in Banyuwangi.

They gave their addresses and prayed for the best for Joseph and Nafisa.

Accompanied by his bodyguard, Joseph went to Bayuwangi.

***