The Pawned Marriage

Ayah

“Good day, Sir. What message do you want? If I can recommend, this afternoon it's good to eat Lontong Balap, drink cold fresh coconut water, then covered with fried bananas.”

Joseph cleared his throat, it is still clear that his menu mentioned Nafisa just now is his favorite menu first when Jamila was alive.

Repeatedly he stared at Nafisa who did not recognize him at all.

“For you, Sayid, do you want to try Soto Lamongan or Rawon seskel?” Ask Nafisa in fluent Arabic.

“Wah, smart. Fluent in Arabic,” exclaimed Rafiq amazed.

“Syukron, I once took an Arabic class in High School, still remember a little. So want to try Rawon which I have black color or Soto Lamongan which is yellow?”

“I propose you try Rawon. My late wife used to be a really good cook Rawon Siskus. Perhaps down to his son,” Yusuf replied as he looked at his daughter's face.

Nafisa smiled then replied empathetically, “Ikut is concerned, sir. May your wife be calm there. Hopefully my cooking can be as delicious as the cuisine of the late wife Mr.”

Hearing his daughter's reply, Joseph could only nod and not say a word.

“Oya, would you like to try my concoction, Sayid? Once a sheikha who taught at High School taught me how to make coffee typical of the middle east. We have not sold officially here, so if you want, it's free from Sayid love review.”

“By, I can't wait to tryin.”

Nafisa nodded then passed towards the kitchen telling Bu Wati who was happy to do kitchen tasks.

“Mbak Nafi, the Arab, yo?” His whisper after peeking out of the kitchen window.

“One is Indonesian, the other is Indonesian. Maybe tour guide,” replied Nafisa while starting to make qahwa typical of the Middle East.

“Wangi-ne delicious coffee. You're a really cool kitchen affair.”

“Matur nuwun, Mom. Alhamdulillahot. I used to love being in the kitchen with sick people. Naaah, so. Bismillah may like Sayid, the plan I will enter into menu.”

“Wis kono brought to the front. I'm ready to take the same rawon lontong racing. No bonus salted eggs, yo.”

“Njih, Bu.“

Bringing fresh and cold coconut water is also a concoction that smells directly filled the restaurant.

“I give you a bonus of coconut water for Sayid and concocted coffee for Father. Tried, please.”

Joseph and Rafiq took a sip of the qahwa specially formulated by Nafisa.

“Maa shaa Allah. Lazyiz! I am going to miss my wife. Every afternoon he makes me feel like this.”

Yusuf also admitted his son's coffee has a different taste.

“Aalhamdulillah's. I'll get you some food.”

Once presented, Joseph had to hold haru because how Nafisa presents, still exactly the same as how Jamila used to be.

Once the first feed touches the senses of taste, a blend of sweet, savory, and a little petis that used to be the hallmark of the Jamila race carrot immediately brings memories of the past.

“Pak, sorry, lontong racing made me not tasty, huh? How do you want to cry?” Tanya Nafisa was timid.

“Enak, Ma'am. Ever since my wife died, I've never had a good race. Father ... Father so miss the late wife.”

“Best prayers for the deceased, yes Sir.”

“If you can know, Mbak learned to cook where?”

Nafisa chuckles, “Honestly I don't know, sir. My memory started when I arrived at the orphanage. I just found out that my mother is dead. Well maybe I am father's outcast so ..”

“No!” Joseph cut off Nafisa's sentence with half a shout.

Climbing, Nafisa took a step back.

“Sorry, sorry Ma'am, I didn't mean. I lost my daughter when I was a kid. And it hurts so much. So when Mbak said that it used to be possible to be thrown away, I .. I immediately revealed the possibility of that ..”

Still in doubt, Nafisa listened to Joseph's explanation and asked, “Ooh, so. So until now I have not met?”

“Already, alhamdulillah. She looks a lot like her mother.”

“Alhamdulillah .. be happy, sir. Continuing the story, in the parlour if I can turn to cook, I always know what to put. Reflexes only. And all Javanese cuisine. If you say Bulik me, Mother is delicious and delicious cooking. Maybe I used to learn with him.”

Listening to his daughter's words, Joseph had to try hard to prevent his tears from flooding. Rafiq patted his shoulder.

“Udah, eaten come on. Cold hunt later.”

“Please, Sir. Then I go to another table first.”

Nafi nodded politely and went to the other tables that were starting to fill up.

“Fiq, I'm not strong. My son doesn't remember.” at all

“Give time. Btw, try rawonnya, this is really good food. Want to ask for the recipe let my wife make it when I get home.”

“Sorry for keeping you away from your wife and kids.”

“It's my job to take care of you. What matters is that you have to be strong. Healthful. Don't bother your daughter, okay?”

“In shaa Allah.”

Joseph ate the dish so well. Occasionally shook his head and closed his eyes to feel more delicacy while remembering his good times with Jamila and Nafisa.

From a distance Nafisa looked at the cool man sipping gravy on a plate that was almost slippery.

“As ever see where, huh?” Mumbled wailing.

Bu Wati came out with a fried banana and handed it to Nafisa to serve.

“The fried banana. Still angel. Banana legit. This is also one of the dishes that seems to stick in my mind. It seems simple but people say anyway, my fried banana is really delicious. Please try.”

Joseph's throat was choked. He remembered very well from a small Nafisa was good at frying bananas as a favorite snack of his small family who had once been happy.

The first bite feels legit with a powdery alloy that crispy crisps.

“Enak really, Mbak Nafi,” said Yusuf can no longer stem his feelings.

“Mbak Nafi? How ... How do you know my little name?” The sound of Nafisa sounded vibrating.

From his pocket, Joseph took out a shabby photo.

“Excuse me, Dad, Ma'am Nafi. Sorry ..”

Nafisa's hands trembled reaching for the shabby photo.

His father now looks much older. His face was thin, his eyes were slightly faint, and his hair had started to gray.

“Dad? I don't remember.”

“Sit down first, Madam,” firmly Rafiq while pulling the bench for Nafisa.

Tears trickled down Nafisa's cheek.

“After your mother passed away, Dad asked you to move to Malaysia. A few months later, Dad remarried to Nina. Turns out your stepmother and father-in-law ordered people to kidnap you.”

Nafisa held her head. Suddenly so many shadows flashed in his mind.

The smiling face of the mother.

Little Dian was running beside the car.

Her mother's last message when she died on her lap.

Dad slapped her cheek.

A sturdy hand that smothered him in the barn.

“Nafisa,” call Mikail who just arrived at the resto.

“Kak .. Dad.”

Then Nafisa drooped limp with her eyes closed. Before his body fell, Mikail managed to catch him.

“Nafisa! Why you? Who are you?”

Mikail slowly laid Breath on the sofa in the living room. Joseph and Rafiq helped.

“Who are you?”

While bringing the eucalyptus oil bottle closer to Nafisa's nose, Dian replied, “This is Oom Yusuf, her father Nafi.”

Nafisa's head started to move.

“Dad ...” Shouts while suddenly waking up.

“Nafi, slow. Remember you are pregnant again,” said Dian softly.

“Dad don't go. Mbak Nafi does not want to be alone anymore,” pinta Nafisa while staring with a pleading view towards his father.

“Mbak Nafi has remembered all, Father.”

“Mba Nafi's. Yes Allah Ma'am Nafi, Father's son.”

Joseph hugged Nafisa. The two scolded releasing a restrained relief for more than ten years.

“I'm sorry Dad, Darling. Sorry ..”

Nafisa tightens the hug. Not answering, leaning his head against his father's shoulders.

“Dad don't go again, yes ..”

“During the age is still there, Dad will not be far from Mbak Nafi. I will take care of Mbak Nafi, in shea Allah.”

“Daddy ..”

They still hugged for a long time. Mikail, Dian, and Rafiq all feel happy and haru together.

Joseph broke his embrace. Caught his daughter's face.

“You really look like your Mother, Ma'am.”

Smiling and still crying, Nafisa nodded.

“But if laughing is like Dad ..”

“Mbak Nafi ..”

Joseph hugged his only daughter with affection.

At the same time, Bulik Siti enters Nafisa's tiny house.

“Yusuf? That you?”

Joseph broke his embrace and looked at his sister-in-law.

“Iya, Sit. It's me.”

“Yes Allah, Suf, where are you. Mesakno Mbak Nafi.”

“I've been in a coma in Dubai for over ten years. Awakened when I saw the news Mbak Nafi on TV, but after that my condition went up and down so I could not go straight here.”

Rafiq also explained, “Time is still in Malaysia, Mr. Yusuf was hit by Sheikh Rashedi, my superior. The sheikh had just received the news of grief, his only son dying of chronic illness. As a form of responsibility, the Shaykh brought Mr. Joseph to Dubai. Caring for her in a private clinic.”

Yusuf nodded and said, “Nina, the wife of Father, was found to have kidnapped you. He says he hates you. I feel so stupid, Mom. Niatan gives the figure of a surrogate mother but instead presents a cruel woman.”

“Already, Dad. Nafy doesn't want to remember anymore. We better forget that part. Now there are days to be greeted with joy because we have gathered. O Allah. Nafi wants to prostrate gratitude first.”

The father and son then bowed in gratitude while shedding tears.

“Wis .. wis. No more crying from now on,” firmly Bulik Siti who is busy drying tears with the sleeves of Mikail's shirt.

“Betul, Bulik. Can be soaked in my clothes,” said Mikail meledek Bulik Siti.

“Hash kowe,” reply while hitting Mikail's arm softly.

Everyone laughed at Bulik Siti's reaction.

Late in the afternoon, they chatted warmly. Nafisa did not want to sit away from her father.

He showed me pictures of Aurelie and Milo.

“Dad will help you if you want to fight for their custody again.”

“After Nafi gives birth, yes Well. Now Nafi feels stronger because there is already a Father.”

Joseph nodded and turned to Mikail.

“Thanks for keeping Nafisa.”

“My sins are the same Breath is also a lot, Oom. Even this is not enough,” reply Mikail wryly remembered how he used to be silent not to defend Nafisa when thrown and to prison.

“Everything is done. Nafisa now wants to open a new page that has her father and all of us. Brother Mikail do not reveal the former, better quick horse rental,” as always Nafisa teases Mikail.

The seduced smiled wryly glancing at Dian. The sweet woman again closed her heart and focused only on raising Aisyah.

Dian got up from his chair and said, “I help mom at the restaurant keep picking up Aisyah, yes. You are like Oom Yusuf. Later that night Aisyah I invite here to eat Soto made by Aunt Nafisa.”

Nafisa got up and hugged her best friend.

“I really can remember our childhood. Makasi has inget same me after so long.”

“Lebay,” reply Dian belagak cuek but instead hug Nafisa.

“Hopefully after this your life path is full of happiness yes,”.

“Aamiin ..”

Mikail looked at Dian's back who was away.

“Pursuit, Brother, don't miss.” Nafisa commenting on Mikail's gelagat.

“Ck .. Oom Yusuf, excuse me. Son Oom fierce, if I do not recede can make pregnant women ngomel.”

The tall man then darted to call Dian who continued walking without turning his head.

“Actually I've been here a few days. But I'm observing the situation first. I thought she'd propose you.”

“Nafi alone. That's gatot. This father's son was widowed twice. She is now pregnant and her ex is married again. Tragic.”

“Sabar, yes Nafi. Mommy said must also be firm and remain kind.”

“In shaa Allah, Yah.”

“When you lost your time, I always pray that wherever you are, you will always be surrounded by people who love and compassion you.”

“Maa shaa Allah. Thank God my father's prayer was answered. Wherever Nafi goes there is always someone who helps, who loves Nafi the same. Makasi make pray Nafi.”

“Keep your plan what, Suf? Want to stay here or go back to Dubai?”

“If the Shaykh wishes I had returned to Dubai with Nafi.”

Joseph looked at his daughter expectantly.

Sayid continued, “Sheikh has given more than enough fortune to Mr. Joseph and Mrs Nafisa. Any type of restaurant and anywhere will definitely be prepared.”

“I will join Nafisa only. If you are comfortable here, Dad will also stay here.”

Nafisa stroked her stomach.

“What is clear is that Nafi does not want to go back to the capital, Dad. Lots of bad memories that are in the business of Nafi forget.”

“Whatever, Daddy will be next to you, Ma'am.”

Nafi leaned against his father's shoulder while closing his eyes.

“Hopefully this is not a dream,” he murmured in heart.

***