The Wasted Bride

Business Cooperation

Aldair had just landed at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport at 9 p.m., so he decided to spend the night at a hotel nearby, before meeting Mr. Ghifari, the one who will be working with him.

In the morning, Aldair packed up. He was in Ottawa for a while before leaving for Toronto, because Mr. Ghifari invited Aldair to stay at his home for the next few days, to make it easier for him to see the state of Mr.'s restaurant. Ghifari was in the city and also discussed his cooperation with the restaurant owner, because he said Mr. Ghifari takes care of it.

Aldair took the UOttawa subway to Toronto. Actually he could use the air line again but jetlag the rest of the flight yesterday is still felt, after all the journey via train is only 2 hours longer.

During the journey, Aldair never stopped praying so that he could find the existence of the wife in this country, and of course also with hope, he said, the woman who is still his wife can forgive and receive him back.

Sounds selfish indeed, but what power, a sense of regret towards Arwaa that encourages him to want to be able to return with his wife.

'Union Station's... Union Station's...'

Aldair finally reached the stop. He stretched his muscles the moment he got out of the car. The train facility is indeed the best, but still if for 4 hours more continuously sitting, it will make the body ache.

"Mrs. Arsavijaya?"

Aldair stopped its activities. Next to his eyebrows raised.

"Mrs. Ghifari?" Aldair said.

The bearded man in front of him smiled and extended his hand.

"Assalamu'alaikum Mr. Arsavijaya."

"Wa'alaikumsalam Mr. Ghifari," Aldair returned the hand of his business partner.

"I didn't think it was Mr. Arsawijaya is young."

"Once I am, I think Mr. Ghifari is older than me."

The two men threw smiles at each other, trying to familiarize themselves as business partners.

"Ah, if you don't mind Mr. Arsawijaya just call me Mehmet."

"Then you can call me Aldair."

"Of course Aldair. It's nice to meet you. We'd better get to my place."

"Okay, thanks Mehmet."

They left the train station and drove to the Ghifari family's residence in Mehmet's car.

***

"Assalamu'alaikum Amma, Abba" Mehmet said entering his home, as Aldair waited outside to be welcomed.

"Wa'alaikumsalam" replied a middle-aged man who was none other than Ustadz Zahid, Mehmet's father.

Mehmet also invited Aldair to enter his house as soon as the figure of the father was seen.

"Abba, this is Aldair, a culinary entrepreneur from Indonesia who will work with our restaurant."

Aldair shines a glance at Ustadz Zahid. His feelings turned to sadness, remembering the father. Is his father in good health, because the last time they met, his father did not look okay.

"Well, it's young. Abba thinks he's the same age as Abba" licked Ustadz Zahid.

"Yes, Mehmet took Aldair to the guest room to store his belongings, after which he went straight to the dining room. Amma's been cooking a lot to welcome our guests."

Ustadz Zahid patted the son on the shoulder and gave a smile to his guests.

"Good Abba. Come on!"

Such is the Ghifari family, since long ago it has been accustomed to treat guests with good and polite, after all it is also a must for us to glorify guests. As the Prophet said:

Wa man kaana yu'minu latahi wal Yaumil end falyukrim dhoifahu.

Which means. "Whoever believes in Allah and the last day, let him glorify his guest." (CHR. Bukhari and Muslim)

As with Aldair, he had told Mehmet that he felt bad because the man's family welcomed him so well and a little excessive according to him.

Moreover, he was just a business partner, plus this was the first time they met. But already allowing Aldair to stay at their residence, also with an extraordinary banquet.

Mehmet was casually responding to it,

Our family trusts you Al, so don't hesitate. We are brothers bound by faith. I tell you, Amma and Abba have even welcomed Naina's friend, my younger sister, as if they were welcoming a daughter-in-law. Although I actually hope so.

Aldair smiled to himself, as if this business partner was falling for his brother's friend.

Haa...

Aldair breathed a tired sigh.

Being in the middle of the Ghifari family makes a happy and sad feeling melted in Aldair. She missed the warmth with her family.

He recalled that the last time he felt comfortable with his family was before his father married him to Arwaa. Because at that time Aldair did not like to see his family so close and loved a woman who was none other than his own wife.

After the extraordinary banquet provided by the Ghifari family, he is now lying down while staring at the ceiling of the room.

Tomorrow morning Aldair will go to a restaurant owned by the Ghifari family to check the situation there, and ascertain whether it will be suitable to add the menu of the archipelago in the restaurant.

Before his eyes closed Aldair did not forget to pray so that he could soon find himself with his wife in this country.

***

"Well this restaurant is really amazing Mehmet."

Aldair was amazed to observe every corner of the Ghifari family restaurant. In addition to the stunning interior, the taste of the food served in this restaurant is delicious. It is very different compared to the restaurants he manages in Indonesia.

"You said it was a central restaurant, right?"

"Yes, this is the first restaurant Abba built. And recently Abba opened branches in Edmonton and Montreal."

"Yes. But for now, I want to add the Nusantara menu in this restaurant first, and see the response of the customers to the Nusantara menu that will be added."

Aldair nodded in understanding.

"I wonder what reason makes you want to add the Nusantara menu in this restaurant. Because in my opinion, the current menu is also very satisfying, while the menu of the archipelago is not necessarily people like it."

Mehmet shook his head while smiling gently to remember someone who became the main reason why he wanted to add this Nusantara menu.

"I'm sure people like it, especially someone who really likes Indonesian cuisine" Mehmet said.

"Your sister's friend?"

"Eh?!" Mehmet was jolted by Aldair's question but a second later a red hue appeared on his handsome face.

"Feeling, the way you told me about your parents when you welcomed them a little, um, how ya."

Aldair teases Mehmet making his face redder.

"Is that clear?" Tanya Mehmet touched the ears, a habit when she felt ashamed.

"It's okay, I understand what it's like to fall in love," in contrast to what he said, Aldair just looks cheering.

"But my love seems unlikely to be regained," Aldair lirih continued to make Mehmet look at him.

"Actually my arrival here is not just to take care of this cooperation..."

"Also to get your love back?"

Aldair smiled faintly at the guesses of his business partner.

"I hope so, because I'm the one who made him go."

"Aldair, if Allah has arranged for you, no matter what happens, you will be rediscovered, even in a way you did not expect. For now continue to strive, pray, and also improve, because as stated in the Qur'an Surah An-Nur verse 26, that men are good for good women, he said, the opposite is true."

Aldair smiled knot. Although his heart was still a little heavy, he felt better after hearing the advice Mehmet gave.

"Yes come on, we better stop by my subscription bakery, you will definitely be hooked if you have tasted bread and cakes from the store," Mehmet asked.

"What about work..."

"We need to calm our hearts and minds first. It is not good to discuss this cooperation with a nervous mind" Mehmet explained.

Aldair and Mehmet went to Aunt Claire's bakery, which was 3 kilos away from their current position.

***

'Kling'

"Welcome."

"Oh, Aunt Claire?"

"Why do you look disappointed to see me here, Mehmet?"

Aunt Claire immediately snorted as if offended, although in fact she wanted to laugh at the look of the man who fell in love with her nephew.

"Eh?! Ma'am, it's not so, ma'am. I'm sorry if I offended your aunt, it's just usually..."

"My niece always welcomes you, does she?"

Mehmet misbehaved so that Aunt Claire could no longer bear to not laugh.

"Haha..."

The laughter of the middle-aged woman caught the attention of the customers in her shop. Instantly he apologized, worried about making his customers uncomfortable.

"I apologize for the unconvient," [Sorry for the inconvenience.]

Aunt Claire slightly lowered her head before looking back at Mehmet whose face was already as red as a tomato, making Aunt Claire have to hold back a laugh again.

"I'm sorry Mehmet, I didn't mean to prank you. It's just that disappointment seems so obvious to you, when you don't find my niece here hehe," explained Aunt Claire still chuckling.

"Auntie don't keep teasing me. I was with my business partner, maybe he didn't want to cooperate if he saw me like this," Mehmet said in a whisper.

"Haha, I'm sorry, aunt. Well handsome is also your business partner," said Aunt Claire turned to Aldair to make the man nod his head, greeting.

"It's nice to meet you, Aunt Claire,"

"Courteous young man," Aunt Claire smiled.

"Oh yes Mehmet, my nephew is sick so he took a day off first for a while, so the possibility that would welcome you in the store is between Auntie or Sean."

"Have you been sick for a long time?" Tanya Mehmet was worried.

"It's been almost a week, but the girl still doesn't want to be checked into the hospital. He said he was just exhausted and in shock, because his body still could not adjust to the temperature here."

"Is it really okay, shouldn't you be checked into a hospital?"

"Lord! You're Mehmet! If you want to know the state of my nephew, look at him at his house. Just take your parents to propose to him."

"Auntie!!"

Mehmet's face was clean like a tomato, so Aunt Claire and Aldair laughed.

Mehmet seemed to be very worried about Arwaa's situation. Whether with Aldair, whether he too will be as worried as Mehmet or more than the man when he finds out his wife is sick.

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