WHEN THE HEART MUST SHARE

chapter 17

Anisa always tried to bring Aby closer to Jelita in various ways, but Aby still could not.

Anisa is aware, Aby has not been able to open her heart fully to Jelita because of her.

"Mas Aby's.. Not that I kicked you out of our room, but .. After all, Jelita is your wife too. She deserves it on you." Anisa said one night.

Aby pensively for a moment.

He drew Anisa in his embrace.

"Mas Aby realized that, but Mas asked for time" he said softly.

"I don't want to be a barrier to your closeness, because this is not just about meeting biological needs, but it is about rights and obligations. I can't close my eyes to all this, which is why I remind you."

Aby looked into Anisa's eyes deeply.

There's shade he got there.

"Your heart is so vast Anisa, and what is it made of? Doesn't it hurt to see me with another woman? Or is it possible that there is no more love for me so calmly you say to your husband to spend the night with another woman?" aby said in his heart.

"Why, Mas?"

Aby gave a long sigh.

"I'm afraid of losing your love." replied Aby slowly.

"That's wrong. I still love you, but things are different, so the way to love is different. I'm just learning to be sincere about reality, Mas."

Their conversation was overheard by Jelita who happened to be passing in front of Anisa's room.

Jelita ran to her room, leaning behind the door.

Her chest up and down held back her cries.

"Is it so heavy that Mas Aby opened her heart to me? Or maybe I don't deserve to be in their midst." Jelita wiped her tears.

"Lita, are you inside? Please open the door for a moment!" Anisa who knew that Jelita had heard the chatter, immediately approached her.

Jelita confirmed her hijab and opened the door to her room.

"Yes, Mommy?"

Let's pray the congregation prayer, Mas Aby is waiting."

Jelita nodded without a word.

"Wait a minute, are you crying?" search Anisa.

"No, Ma'am. I'm just flickering." elak Jelita reasoned.

"I know, it's all hard for you, for me and Mas Aby too. But please be patient. I promise I'll give you your rights as Mas Aby's wife as I should." Anisa looked at Jelita's wet eyes.

"Patience.. That's all I can say."

"Sir, maybe I'm the one who doesn't deserve to be among you. It's wrong!"

"Std.. Don't you ever say that. You already consider me as your brother, right?" Jelita nodded.

"Trust your brother!" Anisa held Jelita's hand.

"Let's pray together."

Jelita smiled and they marched to the place where Aby was waiting for her.

"Mas, I haven't seen Abah in weeks. I asked permission to stay for two nights, I'm sure Abah would love to see Al." Anisa said that morning as they had breakfast together.

Aby was silent, her eyes hinting in disapproval, but she finally nodded.

"Your medicines I've been watching Jelita, she already knows which and when to consume." Anisa's eyes grabbed Jelita.

Jelita nodded politely.

"But why stay? From morning until afternoon, can't it either." Aby finally made a sound too.

"Could, anyway. But I want to go home." Anisa replied.

"Mas Aby don't worry, there's Jelita who will take care of everything as long as I'm not around."

Aby knew the purpose and purpose of Anisa, she deliberately gave him time alone with Jelita so that she could carry out the task as a whole husband.

"Dek Zahra let's take it, Mother..!" chirped Al suddenly.

"No, no. Later mama hassles there." about Aby fast.

"That's right, Al. Zahra I brought, yeah! There's a lot of people who'll help keep it even if you believe in me. How's Lita?"

 Actually Jelita is still dumbfounded. But he did not want to offend Anisa.

"As for Mas Aby only, Ma'am.salu I'm okay, I trust full Anisa."

That Saturday afternoon Anisa went to her Abah place with Al and Zahra participating.

"Bismillah.. May you grieve my intention, O Allah." whispered Anisa before the taxi that took them moved slowly.

A clear water suddenly appeared making his gaze slightly blurred. How can it not be painful to leave your husband with another woman? with the goal that they can be together.

Anisa tried to smile.

"Calm Nis, this is your choice. Hopefully this will be your charity field to reach Jannah." Anisa comforts herself.

He looked at the baby Zahra who was soundly asleep in his lap

"The sweet baby.. The innocent baby. She doesn't deserve hatred from anyone." Anisa thought again.

At night, Anisa felt restless as well. He continued to imagine how Aby and Jelita were just the two at home.

What happened was far from Anisa's guess.

Aby stays in Anisa's room. Not one bit out of the room, all activities such as praying and checking his work he did in the room.

Aby had recovered, but the company gave her a longer leave than she should have. He did some of his work from home.

Jelita felt uneasy because Aby never, the house came out of the room.

He prepared dinner as usual Anisa did. The menu was the same.

"Did I just call you, huh?"

"Ah, no. I'm ashamed, what he thinks later.." he wrestled with his own thoughts.

The time for prayer has arrived, Aby has not yet come out of the room.

Jelita braved herself knocking on the door.

"Mas, dinner is ready, medicine must also be taken.' Jelita's voice was so slow and polite.

"Yes, I'm coming out soon." Aby's reply made Jelita a little quiet.

He waited patiently. But Aby didn't show up either.

Confused and upset, he called his mother.

Jelita told me what happened.

Jelita looked doubtful as Bu Sari gave her an idea.

But because there is no other way he finally tried the style of his mother.

Jelita no longer asks Aby out, but she accidentally drops her plate until her voice is heard in Aby's room.

"What did Jelita do? " at first Aby felt indifferent, but for so long not even dpa follow-up voice. He became curious.

"Aby opened the door to her room. He saw the food and medicine neatly arranged on the dining table. But there was one plate scattered on the floor. Aby gasp. "Where is he?"

Aby started looking in her room.

Jelita's room was slightly open, Aby opened it slowly. He saw Jelita packing some of her things while crying.

"Jelita, where are you going?"

"I've had dinner ready, Mas. Your medicine too. I want to go, "he said while continuing to pack.

"Why do you have to go, Anisa's not home. What should I say later?"

"Mas Aby doesn't have to say anything. Better I go, instead Mas Aby won't see me here?"

"I know myself, too, Mom. I'm nothing to you, I'm just a wife of a figure you're forced to marry out of compassion."

Jelita dragged her suitcase.

Aby caught his hand.

"Don't leave here, God will curse me for letting you go in this state."

'Who am I to still deserve to live here? Who's Mas?"

Aby speechless. He rubbed his sweaty face.

"you're my wife!" answer Aby slowly.

"Wife on paper? that's what Mas Aby meant? I know you can never open your heart to me. Then why do I survive.

Let go of me, Mom! I'm thankful enough that you raised my life. Gave me confidence again. But I don't want to be your burden forever. I want to be independent with my son"

Aby took the suitcase out of Jelita's hand.

"You can't leave here. I was wrong, I'm sorry...! I didn't give you the rights I should.

Aby grabs Jelita's body and embraces her.

"We will start from the beginning, the three of us both learn to accept each other's lack of fan advantages. Are you willing to live with me who is no longer alone? Maybe I can't give you the whole thing, but I'll try to be fair.

Jelita sobbed in Aby's chest.

He nodded slowly.

"I'm ready, Mas. Because I love you. I don't know when that affection came about. I want to see Mas Aby happy. Even if your happiness requires me to leave, I will."

Aby increasingly tightened his embrace.between sadness moved and responsibility, making Aby dissolve in a state of.

Elsewhere, Anisa could not close her eyes. He was restless at what happened between Aby and Jelita.

At five in the morning, Anisa is awakened by the sound of Zahra's crying.

"Why dear.. You're a pup?"

Anisa checks it out no, what makes Zahra cry so hard.

"Maybe miss Aunt Lita, Bund" Al reminded.

"So she could miss her mother. The bond between a mother and her child is very strong." murmured Anisa.

He initiated a video call with Jelita.

"Inter, huh? Mother call your mother for a minute..."

Jelita raised her call.

But there was something that made Anisa focus wrong.

jelita's hair is still wrapped in a towel.

Behind him were a pair of legs lying on their backs in bed.

"Yes, Mother. Zahra why?" jelita asked, but then she realized what had happened. He saw Anisa looking at him with a difficult look. Jelita looked back. She realizes that Aby fell asleep in her room after spending the night with her.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. I didn't mean to.." said Jelita nervously.

"It's okay. I just wanted to call you 'cause Zahra was crying all the time. I thought after seeing you she'd be quiet." Anisa's voice shook. He could hardly continue his words anymore.

"Yes, I'll see you at home. Assalamualaikum.." Anisa immediately turned off her call.

His phone fell into the bed. His body felt light floating like cotton.

"Why am I like this? Didn't I plan all this?"

His tears shed thy name, and there was no Isaac.

"I'm strong! I'm strong!" the whispers calm down.