YOUR EYES GAVE ME A SOUL MATE

9. No Appetite

Today is the 7th night of tahlilan held at the residence of Rahmat. According to the custom of the village, every one who died would be held tahlilan on the first night, the third night and the last night of the seventh night. The atmosphere still looked as crowded as the night before. But the change seemed to Najwa who was getting thinner and thinner.

It has been a week since Affan's departure, Najwa's appetite is completely gone. Her thoughts were still on the husband who had left her for good. Although Butet the friend had tried his best to entertain, but still Najwa's smile disappeared somewhere.

As usual, after finishing his tahlilan Najwa returned to his room. But this time Najwa did not go to sleep, but pulled his suitcase from the top of the closet. Najwa began to put his clothes one by one into the suitcase with tears. No one knew how hard she had left the room, considering it was her last memory room with Affan.

"Hikz.astagfirullahaladzim o Allah.astagfirullahaladzim..."

Najwa repeatedly patted his chest to reduce the pain and tightness. She still could not let go of her husband.

Najwa kissed the koko clothes that Affan was wearing last time and had not been washed. Affan's koko clothes were worn during the tahajud prayer and Najwa waited for her to finish. Najwa hugged the shirt tightly, even it was wet with tears.

While passing through Najwa's room, Ega overhears her sobs from outside the door. The so-called and heart-wrenching sobs of tears instantly shook Ega's heart, and without feeling she also shed tears.

But because of her hard heart, Ega quickly wiped away her tears and quickly passed from the room.

After crying, Najwa folded the clothes and a holster for her to take with her before leaving the house. Najwa also brought a photo of Affan wearing a striped uniform.

*****

Bend day...

Najwa looks fresh after bathing and dressed, because Najwa will go to school.

"Loh, you've started going to school again Na? didn't you just finish the semester exam?" tanya Intan, when Najwa approached Intan and the family who was having breakfast.

"Yes Ma. Nana has not been in for a few days, Nana has to submit a recap of children's grades. Because Saturday's rapots will be shared." Answer Najwa.

"Oh that. Yes, let's have breakfast first." said Intan.

"No need to ma. Nana just left," said Najwa.

"can't. Look at your face is pale so, your face is also more thin. Do you want to make your mom sad again?" ask Intan.

"Eh?"

"Sit down next to my mom" Intan said as he grabbed Najwa's hand and made his daughter-in-law sit next to him.

Najwa glanced at Ega who looked cute while enjoying a large and long banana ambon. The man acted as if he did not know that Najwa was currently looking at him.

"Forget your sadness. Life has to keep going. You are very young, so do not get too late in the sadness," said Grace.

Najwa was silent, though his eyes were currently glazed over. Najwa then took a large spoonful of fried rice and began to enjoy the food despite the bland taste on his tongue.

"You sick? it seemed very lethargic," asked Diamond while looking at Najwa's forehead.

"No ma. Najwa is just a lack of sleep, because last night Nana stayed up late completing the recap of children's grades."

"Oh.mama thinks you're sick. If you are lethargic, you should ask your brother to go to teach," Intan said.

Hearing Intan's words, Ega so stop the chewing and put the banana that lives in half again.

"Get can't. There's a need to get out of there." Answer Ega.

"What do you need? wong the distance from the school is only about 10 minutes. You can go after you drop off your sister" said Rahmat.

"Just can't pa, I've been in this hurry," rejected Ega who immediately stood up from his seat.

Najwa drank a glass of water to encourage the fried rice, so that it immediately entered his stomach. After that he kissed the hand of Intan and Grace to say goodbye. But just as he was about to kiss Ega's hand, the man did not pierce her and just left.

"You don't take heart, do you? he is so, but he is really good" Intan said.

"Yes brother. He was a little weird and weird. Very contrary to Affan's friendly and gentle brother. Ayu also likes to fight with him, because sister Ega is very ignorant of people." said Ayu.

"Husssttt. Later your brother will be afraid to meet sister Ega," said Intan.

"Not what ma. Nana left first, right? assalammua'laikum,"

"Wa'alaikum salutations." Answer Intan.

Najwa then left on Affan's favorite motorcycle. After school, the one who followed Najwa left.

"Oh...My dear, why does your body look thin? it's not beautiful that I see your dimples that are flat like 80-year-old oma-oma" Butet said.

"Butt. I'm not having a taste for jokes" Najwa said as she placed her bag in the locker.

"Na. Why do you still dissolve in sadness, Affan certainly does not like to see you like this," said Butet.

For the first time Butet correctly mentioned Affan's name. And it sounded strange in Najwa's ears, until the woman published a slight smile.

"Well, fuck that's what I want. A smile of worship" Butet said as he kicked down the table that made Najwa strangled in shock.

"Butet what the hell? surprised to know?" said Najwa while stroking his chest.

"Akupun surprised. Because seeing the sun on your face. That's because you can smile now" Butet said.

Hearing Butet's words, Najwa's smile again rose. A smile that's been missing for the past week.

"Mas. You're right, you like Nana being friends with Butet, don't you? he was good at entertaining me. As you said at that time, you calmly left me, because there is a butet that can always comfort me when I am sad you leave," said Najwa.

"Continue smiling. Affan must be happy to see you from heaven" Butet said.

"Butt. Hugged me" said Najwa.

Butet hugged Najwa, but Najwa again shed his tears. Butet could say nothing more. He understood the feelings of his best friend. The girl could only rub Najwa's back, hoping that her best friend would soon calm down and forget about her sadness.

In a different place, Ega returned home after going to buy an internet package at one of the counters in his village.

"Ega. Come here," said Grace.

"Yes pa?" Ega drew closer to Grace, who was reading the newspaper.

"What kind of behavior did you show Najwa. Your behavior is like an uncut person. She's your sister-in-law, and that means she's your sister, too."

"That was before, but now Affan is gone. So he better get out of this house. It's better for our family in this house."

"What do you mean?" ask Grace.

Ega looked at Grace. He knew, if he said his last words, Grace would definitely be furious. And for that he would rather just leave, than have to answer the question of Grace. And Ega did not speak out of Grace, calling his name many times to ask for explanations.

TO BE CONTINUE'S...🤗🙏