ZAHRA AKBAR'S

The Smile of Two Hearts

That morning Clara and Fachri almost woke up late. The two of them immediately decided to pray for dawn. Fortunately, the sun was not yet up. So, there is still a chance to pray.

Because last night stayed up, they both did not hear when the alarm went off. Though the plan they will jog in the morning blind as usual.

They also decided to run for a while in the morning as a warm-up. Randi also participated.

"Now we will learn to breathe" said Fachri after warming up to minimize muscle injury.

"Ready Boss!" clara and Randi said.

Fachri instructed the two to sit cross-legged. He also sat down to give an example.

"Pull your breath slowly out of your nose and then take it out of your mouth. Then hold your breath for ten counts."

They did that a few times.

"Now take a breath and hold for twenty-five seconds" said Fachri again giving instructions. He stood up while counting. Just up to the count of twenty Randi was already panting unyieldingly holding his breath.

"I'm gonna faint Ri." Randi toppled his body to the floor.

Clara could still hold her breath until the count of five. But then he also joined the limb beside Randi.

"You should practice again in breathing. It's only been twenty-five seconds. Not a minute."

"Like Ri nahan breath one minute. Can immediately go to our mercy," said Randi.

"Lo, Rand is leaving. I'm not quite ready yet" said Clara.

Fachri asked the two to keep trying until they could and used to hold their breath. Surely Fachri did it slowly and gave a pause for a break.

"Hows it? you guys still able to continue training?" ask Fachri.

"Capable!" both are still excited.

"OKs. Now you take a position like Yoga."

"You know Ri stands for Yoga?" tanya Randi was going to joke.

"Yo don't understand" replied Fachri.

"I know Ri. Failed my guess."

"My friend is from Solo Rand. So little know about the language of Java." Fachri takes a cross-legged sitting position like yoga.

Clara and Randi also took the same position.

"Now concentrate your mind on one point. Make full concentration. Clear minds. Remove all loads. Remember concentration!" Fachri puts emphasis on the last utterance.

The three of them closed their eyes and followed Fachri's instructions. Several times Randi glanced at Clara. He was about to say something.

"Concentrated Rand. Don't wiggle!" fachri scolded with eyes still closed.

Randi closed his eyes again.

After fifteen minutes, Fachri ended the training. They rest for a moment. Then clean yourself up.

****

While descending the stairs, Clara found her father still at the table eating while reading the newspaper. He hugged his father from behind.

"Daddy!" call Clara by draping her two arms around Her Father's neck from behind. Then take a moment of pampering.

"Sweet boy!" Steven rubbed his daughter's head affectionately. Clara gives a kiss on both cheeks Steven.

Then he pulled out a chair and sat down next to his father. "Tumben Daddy's still at home at this hour?" tanyakanya.

"Daddy misses you. So, today Daddy wants to spend time with you."

"How's Dad's office doing?" Clara grabbed a glass of water and drank it to the end. He was thirsty because of the training.

"There's Andi who can handle everything. Daddy's not too busy anyway." Steven continued reading the paper.

"Oh yeah, how was the walk yesterday with Fachri and Randi?"

"Assyik the hell Dad. Fachri taught many lessons while directly practicing. Clara was astonished."

"However? You don't know Fachri. Slowly you will get to know him. Let time show you who your husband really is."

"Fachri's full of mysteries Dad. Yesterday on campus his friends spoke Arabic. Fachri was also like that, even he was told to lecture as well. Fachri is an architecture student," said Clara while remembering the events of the time on campus.

Steven only laughed lightly at his daughter's complaints. "That's the greatness of Fachri. What college. What's the matter too."

Clara no longer asked when she saw Fachri had walked towards her.

"For Dad!" greet Fachri.

"For Fachri!"

The three of them gathered. Bik Nani also finished preparing breakfast. The breakfast was noticeably warmer than usual as the family gathered.

"Father, after this Fachri want to invite Clara to visit the kemakam mama and papa," said Fachri after finishing breakfast.

"All of you, Dad's coming with you. I haven't been to my dad's best friend for a long time."

"Daddy's best friend's grave is in the same place as Fachri's parents?" ask Clara.

"Yes dear."

As Clara's hand reached for a drinking glass, Fachri noticed there were bruises. It caught Fachri's attention. He never hurt the girl.

"Why are you arm, Ra? Why is it like this?" Fachri grabs Clara's arm to check on her. There are some visible bruises. The color is already blue.

Clara looks ordinary. Actually he did not feel any pain, a bruise on his skin he had just noticed when Fachri asked. "It's okay Ri, it's kind of like this."

"It's okay how Ra. You're out of the fall?" Fachri is visibly concerned about his wife's injuries.

Steven just kept watching the two. He knew Clara's wounds were common. So, there's nothing to worry about.

"Yes I fell Fachri. Falling in love with you" Clara said with a smile.

Steven smiled too. His daughter likes to joke.

"I asked seriously Clara."

"I answered seriously too." They sat together for a while, silent to each other.

"I'm a regular thing, Fachri. Long time too lost bruises."

"meaning?"

"My skin is like this when it's soybean. I like bruising without guessing. Like you were unexpected. It's hard to guess." Clara propped up her chin with one hand staring at Fachri while she grinned.

The one who was stared at looked irritated. His worries were even answered with a joke by Clara.

"You take it easy Ri. That's a normal thing. Clara's skin is so when she's exhausted. We'll drop by Revan's doctor for a check-up. Don't worry!" Steven got up from his seat and patted Fachri on the shoulder.

"You think this is because of the training I gave you?" Fachri asked with regret in his tone.

"Fachri. I just want you to teach me martial arts. That was my wish long ago,"

"But your skin is bruised like this Shafa. I can't bear to see you in pain."

"Just remember that the two called Shafa. Just in front of daddy call Clara."

"Shafa" Calls with great emphasis.

"Yes-iya Fachri. I'm really fine. It doesn't hurt too much. Just a little pain." Clara pressed her own bruise. Showing Fachri that he's okay.

"All right! Now we're off. I'm in front."

"OKs. I went upstairs to get the same vest shawl from you yesterday." Clara immediately climbed the stairs.

Fachri only commented on the thin smile he had on his lips. Clara only wears short-sleeved casual shirts and jeans.

He walked around, talking to his father-in-law about work.

Clara came out with a blue vest and a blue scarf covering her head.

"Ra, you invite Randi to come with us!" steven's orders.

Clara went back in and called Randi.

The four of them immediately set off for a funeral that was quite far away.

***

Buried by his parents, Fachri read the letters of Yaasiin and Tahlil. So was the grave of Steven's best friend, who was none other than the tomb of Clara's biological parents.

Only Clara did not know it was the tomb of her parents. It was all hidden by Steven. It's not time Clara found out who she is.

After the grave, they went to the hospital where Revan worked. Steven told me they were coming.

"Clara is okay. Sometimes this happens because of fatigue. There's a blood circulation that's not smooth at some point." Dr Revan gave a little explanation. Clara has also experienced this before. So, Revan's doctor already knows how Clara's condition is not serious.

"I told you what Ri. It's a common thing. No need to worry," said Clara who was sitting next to her husband.

"That means Fachri loves you very much Clara." Doctor Revan chimed.

Fachri did not respond to Revan's remarks. He was also pleased. Clara's hands came out of the room.

Then they went straight home. Fachri wants Clara to rest at home. Although the girl whines about taking a walk, Fachri doesn't allow it.

****

In the room, Fachri helps Clara apply the ointment given by Revan's doctor.

Clara had also changed into her casual clothes.

"Fachri, come out for a second! I have to apply the ointment on the other side" said Clara.

"Which part? let me see how badly you bruise" Pinta Fachri.

"I'm ashamed of Fachri, let me polish myself. You just get out." Clara encourages Fachri's body to get out of bed. But Fachri's body didn't shift one bit.

"I'm your husband. Why should I be ashamed."

"I'm ashamed anyway. You come out for a minute!" pinta Clara once again.

Fachri said his phone was ringing. There's an incoming call from Clara's homeroom class. Fachri went to the balcony to receive a call.

Quickly, Clara applied the ointment on the part that Fachri did not want to see.

"Where's the part that needs to be polished again?" ask Fachri when he comes back.

"It's over" replied Clara briefly.

Fachri gave a peeking look. Makes Clara a little clumsy on her own.

"Do you want me to take off your shirt or do you show me your bruises that you're hiding?" fachri Ancam.

"Fachri majnun's base!" Clara tightened her blanket.

"You'd rather I take your shirt off Shafa." Fachri got closer, crawling up the bed.

"No Fachri's. No!" Clara's voice was rising.

"I just want to make sure my wife's okay." Fachri was already holding firmly on Clara's shoulder.

"All right, I'll show you." Clara surrendered. He put away the blanket and slowly raised it up on the knee-length pants he was wearing. Showing the bruises on his shoulder.

"You're so ashamed to show me" murmured Fachri. But Clara could still hear clearly what Fachri was saying.

"So who called?" Clara diverts the discussion.

"Your class guardian. Tomorrow it's time to take the report."

Clara simply "oh" responded to Fachri's reply. After Raport's retrieval he will be able to take a long holiday.

Fachri told Clara to take a nap. He himself went to Steven's work room to discuss some work. Fachri has to work from home because his attention has to be more focused on Clara.

That afternoon there was also a courier who delivered the package on behalf of Clara. The security guard who received the package gave it to Fachri. It just so happened that his discussion with Steven was also over. So, Fachri brought the package to the room.

It turns out that Clara did not sleep, she just fell asleep while playing the game on her laptop.

Fachri gave him the package he had brought. Clara receives with a face sumringah. When Clara opened the contents. It turned out that it was two books with a cover photo of the two of them that read "Zahra Akbar".

Fachri smiled angrily and then took Clara to take a nap for a while.

***

That afternoon the night sky looked so dazzling to the eyes. Clara, who had been tidy after taking a bath, did not waste the opportunity to enjoy her favorite orange sky.

Fachri was standing there too. Looking at his wife's face that was closed under the orange sky. Clara, aware of Fachri's arrival, opens her eyes. Then he had an idea. Two books by Zahra Akbar and two pens.

"Fachri, now you write something here. I will also write something after reading your writing."

Now they're both sitting on the balcony on me.

Fachri grabs the book from Clara's hand and writes something.

*Shafa Fikriatuz Zahra. . .

Your beautiful name is written in my story

You shine like the moonlight in the darkness of the night

Your light has penetrated the darkness of my heart

You gave me such a bright light of love

Your smile. . .

Like a breeze that breaks down the branches of sorrow

To break the wings of the void of my heart

Flying my grief into a beautiful shadow

Sowing the seeds of longing in the garden of love

Shafa Fikriatuz Zahra. . .

You're like a flower that grows radiantly in the desert

You are like the well of the Mahabbah in the arid dry heart

You are the thirst quench of the traveler of love

And you're now my love kid*

Clara read the strands of Fachri carefully. There were flowers blooming in his heart. He also tried to reply to Fachri's writing.

*Accaraburi Akbar. . .

If my name is written beautifully in your story

Your name is inscribed in my heart

If I were moonlight

Then you are the lamp of my life

You are the answer to my prayer under the orange sky

Your face painting blends with its beauty

You have planted Lathifatul Qolbi in my chest

You are so radiant

Until I was lulled in the luster

Fachri Maulana Akbar. . .

When I became a desert flower

And so, you became rain in the drought of my soul

When I became your love well

So you are my guide in the ocean of Haibah to the Divine

You are the embellisher of the empty space of the heart sheet

And I am you

You are me*

Clara handed her writing to Fachri. The man's eyes were visibly glazed with the scratch of his wife's pen.

And under the orange sky, they poured each other's hearts with the language of love.

Although unspoken but pen scratches have helped reveal. The pen will not be able to decipher the language of the heart perfectly. Love is not easy to express.

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