Zulaikha's Last Love

Chapters. 12. Flashbacks

Syifa who is currently busy serving buyers immediately departed to pick up her brother, she boarded her brother's car parked in front of the house.

In just 1 minute, the car was parked in the front yard of Zulaikha's house-in-law.

"uh, neng Syifa," said the guard who had opened the gate for him.

"eh Mr Amat, how are you, sir?" ask Syifa who is always friendly to everyone.

"alhamdulillah is good" he replied with a big smile.

"it's payday sir, the smile is wide almost to the ears," exclaimed Syifa while giggling amusedly, while Pak Amat who was asked also joined in laughing shyly at the cat.

"neng knows, ah," he said, smiling witfully.

Syifa raised her eyebrows to see Mr. Amat who was very funny in her eyes, "yes sir, I want to go in first yes,"

Syifa rushed in to meet the older brother, she quickened her pace when she saw that the door of the house was about to close.

"Assalamu'alaikum," said Syifa strongly made the bik Nem who would close the door jump in shock.

"Wa'alaikum greetings, sorry neng, bibik gk know," said Bik Nem who was about to close the door.

"have papa Bik, oh yeah where's Mbak?" ask after entering the house.

"buk Zulaikha is in Neng's room,"

After learning of her brother's whereabouts, Syifa immediately went up to the second floor to meet him. However, his steps came to a halt when he heard someone talking to Zulaikha.

"Son, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry for you." Mother lowered her head with fingers interlocked.

Zulaikha exhaled her breath trying to recapitulate everything that happened, "no papa ma'am, I've forgiven Mother,"

Mother raised her head to look at Zulaikha, her eyes back in tears as she looked at Zulaikha who was smiling sincerely for her.

Mother's cry grew stronger making Zulaikha shift her seat to hug the Mother's body, she patted the woman's back while calming her down.

Syifa who was still standing on the doorstep was wondering, with what happened to her brother.

"son, forgive me Mother son. forgive Mother," Mother again begged forgiveness to her daughter-in-law who is currently holding her affectionately, maybe if another woman who is in the position of Zulaikha, she has cursed her actions in-laws.

"that's it, ma'am, it's all happened. We better take the wisdom of what happened to me and Mas Defin,"

Deg, Syifa's heart felt racing when he heard the name Defin. Now she believes that her sister is in trouble with her husband.

"what because of that woman" Syifa recalled the incident this morning.

"Mom, can I ask you something?" asked Zulaikha when her mother-in-law had calmed down a bit, Her mother-in-law nodded her head to let Zulaikha ask.

"actually what happened, Mom? why would Mas Defin marry me?"

Mother immediately looked at Zulaikha when she heard what she was asking, while Syifa gasped in shock when she heard the brother's words.

"what is this? what exactly happened to your marriage?" Syifa started to get curious and agitated.

Mother brushed her fingers with her head lowered, perhaps this is the right time to tell all the past events to Zulaikha.

But Mother was worried about her daughter-in-law's reaction, especially if Zulaikha chose to leave her son.

"son, I'll tell you everything. But-" Mother paused her speech, and turned to stare at Zulaikha sharply.

"Mommy wants you to promise me that you won't leave Defin" Mother said softly, tears returning from the corner of her eyes that began to wrinkle.

Zulaikha was silent, he could not promise but could not also refuse, "Mom, everything that happens is by the will of God, Zulaikha cannot promise Ma'am. Because Zulaikha was afraid that someday, Zulaikha could not keep it,"

Mother looked at him sadly, it was obvious on her face that she was disappointed by Zulaikha's reply.

"well, I won't force you. I'm only asking for one thing, once you hear all of Mom's stories. Please give Defin a one-time chance, I'm sure that he loves you, son," I really hope that Zulaikha will stay with Defin forever.

"insyaAllah Ma'am," that was all he could say, he really could not agree with the will of the Mother-in-law. Especially after knowing her husband's first marriage, it was clear that her husband had never loved her.

Syifa who was still in the doorway was closing her ears to the door, she also wanted to hear the story from her brother-in-law.

Flashbacks

At that time, rain flushed part of Jakarta. A middle-aged man and his wife walked into the hospital with an umbrella, wanting to see their neighbor and best friend.

"Assalamu'alaikum" said Mr. Rashid and his wife.

"Wa'alaikum salam, Aunt, Om," replied Zulaikha and Syifa who were accompanying the father who had to be hospitalized.

"how are you, Hen?" asked Mr. Rashid while sitting in the chair beside the bed, while his wife handed Zulaikha a hand while sitting next to the girl.

"Good God, Race" replied the real Father who was not well.

"how are you guys? everything okay?" tanya Miss Diana, wife of Mr. Rashid.

"Good thanks, aunt,"

Then they chat to spend time and establish relationships that have been established since many years ago.

"Zulaikha," call Hendra's father suddenly. Zulaikha who felt called immediately approached, he then asked if his father needed anything or not.

"son, go home with your sister! take a shower, and rest" Dad said, it's been days that his two children haven't come home.

"it's okay Dad, we're fine. This morning we took a shower" said Zulaikha, wanting to be by his father's side.

"but your sister's father, son, he also has to rest and study" said his father, looking at Syifa, who is busy talking to her friend.

"but no one's looking after Dad, Zulaikha wants-"

"let Om take care of your father, son. Now you go home, tomorrow morning just come back here, "cut Om Rashid, make Zulaikha feel bad.

"right, go home son! let them take care of Dad,"

Zulaikha sighed, then got up and tidied up his clothes to take home. After all, Zulaikha and Syifa said goodbye to Father and Om and Aunt Diana.

"what's the matter Hen, why do you look so anxious?" rasyid asked after the departure of Zulaikha and his sister.

"i'm worried about my two daughters Race, who will look after them when I'm gone?" replied Hendra's father in a clean slur.

His friend was shocked when he heard what the man said, "don't talk like that Hen, only God knows the age,"

"right, but you know how I feel? I couldn't go quietly before Zulaikha got married" Hendra's father said, his net was dewy to let out water.

"i have to make sure that there is someone who will take care of my two daughters, that way I can calm down," Hendra's father continued.

Rashid and Diana looked at each other, they didn't know what to do at the moment. But suddenly Diana thought about Defin, her son who was currently at home.

"how about we get Zulaikha and Defin married?

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TBC.

Thanks for reading 😘