COME BACK TO HOME

"Fazrani, it looks like I'm not ready to go back to the village this morning, I still doubt the villagers will accept me or not...because my mistake this time can't be forgiven." Allam said, sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at Fazrani, who prepared his belongings in preparation for going home.

"Don't think negatively yet Lam, we don't know what will happen later ... I hope the villagers will accept us." Fazrani's words calmed Allam's heart, which looked anxious.

"I'm not sure Zra." muttered Allam with his face down.

"Just believe in God who is always with us wherever we are, there is also me who will always accompany you." said Fazrani with pity for Allam who always felt alone.

Allam looked up, staring at Fazrani's beautiful face which was already covered with her veil.

"I am very grateful to get a wife like you Zra, I will try to become a husband that you can be proud of." Allam said with his eyes earnest.

"I believe you can Lam, but remember to work hard, don't do it first, it won't be good for your deep wounds that have hit your lungs." said Fazrani attentively.

"I don't know what to do either, Zra? I've never worked, other than being unemployed." said Allam who was very sorry about his past life.

"We will think about this as we go along, Lam, now the important thing is we go home first and know the continuation of your sentence, I hope you get relief because you are still sick." said Fazrani trying to calm Allam's heart.

"Thank you Zra, right now only you can calm my heart Zra." Allam said, looking at Fazrani who was still busy packing.

Fazrani looked at Allam then put down his big bag and approached Allam.

"Allam, you are wrong if you think I can calm your heart, only God can calm the hearts of his people. You have to get closer to Allah so that your heart is calmer, I am only here as an intermediary who will help you to be closer to God." said Fazrani with great affection.

Allam's face flushed with embarrassment at Fazrani's words. Not the slightest bit of knowledge entered his brain when he entered the cottage with his father when he was fifteen years old.

"Will you teach me everything Zra? especially which ones should I do and which shouldn't I do? I feel meaningless in your eyes even more Zra." Allam said with a bowed face.

"We will both learn Lam, me and you, we can find out from all media ...we can read together or watch together, you like reading and watching right?" asked Fazrani seriously.

Allam shook his head honestly.

Fazrani frowned.

"Then what do you like?" asked Fazrani curiously.

"Fishing and playing guitar." Allam replied without intending to be funny, but his answer made Fazrani laugh softly.

"You are cute too Lam?" said Fazrani while narrowing her eyes at Allam who looked calm with his good looks.

"That's according to you, Zra, not according to the village people ... I am like a disease that must be eradicated." said Allam with a flushed face, getting praise from Fazrani.

"Promise Lam, you will change for the better so that all the villagers will be proud of you." Said Fazrani cupping Allam's face lovingly.

"I promise you Zra." Allam said with not many words other than just looking at Fazrani's face with love.

"We're going home now, OK?" Said Fazrani, smiling with Allam's promise, which did not say much, but it was proof of Allam's sincerity.

Allam nodded, then stood up to take the bag that Fazrani had prepared.

On the way home, take the angkot Allam and Fazrani, there is not much to say besides Allam protecting Fazrani from any disturbance. Even when getting off from the angkot, Allam protects Fazrani from the sun's rays that sting the skin.

"Allam, you don't need to cover my head with your jacket, the hot sun has become commonplace for me." said Fazrani with an exasperated look.

"I just don't want you to overheat Zra." Allam said, not caring about the gazes of people who might think that Allam really loved his wife or a husband who loved his wife too much.

"Shame on the sight of Lam's people, I am not a queen you have to protect like this." said Fazrani, feeling uncomfortable with the gazes of the people, especially herself who was wearing a veil and Allam who looked like a street child like the heavens and the earth.

"I don't care about their gazes Zra, or are you embarrassed because you have to walk alone with me who looks like this?" Allam asked stopping his steps right in front at a bus stop where many people stopped.

"Allam, what you think is really not true." said Fazrani pinching Allam's nose affectionately without caring some people at the stop looked at Fazrani and Allam with a smile.

Allam's face flushed again with a flowery heart as Fazrani's gentle hand took his and pulled his gently to continue the journey down the road to the village which is quite far away.

Arriving at Kunjang village, Fazrani and Allam go to Allam's parents' house to find out about the continuation of Allam's sentence.

"Rest first Fazrani, after that we will go to the village hall, let your father meet the village chief and Husnan first." said Laila with a happy heart seeing Fazrani getting more and more attention to Allam, even though Allam was not a perfect man like Hafiz Malik.

"Yes ma'am, I need some time to change Allam's bandages first, maybe it got wet from walking for a long time earlier." Fazrani replied, more worried about Allam's situation.

Laila looked at Fazrani and Allam who went upstairs with teary eyes, Really, Laila's heart is grateful that behind the tragedy that Allam experienced, there is a wisdom that makes Allam's life change for the better.

In the room upstairs Allam put down his bag, then gave Fazrani a clean towel.

"Take a shower first, Zra, after that rest, you must be tired from yesterday taking care of me without resting." Allam said as he was about to leave the room.

"Where are you going, Lam?" Fazrani asked a little awkwardly in Allam's messy room.

"I'll make tea for you, and please don't clean my room.. I know my room is dirty because mom can't clean it because I always lock my room every time I go. I'll clean it after making tea for you." Allam said explaining at length he was afraid that Fazrani would misunderstand his parents who did not pay attention to the cleanliness of his child's room.

Fazrani smiled with Allam's attitude, who was embarrassed by the messy condition of his room.

Without replying to Allam's words, Fazrani smiled and then went into the bathroom.