Zaidan looked at Azzahra's face, which still looked sad. The man needed clarification about what he should do. Meanwhile, it was getting late, but Azzahra had yet to ask him to come down and return to the apartment. The two of them are currently at He Ha Sea..., a tourist spot on top of Parangtritis Hill, with a beautiful view of the southern sea. Because it was already evening, on the north side, we could see beautiful city lights.
"Zahra... have you been able to calm your heart...? "I'm just reminding you, Zahra... it's already 11.00 p.m.." Zaidan carefully tried to remind his good friend.
They live in Yogyakarta, a small city with local wisdom and good customs. A woman is declared taboo if she wanders outside the house at night. The maximum time for a woman to be outside the home is 09.00 p.m.
Azzahra slowly turned her head and looked at Zaidan's face. The man smiled to calm the girl's heart.
"I don't want to come back tonight, Zaid... But if you want to come back first, come back. You don't need to think about me..." With soft words, Azzahra finally responded.
Hearing an answer that was not like usual indicated that there was despair in the girl's words. Zaidan took a deep breath, then...
"Why did you chase me away, Zahra. I only care about you, considering your position as a woman. It's not worth it for a girl to be outside the house like this, Zahra. I don't want there to be bad talk about you..." With a smile, Zaidan tried to explain the meaning of his words.
"But I don't want to return to my apartment, Zaid... please understand me. Today's incident was too painful because it all happened when I had already decided to accept Gus Azzam as my husband. And when I surrendered, without feeling the man actually hurt me. In public, Gus Azzam had no shame, kissing Salsa without realizing his status as a husband..." Zaidan's words actually aroused the girl's anger.
"I understand you, Salsa... don't misunderstand me. If you don't want to return to your apartment tonight, you can stay at my apartment. I will sleep outside because I am a man. I am forcing you this time because it protects your honor and dignity as a good woman. Moreover, you are a Ning, the daughter of an Islamic boarding school..." The firm words that came out of Zaidan's lips shocked Azzahra.
Images of Abi, Umi, and Gus Zizan appeared in his mind, with smiles full of hope towards him. Seeing that the girl was daydreaming and tears filled her eyelids again, Zaidan became firm. The man grabbed the girl's hand, and as if there was a movement he didn't realize, Zaidan dropped Azzahra's face on his chest. His attitude looks manly, but it violates the Islamic community.
"Sob.. sob.., thank you, Zaid, you are always kind and give me protection." Feeling like she had a chest to protect, Azzahra shed tears on the man's chest.
This was the first time she had done something like this, even to her husband, who Azzahra had never done before. Zaidan raised one hand, and the man rubbed Azzahra's back and head. If you look at it, it's like the protection of an older brother or a husband's protection of the woman he loves.
"You're relieved, aren't you..." After a while, Zaidan let go of his hug and looked at Azzahra's face, who had managed to control her emotions.
The girl nodded her head slowly, and Zaidan smiled at her.
"If so, we have to go back to town right now. If you don't want to return to your apartment, you can return to mine. You're staying in my room tonight..." the man asked Azzahra to talk again.
"Okay, Zaid... and once again, thank you." In a low voice, Azzahra expressed her thanks.
Without waiting any longer, Zaidan put his arm around the girl's waist and invited Azzahra to leave the food court area. The girl seemed lulled by Zaidan's patience and followed Zaidan's footsteps by leaning her head on the man's upper arm. Zaidan and Azzahra slowly descended the small stairs leading to the parking lot without looking back.
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Like a confused person, Gus Azzam waited until the evening for Azzahra's arrival. The man seemed obsessed with giving his wife an explanation and trying to improve the relationship. In fact, he ignored several telephone calls from Salsa. In the man's mind, there was only worry about his wife's condition.
"Oh my God... is this a punishment or a test you gave me. This servant is bad, ignoring a girl as good as Azzahra. Give me a chance, Lord, to repair this relationship." Without realizing it, with a confused heart, Gus Azzam made a request to God.
The man rubbed his face with both hands, and it was clear that his appearance looked disheveled. Since noon, Gus Azzam hasn't showered. Only ablution water cleans the face and several other parts of the body. Today's incident between him and Azzahra became a lesson for him.
"I promise, Zahra... I won't waste you again. Even if you ignore me, I will try to win your heart. And I will also forget Salsa because that girl gradually led me astray." In a low voice, Gus Azzam made a promise in his heart.
Slowly, the man stood up, moving from his sleeping position. The man had remained in Azzahra's room since noon. Gus Azzam even performs the five daily prayers in his wife's room. The man's footsteps headed towards the kitchen. It looks like Gus Azzam is starting to feel thirsty or hungry.
"My wife is a good girl. I'm sure Azzahra will definitely return to the apartment tonight. And maybe Azzahra didn't expect me to still be here, waiting for her return." While turning on the stove to boil the water, Gus Azzam spoke to himself.
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Feeling worried about what Azzahra was doing, Zaidan finally took the girl back to his apartment. Even though Zaidan knows that taking a married girl without her husband's permission is taboo in Islam, for Azzahra's safety, Zaidan does it.
"Zahra... I can't accompany you to my room tonight. We have to take care of ourselves, don't we..." Seeing Azzahra already in her room, Zaidan carefully invited the girl to talk.
"Thank you, Zaid... You have helped me tonight. But tonight, you will stay where Zaid is.." Azzahra gave an answer and expressed her thanks.
"Hempph... you don't need to worry about me, Zahra. I'm a man, and I can stay in another apartment room. Coincidentally, several of my friends also rent rooms in this apartment. "Rest well, and don't think about unimportant things." With a smile, Zaidan responded to Azzahrra's concerns.
Azzahra smiled shyly and nodded her head. In her heart, Azzahra felt embarrassed because she had troubled the man. But in a chaotic situation like this, being near Zaidan made him feel safe,
"By the way... I have a new T-shirt and trousers that I have never worn, Zahra. In the meantime, you can change it after showering. Since earlier, you haven't showered, right..." Zaidan suddenly walked to the cupboard and took out the clothes he meant.
The man handed it to Azzahra, and the girl shyly accepted it.
'Once again, thank you, Zaid... you are very kind to me." Azzahra said with a smile.
Zaidan didn't answer, just smiled. Then..
"I'll go first, Zahra... sleep well. Don't forget to pray..." finally, the man said goodbye. After seeing Azzahra nod her head, Zaidan immediately left his room.
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