Dusk At the End Please
Traumatizing

Akhtar threw the briefcase he was carrying with him, he immediately grabbed the map that was on his desk at the foundation office.

His return from a meeting with his business partner that turned out to take almost a week left him with a lot of things about Shanum.

The news he received from Ahsan about Shanum's resignation from the foundation did not necessarily make him believe it. He ordered Ghifar his personal assistant to investigate everything.

After returning from the airport to take his business partner back to his country, Akhtar went straight to the foundation office. He got a message from Ghifar about Shanum's resignation.

No matter what, Akhtar's focus was on the map on his desk. He believed it was the map Ghifar referred to his assistant.

He grabbed the map and opened it. Observed each paper containing information about Shanum. Akhtar read it carefully, not a single word that he missed reading. All the files he's been reading up to the last sheet...

Brakkk.....Akhtar stowed back the map he held onto the table hard. The atmosphere of space grew increasingly quiet, Akhtar's eyes blank. He looked at the last paper he read with focus that went nowhere.

Biyuurr...Akhtar threw the map he had been holding in any direction. The papers inside the map were scattered.

"Arrggghhh.." cried Akhtar. He slapped his face on the table.

Akhtar's screams were heard to the outside of his room. Ghifar who was outside was shocked to hear the screams of his boss and best friend. He immediately opened the door of his leadership room. Ghifar panicked to see that Akhtar's room looked messy, papers were scattered everywhere. Slowly Ghifar entered the room, hesitatingly picking up the papers strewn across the floor.

"Boss.." call Ghifar in doubt. He saw that Akhtar had not moved from his position since.

Hearing someone call out to him, Akhtar looked up. He looked at the person who was now in front of him with a gaze that was difficult to decipher.

Ghifar who saw it was really worried, for the umpteenth time he saw his boss and best friend like this. Akhtar whom Ghifar knew was a strong, strong and confident man. The aura of leadership he possessed could truly hypnotize the person facing him. Not only his friends and subordinates, but his business associates always had a good impression and were amazed after dealing with him. But at this moment the situation was much different by one hundred and eighty degrees.

"What?" ask Akhtar lirih.

"Boss, all right?" ask Ghifar to worry.

Akhtar looked at Ghifar with a sharp gaze, he did not immediately answer the question of his assistant and best friend.

"Hikkss.." Suddenly Akhtar covered his face and cried bitterly. The sound of her cries being held back sounded so bitter. Ghifar who saw his boss so fragile felt pity, he could now conclude that the new reality known by his boss made him like this.

Ghifar let his boss vent all his feelings through crying. He headed for the door to lock the lead room door, keeping no one from suddenly entering the room. This is the third time Ghifar sees his boss and best friend like this.

The first time she saw Akhtar like this was when she missed her mother, she suffered so much when she found out that her father had blocked her access to communicate with him.

The second time Ghifar witnessed Akhtar's fall when he learned that his lover had belonged to someone else. The situation is so alarming, the moodbooster has disappeared. The heart that became his goal no longer exists.

Ghifar was very concerned about Akhtar's situation at the time. He had completely lost his spirit and life expectancy. It took a short time for Akhtar to get up and return to his normal activities until the presence of someone who had decided his hopes again made him excited, but unfortunately the situation was reversed.

Akhtar who is no longer free to approach Shanum because he is already tied to an arranged marriage. But he does not give up, as long as the yellow janur has not curved he will try to fight for his love, with hope and do'a he hangs everything to the Owner of the Heart to be betrothed to Shanum, the lover of his heart.

Although in the end he had to recite his heart with his own cousin, but he was a little relieved at least Shanum with the right person. The person Akhtar believes will be able to make Shanum happy and he himself will see the happiness of his former lover.

He is sincere, because love does not always have to have, seeing loved ones happy with his choice is the most sincere level of love for Akhtar.

But again reality does not match expectations. Today Akhtar again had to swallow a bitter pill from the reality he faced. The lover he has let go with his best friend must really go far from his life, and the most painful thing for Akhtar was knowing Shanum's departure was because of the actions of his fiancee Raina and the woman Suraya from Ahsan's past who suddenly returned present between Ahsan and Shanum.

His heart ached when he learned that teaching in this place was one of Shanum's dreams and now his former lover had to lose both love and his dreams.

Akhtar felt very useless, with everything he had he was unable to prevent everything that happened to Shanum. Everything happens outside of his power. And the mystery behind all the events that happened to Shanum is the woman who has now become his fiancee, there is nothing he can do, he can only cry at this time, what kind of man he is. Akhtar felt increasingly guilty, weak and useless.

"Shanum, hiks..." Akhtar mentioned Shanum's name repeatedly on the sidelines of his sobbing that he could no longer bear.

Only Ghifar, Ghifar the assistant and his best friend who knew the other side of Akhtar and so far Ghifar very much keep that no one knows the weak point of the boss.

"Set my departure to Bogor!" said Akhtar suddenly gave the order, he stopped his crying and headed for the bathroom.

"What about Miss Raina, Boss?"

After washing his face and neutralizing his feelings, he again appeared to be a dashing and charismatic Akhtar. His leadership was again present but Ghifar saw there was so much anger that Akhtar tried to hold back when he heard Raina's name.

***

While in Bogor....

It had been two days that Ahsan was in that rainy city. He deliberately stayed at the hotel because of the plan he would be there long enough. After talking and getting information about the chronological resignation of Shanum from his best friend Malik who became the principal where Shanum taught, Ahsan went straight to Bogor.

Arriving at Bogor, he did not directly meet Shanum but Ahsan only monitored from a distance. The fact that Shanum was resigning because he was getting married made Ahsan have to be careful in acting. He observed Shanum's daily life for two days.

Every morning at about six o'clock Shanum would come out of his home area to go to the market that was not too far from his house, Shanum even walked away and went home from there. Sometimes Shanum goes alone with his mother and sometimes he goes alone.

At about seventy-thirty she would go with her mother to a kindergarten where her mother taught, and she would teach there. By dzuhur Shanum and his mother were back at home.

Shanum was going out at about thirteen, he went to the early madrasa where his father taught and helped him teach there. Around four in the afternoon Shanum was back at home and usually spent time by arranging a small garden next to his house or just reading a book on the porch until dusk.

After knowing Shanum's daily life, Akhtar began to look for opportunities to be able to meet Shanum himself. He wanted to speak freely with Shanum.

Like today which was the third day Ahsan was monitoring Shanum's activities. He saw Shanum coming out of his own yard. The situation is still not too bright because it is still morning. The hour hand showed five hours less, making Ahsan free in following Shanum.

After seeing Shanum walking far enough from his yard, he drove his car slowly following Shanum. Shanum didn't realize if anyone was following him.

He walked down the streets that were still not too crowded because it was still very early in the morning. Every now and then several vehicles passed by, there was also one or two people walking with the same purpose as him.

Shanum was startled, he did not expect when he saw someone he knew so well get out of the car. Shanum was misbehaving, he was confused as to how. Dodging was no longer possible because Ahsan was right in front of him.

"Can we talk?" Ahsan spoke in a firm tone to Shanum.

Shanum who heard Ahsan's tone was not as usual looking at Ahsan. He seemed to be figuring out Ahsan's current state of heart from the facial expression he showed.

"Assalamu'alaikum" , Shanum greeted Ahsan with a greeting first.

"Wa'alaikumsalam" Ahsan replied clumsily, he forgot to say hello at the beginning of their meeting.

"Son, how are you? I'm going to the market right now so.." Shanum said.

"I know, now come with me" Ahsan pulled Shanum's hand and brought him near the car door.

Unwilling to cause a commotion in a public place in the morning that was still blind, Shanum finally followed Ahsan's will. He got into Ahsan's car and sat down beside the wheel. Ahsan turned around the car and got into the car. He drove his car slowly, taking Shanum away from the area.

" Sister, where are we going?" after a long time they drive and silence each other Shanum finally opens his voice.

The clock had shown almost six o'clock, Ahsan continued to drive forward his car regardless of Shanum's question.

"Sister?" Shanum called Ahsan with a slightly elevated intonation because he never got an answer to his question.

Ahsan turned his head for a while towards Shanum and then re-directed his gaze forward.

"Tell the house guy first, say you'll be late today" Ahsan answered Shanum's question.

"But Brother....." Shanum again stopped his words because he saw the look in Ahsan's eyes which meant he did not want to accept rejection.

Shanum finally sent the mother a message, that he would come home late because he met an old friend.

They arrived at a villa near a plantation area that did not belong to anyone. Shanum was silent in the car observing the surroundings. He seemed to be lacking in recognition of this area.

Looking at Shanum who had not yet gotten out of the car. Ahsan also took the initiative to open the car door and invite Shanum to come out to follow him.

Now they are sitting on a park bench in the courtyard of the villa.

"This...villa who, Brother?" tanya Shanum hesitated. He did not know that Ahsan had a villa in Bogor.

"This is our villa, where we live after marriage if visiting Bogor." Ahsan replied casually.

Jlebb. Shanum's heart wasn't ready to accept Ahsan's answer like that.

"Sister, I...."

"You're resigning from the foundation because you're going to get married and join a husband, right?" sindir Ahsan's.

"I..i..iya.." Shanum replied stammered.

"Good, and I am your future husband" Ahsan said

"We will get married soon and will stay here" he replied firmly.

"Sister.." call Shanum.

"I don't accept rejection. Tomorrow I'll see your parents. I've conveyed my intentions to Mama and Papa, they're happy to hear I'm getting married. The day after we get married, both of my parents will be tried to come, otherwise our marriage will continue" , Ahsan again explained the purpose of his arrival to Bogor.

"Sister...."

"Shanum I beg you, let me be your mahram. I want to protect you freely, I don't want events like yesterday to happen again. I will take care of you with all my soul and body. Believe me, I love you so much, I love you so much. I'd be crazy to let you face it all alone." Ahsan said expectantly. There was hope and frustration that fused in every sentence he uttered.

"Sister.sorry, I can't" Shanum said.

"Why, Num? you don't trust me? not believing in my trueness? you doubted me?" fawning Ahsan with a stirring emotion, her breathing was seen going up and down.

Shanum shook his head. She took a deep breath, there was already no other choice for her other than to tell her agreement with Suraya and the compensation to be paid if she broke it.

"Sister, Kah Ahsan.this time please listen to me carefully" Shanum spoke softly, asking Ahsan to look at him. Make sure the man is completely calm in order to accept his explanation with an open mind and an airy heart.

Ahsan was devastated, he nodded and prepared to listen to Shanum's explanation. Shanum also recounted all the events that happened that night. No one was missed in the slightest, occasionally he stopped due to the tightness in his chest as he recalled the events of that night.

Fear again struck Shanum's heart, imagined the face of a man who would menudapaksannya if the threat Suraya really happened.

His voice was disappearing, his body was shaking, tears could no longer be contained, the events of the night had left a deep trauma for Shanum.

Ahsan listened carefully to Shanum's story. He growled, his jaw hardened, his hands clenched withholding great anger at Suraya, he was eager to avenge his treatment of Shanum.

Suddenly Shanum's body collapsed, his legs were no longer able to support his body. Ahsan who saw Shanum sitting on the floor was shocked, he immediately approached Shanum who still could not control himself.

Her tears kept flowing, she cried without a sound. His body trembled even more violently and weakened, until Shanum finally fainted on Ahsan's lap.

"Astaghfirullah, Shanum...!"