Dusk At the End Please
Move On

"Today is over, let the dark times be buried as deeply as possible. Sometimes we may regret, but not to be mourned. Our lives are too precious to lament the reality that is not in accordance with our wishes" slowly Ms. Fatimah tried to dive into the state of her son's heart by saying from heart to heart.

It has been a month since Akhtar's return from abroad, he has still not changed. Akhtar only spoke only at certain moments and as necessary. Not infrequently Mr. Furqan or Ms. Sopia came home with a face holding back anger because it did not get a good reception from Akhtar.

To this day Akhtar keeps a great distance from his father. Since his consciousness returned Akhtar considered that the father was the one who caused him to lose everything. After Akhtar lost his birth mother for a long time, Akhtar lost the only woman he loved so much, Shanum, because of his father's matchmaking.

Mr. Furqan realized the fatal mistake he had done to his son, he would not force Akhtar to forgive him.

Akhtar just took a long breath and exhaled slowly when he heard the mother speak. He still seemed reluctant to respond and was still engrossed in his new activity of painting.

"Mom knows, no one is really strong. But not a few of them are sad by smiling. Teach your heart to accept reality, because there are many things that can only be accepted without being changed" Fatimah said again straightforwardly and firmly. This time he really wanted his son to realize that his time was too precious if only used to lament the past, his future was still long.

Hearing the tone of his mother's speech that was not as usual Akhtar also stopped his painting activities. He got up from his seat and walked towards Bu Fatimah.

During this month Akhtar followed therapy well and now he is no longer using a wheelchair. Akhtar began to walk again as before, although he still had to slow down while walking.

"Mother.." he said slowly, he grabbed the body of Ms. Fatimah who is now very frail and took her into his arms. His body shook even more as he was in Akhtar's arms.

"I'm sorry Mom, sorry..." Akhtar said regretfully, he stroked Fatimah Bu full of affection. After a long time he only realized that his mother's condition was not okay. Akhtar thought that it must be because his mother thought too much about him.

Feeling the embrace of the son so tight and hearing his apology which sounded sincere made Ms. Fatimah more soluble in her crying.

"I'm sorry Mom, I made you sad. I should have realized that mom was a lot sadder when I was sad, mom was a lot more hurt when I felt like I was the most hurt person. I'm sorry ma'am, I'm sorry" Akhtar tightened his embrace as he said that. Her tears also rolled down her cheeks.

"Mother is the number one woman in my life, the woman who has the most beautiful smile for me. Mother is the woman who has the warmest hug for me, who has such strong bones and heart"

"For me mother is precious of anything, mother is a very great woman. I know Mom, the world is so cruel. There are so many wounds and suffering that I have faced. But what I do is always give my best smile so that my day is fine"

"I know, all this time a lot of things might make you disappointed with my attitude. Sorry I can't boast, Mom. Every day is your day, how to make you happy. I'll try harder, Mom, make you happy and make all your dreams come true. Help me ma'am, never get tired of helping me with your prayers"

Akhtar said in a raucous voice, his cry unbearable as he revealed all of his heart. Likewise with Fatimah, novelty in his chest. Making tears flow more and more soaking wet her hijab. He was happy to hear the son speak to him at length. They embrace more tightly, dissolving in an atmosphere full of days.

"I promise that from now on I will rise, I will be like Akhtar who I have always been proud of. I want to come with my mother to Garut" Akhtar said as her tears subsided and slowly broke her embrace.

Ms. Fatimah just nodded her head in response, a happy twinkle emanated from her face seeing the son slowly starting to return to what he used to be.

While in the foundation...

Ahsan seemed busy with his clothes. Many times he called someone but it still seems to be unconnected. It was only after the call that the six people he was on received his call.

"Assalamu'alaikum, sorry sir I was praying. My wife lives in the teacher's room. Can I help you sir? the voice of a woman that Ahsan contacted greeted him with a greeting and asked for the need of the caller.

"Wa'alaikumsalam's chat. Oh yeah, I'm sorry to bother you. I thought you were resting" Ahsan replied in a stale manner.

"What's up, sir?" the woman who was none other than Liani asked back Ahsan's intention to contact her.

"Someone wants to tell you, can we meet?"

"Sorry sir, I still have class this afternoon so it doesn't seem like it can"

"When to school how? I'm waiting for you in the cafeteria"

"Eumhh....." Liani seemed to think.

"It's about Shanum" Ahsan explained his goal.

"Oya, really? well sir I'll see you in the cafeteria after school. Thank you Pa, Assalamu'alaikum" Liani first disconnected her phone without waiting for Ahsan's reply. She felt disinclined if she had been on the phone for too long with Ahsan.

"Isshhhhhhhh." - I..." Ahsan hissed knowing Liani had already hung up.

Two hours passed, and here they were. Sitting face to face obstructed round table with a diameter of less than one meter.

Liani looked down dodging a face-to-face clash with Ahsan. After learning of the scandal about Suraya he was concerned about the fate of his senior. Liani knew Ahsan was so patient in fighting for her feelings for her best friend Shanum. But it did not go as he wanted. He was faced with a difficult choice so had to let Shanum go. And now she cancels her engagement to Suraya because it turns out that the woman is not as good as she thought. What a tragic love story he thinks.

Since her engagement with Suraya ended, Ahsan has been contacting Liani more often. She always told Liani what she had experienced, there seemed to be no day without them texting each other. At first Liani was ordinary. From the time he used to communicate with Ahsan about Shanum, his feelings were ordinary.

But their current closeness was felt another way by Liani. Not infrequently Liani gets excessive attention from Ahsan even though only through a message. As an adult female, Liani was able to discern Ahsan's different attention towards her at the moment. But Liani did not want to misunderstand all Ahsan's kindness and concern for her. He knows who he is dealing with.

"What message do you want?" Ahsan started the conversation. He knew Liani looked awkward at the moment.

"I've eaten sir" Liani replied. Under the table his hand was playing the end of the veil to repel the awkwardness he felt

"Drinks?" Ahsan asked back.

"Eumh, it's up to you"

"okay!"

" Mang, two avocado juices without ice yes" Ahsan shouted to the canteen waiter and was answered with a two thumbs up thumbs up by the waiter's mang.

"Where's sir, any word on Shanum?" liani asked directly at the subject that was the reason for their current meeting.

Ahsan took a deep breath before answering this question of the woman before him.

"Li, can't you if outside of business hours you don't call me sir?" Ahsan asked back with a question that had nothing to do with what Liani was asking.

"Huh?" ahsan's question suddenly made Liani gawk. Makes Liani wonder what is with this man in front of her.

"Hey!" Ahsan waved his hand before Liani's face.

"Heumm. We're just straight away, what's the matter? what do you want to say about Shanum?" Liani again pointed at Ahsan with her flat face.

For a month Liani was not in the foundation. He was assigned the school to guide students who practice field outside the city for one month and only yesterday he returned. Liani had just found out that Akhtar had regained consciousness and had returned to the foundation when he returned from out of town because two days after Lebaran Liani and the team immediately left for the practice site. Actually Ahsan wanted to tell Liani about Shanum a month ago. But he delayed until Liani came back because he wanted to say it straight away.

They did establish good communication, Ahsan always asked about Liani's situation in her place at the time, but only occasionally in reply Liani because it was very busy. All this time the topic of their chat was just about Shanum. Ahsan always opened his chatter by asking about Shanum's news to his best friend, Liani was already used to it.

'Assalamu'alaikum's chat. How is Bu Liani?'

'Not bother? how have you heard about Shanum?'

'Shanum has replied to the message yet?'

It was a message Ahsan often sent to start their conversation. Liani responded to him normally, she knew that Ahsan still loved Shanum very much. Especially since Ahsan is no longer with Suraya, their communication is even more intense.

But lately something has been tickling Liani's heart. At first the message Liani received from Ahsan did ask about Shanum. But eventually it continued with the discussion about him. What are you doing, with whom, have eaten yet and a series of questions that lead to his personal matters.

The first time Ahsan sent him such a message Liani was still ordinary, but the more often even the last week Ahsan's attention became more intense, making Liani afraid to misunderstand the change in Ahsan's attitude. She always suggested that she not think more about Ahsan who seemed to worry about her more than just a friend.

"Kh..." Ahsan clucked, he turned his face the other way when he saw Liani speaking with a flat expression as if uncomfortable sitting with her. The change in the look on Ahsan's face was clearly visible to Liani making Liani even more wondering, but she tried to keep acting as usual.

"I met Shanum?" replied Ahsan with a slightly taut tone

"Oh yeah? when?" Liani was so enthusiastic about getting news about Shanum.

"A month ago" Ahsan replied listlessly

"Huh, a month ago? why did you just say you met Shanum? Where did you meet Shanum? how's things going? I also want to know the news. He has been very difficult to contact all this time. Even my last message he did not reply, I would like to send him another message. Afraid that her husband would be displeased, so all this time I refrained from contacting him. Her mother's phone number also seems to be replaced, every time I try to call is always out of reach" Liani's cerocos at length. Making Ahsan only focus on Liani's face while talking without caring about what she was talking about.

"Sir, Mr. Ahsan!" now it was Liani's turn to awaken Ahsan from her daydream.

"Dear I didn't?" jntonasi Liani slightly raised because she realized from earlier Ahsan did not seem to listen to what he was talking about

"Yes, I heard. Some of your questions are very much so I am confused about which answer used to be" replied Ahsan reasoned that Liani replied with a grim face because she realized she was too talkative.

"Hee.. I'm sorry, sir, I'm too excited to deal with Shanum. So where did you meet Shanum?" Liani repeated her question.

"I met Shanum in Garut when I drove Ms. Fatimah home. He is now a culinary entrepreneur there" Ahsan replied

"Huh, culinary entrepreneur? in Garut? why did it get to be in Garut him?" subconsciously Liani again flocked Ahsan with many questions.

"Where do I know" Ahsan replied with a shrug of his shoulder.

"Husband's same?" ask Liani again.

"When I didn't see Haqi, Shanum said he was still in Jakarta" Ahsan replied according to Shanum's explanation.

"Have you been there again?"

"Well?" ask Ahsan sewot.

"Yes.possibly to release the kangen" Liani replied casually.

"Heh, she's married already" Ahsan exclaimed

"Since Shanum's marriage I've limited myself to not contacting him anymore, I don't want to damage Shanum's household let alone marry my best friend. I knew enough of the limits and it turned out that a sense of slowly fading away when it was often ignored" Ahsan answered with a smile on his lips.

"Mr has moved on?" ledek Liani's.

"Yess" Ahsan replied steadily.

Liani flicked her lips as if in disbelief.

"You doubt?" Liani nodded.

"Whatever, only what is certain at this time I finally arrived at a phase that when I remember it there are no more wounds, and when I say his name my heart is ordinary. True as the saying goes, among the greatest calamities is that you are in love, but that person does not love you" Ahsan said casually. He had really started to forget all of his tastes to Shanum. It is as easy as God to turn the hearts of men back.

"I'm really worried about Akhtar right now" Ahsan said lethargicly as she talked about her cousin. He really could not bear to see his condition that seemed to die reluctant to live unwillingly. She knows that Raina's betrayal inflicted deep wounds on her cousin. Not because Akhtar loved Raina, but because he regretted taking Shanum off for her sake.

"Why Mr Akhtar, Pa? I heard he's healthy now, right? I have returned from abroad. Actually I want to see him but embarrassed, it seems there are still many guests who see him sir?"

"Now it's not so, you want to see Akhtar?"

"You know, but I'm ashamed to be alone, after all, like Mr. Akhtar has forgotten the same as me sir"

"Who said? why should I be ashamed?"

"Diih Mr. Kayak who does not know, I am just a commoner here, need courage and a strong reason to be able to meet people as important as him right? rather than later not accepted because he was busy yes mending do'ain ajalah from a distance. Isn't the most precious gift we can give someone is by saying his name in our do'a!"

"really?" Ahsan squinted his eyes at Liani, looking at her,

"Yes dong" Liani answered while sipping avocado juice in front of him.

"Then do you like to mention my name not in your prayers?

Blusssshhh.When Liani cheeks blush, it changes color like a boiled crab.