Dusk At the End Please
Secret Missions

Adzan Ashar reverberated, clear weather is very supportive for activities outside the home. Afternoon walks become one of the activities of choice that many people do at the end of this weekend. After the morning enjoy the car free day, the grand opening atmosphere of FDF furniture that is still crowded is the center of their attention because of its excitement. In the afternoon there were still many visitors.

The official event has ended, many invited guests have left the venue. Not a few of those who are interested in FDF furniture products that they think have their own characteristics. Different from the others. Guests also return home after shopping.

Akhtar smiled widely when he got a whisper from Ghifar if today's sales had exceeded the target. He did not expect that the product would sell well and get an extraordinary reception from the community. Twenty-something employees with different initial tasks today are compactly in charge of marketing. Friendly and fast service is one of the things that Akhtar looks forward to for all his employees.

Akhtar who was accompanying his guests who were saying goodbye again turned his attention to their conversation which had been interrupted due to the arrival of Ghifar. He escorted his guests out of the building.

As he was about to return inside, Akhtar caught a glimpse of someone he knew. Akhtar stopped his steps, watching from a distance what the man was doing.

"Whether he's still here, wasn't he saying goodbye?" akhtar's murmur was only heard by himself. He continued to observe what the men would do which was none other than Aditya, the bank director of the BRI branch of Garut.

Aditya is seen walking away from his car. Akhtar did not want to lose track, his gaze followed where Aditya's feet went. And sure enough, his worries were evident. Aditya walks towards a white mobiliio parked next to the building, the owner's parking lot and employees that Akhtar believes belong to Shanum. He memorized the car's flat number B 54 NUM.

Aditya was seen knocking on the windshield of the car and the owner of the car which was none other than Shanum was out. They seemed to have a serious conversation, whether what they were talking about because a long distance Akhtar could not hear it. Akhtar watched them for a long time, from what he saw clearly Aditya was blocking Shanum every time he would say goodbye. Akhtar could not resist seeing Aditya's increasingly visible action. He walked towards where Shanum and Aditya were standing.

"Shanum, what are you doing here? and you're Mr Aditya didn't you just say there's going to be a meeting this afternoon?" akhtar's sudden voice made Shanum and Aditya simultaneously turn their heads with slightly startled faces, not realizing at all the presence of Akhtar among them. Akhtar stared at the two of them.

"I want to pray first to the outside, mushala in full earlier.." Shanum's speech stopped because Aditya suddenly snatched.

"Sorry Mr. Akhtar I disturbed Shanum Tea. I just want to get him to work together. Coincidentally our bank has some interesting programs this month. I think the rice shop owned by Teh Shanum is quite potential, dear if it is just a rice stall" Aditya explained at length about the contents of his conversation with Shanum.

"I think it can be discussed on other occasions that are more feasible, not in the open with conditions like this" Akhtar said with a flat facial expression.

"Of course, of course. I also plan to invite Teh Shanum to talk further about this. My call was still valid all the time!" Aditya answered no less quickly and the last sentence he dedicated to Shanum by rolling one eye to look at Shanum.

Seeing that Akhtar was getting annoyed. He chose to ignore Aditya and turned to Shanum.

"Aren't you praying yet?" he asked, and only answered a nod by Shanum. He was still astonished to see Akhtar's exaggerated response in his opinion.

"Then, come on! We excuse Mr. Aditya" Akhtar grabbed Shanum's arm which was still holding the car keys, without further ado he left Aditya who was still standing there and took Shanum to come with him.

Shanum helplessly resisted, he followed Akhtar towards the furniture building through the side door. Shanum just nodded his head flatly at Aditya, feeling bad for the young man but he was unable to resist Akhtar who pulled him to walk after him. The aura of jealousy was clearly visible in Akhtar's eyes.

"Deliver! Shanum tried to release Akhtar's hand on his arm when he entered the side door of the building and headed straight for the stairs to the second floor of the building.

Akhtar stopped his steps. For a moment he glanced at her hand which was holding onto Shanum's wrist quite tightly. For a second he looked at the face of the owner of the arm, but again he turned his face and continued to walk towards the top floor regardless of Shanum's request.

Shanum resigned, he followed where Akhtar would take him.

Akhtar stopped his steps when he reached the second floor. Entering the door which is only a few steps away from the stairs. When the door opened, there was a large room. There was a set of sofas, a television with a large screen attached to the wall. A mini bar directly opposite a small kitchen that is neatly arranged and clean next to the kitchen there is a toilet door. To the east of the wall of the room is made of glass with a thick size, a comfortable balcony looks with a mini garden that cools the eyes. Swings and a small table are on the balcony terrace. In the western part of the room there are two doors that Shanum thought was a bedroom.

Akhtar removed his hand from Shanum's arm. He looked at Shanum who was still standing circulating his gaze to every corner of the room.

"Sit down, I'll tell Liani that you're here. Mom keeps the prayer tools there, the whudhunya over there. If you need a toilet, the toilet is right over there" Akhtar pointed out the parts of the room on the second floor Shanum would need.

Without waiting for Shanum's reply, he turned his back towards the exit to return down to the first floor.

"A.." Shanum called to stop his steps just as his right hand was holding the door handle. Akhtar did not open the door, he turned his body back to face Shanum, looked at him and waited for Shanum to continue.

"Thank you" Shanum said with a slight nod of his head. The atmosphere was silent for a moment, Akhtar was still staring at Shanum from where he stood without making a sound. Shanum was wronged by his attitude. Realizing Shanum was wrong, Akhtar finally made a sound.

"Sama-sama" he replied, still with the same expression as when talking to Aditya earlier below, flat. He turned back, opened the door and stepped out of the room. Shanum let out a long sigh, feeling uneasy at Akhtar's attitude that turned one hundred and eighty degrees towards him. It seems like Akhtar was angry that he saw himself chatting with Aditya when his duties as a caterer were not finished, Shanum thought.

In contrast to Shanum who felt guilty for being negligent in his work. Akhtar was currently leaning his body against the wall beside the exit of the second-floor room which contained Shanum. He held his chest, trying to eliminate the rumbling that was increasingly in his chest made his heart beat fast because it had to be alone in a closed room with the woman he still loved so much.

His heart did not like if there was a man who approached Shanum with the mode of wanting to order catering. From Aditya's behavior, Akhtar saw clearly if there was any interest in the young man's eyes towards Shanum. His mind told him to protect Shanum from the evils of men in fashion. Yes protect, he must protect Shanum. Especially now that they are friends, Shanum is also the daughter of his mother's best friend. Their emotional and familial bond is getting closer, it is not wrong if he protects Shanum.

Akhtar's mind continued to seek justification for what he had just done. She just wanted to protect Shanum, she knew there was a more entitled husband. But Haqi's distant existence from Shanum, according to her, made Shanum unable to always rely on her husband. Unwilling to make Shanum misunderstand, he did not intend to become the third person in Shanum's household. But as friends it is appropriate to take care of each other and protect each other.

Derrt...Derrr....Derrt.....

The vibration of the device in the pocket of the pants disperse the daydream of Akhtar. He immediately reached into his clothing. Seen if Ahsan called.

"Assalamu'alaikum" he said as the call connected.

"Wa'alaikumsalam, where are you? I nyariin in the building gak" Ahsan said as he answered his greetings and immediately asked Akhtar whereabouts. The noisy state of the building because the music group still entertains furniture visitors, plus visitors who are still crowded make Ahsan have to shout.

"Gue on top, soon down" Akhtar replied, he turned off his phone unilaterally and immediately stepped up to the stairs.

Realizing Akhtar was walking towards them, the three of them stopped their conversation. The atmosphere was instantly silent as Akhtar arrived at the table. He looked at the three women taking turns feeling that there was something they were hiding. Especially when he meets Liani, his eyes look swollen like they are crying.

"Mother, have you eaten?" tanya Akhtar broke the silence. Akhtar moved the chair beside her mother to sit on. Then turned to look at Bu Hana, and Liani greeted him no less kindly.

"Have eaten, have prayed, have confided too" said Bu Fatimah full of meaning.

Akhtar scrunched his forehead, astonished by the mother's reply. Not usually his mother was venting to just anyone let alone who he knew they had just met. Fatimah smiled as she looked at the confused expression of the son.

"Mother Hana is a good friend of the mother at the time in PGA, at the Ramadan reunion yesterday we had a chance to meet but only briefly because the mother had to return to Pameungpeuk at that time. And today the new mother knows that it turns out she is Neng Zahra's mother" Bu Fatimah explained again the information about Bu Hana that Akhtar had heard a glimpse of Ghifar some time ago.

"Thank God, we can finally meet again. Mom happy?" akhtar asked with a smile because she saw her mother so happy when she told her about Bu Hana.

"Of course, even mother wishes our friendship continued and will never be interrupted again" Ms Fatimah glanced meaningfully at Bu Hana and Liani who were greeted with a steady nod from the two of them. Especially Liani who had been staring at Akhtar ever since Ahsan walked over and joined the three women.

Ever since Akhtar walked towards her sitting, Liani had indeed kept looking at Akhtar even as Akhtar caught Liani looking at her while smiling to himself. Akhtar to see his own appearance, several times rubbed his face worried that something was attracting Liani to laugh at him.

Liani further developed her smile when she got a signal from Bu Fatimah when she said she would continue her friendship with Bu Hana and never interrupted again. He could not stop his gaze at his former superior with a smile constantly expanding on his lips.

flashbacks

Liani looked for Shanum who had long gone to perform the Ashar prayer. Because furniture visitors are still many and some guests are also still arriving who are immediately welcome to enjoy the dish to make Shanum and the team take turns to perform prayers.

Liani told Shanum to pray first while he replaced Shanum to watch all the stands. Make sure all dishes are still ready at every stand and the officer provides excellent service to every guest who comes.

But after some workers returned from his prayers, Shanum did not return. He also asked Indri to replace his position, Liani walked to the mosque to perform Ashar prayers.

After Liani's prayer has not found Shanum back in the furniture, he took the initiative to ask Bu Hana. Not expecting his arrival to Sanamalah made him get a tremendous surprise.

"But a week after my daughter's stay in Jakarta, we received word that her husband was in an accident and in a coma" Ms. Hana sobbed in tears. He again imagined the miserable fate of his daughter.

"Who died Ma'am?" sahut Liani who suddenly was behind Bu Hana who was crying in the arms of Bu Fatimah. Ms. Hana amengurai hugs upon hearing the familiar voice in her ears, Liani was already standing behind her. Bu Hana turned her head, looking towards Liani with tears still shedding tears.

"Liani.." called Bu Hana, she spread her arms asking Liani to come into her arms. Liani also rushed into the arms of Bu Hana who was getting sobbed in the arms of Liani.

After a few minutes, Ms. Hana was calmer. He also retold the story of his eldest daughter's life to Liani, there was not a single thing that Bu Hana missed. Including the current Shanum who always avoids talking about marriage. He was extremely insecure about his current status. Always feel unworthy of anyone.

Liani had no power to hold back her tears when she learned the fact that Shanum was now back to living alone. Liani knew very well how Haqi was trying to become a man worthy of Shanum's love. He treated Shanum so special. Moreover, hearing his story from Ahsan who had put his heart on Shanum but he chose to love silent greetings when he found out that Ahsan was fighting for Shanum's love.

Now, Haqi's wish is granted. She manages to make Shanum her last love, the woman she had hoped to be her best friend until she turns a blind eye and only death separates them.

Liani recalled Shanum, a friend whom she had considered to be her own brother. Since Shanum had always been able to hide his sadness, he always smiled behind his heart wounds. His life was relaxed looking without burden even though his mentality was being massacred all out.

"Neng...why aren't you being honest with me?" he mumbled softly, now he who was unable to hold back his cries considering the fate of life lived by his best friend. Really his heart was sliced, he could not imagine if he was in Shanum's position.

After all, Ms. Fatimah returned to open the conversation.

"It seems now is time for the two of them to be happy. I'm sure my son still loves your daughter Han" Ms. Fatimah took the glass half water and gave it to Ms. Hana to be more calm.

"I'll tell Akhtar about the truth. All this time he thought that Neng Zahra was still married. I hope Neng Zahra can bounce back quickly from his slump. He also must know if Akhtar still loves him very much" continued Ms Fatimah.

"But I don't dare say that to Shanum, I promised Imran that I wouldn't force Shanum to marry again. Moreover, Shanum knows your son is also married. We agreed to let him heal his own wounds, and stay by his side as a form of support we love him so much" said Ms Hana, still in a sad tone.

"Shanum already knew if Mr. Akhtar was not married" said Liani, he grabbed a bottle of mineral water that was still sealed for her to drink, trying to restore her energy by drinking water. Crying is draining too, she thought.

"Seriously you?" Bu Hana and Bu Fatimah compactly asked, they both looked at Liani who seemed to be casually drinking the mineral water she had just opened. Ms. Fatimah and Ms. Hana can't wait for an answer.

"Yes ma'am, I said it when I came to my mother's house the day after tomorrow. And to my annoyance she did not say at all that her husband was dead" Liani pouted, pursing her lips in front of Bu Hana and Bu Fatimah made the two middle-aged women who still looked beautiful laugh at her behavior.

"Well then, now it's your job to convince Neng Zahra, give her understanding and encouragement to get back up and open up to the presence of others in her life. Reassure him that he is very valuable, and tell him that Akhtar still loves him very much and will definitely accept him with all his advantages and disadvantages" clearly Ms. Fatimah was long with enthusiasm and hope when giving the task to Liani.

"And you, please discuss this with Kang Imran who knows he has a solution for us to reunite them" said Bu Fatimah turned to look at Bu Hana.

"I will soon inform Akhtar of this happy news, when his hopes are wide open. I won't let her back miss a chance, I'm sure she'll have her own strategy to be able to subdue your daughter, Han. We agreed to reunite them?" mother Fatimah asked the two women in front of her.

"Agreed!" both answered well.

"Success for our secret mission!" liani exclaimed, she brandished her clenched hands into the air as a sign of spirit and was followed by the two middle-aged women. Eventually, they laughed together.