My Bow to the Destiny of Love
The spaciousness of Mother-in-law's heart

The drying of Chayra's cell phone brought their conversation to a halt. Chayra got up, slightly away from Ardian before answering an incoming call from Zidane.

"Assalamualaikum, Brother."

"Wa'alaikumsalam, Deck. Your husband is in trouble. Have you watched the news?"

"I know, Brother."

"Why is it like that?"

"I can't explain it to Brother Zidane right now. Better get us now."

"Lho, why ask to be picked up? Didn't you bring a car?"

"I'll explain it later. I share the location now, assalamualaikum..." Chayra switched off the phone without waiting for Zidane to answer.

"What did Zidane say, Chay?" Ardian looks anxiously at his wife who has just returned.

"He asked for the news." Reply without looking at her husband. The view is still focused on the phone screen.

Ardian immediately threw a rough breath. "O Allah, why does this trial come when you really want to change." Ardian rubbed his face rough. Really devastated by this news.

Chayra approached her husband. Patting his shoulders slowly. "Oh, Brother, don't complain. We leave everything to God. That's how it is. When you really want to be a better person, God will lower your trials to test your patience. To what extent can Brother be patient, to what extent can Big Brother be strong to face this ordeal."

Ardian held Chayra's hand still perched on her shoulder. "Thank you for keeping me company, even though I'm at the lowest point of my life." He looked up at Chayra who was standing up.

"It should be a couple like that, right? If I leave Brother Ardian now because of this problem. That means I'm not a good partner. We must both fight this problem."

"Thank you again.." Ardian tried to smile despite being forced.

Tin..

Chayra instantly turned around when she heard the horn ringing behind her. "Hurry to get there, brother?" Approaching Zidane's car which stopped right in front of them.

"Sister happens to be at the cafe next door. Come on, you guys get on. Brother needs your explanation." Staring at Ardian sharply. The one who was stared at just looked down.

Chayra turned around as she approached her husband, drawing Ardian's reluctant hand to get up. More precisely, Ardian was ashamed of Zidane for inconveniencing the man.

"Roving horde, Ar. Someone will see you. Already know your face is becoming a trending topic. Where are you going to take you?"

"Go home, Brother." Chayra answered while opening the car door for her husband.

"Lho, your house is close from here. Why wear all pick up?"

"I mean Ayra, take us home to Mom's. We were expelled by Papi."

"It's not us, Chay. But I was kicked out. You mah, free to stay until anytime, Papi will still accept you." Ardian was correcting Chayra's remarks which he thought were wrong.

"Lho, how's bi....."

"Sir Zidane don't ask now. I'll explain it at home." Chayra cut Zidane's words. Ride the car while closing the door slowly.

********

After establishing the prayer of Isha congregate. Zidane asked Ardian directly to the living room. When they got home, the Maghrib prayer time was almost here. That is why they decided to pray first. Continued waiting for the prayer time Isya because dear if it must be broken. Given the distance of the Maghrib and Isha prayers only briefly.

Ardian could only bow in his in-laws' living room. The news completely destroyed his pride. It was inconceivable how heartbroken her Papi would be, if she herself was this shy when this news spread.

Suppose this news spread when he did not repent. Maybe he'll be acting stupid. I wouldn't think of this incident so far. He will not care about the good name of the family, especially with his own good name. However, at this moment he felt he had a great responsibility because of his wife

"Explain everything now, Ar." Zidane said firmly. Grandpa called me earlier. He asked and will wait for your confirmation of the truth of this news."

Ardian raised his face. He was a little relieved as he looked at the faces of the people sitting with him looking calm. No one showed a face ignited by emotion like the one his Papi showed earlier this afternoon.

"I. i..."

"Sir Ardian can't seem to explain it yet, Brother Zidane." Chayra Timpal.

"Why do you look this calm, son? Did you know this news before it spread?" Miss Santi asked because Chayra looked ordinary.

"Where do you know all that?"

"I once went to the Club to retrieve evidence stored in the perpetrators of the woman. I went with Ardian too. Brother Ardian also showed me the video before he removed it from his phone."

Zidane and Santi knit their eyebrows at Chayra's story.

Chayra continued the story because she saw Zidane and his mother fall silent. "I still remember the date on Kak Ardian's phone when the video was taken."

"So, you recorded it on your own phone, Ardian?" Zidane could hardly believe hearing Chayra's story.

"B. not me, but Audy did." Ardian replied still down.

"Sir Ardian help me explain to Brother Zidane and Mother." Chayra touched her husband's hand.

Ardian looked at his wife. His eyes were hesitant to speak. "I don't know what to say." Speak with a soft voice.

"Silver explain when it happened. The big brother just answered, if the man in the video is indeed Kak Ardian."

Ardian turned to look at Zidane and his father-in-law Santi. He looked back down while swallowing his saliva. "I'm sorry Ardian, Ma'am, Zidane's brother. That's.that's right I am. But, that incident happened about fourteen months ago. Before I married Chay."

"Don't say Chay. Tell Ayra just let Grandpa not be confused later." Zidane Timpal. It turned out that he was recording all of Ardian's remarks to be handed over to his grandfather.

"It happened before I married Chayra."

"Good.." Zidane got up and left the living room. "I'm going to send it to Grandpa first. I'm dizzy being asked all over again."

"Chay..." Ardian touched Chayra's arm.

"Yes..."

"I'm scared..."

"Fear why..?"

"I'm afraid Grandpa kicked me out." Ardian looked down and looked back at his wife. "What I'm more afraid of is that Grandpa told me to part with you."

"Astagfirullah, Brother Ardian do not think negatively like that dong. God willing, Grandpa was wise. He always considered things carefully before deciding things."

"What are you talking about, son?" Santi answered. "You Grandpa you tell me or not. If the problem is, the decision remains in your hands. The talaq falls if you say it, son. Not if Grandpa said it."

Chayra held back a smile hearing her mother say. "Tuh, Denger, Bang. The talaq falls if you say it, not someone else."

"I know that. But...." Ardian turned to look at his in-laws.

"But what, son?"

"What if Grandpa forces?"

"Hus, don't talk like that. Grandpa was kind. Even though you were kicked and slapped that time." Santi recalled when Mr. Akmal rampaged at that time. With ferocious in-laws it hit Ardian to battered. "But it's because you made a mistake, right?"

"Yes, Mom." Suddenly Ardian's body sagged from the sofa. On crawling, he approached his in-laws. Hugging Santi's feet while crying. "I'm sorry for all of Ardian's mistakes, ma'am. Forgive Ardian for hurting my family. Ardian is really sorry, Mom. Ardian also deeply regrets Ardian's delay in getting to know Mom's daughter. Ardian is willing to do anything as long as I want to forgive Ardian's mistakes. Ardian will try his best to correct all these mistakes."

"Astagfirullahal'adzim, it doesn't have to be like this, son. Mom was so alone with everything. I have accepted you as my daughter-in-law, no matter what your circumstances. I accept your past. What you need now," Santi lifted Ardian's face, cupped his cheeks while wiping away the tears still running down his daughter-in-law's cheeks. "Prove that you've really changed. Prove that what is circulating on the news is only part of your past. I'll wait for the good news, son."

Ardian clasped Santi's hand which was still cupping his cheek. "Ardian needs support, ma'am. Please excuse Ardian from troubling Mother to this extent. Supposedly, Ardian knows himself by not complaining about all this to you. But, my own biological parents had already kicked me out disrespectfully. I don't know where else to tell you if it's not you."

"Yes, son, I will hear every complaint you make. Don't be confused with Mom. Think of mother as your own birth mother."

"Thank you for your willingness to accept this ungodly child."

"Don't say that, son. You're a good boy, if only you were educated as early as possible."

"What are you guys doing?" The sound of someone from the front door made them all stunned. Ardian immediately stood up while wiping his tears.

*********