My Bow to the Destiny of Love
Advice from in-laws

"Hmmm.. hmm.. assalamualaikum.." Ardian moved closer.

"Eh, wa'alaikumsalam.." Santi looked straight at me. Chayra got up from the swing and turned around.

"When's coming? Just called he said he was still home." Chayra approached her husband. Grab Ardian's hand and kiss him.

"I was here when I called you earlier." Reply Ardian casually.

"really?" looking at her husband sharply. Trying to find the lie from the man's gaze.

Ardian deliberately avoided. Approaching his in-laws while shaking hands. Don't forget to kiss Santi's hand as proof that she is a filial daughter-in-law.

"So, do you want to stay at Mom's?" Santi accidentally teases Ardian. Because the man never wanted to stay. If he comes to visit, just take Chayra to the front gate. After that, he will leave immediately.

Ardian. "Hehehe, yes, Mom. Really, now Ardian wants to stay with Chay.."

"Chay...?"

"Eh, I mean, Ayra, Mom."

"Oh, there's a special nickname for everything."

Chayra just smiled next to her husband. While Ardian scratched his head wrong.

"Yes already, I'm staying then. You two talk first. Or maybe your husband wants a break, son. Get him inside."

"No. No, Mom. Ardian just wanna be here. The air's cold here."

Santi smiled as he shook his head slowly. Passed in front of his son-in-law and son.

"This is the garden that I meant earlier, Brother." while walking slowly closer to the swing where he was sitting.

"It's not a garden, but it's a garden. Where there is a garden overgrown with many flowers like this."

"But we prefer to call it a garden." Chayra sat back on the swing. "Although there are many flowers here, but vegetables are more dominant."

"As far as you are then. If I think mah, this is the garden of his name." Ardian moves the swing to his wife. His eyes looked around the place that looked very beautiful and well-organized.

"Tumben Sister wants to stay. Is there anything that makes an Ardian Baskara want to stay at his wife's modest house?"

"I don't want to split with you."

"It's only one night, brother."

"I can't but. It was only an hour at home without you, how it feels so different."

"Lebay..."

"Truly Chay..."

"It used to be the same Amira split a few days is also not gini-gini very, right?"

"Gapain talk about him anyway? Yes, she was just a boyfriend at the time. You are now my wife. Boyfriend and wife are different."

"Gapain's angry, Maaassss? Just a regular time.."

Ardian pinched his wife's cheek. "That's why don't talk about him. I can be quick again."

"Why get angry when you talk about him? He is happy with others." A little bit of her lips.

"You said his name earlier, Chay." Ardian smiled looking at his wife's expression. "It feels good to sit on your kayak swing."

"It's still empty. Don't think about taking your wife's seat."

"Yes. yeah.."

They finally chatted leisurely until the time of Ashar prayer arrived.

"We're coming in, brother, it's adzan."

Ardian nodded. "The mosque is far or near from here?"

"Near, Brother. But it's a long way away too. Brother will pass the tree...." Chayra stopped her words. His tongue felt stiff to call the big tree where Ardian kidnapped him first.

"Please what do you mean?"

"No need to go to the mosque, brother. We pray at home."

"Why?"

"I don't want to remember those bitter memories. It's too emotional to remember."

Ardian was silent because he understood his wife's intentions. "I'm sorry.."

"Not to be discussed. Come, let's pray at Musholla house only. We can pray there later."

"Where's the ball?"

"It's inside."

"Let him be a priest."

"Older brother."

"But he is more worthy. The reading must be very good. As for me, my recitation of the Qur'an is still very mediocre. Thankfully, it's not below standard."

********

That night, Santi asks Ardian to meet her in his private room. The room used to be her husband's workspace. But now he took over the place.

"Mom will probably talk about personal things. Mom didn't ask me to come. So, Ardian, go alone. I'll wait for Brother in the room."

"I have my doubts, Chay."

"Why hesitate?"

"Actually I don't doubt, but I'm afraid."

"Fearful?"

"I'm afraid, I'm gonna scold me for being so mean to you."

Chayra held back a smile hearing her husband's reasoning. "Ibuki's not that bad, brother. He doesn't like to be angry with people. My mother was very patient. Rest assured, everything will be fine."

Ardian hesitated. "I'm going for a minute. You're not going anywhere."

"Where can I go, brother? It's right, I'm already in the room."

Ardian smiled grimacingly as he passed.

Ardian was a little nervous as he was already standing in front of the door of the room where his in-laws were currently. Different types of questions popped into his head. Will Santi judge his depravity in the past. Would her in-laws ask how many women she's been sleeping with all this time. Ardian shook his head slowly to get rid of those bad thoughts. Again he reminded himself, It is impossible for his parents-in-law to call him if there is nothing important to say.

Finally, he took a deep breath. He then recited the basmalah before finally daring to knock on the door.

Tok tock..

Ardian knocked on the door with a trembling hand. "Assalamualaikum, ma'am.."

"Come in, son."

Ardian opened the door slowly. His eyes were immediately fixed on Santi who was sitting on the long sofa. His hand held a photo album that looked worn out.

"Sit here, son. I want to say something to you."

"Eh, yes, Mom." Ardian took another deep breath. Cold sweat was already pouring out on his temples.

Santi looked at his daughter-in-law in surprise. "Are you not feeling well?" He asked because he saw cold sweat on Ardian's forehead.

"Eh, ng. I'm. I'm just nervous."

"Why nervous, son?"

"I was nervous because I was called Mom. Hehe..." Ardian smiled grimacingly.

"Surely I want to do you so that cold sweat comes out like that."

Ardian just smiled in response.

"Mom only advises you, son. Ayra said, You look better now. You also pray. Is that right, son?"

"Alhamdulillah, ma'am."

"Did you still go to that forbidden place often?"

"Alhamdulillah, I've stopped too, ma'am. Last time I went with Chay, uh, Ayra to solve my problems in that place."

"You brought Ayra to that place?!" Santi was surprised to hear Ardian.

"Eh, sorry, Mom. But, Ardian did that, so that Ardian would not get stuck in that place. There are too many tempting temptations." Ardian lowered his head as he said that.

"Listen to Mom, son."

Ardian glanced at his in-laws, nodded his head then looked back down.

"Everything you see and feel from that woman. Everything is with your wife. That is why Allah provides the lawful, so that men may take advantage of the lawful without being attracted to the unclean. Out there, you see women dressed in different styles. Your wife is dressed very tightly. That means what, son? Your wife has kept her honor for you. Only you can see it. Only you can enjoy it. Don't waste what's already there just for the uncertain."

"I'm sorry Ardian, Mom."

"No need to apologize, son. We all have mistakes in the past. The mistakes that have passed us make a lesson in the present and the future."

"Thank you for accepting me with all my flaws, Mom."

"You guys are already a match, son. I want you to like it or not. Whether you accept it or not, you cannot do anything to defy God's decree. God has brought you together with Ayra, because God wants you to change. God loves you, son. That's why God gave you guidance before it's too late."

Ardian could only duck. All her in-laws' sayings were really touching up to her qolbunya.

"Mom wants to ask you."

Ardian glanced back at his in-laws. "T.. about a... What, Mom?"

Santi took a deep breath. Actually he was hard to interfere too far in the personal life of his son-in-law. However, he had to do this to make them aware of their respective obligations.

"Have you touched your wife? Have you done your duty as a husband?"

Ardian immediately raised his face.

The deg...!

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