Regrets
Chapter 17

The smell of the night-blooming flowers was smelling like wildfire around Dhanny. Today is his wedding day with Shalimar. Dhanny sat in front of the ruler with a lot of anticipation and fear that was getting bigger every second.

Shalimar's mother also looks so restless and worried if Shalimar is not present at his own wedding. Dhanny had already recounted some parts of what happened that day between her and Shalimar. Shalimar's mother also tried to remain calm even though in the end her attitude of worry could not be hidden.

"Why hasn't Shally come yet?" Whisper Dhanny's mother to Dhanny.

"Maybe he's stuck in traffic, Ma." Dhanny replied quickly and a little nervously.

"Our family has been waiting since then, and also the ruler has seemed impatient to wait again." Dhanny's mother said while whispering again.

"Sorry, I'm late." Said Shalimar who had just come to enter the wedding party room by wearing a white kebaya dress and traditional Javanese makeup that makes her face look so tiny and beautiful.

Dhanny held her breath for a moment, a feeling of happiness and relief mixed into one. Shalimar returned to him. Completely back to himself in the last seconds he would give up if Shalimar would get away from him.

Shalimar walked slowly towards the seat beside Dhanny. Shalimar smiled at Dhanny and spontaneously grasped Shalimar's hand warmly.

"You've come." Whispered Dhanny while smiling so widely.

Shalimar nodded slowly with a smile.

"But I still count on you, don't be too happy." Reply Shalimar while whispering as well.

"No problem ." Dhanny said without fading a smile from her face.

Seeing the bride has come, the ruler immediately cleared his throat and arranged his suit while sitting in front of Dhanny and Shalimar.

"Alright, the bride has come. We can start the show." Said the ruler who looked more impatient than the bride he was going to marry today.

"Wait a minute." Shouted Eva who suddenly came and entered the meeting room while in a hurry.

All eyes were on Eva who came in a hurry and a red face as she ran towards the wedding venue of Dhanny and Shalimar.

"This marriage can't take place, I'm against it." Eva said after herself standing in front of Dhanny and Shalimar.

Suddenly there was a whispering voice from many people who were already there. Both Dhanny's parents and Shalimar's mother are also shocked by what Eva is doing at the moment.

"What are you doing here?" Dhanny asked as she stood up from her seat.

"This marriage can't take place." Eva said no less fierce with Dhanny .

"What do you mean?" Asked Dhanny while frowning his forehead.

"Please call security in here, get him out of here for interrupting the event." Dhanny said while looking at the person near the exit to call security to help bring Eva out of the boardroom.

"Because I'm holding your son." Eva said for a moment before anyone moved from their place.

All were silent for a few seconds listening to what Eva said. Then began to sound a whispering voice that grew louder among the invited guests who were present there.

Shalimar stood up from his seat after listening to Eva's words. Dhanny could see from the corner of his eyes Shalimar was shocked at what Eva had said.

"No way." Reply to Dhanny quickly.

Dhanny looked at Shalimar for a moment and looked at Shalimar who was also looking at him.

Dhanny shook her head in a sign that she was not doing anything like Eva said.

"How is it not possible? Do you want me to prove it to everyone who's been here?" Eva asked with courage that appeared after seeing Shalimar's expression.

"Why do you prove it?" Dhanny turned around and asked, this time with a cynical smile towards Eva.

"I have evidence of testpack results and ultrasound results from a doctor." Eva answered, frowning, looking at Dhanny's smile.

"Then it's not my son." Dhanny said calmly.

"I can prove it with a DNA test if you don't believe it." Eva's still trying to convince Dhanny.

Listening to what Eva was saying and to Dhanny's reaction, Shalimar felt so chaotic at the moment and did not know what to do. Shalimar tries to stay calm and think clearly. He had already decided to trust Dhanny after so long of calming himself down. What Eva said could be a trap for Dhanny, but it might not be. But given how much Dhanny had valued her all along, it should have been all just fabrications that Eva had prepared to screw up her marriage to Dhanny.

Dhanny nodded towards a man who was sitting not far from where he was standing at the moment. The man stood up and walked over to Dhanny. The man also handed a piece of paper to Dhanny. Dhanny calmly received the piece of paper and showed it to Eva.

"Because I'm barren." Dhanny said expressionlessly to Eva.

Not only was Eva surprised by Dhanny's words, Shalimar was even more shocked. Dhanny's mother also directly touched her head while closing her eyes.

The more boisterous sound of the conversation of invited guests who have been present there.

Dhanny tries to bet back at this time , if Shalimar finds out her current state , will Shalimar still agree to marry her or will step down. At least Dhanny cleared his name of the slander that Eva was trying to do.

"What?" Eva is speechless and robs the sheet in Dhanny's hand.

"What else do you want to say here? If you're pregnant, then obviously it's not my son." Dhanny said firmly.

"You ... You playing me?" Eva said as she looked into Dhanny's eyes and squeezed the sheet of paper in her hand.

Eva steps closer to Dhanny, but Shalimar quickly stands in front of Dhanny, blocking Eva.

"Do you want to embarrass yourself? While spreading the disgrace you have?" Shalimar asked firmly to Eva.

"Do you believe him?" Eva still does not accept what she is going through.

"I believe him." Shalimar replied unblinkingly to Eva.

"He's barren, can you still take it?" Eva's voice sounded so loud when no one in the room spoke.

"I'm taking it." Answer Shalimar briefly.

"Now, can you get out of this room. We will continue with the wedding today. If you're not here as an invited guest, don't ruin our wedding." Shalimar continued while pointing towards the exit in the boardroom.

Shalimar's reaction was beyond Dhanny's expectations. Shalimar chose to continue their marriage. More than that, Shalimar even put up a body for himself when he found out that he had shortcomings in front of many pairs of eyes.

Eva's face looks flushed between shame and anger. Angrily Eva stomped her feet and ran out of the room before the security guards came.

Shalimar turned around and sat back in his place. Shalimar looked at Dhanny.

"You don't want to continue?" Shalimar raised his eyebrows while smiling in a knot towards Dhanny.

Dhanny nodded with a smile and sat back down.

"All right." Said the penghulu who also looked a little surprised because of the incident.

"We're continuing the wedding today."

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The event continued quietly and smoothly without any significant constraints. The reception also went ahead without any significant obstacles.

Dhanny wore a white tuxedo suit that fit her tall strapping body. Dhanny's hair was neatly combed back using a pomade, making her look even more masculine.

Shalimar wore a white brocade dress with a burst of bright pink rose ornaments on some sides. Shalimar hair in the style of curls - beautiful long curls, decorated with small pearls on some sidelines of Shalimar long hair neatly arranged. Shalimar carried a pink and white rose bouquet decorated with a bright red ribbon that contrasted with the bouquet and plastic flowers that covered the rose.

Dhanny could not guess what Shalimar had in mind at the moment. Even though Shalimar hated him, but Shalimar was currently in the fold along with himself, choosing to stay with him. Even Shalimar also defended himself when Eva gave an attack to Dhanny in the squad room earlier. Shalimar can curse her, hate her, beat her, as long as she doesn't leave him . Dhanny will accept all the consequences.

All the invited guests who came in and gave congratulations to Dhanny and Shalimar. Both Dhanny's parents and Shalimar's mother also smiled widely to welcome the congratulations of the invited guests who came to change.

Today feels like a dream come true for both Dhanny and Shalimar . But Shalimar still has a disturbing feeling for him to convey to Dhanny after they are home later.

"I can't believe having an event like this is really exhausting." Dhanny's mother said as she sat on the bridal family's dining chair after the reception they had called was over.

"But I have to admit, it's pretty fun." Follow Dhanny's mother with a smile towards Dhanny's father and Shalimar's mother.

Shalimar's mother returned Dhanny's mother's smile equally wide.

"I must admit I'm very surprised by what Eva did and what you said in the boardroom." Dhanny's father said as he looked towards Dhanny .

"I won't do ..." Dhanny said, Shalimar interrupted the conversation between Dhanny and Dhanny's father.

"Dhanny wouldn't do something like that. He really appreciates women. I believe him, 'Om." Shalimar said with complete confidence.

For a moment Dhanny's father was silent to see the reaction of Shalimar who immediately defended Dhanny.

"I don't trust Dhanny. I know exactly what Dhanny is like. I just feel really surprised by what Eva did . And also about .the thing that Dhanny said earlier." Reply to Dhanny's father while holding his smile.

"But .. Why do you still call me that?" Dhanny's father's forehead creased as he looked towards Shalimar.

"You're married now. You should call me papa like Dhanny and call mom to your mother-in-law too." Said dhanny's father this time while embracing Dhanny's mother's shoulder.

"That's what your father-in-law said. You should call your in-laws like your own parents." Shalimar's mother added to Shalimar.

Shalimar looked doubtfully at his mother and then looked at Dhanny's parents. Then Shalimar smiled timidly.

"Pa, Ma'am ." Call Shalimar to Dhanny's parents.

"But .." Dhanny was about to protest her mother's sudden decision, but Shalimar clasped Dhanny's hand gently.

"Good, Ma." Shalimar answered gently to Dhanny's mother.

"Ma, we'll be staying temporarily at Dhanny's parents' house. After that we will stay at my mom's house. In the future we will divide the time to live in the house of the mother or the house of Dhanny's parents." Shalimar said to his mother.

Shalimar's mother nodded with a smile towards Shalimar.

"Yes, mom knows. Dhanny told mom once. Maybe later you'll decide how many days you'll stay at Dhanny's mom and dad's house."

"I'm leaving Shally to you." Shalimar's mother said when she looked at Dhanny's parents.

"of course. We'll take care of Shally like our own son." Dhanny's father replies to Shalimar's mother.

Although Dhanny's mother's treatment looks a bit cold to Shalimar, Shalimar believes that Dhanny will not let himself be wasted as long as they stay with Dhanny's parents.

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Shalimar initially hesitates to make a decision, leaving Dhanny or continuing his marriage to Dhanny. Shalimar deliberately gave no news at all to Dhanny or his mother. The doubt disappears when Shalimar remembers how Dhanny treated him all this time, Dhanny never uses herself even in unfavorable circumstances. That night when Dhanny picks him up from the Taufan apartment, Shalimar still remembers what Dhanny treated him like. Dhanny does not take advantage of Shalimar just for a moment's pleasure. Although Shalimar tries to continue to attract Dhanny to the very thing that Dhanny cannot resist, Dhanny actually keeps Shalimar's dignity as an unmarried woman with her.

Dhanny even willingly loses what she has only to gain her marriage blessing , he wanted to have Shalimar without opposing his parents and had a firmness that men who had not been close to him had, including Rendy.

Today when Eva makes a fuss before her wedding, Shalimar hesitates to Dhanny, but her little heart believes that Dhanny will not do that to Eva. Shalimar also does not know why he remains standing beside Dhanny even if he knows that Dhanny is barren. A flaw that is not playful to a man. Shalimar also had no doubts when Dhanny's mother asked her and Dhanny to stay with them for these few days.

Shalimar tries to trust Dhanny completely even if it does not mean that he will depend on Dhanny. Shalimar wants to start from scratch with Dhanny, living things together.

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Eva threw her expensive perfume bottle at the mirror of her dresser. Crush the beautiful mirror into pieces.

"How can it ? How could all this happen. I planned it maturely. Why could he do this to me?" Eva shouted to herself.

"What's this?" Eva's mother, who had just opened the door to Eva's room, was surprised to see her daughter look so chaotic and the amount of glass debris scattered in front of Eva.

"What are you doing?" Eva's mother screamed as she approached Eva and hugged her crying daughter sobbing in her arms.

"Dhanny betrayed me, she married that damn woman. I love her, Ma. Why is he so bad to me?" Eva's voice sounded so claustrophobic against her sobs.

"Here you go, forget him. You still have a long and bright future. What do you expect from a guy like Dhanny?" Eva's mother said as she tried to calm her daughter down.

"I don't want to, Ma. I just want Dhanny. Hard work I got his heart, hard work I got it to marry me, but now he married someone else. Do you know my struggle all this time for her ? I sacrificed a lot for him too. But he just ignored me because of that damn woman. I won't stay silent. I don't want them to be happy while I'm not." Eva almost raised her tone due to the current uncontrolled emotions.

"Well baby, mama will help you if you really want that. Mama also did not want to see my favorite daughter become like this. If mama's daughter is destroyed, then those who make you broken must feel the same way as you." Eva's mother's promise while continuing to caress Eva's back.

"Don't cry anymore, you must be strong to pay back the pain they've given you." Eva's mother kisses Eva's head gently and hugs Eva tightly.

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While tightly grasping the steering wheel of his car, Rendy repeatedly cursed at Dhanny's name with emotion. Rendy comes to Shalimar and Dhanny's wedding, she also witnesses how Eva made a fuss before the wedding.

Rendy initially wants to ruin Shalimar's marriage, but Eva first does just that. From there Rendy felt she still had a chance to pull Shalimar back to her side. Rendy has what Dhanny would not have, which is heredity . In front of many people Dhanny admitted that he was barren.

Rendy feels a great opportunity is waiting for him, but Rendy is also disappointed when he saw for himself how Shalimar still chose with Dhanny and defended Dhanny. Shalimar had never done that to her all this time. But Shalimar did such a great thing to Dhanny.

"I won't stay silent. You're married today, there's still tomorrow for you to part." Rendy's promise in my heart.

Rendy understood very well that Aabid would obviously be his biggest reason for pulling Shalimar back into his arms.

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Shalimar tries to strengthen his heart when he enters Dhanny's parents' house. She is now part of the Dhanny family, she is already the legal wife of Dhanny. Shalimar threw away all the worst possibilities to repeat his mass with Rendy first. Many things were taken into consideration by Shalimar to go so far. And Shalimar is ready to bet for his life with Dhanny.

"Your room is on the 2nd floor. That was Dhanny's room when Dhanny was still living with us." Mother Dhanny said with a flat face to Shalimar while pointing towards the 2nd floor .

"Yes, Tan.. Ma" Shalimar said quickly to Dhanny's mother.

"I'll bring the suitcase upstairs." Dhanny said as she gently touched Shalimar's shoulder.

After Dhanny left her place, Shalimar again felt clumsy near Dhanny's mother. Shalimar doesn't know what to open a conversation with Dhanny's mother.

"I'll get some rest. Your father is in the room too. We'll meet again tomorrow at breakfast. If you want to help with cooking, you can join me and aunt tomorrow morning." Dhanny's mother said she walked to the main room of the house.

Shalimar breathed a sigh of relief as Dhanny's mother left her there. Either Dhanny's mother understood what she was feeling or Dhanny's mother felt the same way as her. But it gives a distant difference with Rendy's parents.

"You're not going up?" Dhanny asked Shalimar gently as she tore the suitcase she was carrying.

"Do I need to help you?" Shalimar turned towards Dhanny instantly .

"No need, I can do it myself. You're tired enough today, too." Reply to Dhanny while smiling at Shalimar.

Shalimar followed Dhanny towards their room on the 2nd floor. Dhanny opened the white door and allowed Shalimar to enter first. After Shalimar entered the room, Dhanny came in with a suitcase .

"I'll take one more suitcase, you can take a shower first or if you want to take a break .. " Dhanny suddenly felt awkward about the existence of Shalimar beside her who was already his wife legally.

"I can take care of myself." Shalimar replied quickly without smiling at Dhanny.

"All right." Dhanny said while trying to think about what Shalimar would say to him after this.

Dhanny believes that Shalimar will definitely give him an unexpected punishment. Not the fear that Dhanny felt, but the amused feeling that tickled her. Like something he's been waiting for all this time.

After Dhanny finished lifting the suitcase in the room . Shalimar was sitting on the small sofa of their bedroom while crossing his arms in front of his chest. Shalimar was still wearing the clothes he was wearing earlier and it was seen that Shalimar was waiting for him to talk about what was holding up in Shalimar's heart during their wedding procession.

"Is there anything you want to say to me?" Asked Dhanny carefully while rubbing his nape .

"You already know if I want to tell you something. Why do you still ask that." Shalimar replied firmly without a base - stale.

Dhanny sat opposite Shalimar while straightening up. Dhanny took a deep breath before Shalimar started saying something.

"Why do you keep getting married when you know I haven't told you anything?" Shalimar asked without taking his eyes off Dhanny.

"I'm sure you'll come." Dhanny answered quickly and with confidence.

"What if I don't come?" Shalimar asked no less quickly.

"I'll wait for you, I'll bear it myself. I bet big on this."

Hearing Dhanny's reply, Shalimar could judge if Dhanny really wanted to fight for her.

"Then, what about Eva? Is everything he said true?" Shalimar asked this time without blinking.

"First, I never loved her . Second, I cannot do anything inappropriate to him even if I am under the influence of liquor." Dhanny replied firmly.

"Then why do you still stay by my side when you find out what I'm going through? Are you in front of me to defend me? You don't care about my flaws. You also decided to keep our wedding going without saying a word of objection." It was Dhanny's turn to reveal what was going through her heart to Shalimar.

"I .. I just feel for .. It has become my duty . I don't know why I did that either. " Shalimar replied as he turned his face away.

"I'll take a shower first." Said Shalimar trying to dodge Dhanny's counterattack on him.

Shalimar stood up from his seat and was about to walk towards the bathroom in the room. Dhanny also stood no less quickly than Shalimar, Dhanny quickly hugged Shalimar from behind.

"Do you know how scared I am? I'd really run looking for you anywhere if you hadn't come today. I don't care if you hate me, I'll come to you anyway. When you came, I felt like I was in the real world and was breathing with so much relief. When Eva comes up with things I didn't expect, I also hope you won't leave me. And you didn't leave me, you stayed by my side, even you were in front of me to defend me. If you don't love me, you'll quickly turn away and this marriage won't happen. If you're mad at me, you can berate me, you can hit me, you can be mad at me, just don't leave me again." Dhanny said while whispering in Shalimar's ear.

Listening to that from Dhanny made Shalimar's heart beat so hard, like someone who had just fallen in love. Shalimar took pains to give a wall to his heart for that feeling, yet at this moment everything seemed to collapse unceasingly.

"I will listen to whatever you say, I will not leave you for any reason, I will also protect you even if it is from my own family. I'll make you as happy as you want." Continue Dhanny while tightening his embrace on Shalimar.

"Don't be anything." Shalimar said after a few seconds of listening to what Dhanny had said.

Shalimar removed Dhanny's hand from her body gently. Shalimar turned to face Dhanny while slightly looking up because of the height of Dhanny's body which was more than her.

"Be yourself." Shalimar continued while cupping Dhanny's face gently.

"You accept all the shortcomings I have, me too. I am not doing this because of the burden of gratitude to you. I just feel like if I'm with you, maybe I'll be happy. So, you just have to be yourself." Shalimar said with a smile to Dhanny.

Dhanny smiled broadly at what Shalimar said and touched Shalimar's hand that was on his face. Dhanny kissed Shalimar's left hand gently.

"If I knew you were worth this 'cause I'd get you first. Without letting you get hurt." Dhanny said in a low voice.

Dhanny cupped Shalimar's face and kissed Shalimar's lips gently. It was so gentle without forcing that it made Shalimar feel the blood flow from his heart move so fast. Shalimar will not hold himself back anymore, she is now the wife of Dhanny, the man who finally knocked down all the defenses she had. Shalimar returns Dhanny's kiss gently at first.

The reply from Shalimar made Dhanny who became lost control of the patience he had so far. The soft kiss turned even hotter as Dhanny clenched Shalimar's lips deeper and deeper, Dhanny and Shalimar's breath was also increasingly hunting . Dhanny hugged Shalimar's body tightly, Dhanny's hand supporting Shalimar's back which felt lighter in his hand. Shalimar ended the endless kiss from Dhanny.

"I'm gonna take a shower.." Shalimar said awkwardly while trying to push Dhanny's body away from him.

"Later. We'll take a shower together." Reject Dhanny and continue his kiss as if it were opium to him.