*****
Bastian's eyes widened when Galang said he was married. The emotions that had been building up earlier were ready to melt away.
He clenched his fists until the veins were visible. He approached, ready to slap Galang if Aksa hadn't stopped him.
"Daddy, don't..." Aksa stopped him.
"Be patient, Daddy," Aksa said.
"Don't get in my way, Aksa. Let me teach this child a lesson so he can learn to be a responsible man. You stupid kid. Where are you thinking? You promised to marry Almira, but you married another woman before her!" Bastian snapped angrily.
"I'm sorry, Galang, Daddy. I'm sorry, Galang. I made a mistake. Galang loves another woman, Daddy. I can't lose her." Galang knelt at his father's feet in remorse.
"Get up, Lang. It's embarrassing to be seen by so many people." Aksa helped Galang up.
"Sir... I'm sorry, sir. I'm sorry I forced Aksa to marry Almira because of my mistake. I'm sorry, sir," Galang whined in Aksa's embrace.
"It's all done. It's no use apologizing. It won't change anything, right?" Aksa replied.
Galang wiped away the tears that had fallen. Now his eyes shifted to Almira, who was still standing with her remaining strength behind Aksa.
Galang felt Almira's fiery gaze, as if capable of incinerating one's soul from a distance. Almira's eyes, which had been hidden until now, now revealed a storm of emotions Galang had never imagined.
"Almira..." Galang called.
Galang froze, feeling like the object of intense anger, which came from the depths of Almira's wounded heart.
"Almira... I'm sorry... I..."
With a quick, terrified movement, Almira turned her face away, finding refuge behind Aksa's sturdy body.
His heart was pounding, as if dancing with ferocity. Before Galang could continue his apology, an aura of tension filled the air, making time seem to stop for a moment.
"Almira... Please listen to my explanation first," Galang pleaded.
Almira's teary eyes stared blankly, filled with disappointment and worry that echoed in her silence.
"Almira's still tired, Lang. Let's talk later if you want to." Aksa stopped Galang's arm as he tried to approach Almira again.
Galang stiffened and took a step back. Almira really needed time to think things over with a clearer mind. To him, everything that had happened just now felt like a dream. And he wanted to wake up soon.
*
*
*
"Honey," Hilda called out as she got out of Galang's car.
All eyes turned to the voice that called Galang affectionately.
"Hilda."
Galang caught up with Hilda and led her to Galang's family.
"Mom, let me introduce you to Hilda. Galang's wife," Galang said, introducing Hilda.
Almira glanced at Hilda when Galang referred to her as his wife.
Hilda took Zora's hand and kissed it.
"This, Dad, is Aksa and his wife." Galang pointed to Hilda.
Hilda bowed her head once and smiled at the others.
"Then, let's go home. Aksa and Almira should rest now," Zora said.
"We'll come home too," Aksa said firmly.
*
*
*
"What's going on, Dad? How could Galang come with a woman who's already his wife? Didn't he think about how Almira would feel?" Zora asked worriedly once they were in the car.
"That kid is blind. He can't tell the difference between a good woman and a bad one. He'll regret wasting Almira."
"And Aksa is coming home with us? Will they fight?" Zora worried.
"Don't worry, Mom. They won't fight. Dad knows Aksa. He can definitely control his emotions now. Isn't Aksa always calmer when it comes to dealing with problems?"
"But this is different, Dad. The problem is Almira..."
"Don't worry, Mom. We'll just see how things go. Dad will ask Aksa to move Almira in. Almira can't live in the same house as Galang's wife. What is it... Even a woman's clothes are so revealing. Galang... Galang..."
Bastian wiped his face roughly. Hilda was different from Almira, who always covered her private parts, hiding herself from the sight of men who weren't her mahram.
*
*
*
Aksa and Almira entered Aksa's room, which had been decorated like a bridal chamber.
Almira slowly removed all the ornaments attached to her hijab. Until she took it off and let down her thick, black hair.
Aksa, who was standing with his back to her, occasionally stole glances at her, who was sitting on the edge of the bed.
Aware of Aksa's glances, Almira quickly looked back and put her hijab back on.
"Sorry, sir. I didn't mean to. I forgot this is your room," Almira said nervously.
"It's in your room anyway. No one will see if you take off your hijab," Aksa replied calmly.
"Almira, I'm going to the bathroom for a minute, sir." Almira excused herself, hurrying into the bathroom.
Aksa fell asleep weakly on the edge of the bed. He lowered his head and rubbed his face roughly. He began to feel uncertain about his decision.
CHECK
Almira came out of the bathroom and immediately put on her prayer robe to pray.
"Sir... I'm ready. We'll pray in congregation," Almira urged.
"Almira... If you want to pray, just pray by yourself. Whenever you want to pray, just pray by yourself. No need to invite me," Aksa said.
"But sir..."
Aksa got up and left his room. He went downstairs and into the bathroom.
Shortly after leaving the bathroom, Aksa entered the small prayer room in his house.
"Aksa... Do you want to pray Maghrib?" Bastian asked outside the prayer room.
"Yes, Dad. We'll pray in congregation," Aksa replied.
"Where's Almira? Why didn't you invite her?" Bastian asked again.
"No need," Aksa replied curtly and entered the prayer room.
"Otherwise, you shouldn't invite your wife to prayer, son. It's obligatory for a husband to invite his wife to prayer. Praying in congregation with your wife is also very good, Aksa."
"Yes, Dad. God willing. But not now. Aksa isn't ready yet."
Bastian went inside and patted his eldest son on the shoulder.
"The decision you made was the right one. And don't let it ruin your decision. Destroy the good you've done just because of your selfishness. Papa wouldn't have agreed to you marrying Almira instead of Galang if it weren't for the fact that Almira is a good daughter-in-law in our family. Papa trusts Almira. So... you have to trust her too," Bastian said.
Aksa nodded, trying to absorb every line of his father's words.