SR3. 34. Laura's Health

Aryan found himself caught in the whirlwind of their busy lives after their brief honeymoon. Laura was occupied with her Community Service program (KKN), which demanded her time from 7 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon. There were times when she had to stay overnight at the KKN post prepared by the local village authorities. On the other hand, Aryan often came home late due to his booming business, which now had branches in several cities. Aryan acknowledged that after getting married, his company had experienced rapid growth. However, he didn't realize that his time with Laura was dwindling, and they rarely spent quality time together, except on Sundays, which he sometimes used to check on projects in other cities.

Laura would often be fast asleep by the time Aryan returned from work. Aryan began to realize that something was amiss as he noticed Laura's graceful frame, her prominent cheekbones, and the subtle outlines of her collarbones. Aryan closed his eyes, trying to count the number of nights he had ended alone, even though Laura was surrounded by her parents, household staff, and a driver at home.

"I'm sorry, my love," Aryan whispered, holding Laura tightly in his embrace.

His heart sank as he gently ran his finger along the curve of Laura's cheek. It was as if something had been missing, something vital, as he realized that he had been concluding each day without Laura's sweet smile.

"I apologize, my dear," he whispered again, wishing she could hear him in her slumber.

Aryan couldn't help but ponder the past month, realizing that he had been neglecting Laura for nearly that long. His brows furrowed as he thought about the day Laura's KKN program would come to an end in just two days.

Andra's words echoed in his mind: "Don't get too engrossed in work. Remember, you have a wife waiting for you at home. No matter how busy you are, you must make time for your family. Women are perceptive and sensitive, even if they don't always express it. Don't end up regretting neglecting someone who loves you so sincerely."

Aryan had seen Andra embody these words. She never worked past 5 p.m., no matter how much work she had. He had initially believed that Andra was too relaxed about her job, but he now understood that her top priority was her small family.

His father's advice also came to mind. Just a week ago, his father had emphasized the importance of understanding one's spouse. Despite their relatively short marriage, his parents remained harmonious and happy. His father had even chosen to retire and pass on all responsibilities to his children, even though he was still healthy and energetic. He only visited the office when necessary, as he retained his role as the owner of the hospitality and restaurant business.

With these thoughts weighing on his heart, Aryan wiped his face with his hand. He had realized that he had been misjudging things and that it was time to reprioritize his life. Aryan was determined not to lose sight of what truly mattered: his family, especially Laura.

Aryan's realization about his sister Andra's work-life balance had struck him profoundly. He had thought of her as too relaxed in her job, but he now understood that her top priority was her small family. He also recalled his father's advice from a week ago. His father, despite still being healthy and energetic, had chosen to retire and pass on all responsibilities to his children. His father had explained that he wanted to enjoy the remaining years of his life with his wife and future grandchildren.

These thoughts weighed heavily on Aryan's conscience as he uncovered half of the blanket that covered Laura. His heart sank when he noticed that Laura was already awake, dressed in seductive lingerie, awaiting his return. A pang of guilt washed over him. How long had it been since he had touched her like this? When was the last time he had enjoyed one of Laura's home-cooked meals? And when had they spent quality time alone together? These questions swirled in his mind, and his emotions got the best of him, causing tears to roll down his cheeks uncontrollably.

Laura, startled by Aryan's emotional outburst, blinked her eyes open and sat up in bed. She was deeply concerned and wondered if something was wrong at Aryan's workplace.

"What's wrong, Honey? Are you sick? Is there a problem at the office?" she inquired, her voice filled with worry.

Aryan shook his head and sat down beside Laura, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Forgive me, Honey," he whispered, and fresh tears streamed down his face, landing on Laura's bare shoulder.

Laura hesitated for a moment, her eyes searching Aryan's face for answers. She was taken aback by his sudden change in behavior. Gently, she untangled herself from his embrace, but Aryan's gaze remained fixed on her.

"I love you, Laura," Aryan finally uttered, his voice full of sincerity and remorse.

Without another word, he captured her lips in a tender kiss, and the passion between them was reignited. It was a kiss filled with longing, a kiss that expressed the depth of their emotions, and it was the beginning of a night that would pass unnoticed as they rekindled their connection.

Laura responded to Aryan's kiss with equal fervor, savoring the sensation of his lips on hers. She whispered back, "I really missed you," her words barely audible as their lips remained locked in an intimate dance, bringing them closer together.

Aryan held Laura in his arms through the night, unwilling to let her go. Their passionate embrace carried them through to the morning, as they reconnected on a profound level.

As dawn broke, Laura gently reminded Aryan of her early departure for her KKN duties with Ara. Reluctantly, Aryan released her from his hold, but he promised to pick her up later. Despite her hesitation, Laura knew she couldn't change her daily routine, and she left for her KKN site with Ara, driven by Dodik.

Aryan watched as Laura left, his heart aching for more time with her. He decided that he would make every effort to prioritize his family, especially Laura, and ensure that their love remained strong and vibrant.

"I love you, Laura," Aryan whispered after their passionate morning encounter.

At 6:30 AM, they both descended from their room to the dining area. Liana and Andre exchanged glances when they noticed the radiant expressions on their children's faces. Smiles had adorned their lips since they left their room, and the atmosphere was filled with an air of happiness. Once again, Andre and Liana exchanged knowing looks and shared smiles. They were delighted to see their son and daughter-in-law's relationship back on track. They had been aware of the issues in their son's marriage, but they wanted to remind both of them that marriage wasn't just about fulfilling desires and following the Sunnah of the Prophet; it was about understanding, respecting, and fulfilling each other's rights and responsibilities. Only then could they become a family that was sakinah, mawaddah, and warrahmah.

As Arabella's car, carrying Baby Azka, pulled up in the driveway of the luxurious house, the Alfarizi family had just finished their breakfast. Baby Azka rushed toward Andre, her grandfather. After greeting and kissing the hands of all the adults present, Baby Azka waved goodbye to Arabella, who was still standing beside the car.

"Be careful, and don't forget that I'll be picking you up later," Aryan said to Laura as he kissed her hand.

"Okay," Laura replied briefly. She was taken aback when Aryan suddenly cupped her chin and kissed her forehead before moving to plant a kiss on each of her cheeks. Laura's cheeks turned crimson as Aryan performed this affectionate display in front of everyone. Aryan chuckled as Laura quickly pushed him away and hurriedly got into Arabella's car, keeping her head down.

During the journey to the KKN site, Arabella didn't bring up the topic of Laura and Aryan's strained relationship. She believed that everything had improved after witnessing the affection they had shown earlier. Instead, Arabella discussed the revisions they needed to make to their KKN report, which they had prepared some time ago. However, Arabella's thoughts kept returning to something.

"Laura, have you told Aryan about the stomachaches you've been experiencing for the past week?" Arabella asked, her voice filled with concern.

"I haven't had a chance to, Ara. I'll tell him later, after KKN. Besides, tomorrow is the closing day, and it's probably just my gastritis acting up," Laura replied casually. She had been dealing with stomach issues since middle school, and her condition often worsened when her eating habits were irregular. During KKN, her meal schedule had been disrupted, and she had been preoccupied with Aryan's changing behavior.

"But this is different Laura, you haven't menstruated yet, I'm worried you're pregnant, you should get checked immediately," Arabella suggested, and Laura nodded in agreement.

*****

In Aryan's office, he and Jefri were engrossed in the mountain of paperwork on Aryan's desk. Aryan occasionally grumbled about how the workload seemed to be increasing rather than decreasing. Jefri, who heard Aryan's complaints, took the initiative to make black coffee for his boss and a white coffee for himself. It didn't take long for Jefri to return with two cups of coffee on a tray.

"Good job," Aryan praised as he reached for the coffee with sparkling eyes. For the past month, he had switched from black coffee to a gentler option for his stomach. He couldn't function without coffee, as it was essential for his work. As for smoking, he had given it up because he had promised Laura that he wouldn't make her worry anymore.

There was no casual conversation between them as they were both focused on their work. Jefri, in particular, felt like he had won the lottery when Aryan announced that they would leave the office at 3:30 PM.

Inside the elevator, Aryan glanced at Jefri, who looked different. "Do you have a girlfriend, Jef?" The question caught Jefri off guard, and he opened his mouth in surprise. "Not a girlfriend, but a potential one," Jefri thought to himself.

"You should go for it if you like someone," Aryan continued, making Jefri even more nervous.

"First, you," Aryan said as he patted Jefri's shoulder, and the elevator doors opened, leaving Jefri standing there in a daze.

Now, Aryan was waiting in his car parked in front of the KKN post while Laura and Arabella were inside. Aryan glanced at his watch, realizing that it was time for Laura to come out. He saw Laura and Arabella approaching, walking together. Aryan stepped out of his car to bid farewell to his sister-in-law.

During the drive, Aryan held Laura's hand and occasionally kissed the back of her hand. However, Laura suddenly yanked her hand away and clutched her stomach, feeling a sharp pain. Aryan was taken aback by Laura's unusual reaction. He immediately reduced the car's speed and pulled over to the side of the road.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Aryan panicked when he saw Laura's pale face. Laura continued to grip her stomach tightly, with cold sweat drenching her body. Aryan's rhetorical question became more and more indistinct until darkness engulfed his vision, and he passed out.