Chapter 24: The Thread of Fate That Connects
24.1 Dian and Heri
At Dian's House
The night grew deeper in silence. Almost everyone was already asleep, including Heri, Dian's husband. However, as the time neared dawn, his eyes slowly opened. A strange feeling enveloped him—something felt different.
He turned to the side of the bed, but Dian was not there.
Heri let out a soft sigh, then got up. With light steps, he walked out of the bedroom and into the living room. There, the glow from a laptop screen illuminated his wife's face as she stared intently at the screen.
Dian was so immersed in her work that she didn't notice Heri's presence.
Instead of greeting her right away, Heri decided to perform his Fajr prayer first. After finishing, he finally stepped closer to his wife.
"Honey, how long have you been here? You suddenly disappeared from the bed," he asked gently.
Dian turned and smiled. "I prayed Tahajjud, then came straight here."
Heri nodded. "So, how's the story about Kek Syarif? Is it done?"
Dian took a deep breath and smiled with satisfaction. "Yes, it's finished. I just need to sign off and make sure everything is neat."
"When do you plan to upload it?" Heri asked, his eyes glancing at the laptop in front of Dian.
"After Fajr prayer." Dian closed her laptop for a moment. "I want to publish it as the sun rises. That way, the story will be like the morning light—revealing the hidden corners of darkness."
Heri paused for a moment, then smiled. He always admired the way his wife thought, how she found meaning in the smallest things.
"In that case, go perform your Fajr prayer. I'll prepare some tea and snacks," he said warmly.
Dian looked at her husband with deep gratitude. "Thank you, love. You're always there for me, no matter what."
Without saying much, she stood up and hugged Heri tightly, resting her head on his shoulder for a moment.
"I'll go pray now."
"Alright, sweetheart," Heri replied softly, then kissed her forehead with affection.
Dian walked toward the wudu area, while Heri headed to the kitchen to prepare tea and light snacks.
In the Yard
A little while later, Dian finished her prayer and stepped outside into the yard. There, Heri was already waiting on the outdoor sofa, two cups of warm tea and a plate of snacks arranged neatly on the small table between them.
The dawn breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of dew and a calming coolness.
Dian sat down, feeling a deep sense of gratitude, while Heri sat beside her, gazing at her face, which looked content.
"Are you ready?" Heri asked, his voice soft yet meaningful.
Dian nodded. "Yes."
With hopeful anticipation, she opened her laptop and pressed the upload button. The manuscript about Kek Syarif, which she had carefully crafted, was now officially published.
They both watched the screen, waiting for the first response to appear.
"What do you think? Will people accept it? Will it go viral?" Heri asked while sipping his warm tea.
Dian gave a small smile, her eyes calmly fixed on the screen. "Only time will tell."
They enjoyed their tea in silence, allowing the sunrise to welcome the new story they had just released into the world.
Tahajjud Prayer
Tahajjud prayer is a recommended night prayer performed after sleeping and before Fajr prayer. It is considered a highly virtuous act of worship, as it demonstrates a servant's sincerity in drawing closer to Allah. The prayer consists of at least two rak'ahs and is encouraged to be performed in a peaceful and solemn atmosphere.
24.2: A Bright Day
In the Palace Corridor
At ten in the morning, Nabila was already on her way to the training hall. Today, she felt a different kind of excitement. Something made her steps feel lighter, especially knowing that Rizky would also be joining the dance practice. Unconsciously, a small smile appeared on her lips.
However, her steps halted when the ringing of her phone snapped her out of her thoughts.
She took out her phone and saw the name "Mamak" on the screen.
"Hello, Mak. Assalamu'alaikum!" Nabila greeted cheerfully.
"Wa'alaikumsalam. Oh, it's my daughter's voice! Why are you so full of energy this early?" her mother teased from the other end.
Nabila smiled, even though her mother couldn't see it. "Of course, Mak! We should always be enthusiastic," she said with a small laugh.
A gentle chuckle came from her mother. "I'm happy to hear you this cheerful. Could it be… hmm, is there something special happening?"
"Ugh, Mak! What are you talking about? There's nothing special," Nabila replied, but her slightly trembling voice hinted that she was hiding something.
"Did you meet someone in Brunei? Hmm… I wonder…"
"No, Mak," Nabila quickly answered, but then she added, "It's just that I happened to meet someone from Aceh, from a village near ours."
Her mother Immediately became curious. "Oh really? What's his name?"
Nabila smiled slightly, hesitating for a moment before answering. "His name is Rizky."
For a moment, silence filled the house. Bu Nur widened her eyes, while Pak Anwar, sitting beside her, only gave a small smile, listening to the conversation on loudspeaker.
Meanwhile, Nabila continued talking, unaware of the little commotion happening at home.
"He's Cindy's cousin, Mak. So, we met by chance. Turns out, he also studies at the same university as me. He's kind, friendly… and also quite handsome."
Her playful tone at the end made Pak Anwar chuckle softly, while Bu Nur was torn between whether to tell Nabila about the arranged marriage. She opened her mouth, but Pak Anwar subtly shook his head, signaling her to stay quiet.
"What is it, Mak? Did you want to say something?" Nabila asked, noticing the strange silence from her mother.
Bu Nur quickly came up with an excuse. "Oh, nothing, dear. Your father was just asking about you, so I decided to call. He's listening too, since I put it on loudspeaker."
"Huh?! Loudspeaker this whole time?!" Nabila's voice sounded panicked.
Bu Nur glanced at Pak Anwar, who was still smiling. "Just now, dear," she reassured her.
"Phew, good. If it was the whole time, I'd be embarrassed if Bapak heard everything," she said with a small laugh.
"Don't worry. It's just our little secret," Bu Nur replied, hiding her nervousness.
"Alright then, Mak, I'm heading to the training hall now. We're preparing for Kak Mutia's brother's wedding. Tell Bapak that I'm doing well. Assalamu'alaikum!" Nabila said cheerfully before ending the call.
"Wa'alaikumsalam, dear."
Bu Nur placed her phone on the table and turned to her husband with a puzzled expression.
She tried to hold back a laugh but was still slightly shocked. "Why did you stop me from telling her about their arranged marriage?" she asked softly.
Pak Anwar smiled wisely, sipping his coffee before answering.
"Let them find their own way. Right now, they're together—let love grow and flourish naturally. If they're truly meant to be, they will find their way back to each other," he said calmly.
Bu Nur took a deep breath. Her heart was still filled with curiosity, but she couldn't deny that maybe her husband was right.
At the same time, she also couldn't wait for the day when this secret would finally be revealed.