Strong?

"A woman can be strong while smiling even though her heart is shaking with hidden bitter sobs. The shoulder support makes her strong, listen to her complaints and provide comfort so that her grief does not widen."

"Bro, I'm scared!" whispered Haziya as she was about to be taken to the operating room for curettage. Although the doctor who treated her has explained repeatedly, the curettage process will only take a few minutes and Haziya will be given an IV so that she will not feel any pain. However, he was still shrouded in fear. Plus the emotional grief of accepting the fact that he had to lose the baby he was waiting for to be born into the world in the next few months. Before they even know the sex of the fetus.

"Read the prayer, dear. Brother, Mak and father outside will continue to pray for you too. Don't worry, God willing, everything will be smooth and easy."

Shabir grabbed Haziya's hand, gently stroked her shoulder and kissed her head before pushing the wheelchair into the ICU. Inside the doctors and nurses are waiting.�� 

***

"I told your mother to bring pillows and mats so you don't have to buy them again. It's a waste of money." Bu Karni's nagging invites dizziness. Only half an hour ago he had awakened from a temporary slumber from the anesthetic.

"Mom, the doctor said there was no need to stay overnight so I didn't tell them to bring pillows. They also rushed straight here because they were panicking." Haziya explained so that there would be no misunderstanding, but Mrs. Karni was still laughing.

"You already know that your child is in the hospital, so being in-laws is the same as a child, depriving his in-laws of money."

"Oh my God, Mom, don't say that." Haziya's head is getting dizzy, where are Shabir and his parents. Earlier, father and mother asked permission to go to the canteen, while Shabir wanted to take care of some things after being called by the nurse. Haziya hoped that one of them would return quickly so that Mrs. Karni would stop babbling.

Drttt!

Haziya immediately picked up the cell phone on the nightstand, picking up the call that had saved her from her mother-in-law's snarl.

"Waalaikumsalam. Alhamdulillah good, Azizah. Yes, this is still in the hospital."

"What room, Ziya? It's me and Miska over there. What do you want to bring? Fruits?"

"No need to bring anything, no need to bother. Yes, be careful, okay. Sakinah's room, just call later so Brother Shabir waits for you at the door."

"Okay, Ziya. We go first. Wassalamu'alaikum," closed Azizah on the other side.

"Waalaikumsalam."

Haziya is grateful to have friends who care about her so much, even though it's been a year since college is over, their friendship is still lasting. The two friends are not married, they often go home to stay in touch. Sometimes the three of them also travel for just a walk or to a restaurant, as well as a vacation. Haziya was not restrained by Shabir, the man understandingly gave her permission for tolerating Haziya's boredom at home alone.

Since living in the same village with Bu Karni, she has only accompanied Shabir for a week selling. After being accused by her in-laws of taking money, and until now Haziya was forbidden to go to the shop. He doesn't mind, let Shabir earn a living in peace, without having to see and hear his fights with his mother.

  

Shabir enters the room carrying a plastic bag. He walked to Haziya's side, after asking his wife's condition he immediately put his luggage containing the medicines and a piece of prescription paper he had just redeemed at the pharmacy to take home. Tomorrow morning Haziya will be allowed to leave the room if there are no complaints.

Haziya was grateful not to have to linger here, Bu Karni's words just before Shabir entered were piercing.

"You don't have to be spoiled, do you want Shabir to not open a shop tomorrow? The cost of staying at the hospital is free, but buying food for your family costs my son's money."

"Mom, they have refused to take it, but Shabir is forcing it," Haziya defended, not accepting her parents being told nonsense.

Haziya closed her eyes to rest again. It's so hard to fall asleep, the shadow of the dead fetus is disturbing the peace. Even though he had been restrained from sobbing, the waves at the corner of his eyes had struggled. Which mother is ready to be willing to part with her child? Especially after the wait. Where is the sincerity of forgetting when every moment he always remembers?

"Patience, let it go, Allah will not give you sadness without happiness. God willing, he can be a savings in the afterlife for both of you later." Mrs. Laela's advice slightly calmed the ups and downs.

***

Almost two weeks Haziya returned to her mother's house for the healing process. While there, he was very spoiled by his parents. The feeling of longing that peaked when he was away from his mother and father was now cured. Haziya is only allowed to do light activities, and is not allowed to do housework.

Shabir once every three days visits and sleeps at the in-laws' house which is located in Asan Nicah,because in the morning he had to open the shop in the morning, came home at nine in the evening and immediately returned to his wife's house.

"The fatter you are, yes, the work must be lying down."

"Thank God, Mom, I'm starting to recover."

"Yeah, you don't do anything at home, that's why you ask to go home. Spoiled child," sarcastically Mrs. Karni while putting in the fruits that Mrs. Laela bought.

Haziya didn't want to serve, she chose to go to the TV room to watch. Shabir has already left for the shop.

"High electricity bills like watching it all the time!"

Allahu Akbar, his in-laws matched the duet with his mother-in-law in the soap opera flying fish which he had just watched briefly before the commercial. Even though Haziya had already washed the dishes after they had eaten, even the dishes that Lathifah and her two children had used were washed. They should understand and have compassion for his condition not being completely stable. However, instead of helping Haziya, it added to the burden.

"Yes, my dear mother-in-law. Here I turn off the television, yes," said Haziya exasperatedly and chose to give in. She went into the bathroom to put the dirty clothes into the washing machine that Shabir had just bought. Don't ask how long Bu Karni talked to him when he found out that the white and gray machine was brought home by Shabir.

"Just open a laundry service so you can get your money back. His pocket money is also cut, the installments for the machine must be returned before next month."

Haziya's heart was patient when she remembered that Bu Karni had ordered that to her son this morning. Haziya became even more sad when Shabir said yes, even though he didn't force her husband to buy it. Yesterday when he was brought by his father here, the washing machine was already in the bathroom. Indeed, in the past, he suggested that Shabir buy a washing machine, but when Shabir told him to be patient because their finances were not so stable, the shop had only been open for a few months, Haziya didn't mention it anymore.

Haziya could actually sense the difference in attitude Shabir was showing her. The man didn't even defend him when Mrs. Karni scolded him this morning for getting up a little late, after the morning prayer he fell asleep again due to being tired easily from traveling almost an hour from his mother's house, so the food was not served on the dining table. Shabir should have understood, for today only they can buy rice at the front stall. Ah, never mind, her husband rarely defends, mostly just agrees and obeys Mrs. Karni's wishes.

"Don't lie down waiting for your clothes to be squeezed, going to the backyard is like a forest!" Bu Karni shouted from the television room while watching the soap opera association of the dictator's father-in-law.

"Practice to play the characters to animate the in-laws who oppress the son-in-law," Haziya grumbled in her heart as she got out of bed. As long as it's not in this house, garbage is lying around, as well as weeds littering the yard. He alone had to clean it without the help of his mother-in-law, who was laughing out loud because of the soap opera he was watching.

"I'm crying ... imagining ...." The soundtrack of the song from the soap opera accompanied Haziya's steps towards the backyard.