The Third Person (English)

Part 15

Anyelir’s POV

We enter the room that has been prepared for us after a brief greeting with Adi’s cousin and other invited-guests. There are about a dozen couples invited to this occasion. Everyone smiled warmly to welcome us a few minutes ago.

The sound of the door closing gives me a little awkwardness. My relationship with Adi, which fluctuates along with his changing attitudes, makes me get used to it when I’m alone with him in the room.

To divert my awkwardness, I openedopen the bag Adi had carried. I’ll take out the clothes I’m going to wear and then take a shower immediately. That’s the plan.

But the next thing that happens after I take the clothes surprises me when an arm holds me tightly from behind.

I can’t move after that. Everything is so sudden and unexpected. My whole organs are like being stung by a paralyzing electric current. I close my eyes to subdue the nervousness and my gradually increasing heartbeat. Adi had once peppered me with kisses from his thin lips. I can’t comprehend the reaction of my own body that seems to crave his touch.

Then, when Adi guides me to face him, I cannot refuse. We stare at each other for a moment until I feel Adi’s lips press into mine. I surrender. All I can do is squeeze my fingers on the shirt Adi is wearing as a reaction to my unpreparedness.

Adi seems to be enjoying his ministrations. His eyes are tightly closed, while his arms hug me even tighter. I finally lose control and give up, following Adi’s lips dance.

I don’t know how long we nibble at each other’s lips until Adi pulls away from my lips. We press our foreheads together, catching our breath. Neither of us starts a word because there are no words that can describe the feeling.

A little strange, but I can’t help loving it.

*****

Adi opens the door to the room again while I am applying powder. After the thrilling incident half an hour ago, Adi chose to take a shower first. He went out to meet the other guests while I cleaned up later.

From the mirror reflection, Adi seems to be smiling and walks towards me. “Ready?”

“In no time,” I reply, and then put down the powder and take the lipstick.

Adi is already standing behind me. He puts his hands on my shoulders. I can feel a slight squeeze there. I try to ignore it by staying focused on the makeup on my face.

I put on the lipstick after I finish, looking at him through the mirror reflection. “Have they all gathered?” I ask to make sure.

“Yes. Come on.”

Again, Adi takes my hand. Once we leaveleft the room, we do not find anyone in the living room. Adi is right, everyone has gathered at the venue.

I slightly turn towards Adi to observe his face. A handsome face that has been acting so soft all day to me. Hopefully, it is not just today that he shows me the tenderness of his attitude. Hopefully, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and the days ahead, I will still be a woman who is worthy of his attention. Although, not the only one.

It is okay.

*****

The garden in the courtyard of the villa has been decorated with flickering lights. Several round tables and chairs wrapped in beautiful fabrics are available there. White roses and therapeutic scented candles of various colors complement the beauty of the party tonight.

“Hi, Anyelir.” Adi’s cousin – Sona – approaches me, smiles friendly, then hugs me tightly. “How are you?” She breaks the hug.

“Alhamdulillah, I’m fine,” I reply with a smile at her. “Congratulations on your wedding. May Allah bestow you blessings and happiness. And... stay together forever till death,” I pray for her sincerely.

Hopefully, Sona will not experience what has happened to me. A destiny that brought me to a polygamous life with a different amount of affection poured out by the husband. I don’t regret it, just wondering why Adi could behave in such a way. His love is for that one woman only.

“Amen, amen to that,” replies Sona. “So, when will I get a cute nephew?” she turns to look at Adi. “When?”

“What?” Adi asks, confused. He has been busy playing with his phone, so he doesn’t understand what Sona and I are talking about.

A man with a Middle Eastern face is walking toward us, his smile blooms, making hollows at the corners of his lips.

“Good evening,” he greets kindly.

“Good evening,” me and Adi answer.

Adi shakes hand with the man then gives him a short hug.

“This is my husband.” Sona introduces. I look at her husband and cup my hands in front of my chest as a sign of introduction. He does the same thing while saying his name — Farhan.

Then we have a warm conversation about our work and various things that are currently in the news, both on TV and online media. Every now and then, Sona’s husband throws jokes which make us all laugh.

Sona and I then change the topics around domestic issues. I try to answer as best as I can when she asks, without revealing the truth about Adi and my household. Only a few of Adi’s family know about our polygamous family, and Sona is not included in it.

The night is getting late and the event gets even more festive. Since earlier, the singer has sung popular songs of the day accompanied by a live band on a small stage, making the atmosphere even more alive. The chef in charge of serving various grilled meats and seafood deftly serves the guests. A wide selection of hot drinks is also available. I choose ginger to warm my body because the cold chills me to the bone.

The event is then closed with the song Beautiful in White — Shane Fillan, sung by Farhan.

All invited-guests stand to sing along. We share the happiness that radiates from the newlyweds.

The paired bodies clasp their hands together. Some hug each other intimately while singing lyrics that are touching their hearts.

My hand cannot escape Adi’s grasp. We sing together. Carefree. Everything feels so light. Of all the moments that I have passed with him, this is the most beautiful. I’m sure tonight I will sleep soundly.

And hopefully not just tonight.

*****

The next day I wake up in Adi’s strong arms. Yes, we slept in the same bed but didn’t do anything other than forehead kissing before bedtime.

“Adi. I try to wake him up because it is five o’clock in the morning. We slept too soundly and a little late, solate so, we didn’t hear the dawn call to prayer.

Adi squirms a little, without releasing his embrace. What I feel is now he hugs me tighter instead. His face that is resting on the crook of my neck makes my body contort with his breath.

“Adi, it’s morning already. We have to wake up.” Once again, I try, this time by removing his arm from my body, and it works. But his eyes are still tightly closed.

It isn’t usually this hard to wake him up.

I can’t give up, or we’ll miss the dawn prayer for nothing.

“Adi.” I bring my face closer to his. I gently caress it, from his thick eyebrows, then down his arched nose, and end at his now slightly parted lips that let out a soft snore.

Subconsciously, I pull a small smile, watching his face this close. Anyone would not have thought that this gentle face could act so cold to me. But that’s the fact.

Ah, how lucky Melati is to be the only woman who lives in his heart.

I wish it were me.

Continued.