My best friend, Maduku
Badal's husband

Fikri was wrapped in medical sterilization clothes to accompany Ning Halimah in labor. His heart is very stubborn at this time, because he is no one but just as a santri khodam who has seven years devoted himself in the ndalem.

With hesitant footsteps, Fikri approached Ning Halimah's bed, while her eyes were filled with her Ning's eyes. Fikri lowered his head, it felt like he was cursing himself for being insolent in looking at the face of his teacher's daughter.

Fikri was shocked as Ning Halimah suddenly held onto her arm, tight as hell. Once again looked at her Ning face that was grimacing in pain. The eyes of the two met again then Ning Halimah nodded as if understanding Fikri's doubts.

"Sorry, Ning." The whisper of Fikri was right in Ning Halimah's ear that was covered in hijab cloth.

Trembling, Fikri linked his right hand fingers with Ning Halimah's left hand fingers, while one hand gently rubbed Ning Halimah's head.

"Sir, be encouraged, wife." Said the doctor standing before Ning Halimah.

Fikri turned his head, his lips smiled then nodded. "Yes, doc." His words are still smiling.

The labor process begins.

"Bismilahbornrahmanirrahim..."

This time Fikri's mind had gone nowhere other than on the woman who was beside him. His focus was only on Ning Halimah, like a husband who was really considerate of his wife, Fikri always held a prayer in Ning Halimah's ear, she said, likewise, her palm that was on Ning Halimah's head continued to give a gentle swipe.

She also unconsciously shed her tears upon seeing Ning Halimah's painful struggle. Fikri felt unbearable to see it, he was even willing to replace that pain to feel alone, instead of Ning Halimah.

Feelings of anxiety, worry, panic, all felt by Fikri at this time. She paid no attention to Ning Halimah's nail claw that had hit her waist while Ning Halimah was straining. Ning Halimah's position was indeed like in Fikri's embrace, Ning Halimah's head was right near Fikri's stomach.

After the exhausting struggle was over, finally the sound of baby crying started to sound, along with Ning Halimah closing her eyes, maybe she was very exhausted.

"The girls, sir." The doctor told Fikri.

Fikri immediately spoke his voice but it could still be heard by the doctor and the three sisters.

Fikri released her embrace on Ning Halimah's body then confirmed Ning Halimah's head position to make it more comfortable.

The doctor began to put the baby on top of Ning Halimah's body. Fikri was surprised by what his doctor did.

"That's what, doc, hugged ?." Ask Fikri to know.

"This is to establish their bond between mother and child. This process is done, so that his son knows if the most comfortable place for the first time after he came out in the world is his mother. Sort of forming a chemistry, sir." The doctor explained.

Fikri finally nodded. His eyes looked at the face of the tiny baby who was still very red.

"How long, doc ?." Ask Fikri again.

"Five minutes, then you'll bring the baby to clean, sir."

Sure enough, five minutes later, the doctor took the baby back and took her out of the room.

"Sorry, Ning. I had to." Fikri said in his heart.

The medical men had come out and were replaced with two sisters who would cleanse Ning Halimah's body. Fikri who could no longer be rude to his teacher's daughter chose to leave the room.

How surprised he was when he came out, there was still no one outside but Nisa. I don't know why Ning Halimah's family hasn't come yet.

"Kang." Nisa who was sitting directly approached Fikri who looked very tired and her clothes were a little chaotic.

"Sir, ummi hasn't come yet ?." Fikri asked, his eyes looking.

"Yet, kang. I don't know, I don't know either. Did something happen to Ummi, huh kang ?." Nisa's question is agitated.

"May there be nothing, ma'am."

"If Gus Aly, does he know that his wife gave birth ?."

"No idea, mbak." Aly replied as she walked towards the waiting chair.

Just a few seconds attached to the chair, a nurse called her back into the room again.

"Sir, I go in first, huh ?." She's on Nisa.

"Yes kang."

Nisa approached Ning Halimah who was already conscious and was now sitting with her back rebutted.

"The address, Ning." Aly said politely while bowing respectfully.

"Getishalight."

Fikri stood beside Ning Halimah but by keeping a distance, even though they had been happily hugging each other, but it was in a desperate state, so by now everything had returned to normal.

"Sit down, kang." Ning Halimah said with her voice still sounding weak.

Fikri couldn't possibly refuse his Ning orders. Fikri immediately sat down on the side seat of Ning Halimah's bed. "I'm sorry, Ning Imah. I've been sassy to touch Ning Imah." Fikri said full-blown.

"Kang Fikri is not wrong, I am even grateful to kang Fikri." Ning Halimah said sincerely.

"Murve, Ning."

"Ummi still hasn't come, kang ?." Ning Halimah asked later.

"Yet, Ning." Replied Fikri who is still loyal to look down fully.

A nurse came while carrying a cloth that had been confirmed in it there was a baby Ning Halimah. And sure enough, the nun approached Ning Halimah then handed the baby to Ning Halimah. "Please, Mom." Said the nurse and then she said goodbye again.

"God, how beautiful are you ?." Said Ning Halimah with teary eyes. Ning Halimah unceasingly kissed her daughter's face.

Fikri raised her face and watched Ning Halimah. She really never expected that there would be such an incident, where she represented Gus Aly to accompany Ning Halimah during childbirth.

Seeing Ning Halimah turn her head, Fikri immediately lowered her head again.

"Yes, Ning."

"Can I ask you a favor ?."

"Please, Ning."

"Kang Fikri, please treat my daughter, will you ?."

"What ?." Fikri spontaneously looked at Ning Halimah's face. "But, Ning. Sorry, I'm not going to refuse, but it should be Gus Aly who's complaining, Ning."

"He's not here, kang. I beg you, same kang Fikri." Ning Halimah said again to make Fikri feel guilty.

Fikri breathed out slowly. "Alright, Ning. "

Carefully, Fikri took over Ning Halimah's daughter. Then take her to her own car.

"Bismilahbornrahmanirrahim..."

With trembling lips Fikri chanted her adhan in a soft voice in her baby's right ear, followed by her iqoma in the baby's left ear.

Again, Fikri could not hold back his tears to not escape the dispute. There was a sigh of calmness that suddenly came to his heart.

Ning Halimah was the same, she was crying in silence, I don't know what she was thinking right now.

When she finished, Fikri returned the baby to her mother.

"Thank you, kang. I owe a lot to Fikri." Said Ning Halimah.

"God willing, I sincerely do it, Ning."

Ning Halimah nodded then smiled.

"Yes already, then excuse me Ning, I have a need first." Fikri said after they were previously struck by silence.

Fikri came out of the room to meet Nisa in front. "Sir, I'm ahead first, huh ?." He told Nisa.

"Where are you going, kang ?."

"You need to take care of the administration first."

"Oh, am I coming ?."

"You want what ?."

"You come along."

"Yes, come on ?!."

Fikri and Nisa walked over to the administration desk section.

"What's the name, ma'am ?."

"Halima Az-Zahra, in the delivery room."

"Oh, yes." The administrative guard submitted a data file on behalf of Halimah Az-Zahra. " Please sign it, ma'am."

Fikri complied and immediately put his signature on the indicated spot.

"You want to pay cash what card, mas ?."

"Card, it's mbak." Fikri handed over his atm card to make the payment process.

"Alright, good luck with the service, mas. Congratulations on the birth of his wife. " The administration guard said kindly, while returning the card.

Fikri smiled stiffly. "Yes, thank you, ma'am." Clumsy speech.

They left in front of the administration desk. Nisa's laughter exploded.

"What the hell, mbak ?!." Fikri's murmur was upset with the girl beside him.

"Survived of the birth of his wife... Haha." Said Nisa mimicking the sound style earlier.

"Bak, noisy, you know ?."

"No. Haha." Nisa laughed again.

Fikri's frustration grew, he walked quickly leaving Nisa who was still busy laughing.

"Ehh kang, how was he left ?!." Said Nisa sewot immediately following.

"Fame, Nisa!." The familiar voice made Fikri and Nisa stop and immediately look for the source of the sound.

Both of them immediately shook the hands of ummi nyai. "Assalamualaikum, ummi." Fikri said.

"Waalaikumsalam, sorry new ummi can come. How is Halimah doing ?."

"Alhamdulillah, Ning Halimah has given birth, ummi. The daughter." Answer Fikri.

"Alhamdulillah... Yeah, come on, ummi wants to see him."

"Yes, Ummi. Let's ?!." Said Fikri invite ummi nyai to walk in front and the two followed behind.

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