Chapter 2 Long Summer

That afternoon, Sophia felt nauseous again after smelling the fragrance Mina sprayed in her room. The pungent scent wafted out of the air vent and pierced Sophia's very sensitive sense of smell.

Sophia tried to throw up her guts into the toilet. Bilal who heard the nauseated voice immediately approached his pregnant wife. He rubbed the base of Sophia's neck so that the girl immediately vomited what she wanted to vomit.

Sophia slumped limply in front of the closet. Bilal cleans everything. Even though he has many helpers, Bilal wants to take care of his own wife. In years of marriage he has never found a pregnant wife. Bilal couldn't hide his happiness about Sophia's pregnancy.

***

In the dining room, Sophia is always made by her husband's milk for pregnant women. Bilal is also not picky, he also makes milk to support Mina's hormones. Both wives were equally given the necessary nutrition. But Mina didn't get anything. Bilal just smiled as he stirred Sophia's glass of milk. He didn't get that smile from his glass of milk. At first Mina was normal. But the more time goes by. He began to feel seconded. Although she is the first legal wife in religion and state. But he's not a priority.

"I'll wait," Mina said in her heart as she watched Sophia's stomach grow bigger.

***

Sophia was lying in her room looking through the furniture for her baby-to-be. Mina also brought several boxes of goods into the room opposite her room. Honestly, Mina is also happy to welcome the birth of the successor to Bilal's wealth and throne. But, out of nowhere a feeling of hatred emerged towards the figure of the convert girl who was lying in front of him.

"Mina. I want you to give your child the name later," said Sophia, smiling happily as her hands tightly gripped the baby clothes that were scattered on the bed.

Mina was quite surprised to hear that sentence. "Why me? That's your child," Mina answered softly.

"This is Bilal's son. And he will also be your son," said Sophia.

There was nothing wrong with what Sophia said. But that sentence seemed to bring up an idea in Mina's brain.

"Yes, he will be my son and Bilal, not your son. You are just a reproductive machine in this house," Mina said in her heart.

***

The days passed until it was time for Sophia to give birth. The child was named Firdaus by Mina. Paradise that many Muslims long for. The baby boy has a beautiful body. His laughter also makes other people laugh too. Her body was flawless and flawless and very healthy.

However, after a week, Firdaus was born. Mina whines and begs her husband to kick Sophia out of their mansion.

"You married her only for a child, Bilal," Mina whined.

"There's no way I could do that. Sophia is my wife. Firdaus is also my child. There's no way I could throw them out. They are my responsibility!" Bilal firmly denied all of Mina's proposals.

"Then, I will leave this house," Mina threatened.

Bilal was silent without a word. Expelling Sophia was impossible. But letting Mina go from her house, that's not what she wants.

"Didn't you say earlier that you could accept this heartache?" Bilal asked his wife.

"That was then. Before you were unfair to me!"

"When have I been unfair to you, Mina?"

"When was the last time you entered our room? No, now this room is mine alone. You never even ask how I slept tonight and the rest of the night! You were busy with that bitch in that room. What about me? have to endure the pain for more than one more year?" Mina replied.

"I don't want to see that bitch again anywhere," he continued, starting to hold back the tightness and tears that were about to fall.

Sophia heard the debate from outside her room while holding the child. He chose to pretend not to know and went back into his room.

That night, Bilal entered the room and met Sophia. The man was about to cry when he got a smile from his wife.

Sophia was innocent of anything. But this ordeal befell him. Bilal's love for Mina was also so strong that he agreed to what his wife wanted.

"What's the matter?" Sophia asked walking closer.

"This is your dad, Firdaus" Sophia mumbled jokingly.

"I'll take you away," Bilal replied after heaving a heavy breath.

Sophia's expression immediately changed. She looked at her husband's face. She never thought that happiness had just come to him, but everything just disappeared.

But Sophia smiled again. "Whatever it is, I obey you. You are my husband," Sophia said in accordance with what Bilal had taught her about wives who are obliged to obey their husbands.

Bilal wiped his tears that almost fell when he heard the answer.

Suddenly Firdaus cried and made a loud crying sound typical of a baby. Sophia immediately brushed it off while staring at the sparkling city lights from behind the bedroom window. While she right hand rubbed Firdaus' head.

Bilal cries behind the woman. Sophia also shed tears in silence.

"O God, if this is my test of my obedience to my husband. I think this is too painful. But I believe, You are the one who strengthens me. So strengthen me over all this." Sophia's mind screamed calling for her Creator.

***

The day that Sophia prepares to leave her house. She asked permission to breastfeed Firdaus until the child felt full.

Maybe the mind of the mother and child that is connected between the two makes Firdaus not full for up to 3 hours of non-stop eating. It was as if the baby did not want to be separated from its mother.

Mina didn't come out of her room that day, she didn't want her guilt to complicate Sophia's departure. Mina was also crying in her room. She realized what sin he had committed, but the jealousy was more dominant than the pity he felt.

She will take care of Firdaus like his own child. She only wanted a child, not with any other woman in his house.

***

Sophia is taken by Bilal to a strange place. They traveled 3 days by car and stopped several times to refuel the vehicle.

Sophia had no idea what her life would be like. The only thing that haunts his mind is Firdaus. How is his son after being left for 3 days? Did Mina treat him well? What food did they give when Firdaus was hungry?

"We've arrived," said Bilal who immediately got out of his car and followed by Sophia.

They stopped at an old and run-down building. This place is completely deserted and far from human civilization. The vast forest was starting to frighten Sophia. She held Bilal's hand firmly without a word.

"17 years from now, Firdaus will pick you up here. Please wait for that time to come. I'm sorry," said Bilal.

"I'm scared!" Sophia said and was about to cry.

"God is with you. Don't leave prayer. I'm sorry I can't be a good husband for you," replied Bilal who was also holding back the tightness.

At that moment Sophia was crying silently. The tears flowed silently. Slowly she let go of Bilal's hand.

"This is food for you. I also brought some vegetable seeds for you to survive. You can use the soil and river water behind this house," said Bilal taking out all the supplies that would be Sophia's provision for life in the forest.

"Why was I brought to this place? You can leave me in the city and I won't bother your family anymore," Sophia said.

"Mina will kill you, and I choose to do it, but I lied. I will not do that. This place is safe enough for you to hide. Wait until Firdaus comes," said Bilal and left his wife there.

***

Sophia's day went by normally. Only Firdaus became a burden on her mind. The poor child is how he is now.

Sophia is a smart and creative woman. She is quite obedient to her husband's orders. She is able to turn a bushy forest into gardening land. With the energy she had, she felt it was not difficult enough to live in the forest.

Sophia is also able to make a water system from the river to her garden so that she doesn't have to struggle to transport water back and forth like a few days ago.

However, things don't always go smoothly. Arrived when the dry season came. The river water dried up, even Sophia couldn't take a bath. The plants in his garden are dry because they don't get enough water. Sophia had nothing to eat and drink. During the dry season, Sophia had taken out all the food supplies she had preserved by drying them and now they were all gone. She didn't think this drought would last longer than he expected.

Hunger and thirst she endured for days. Until her body which contains suddenly emaciated does not get nutrition.

As Sophia got up from her bed, she fell unconscious on the shaky floor of the house. No one knows this.

Until he regained consciousness with a feverish body condition.

"O God, please prolong my life. I have to wait for my son in this place for a longer time. Let me endure this pain until Firdaus comes," Sophia said, crying unable to hold it all.