61. A Serious Threat

Dayyan could not close his eyes even though it was getting late. Farah had already preceded him into dreamland. The first night Athaya came home would always be a night of redemption for her sleepless nights in the hospital. Because he kept fidgeting, Dayyan thought he was having trouble sleeping because his stomach was hungry. He slowly got up and opened the bedroom door. His intention was to cook instant noodles, just to fill his stomach so he could sleep well afterward. Dayyan turned on the kitchen light and was immediately surprised to see Septin sitting on the dining chair. Her hand was holding a cup of hot tea. She ignored Dayyan who almost jumped up when he saw her. "Mom, not sleeping yet?" greeted Dayyan after calming his heart. "I used to sleep alone, now I have to stay at my son and daughter-in-law's house." Septin spoke without expression, as if regretting herself but having no choice. Dayyan felt it was the right time to have a heart-to-heart talk with his mother-in-law. "I apologize, Ma. It's all my fault for being incompetent as a husband and father. After everything is back to normal, I will return your money." Septin took a deep breath, then exhaled harshly. "If it's not your fault, whose fault is it? I'm just sorry to see my son have to suffer." "Insha'Allah, everything will be fine, Ma. This test comes from Allah, may Allah also provide an unexpected way of sustenance. I only ask for your prayers and sincerity," Dayyan said softly. "I raised her with love. Farah's father is just a teacher who aspires to send his children to school to become people. To have a better life than us parents." Septi began to remember the days of her first motherhood. "We didn't have much, but since Farah was our only child, we wanted to raise her as high as we could," Septin said softly. "When she met you, Farah turned into a stranger to us. She forgot everything, the teenage world, her college intentions, she just wanted to be a mother to your son." Dayyan was silent. He married Farah when she was very young, just twenty years old. Two years after graduating from high school. The marriage did not have the blessing of Septin or Lukman, her husband. "After becoming your wife, Farah really grew up, even more than we expected as her parents. I thought she would have a hard time adapting, she was so young. She couldn't even take care of herself back then, but she chose to become a wife. What a stupid choice." Dayyan just listened to Septin's words. "After getting pregnant with Athaya, Farah really proved to us that her choice was not wrong. Her father and I argued many times because he wanted her to take care of Athaya in our house, not in your rented house." Dayyan swallowed. When he first married Farah, he had to start from scratch. Living in a rented house, with minimal facilities. Farah never complained. They lived a very beautiful married life until Dayyan's career slowly began to improve. "When Athaya was born, I thought Farah's happiness was complete. She didn't even need our help anymore. Her father had melted down and no longer questioned your marriage. I'm grateful my husband is at peace there, when this storm hit you." Please pray, Ma. So that I can quickly provide a decent life for Farah and Athaya." Dayyan ventured to answer Septin's words. "Athaya's illness requires a lot of money, Dayyan. You can't keep relaxing like this." Septin was getting fed up. "I'm trying to find a job, Ma." Dayyan finally said what he had been hiding from Farah. Dayyan had always opened a WAG for job vacancies in his area, then secretly made an application and sent it off. But until now, none of those applications have come to fruition, calling him for an interview. Dayyan realizes that at his age, it will be difficult for him to get a position like he used to, but he still tries for Farah and Athaya. Being an online motorcycle taxi driver was his last resort, when the doors of the company seemed closed to him. "Until when are you going to be a motorcycle taxi driver with no clear income?" Septin asked, making Dayyan's throat tighten. "Sa-I don't know, Ma. But once I get a job, I will definitely quit." Dayyan didn't want to explain that his income now could be much higher than his basic salary at the factory. Because there was something else that was more important to his in-laws. A sense of security. Septin would feel more financially secure if her son-in-law was working for a fixed salary in a company or factory. "Farah never complained about her life with you, about the food, clothing, everything you spent in a month. Farah just wants Athaya to be healthy. Do you know that, Dayyan?" Dayyan nodded. Not just Farah, as Athaya's father, he wanted that too. His greatest source of happiness was to see Athaya healthy and able to go to school like her peers. "So I'm doing this for Farah, my daughter. Just as Farah also begged me to sell the house for Athaya." "I understand, Ma. Insha'Allah, I will replace everything, I will return the money we borrowed." "With the income from your motorcycle taxi?" Septin snorted. Dayyan tried to contain his feelings. He understood that this conversation was only to corner him as an incompetent son-in-law, husband and father. Even though Septin spoke in a low and soft tone, to Dayyan all of Septin's words felt like a knife slicing through his skin layer by layer. The pain was unbearable. Dayyan closed his eyes and prayed silently for more patience. It had only been a day since Septin had lived in his house, only last night Farah had talked about this possibility, and sure enough, it was like Septin was trying to rip out his heart. "We don't know because mate, sustenance and death are the secrets of Allah, but hasn't Allah also promised to guarantee the sustenance of all creatures in this world? I'm not silent, I'm trying, Ma." Dayyan looked down, as if talking to himself. He did not dare to speak much to Septin, and everything he said just now was an outpouring of his feelings. "There is not a single mother in this world who is willing to see her child suffer. If mama dared to sacrifice her wealth to help Athaya's recovery so that Farah wouldn't be sad anymore, you should do the same." Dayyan was silent for a moment trying to digest Septin's words. "Meaning... Mama?" Dayan frowned. "If you can't make Farah happy, there are plenty of men out there who will." Dayyan widened his eyes in disbelief as the words came out of his mother-in-law's mouth. Now Dayyan felt that not only had his skin been slashed, his heart ripped out, but his heart had also been ripped out, trampled and spat upon by Septin.