Chapter 30: Chapter 30
The ring looked amazing on Rakia’s hand when she wore it but not on her heart. Just a ring would bind them together in marriage vows. Rakia swallowed as she removed the ring from her ring finger and gave it to Dashtan, trying to smile so as not to look so stiff and nervous. Her heart was beating uncomfortably, and she began to feel dizziness coming on. She scanned her surroundings for a place to sit and found a bench with a backrest on the right side of the back. Rakia immediately approached the bench and sat there. She caught her breath and neutralized her feelings that were suddenly attacked by panic.
“Oh, come on Rakia... It’s just a ring.” She encouraged herself in her mind. She hoped it would work and slowly the bad feeling receded. She turned her gaze towards Dashtan who was still struggling with their wedding rings. Rakia once again let out a long sigh but it was noticed by Dashtan so he joined her on the bench.
“Are you okay?” Dashtan looked at Rakia worriedly. He knew something was going on with the woman, something was wrong. But he didn’t know what and Rakia also seemed to be trying to cover it up. Dashtan examined the woman’s forehead with the back of his hand then moved to the cheeks then the neck. Rakia was a little confused by the treatment she was getting.
“Are you sick? Your body feels cold,” Dashtan said after his brief examination. Rakia shook her head.
“No, I’m... I’m fine, maybe I’m just tired, you know organizing a wedding isn’t easy.” Rakia tried to make an excuse and luckily Dashtan thought it made sense.
“After this, we have to look at the food menu, are you still able to accompany me? If not I will-“
“Yes, I’ll accompany you, don’t worry, I’m fine,” Rakia said quickly. Dashtan took their order rings then left the shop to their next destination.
“I wanted to thank you for helping me pay the fine,” Rakia said, choosing to create a conversation between them rather than remain silent.
“No problem, I know you’re not used to this city yet.” Dashtan replied with a nonchalant look on his face, as he said.
“How about after we look at the menu, we have lunch? We haven’t eaten anything since earlier,” Dashtan suggested, to which Rakia agreed with a nod. Rakia was distracted by the music player in the car, so she turned it on and selected a song. She found her favorite song among Dashtan’s playlist. Rakia played it and increased the volume just to be heard normally.
“I like this song,” Rakia said, looking at the music player with a smile. The voice of 3 Doors Down’s vocalist who sang a song called i’m here without you baby flowed from the music player. Although it was a mellow song, somehow Rakia liked to hear it. Right now she was even humming along as the song entered the chorus. Her voice, which was good but not as good as a professional singer’s, surprised Dashtan who was just silent while enjoying Rakia who seemed to be singing along with the singer. He was quite amazed at the woman’s ability to sing although not as good as a professional singer at least, he could enjoy it and make his eardrums accept the sound.
After the song finished, the next song came on.
“You have a good voice, why don’t you practice and become a singer?” Dashtan asked later. Rakia chuckled.
“I’m not thinking of becoming a singer, although I like to sing but it’s just a distraction when I’m bored,” Rakia answered honestly. Dashtan nodded. Black Shelton’s voice singing his song Sangria made Dashtan hum along involuntarily. When Dahstan recited the lyrics that read ‘Your lips taste like sangria’ made Rakia smile embarrassedly while looking down. She tried to stop the smile by folding her lips into her mouth. Dashtan’s heavy voice sounded as sexy in her ears as Blake Shelton’s voice sounded right now on the music player.
Their moments of enjoying the song had to come to a temporary end as they had reached their destination. Rakia, who was new to the place, asked her question as she and Dashtan got out of the car.
“Isn’t it too expensive here?” Rakia looked at the restaurant building once more and then at Dashtan who was walking toward her at a slow pace.
“No, it’s up to standard. You don’t have to worry, come on,” Dashtan invited as he extended one of his hands towards Rakia. The woman gave her a confused look, Dashtan who knew Rakia’s confusion immediately canceled his intention to hold hands with the woman when he entered the restaurant. Somehow he always got carried away whenever he was with Rakia.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” Dashtan cursed in his mind as he walked toward the entrance with Rakia two steps behind him. Rakia stared in amazement at the menu of dishes listed in the restaurant’s menu book. Everything was delicious and of high quality. The restaurant provided special packages for events. Be it weddings, engagements, office meetings, or birthdays and other events that require large portions of food. Rakia was excited when the restaurant provided a taster for each prospective customer to the menu they would order.
“How was it? Isn’t it good?” asked Dashtan when Rakia finished trying a spoonful of black pepper meat. Rakia nodded yes.
“Um, it’s good.” Rakia confirmed it again by saying so. The waitress who served them smiled with satisfaction. After deciding on the menu, they left the restaurant and fulfilled their next schedule for lunch even though the time was a bit late.
“What would you like to eat?” Dashtan asked.
“How about... Kebuli rice? I’ve always wanted to eat that,” Rakia replied, now a little excited. Dashtan smiled at the woman’s change of emotions.
“You’ve never had Kebuli rice?” Dashtan asked between incredulity and disbelief.
“Only once, and that was from a friend when I was working in Jakarta,” Rakia answered honestly.
“Then get ready,” Dashtan said, making Rakia frown.
“Get ready for?” Rakia spit out her curiosity.
“After you become a son-in-law in my family you’ll be dealing with that menu almost every day,” Dashtan said, making Rakia widen her eyes.
“Really? That’s good, because I need more protein intake. At least then I can eat that one delicious meal for free,” Rakia said which was responded to by Dashtan’s laughter and the laughter infected Rakia. They arrived at a restaurant specializing in Middle Eastern cuisine, Rakia exuding a palpable excitement as they sat down in front of a short, wide table covered in a soft Turkish rug.
When their order came, Rakia stared hungrily at the sizable portion of kebuli rice. Dashtan smiled and was amused by the expression the woman was currently wearing. Dashtan was again amazed when Rakia managed to finish a medium-sized portion of the kebuli rice in a fairly short time, even though she was still in the process of finishing his, but Rakia had already emptied her plate. Rakia is currently drinking her avocado juice.
“Eeemm... Ash,” Rakia called out which instantly made Dashtan choke. The man was surprised to hear a woman calling him in a low voice that sounded intense in his ears. Rakia, who was a little panicked because Dashtan coughed, immediately offered mineral water in a plastic bottle to the man.
“Are you okay?” asked Rakia after seeing Dashtan start to improve.
“What’s wrong?” Dashtan ignored Rakia’s question, instead he was curious about the purpose of the woman calling him earlier. Rakia was silent for a moment before saying what she wanted to say. But she chose to shake her head immediately.
“Nothing, later, when the time is right.” Rakia swallowed back what she really wanted to say. Dashtan sighed and inwardly cursed that Rakia would make him die of curiosity, but he could not force the woman.