Se connecter“And what you tried today,” I winced in pain as he held my nape from behind before turning me around. I peered up at him in fear while he stared down at me with his intimidating eyes. His eyes were thundering. Leaning down further, he made my pulse rise. Being so close to him— a man, no less, I could see the clear spec of blackness inside his dark eyes. They were so raw and so dark and so piercing. “I would suggest you not try it again,” he added, his bottomless brooding eyes burned into mine, “because no matter how hard you are going to try, you are never going to get out of here without my permission. Away from my sight,” he vowed in a menacing tone that had no expression at all. “Don't get your hopes high.” Tears split down my eyes while he studied my face. “You like escaping. Don't you?” He explained to me in a condescending tone. “Let's see how you are going to try now with my eyes on you— all the time." “You can try all you want, but you can never break my spirits!” I looked at him, directly in his eyes without blinking. His eyes were still focussed on my face as he slowly stepped around me. “Do you mean it?” His voice was strangely soft, “Maybe I cannot. But.. ” Adding to his intimidating aura. Shaur. “No.. ” I whispered. “I can break him.” His gaze met mine in an instant. “You seem to have forgotten your own mental capacity of understanding certain situations. Let me refresh it for you.” His eyes seemed to burn holes at me. “I'd rather not get blood on your dress.” WARNING: This book contains strong language, dubious situations, deception issues, manipulations, abduction and dark romance.
Voir plusMaya memutar tubuhnya di depan cermin ruang tamu untuk kesekian kalinya. Blazer krem yang membalut tubuhnya masih sama elegannya seperti saat pertama ia beli dua tahun lalu, meski sekarang terasa sedikit lebih longgar. Enam tahun, bisiknya dalam hati. Enam tahun, dan tubuhnya malah makin kurus, bukannya tambah berisi... seperti yang seharusnya.
"Wah, cantik sekali, Bu." Pak Karyo muncul dari arah dapur, membawa secangkir teh hangat. Asisten rumah tangga yang sudah mengabdi sejak mereka pertama menikah itu tersenyum tulus. "Kayak foto pengantin yang di sana itu." Ia menunjuk ke figura yang tergantung di dinding—foto pernikahan Maya dan Irwan. Maya tersenyum tipis. "Ah, Pak Karyo bisa aja." Ia menerima teh yang disodorkan, menyesapnya perlahan. Aroma melati yang familiar bikin tubuhnya agak rileks. "Yang, dasi aku miring nggak?" Irwan keluar dari kamar, masih berkutat dengan simpul dasinya. Maya letakkan cangkir tehnya, lalu hampiri suaminya. "Sini." Dengan lembut ia membenarkan dasi Irwan. Dari jarak sedekat ini, ia bisa mencium aroma aftershave yang familiar—masih sama seperti enam tahun lalu. "Sudah." "Maya..." Irwan menangkap tangannya yang hendak menjauh. "Kamu oke?" Matanya menatap cemas. Maya mengangguk, meski keraguan jelas di matanya. "Cuma... nervous. Biasa." "Bu Maya, Pak Irwan," Pak Karyo berdeham pelan. "Udah jam setengah tujuh." "Oh iya," Irwan melepaskan tangan Maya, mengambil kunci mobil dari meja. "Kita harus berangkat sekarang kalau nggak mau telat." Maya mengambil tas tangannya, mengeluarkan lipstik untuk sentuhan terakhir. "Pak Karyo, tolong jaga rumah ya. Kita pulangnya mungkin agak maleman." "Siap, Bu." Pak Karyo mengikuti mereka ke teras depan rumah. Langit Jakarta sudah gelap, tapi udara masih terasa hangat. "Selamat ulang tahun pernikahan. Semoga Allah selalu memberkahi." Di mobil, Maya mengeluarkan ponselnya, mengecek alamat restoran untuk terakhir kali. Mereka memilih tempat Indonesia yang cukup berkelas di Menteng—tidak semewah hotel bintang lima, tapi cukup untuk menjaga gengsi keluarga besar mereka. "Siap?" Irwan remas tangannya lembut sebelum nyalakan mesin. Maya tarik napas panjang, ngerasain jemarinya gemetar. Dia tau banget apa yang nunggu mereka malam ini—tatapan penuh tanya, bisikan yang nggak keucap, harapan yang belum terpenuhi. "Siap," jawabnya, lebih buat yakinkan diri sendiri. Dua puluh menit kemudian, mobil mereka berhenti di depan restoran. Bangunan kolonial yang direstorasi itu tampak hangat dengan pencahayaan taman yang lembut. Maya bisa melihat beberapa mobil familiar sudah terparkir—keluarga mereka sudah mulai berdatangan. Maya merasakan genggaman Irwan mengerat. Mereka berdua tahu apa yang menanti di balik pintu kayu berukir itu—dua keluarga besar dengan ekspektasi yang lebih besar lagi. Ruangan VIP itu dirancang mengikuti konsep pendopo modern—luas dan elegan dengan sentuhan Jawa yang halus. Dua meja bundar besar dengan lazy susan kristal mendominasi ruangan. Aroma rempah dan bunga melati bercampur di udara, menciptakan atmosfer mewah yang tetap akrab. Di meja pertama, keluarga Maya sudah berkumpul. Papanya lagi diskusi serius sama Om Hadi soal harga properti di BSD, sementara Mamanya dan Tante Mira bahas rencana umroh tahun depan. Sepupunya, Andi, sibuk dengan iPad-nya—paling lagi closing another deal, pikir Maya. Typical keluarganya—bisnis nggak pernah berhenti, bahkan di acara keluarga. Di meja satunya, keluarga Irwan mulai berdatangan. Mama mertuanya langsung hampiri Maya, peluk dia dengan kehangatan yang terasa sedikit beda dari biasanya. "Selamat ulang tahun pernikahan ya, Nak. Enam tahun... masya Allah, nggak kerasa ya?" Justru kerasa setiap detiknya, Maya membatin, bales pelukan mertuanya dengan senyum profesional yang biasa dia pake di meeting. Percakapan ngalir ke berbagai topik. Om Hadi dan Papa balik tenggelam dalam diskusi properti mereka. Di sisi lain meja, Tante Astrid lagi cerita dengan antusias soal gallery batik barunya di Kemang. Mama Irwan sesekali nimpal, tapi Maya bisa ngerasain tatapannya yang sesekali arah ke blazer krem yang bungkus tubuh rampingnya. "Oh iya, Dik Linda udah masuk bulan ketujuh ya, Bu?" Tante Astrid beralih ke Mama Irwan. "Anak kedua..." Maya merasakan jemarinya mencengkeram garpu lebih erat. Linda, adik Irwan, baru menikah dua tahun lalu. Tapi sudah hamil anak kedua, sementara dia.... "Alhamdulillah," Mama Irwan senyum bangga. "Semoga lancar kayak yang pertama." Matanya lirik sekilas ke arah Maya. "Sekarang tinggal..." "Eh, soto konro-nya enak ya," Irwan motong cepat, tangannya di bawah meja remas lembut jari Maya yang mulai gemetar. "Tante mau tambah?" "Eh, nanti dulu," Tante Astrid senyum, matanya beralih ke Maya. "Maya sendiri gimana? Udah coba program lagi?" Maya merasakan jemarinya semakin dingin dalam genggaman Irwan. Ia memaksakan senyum profesional yang biasa ia gunakan saat presentasi sulit di kantor. "Lagi fokus kerja dulu, Tante. Project baru..." "Aih, kerja melulu." Tante Mira dari seberang meja ikut nimbrung. "Lihat Linda tuh, baru dua tahun nikah udah anak kedua. Padahal dia juga kerja." Maya teguk air putihnya pelan, berusaha tenangkan diri. Blazer krem yang tadi terasa pas kini kayak mencekik lehernya. Dari sudut matanya, dia bisa lihat Mama Irwan yang mulai gelisah dengan arah pembicaraan ini. "Maya ini emang kebanyakan mikir," Papa coba cairkan suasana. "Semua mesti direncanain detail. Iya kan, Wan?" "Iya, Pak." Irwan ngangguk, tangannya masih genggam erat jemari Maya di bawah meja. "Tapi bagus kan? Lihat aja pemilihan menu malam ini, semua—" "Ah, menu mah gampang diatur," potong Om Hadi, "tapi ada hal-hal yang nggak bisa diatur pake Excel sheet. Iya kan, Maya?" Tawa kecil menyebar di meja. Maya tersenyum tipis, merasakan keringat dingin mulai mengalir di punggungnya. Enam tahun, dan komentar-komentar seperti ini masih bisa menusuknya sedalam hari pertama. "Bu Maya," pelayan datang di saat yang tepat, "hidangan utamanya udah siap. Rendang atau ayam bakar?" Maya hampir menghela napas lega dengan interupsi ini, tapi Tante Astrid rupanya belum selesai. "Nanti coba tanya Linda ya, Maya. Dia pake dokter bagus di Menteng. Katanya ada program khusus buat... yang agak susah." Kali ini, Maya merasakan tangan Irwan yang gemetar dalam genggamannya. "Rendang saja," Maya menjawab pelan, bersyukur bisa mengalihkan pandangannya dari tatapan penuh arti Tante Astrid. Hidangan utama disajikan dengan elegan di atas piring porselen putih. Maya menatap rendang di hadapannya, aroma rempah yang biasanya menggugah selera kini terasa mencekik. Dia bisa denger percakapan di sekitarnya mulai beralih ke topik lain—bisnis properti Om Hadi, rencana umroh Mama, gallery batik Tante Astrid—tapi telinganya masih berdenging dengan komentar soal Linda... "Maya," Om Hadi tiba-tiba manggil dia dari seberang meja, suaranya yang berat bikin beberapa kepala noleh. "Kalo mau cepet hamil, kuncinya tuh posisi sama durasi." "Om Hadi..." Maya usaha senyum, tapi jarinya yang gemetar hampir jatuhin garpu. "Irwan ini kebanyakan kerja sih," Om Hadi nyendok rendangnya santai, matanya lirik penuh arti. "Minimal mesti tiga jam sehari, posisi yang tepat. Biar gravitasi bantu." Dia kedip mata. "Kalo cuma lima menit sebelum tidur, ya mana bisa?" Bisikan tawa tertahan terdengar di sekitar meja. Maya merasakan wajahnya terbakar, teringat rutinitas malam mereka yang memang hanya berlangsung singkat—Irwan selalu terlalu lelah setelah lembur. "Dan jangan lupa, posisinya harus yang dalem," Om Hadi lanjut dengan nada sok tau, seolah-olah dia ahli fertilitas. "Kalo cuma missionary standar gitu, susah nembus. Harus yang..." Dia bikin gerakan pake tangannya yang bikin Mama Irwan kesedak tehnya. Maya menunduk, tangannya mencengkeram garpu semakin erat. Di sampingnya, ia bisa merasakan tubuh Irwan menegang, keringat mulai membasahi telapak tangannya yang menggenggam jemari Maya. Mereka berdua tahu persis semua yang disebutkan Om Hadi adalah kebalikan dari rutinitas intim mereka yang singkat dan mekanis. Irwan berdeham keras. "Om Hadi, soal properti di BSD tadi—" "Oh iya, Maya," Mama Irwan motong, suaranya melembut dengan cara yang bikin Maya pengen nangis. "Mama denger di Malaysia ada treatment baru. Temen Mama sukses setelah lima tahun nyoba. Mau Mama minta kontaknya?" Maya merasakan pandangan semua orang tertuju padanya. Blazer kremnya yang sudah terasa longgar kini seolah menyusut, mencengkeram tubuhnya seperti tangan-tangan yang menuntut jawaban. "Makasih, Ma." Maya denger suaranya sendiri jawab, tenang dan terkontrol kayak pas dia mimpin rapat direksi. "Nanti kita omongin." Mama Irwan mengangguk, tapi Maya bisa melihat kekecewaan samar di matanya. Enam tahun, dan mereka masih menunggu. Enam tahun, dan setiap pertemuan keluarga masih berakhir dengan tatapan yang sama. Sisa makan malam berlalu dalam gerakan-gerakan mekanis. Maya mengiris rendangnya menjadi potongan-potongan kecil yang nyaris tidak ia sentuh. Irwan di sampingnya berusaha keras menjaga percakapan tetap pada topik-topik aman—politik, bisnis, cuaca—apa saja selain bayi dan kehamilan. Ketika hidangan penutup disajikan—es teler premium dengan kelapa muda Australia—Maya sudah tidak bisa merasakan apa-apa lagi. Setiap suapan terasa seperti abu di mulutnya. "Udah jam sembilan," Irwan akhirnya umumkan, lirik jam tangannya. "Maya besok ada meeting pagi." "Ah, masih sibuk aja," Tante Mira senyum penuh arti. "Padahal harusnya—" "Iya, meeting sama client dari Singapore," potong Maya cepat, bangkit dari kursinya. Blazer kremnya yang longgar dia rapetin kayak armor. "Makasih semuanya. Maaf kita harus duluan." Pelukan dan ciuman perpisahan terasa seperti siksaan. Setiap pelukan disertai bisikan "Sabar ya", "Jangan stress", "Coba konsul ke..." yang Maya tanggapi dengan senyum profesionalnya. Di mobil, Maya melepas sepatunya dengan gerakan lelah. Irwan menyalakan mesin dalam diam, membiarkan AC mobil mengisi keheningan di antara mereka. "Yang..." Irwan akhirnya ngomong setelah mereka keluar dari area parkir. "Jangan sekarang," Maya potong pelan, matanya terpejam. "Please." Irwan mengangguk, tangannya menggenggam kemudi lebih erat. Enam tahun, dan mereka masih belum menemukan kata-kata yang tepat untuk saat-saat seperti ini.Hello! The second part of the book will be available on my GN profile. Don't forget to check it out! I cannot thank you enough for showing your love, support and your patience on this book. I've been broken down writing this so many times I lost count! But you were always there to push me up. I am grateful enough for that. Your reviews, likes and comments help me to drive myself to write. Moving forward I hope you liked this book! Your love for my book is truly inspiring. Once again thank you for reading my amazing readers, without you I would be nothing! I promise to be a better author or I will try to be. Also, I can't wait to hear from you on the second part of the book! Happy reading!
Caution: Mature theme ahead. Horrendous night. “I am in no need of a blowjob right now. You can leave.” His tone sounded so cold. So unforgiving. “I-I am..” “You should better leave,” he was barely able to utter in a clear voice. “I don't need your assistance. Not today.” Her face turned red at his blurted reply. Feeling repulsed, she dismissed his words before moving forward to remove the empty alcohol bottle and almost-filled ashtray from beside him. “I- I am not here for that.” “I told you to leave.” A rough touch on her wrist bothered her. She tried looking into his eyes to grasp any gap to support her point. “I came here to check on you, Uzair.” “I am alive. Am I not?” His tone sounded heavy with all the emotional lumps he could feel in his throat, which, in turn, scared her. His behaviour with her. “So, leave.” He commanded. “Just let me check.” “Did I ask you to?” “No.” “Then stay the fuck away!” “You can hurt yourself or cause physical pai
17— His Insight. “It is so simple to be happy yet so difficult to be simple.”Four hours later.There, he sat on the counter in the kitchen, barely sober. With an almost non-touched plate of noodles kept beside him, a plate full of ashes in the ashtray, and two empty bottles of three-year-old Irish whisky laid horizontally near his thigh, he continued to smoke and get intoxicated without pause. The emotional pain he felt was too much to endure in this state. Putting the lean stick inside his mouth, he inhaled, lying down on his back on the oak table along with his spare hand at the back of his head. “Fuck!” He roared angrily. “Damn it!”With a scathing look in his eyes at the burning cigarette that his fingers held, he muttered,“Why does she have to defy my way every damn time?” Gasping the smoke out through his nose, “Why not for once she could do as she is told without me having to force her into listening to me?” He spoke out loudly in frustration, rubbing his face with force.
Prison. Wiping my tears, I kept mum, listening to him, and my breathing came out warm and dense.Cuddling my baby to me, I sat there nonplussed with fear of losing the only family left: my little Shaurya. Wiping my tears repeatedly from my hands, I steadied my brother, making him sit on the opposite side of him. Away—as far as I could get from him in the provided space.Silence.For a long moment, there was nothing but silence as I sat stiff and horrified with Shaurya on my lap. My crying had diminished with time. Nevertheless, my eyes and throat felt sore. And I found myself feeling dizzy and weak.Later on, there was a moment of pregnant silence in the already heavy air within the car. He spoke softly. "Don't ever cry like that. Ever! Do you hear me?" His voice held emotions of pain and anguish, though.As if he were a human. But I could be wrong. Because, logically speaking, how could someone like him even feel after having done something so monstrous to us? His face went pale w
16— Home but not ours! In the longest silence that followed, he wanted to tell her a thousand things. . . . Beginning with a plea that she could stay. The need to beg, pulsed in his veins. Yet, hoping against hope, he wished she stayed. — Saumya Tripathi “If it were on me, I would never come with yo
Plead. "Just—just don't hurt him, sir. Please!" I articulated to him while both hands folded with entwined fingers in front of him beseechingly. “Please… Not him..” "I won't have to, you see, little one.” I stared. “If you will listen to me, I won't have to do a thing," he alluded, gazing yet again.
Monster. “I like seeing your doe-like eyes have hope in them,” he whispered. “I sure did. Didn't I?” Am I deluding myself completely? No. How could I when he said it himself only a couple of moments ago? I heard him. And I know I heard him correctly. My eyes veered up at him as I gazed up, inching
06— Him. “And in the end, we all need a friend who would listen to what we have to say.” —Saumya Tripathi “Wouldn't life be simpler for once?” Ebbing away the feeling of apprehension, I chanted and chanted repeatedly, drowning myself in my own belief that I would go. I have to! And I will, impli












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