CARDIGAN

23 Clingy

Hospital consultation room

Marwan and Elyna decided to do a checkup at the hospital. They were afraid if they were carrying an unknown virus as both of them were having the same symptom and they had just come back from abroad.

Marwan held on Elyna's hand, anxiously waiting for the doctor to open his mouth. The doctor's eyes was scheming through the test result. He was grinning which made Marwan more nervous.

Doctor: Congratulation, you were expecting a child!

Marwan and Elyna gasped and looked at each other.

Marwan: You meant my wife is pregnant?

Doctor: Yes, 4 weeks pregnant.

Elyna shed a tear, Marwan patted her shoulder. They were exclaiming their gratefulness to the Almighty continuosly in their heart.

Marwan: Tapi kenapa ye saya keep on vomiting?

Doctor: Well that's a very rare case. Senang cerita, petanda Allah nak bagi.  

Marwan chuckled.

Doctor: Jom kita scan baby.

********

Elyna took out the picture of their baby from her handbag. Marwan gripped on her waist. They were gazing at the blurry scanned picture lovingly.
The couple tried to not stressed themselves with having a baby after what had just happened to them a few months behind. They never expected His blessing will arrive this fast.

Marwan: Ni ke anak kita baby?

Elyna: Yup kecil cenonet je.

Marwan rest his head on Elyna's shoulder. He inhaled her sweet yet cozy scent of her with his eyes closed.

Elyna caressed his head.

Elyna: Alala manjanya dia

Marwan: I felt different..

Elyna: Penat muntah-muntah kan.. kesian sayang.

Marwan: Not that, perasaan nak jadi Daddy.

Elyna put the picture safely into a new album that she bought for her baby. She pushed his head away gently and turned facing him.

She put her palm on his cheek, caressing it sweetly. Marwan closed his eyes and shed tears.
Elyna was surprised, it's very unlikely of him to cry in front of her.

Elyna: Sayang.. you nangis?

Marwan wiped his tears and pulled her hand away from his cheek. His teary eyes gazing warmly into her dark brown iris.

Elyna took his hand, she kissed it respectfully. A sudden guilt hit her, the memory of her first pregnancy hits her. A hand kiss that identifies apology, love, submission and respect.

Marwan didn't let go of her hand. He kissed it back, longer.

Marwan: Thank you Ya Allah.

Elyna: Syukur alhamdulillah..

Marwan: Elyna El-Zahra..

Elyna: ye sayang..

Marwan: You're the love of my life. I'll protect you and our child. So lean on me..

Elyna: I'll protect our angel. I'm sorry that my first preg..

Without she could finish her words, Marwan shushed her by pecking her lips. Elyna widened her eyes.

Marwan: Don't ever mention that! Let past be past! Kita focus apa yang ada sekarang.

Elyna nodded with a relieved smile on her face.

Marwan: Mummy need a rest!

Marwan lifted Elyna's body and laid her down gently on their bed. Marwan put his ears on Elyna's belly.

Marwan: Anak daddy buat apa tu? Tak gerak-gerak pun.

Elyna chuckled.

Elyna: Saya kecil lagi la daddy. Mana boleh tendang perut mummy lagi.

Marwan: Haah kan..

Elyna: Ada rasa nak muntah lagi tak?

Marwan shook his head.

Marwan: Baby?

Elyna: Setakat ni tak lagi. Tak tau la esok.

Marwan: By.. I nak makan nasi kandar la.

Elyna: Bukan ke kita baru makan satay tadi?

Marwan: Tapi rasa teringin..

Elyna chuckled.

Elyna: Jom kita pergi.. nanti nangis lagi tak dapat makan.

Marwan frowned, he pinched her cheek.

Elyna: Tak pernah-pernah teringin nasi kandar you ni! Bukan ke kita tak berapa suka nasi kandar? You ni mengidam eh?

Marwan: Entah! Yang I tahu I nak makan!

Elyna: Anak mummy, jangan ikut atuk suka makan nasi kandar! Please jangan bagi Daddy mengidam yang pelik-pelik. Penat mummy nanti...

Marwan pinched her nose.

Marwan: I bukannya mengandung, nak mengidam. Orang kata teringin je kan?

Elyna: Tak ke perangai you sekarang macam you yang mengandung? You yang mengidam tengah-tengah malam ni. Tengok I relax je..

Marwan: Tak payah ikut la! Dah malam sangat ni.. you rehat je kat rumah.

Elyna side eyed him.

Elyna: So you nak tinggal la anak bini kat rumah sorang-sorang tengah malam macam ni?

She asked sarcastically.

Marwan sighed.

Marwan: Okay jom! Pakai cardigan I. Masuk angin nanti anak kita, sejuk malam ni.

Marwan buttoned his cardigan on top of her long sleeve shirt and tudung sarung.

At the restaurant, Marwan eyes widened as he was ordering the nasi kandar and watched how the waiter poured the gravy onto his rice. He ordered an iced nescafe for himself and hot lime for Elyna.

Elyna: Nak air sejuk juga, kenapa orderkan I air panas?

Marwan: Dah malam.. tak elok.

Elyna: you boleh pula?

Marwan: I takda baby dalam perut.

Elyna sighed, she sipped on the hot lime drink carefully not to burn her tongue.

Marwan: By.. suapkan!

Marwan pushed his plate towards her and pouted his face. Elyna rolled her eyes, curious that he was acting very weird today. Elyna shredded the chicken into bite sizes. She scooped the chicken with rice and fed him.

Marwan: Jangan banyak sangat by! Penuh mulut I, susah kunyah..

Elyna: Banyak complain! Makan je la!

Marwan munched the food in his mouth slowly, he opened his mouth ordering for another feeding. Elyna fed him lovingly. She was surprised that he was being clingy lately. But she love this new side of him.

Elyna: Macam mana anak lahir nanti?  Daddy pun minta mummy treat him like a baby.

Marwan: Time ni la I nak manja dengan you. Nanti baby lahir, you have no time for me dear.

Elyna: No worries, I'll make time for you.

Marwan: Aww so sweet of you..

Marwan mimics Elyna who always said those words to Mika, Marisha and Mateen.

Marwan pinched her cheeks again.

Elyna: Stop stealing my words!

Marwan: Your words are my words..