The Doctor & Me

Part 19

It has been almost a week. And Diana is still avoiding him. Macam macam Ifkar cuba nak pujuk ice queen tu tapi semuanya gagal. Diana betul betul sukar dipujuk kali ini. Sebelum ini ada beberapa kali Diana merajuk namun tidak lah sebegini lama.

"Wife, are you coming home ?" He called her at 8pm. She usually be back home by 6 but today like the past few days, he's home alone waiting for her to come back.

"I'm on my way. I'm driving." Her voice flooded with irritation.

Noticing her annoyance, he just replied a quiet okay before hanging up. Again that night, she didn't make him dinner saying she's tired and asked him to eat outside. "Pandai pandai laa nak hidup." was all she said.

After buying dinner at nearby restaurant, he knocked on her door. "Sayang, jom makan. I belikan you nasi goreng."

She didn't bother to unlock the door and answer him. Instead she just shouted from inside of her room saying that she ate. And again for six consecutive days, Ifkar is having his meal alone. He hated it. Eating alone and feeling bad towards her. As if he's eating his own heart at each bite. His appetite died and replaced by mountaining sadness.

And the next day, Diana left for work before him without saying goodbye. He grew lonelier wishing for her to come back to his side. Ifkar is determined. Later that night, he will have to talk to Diana. If this cold shoulder she's giving him continues, their marriage will be at stake.

That morning, again he's busy as their morning round that morning is joined by Dato Yusoff, the surgical head of department. Ifkar was feeling glum. Beberapa kali dia ditegur Dato Yusoff kerana 'management plan'nya tidak lengkap. Dan dia gagal menjawab soalan Dato dengan sempurna.

He learn from his mistakes and tried to rectify the situation. But the incident has affirm his decision to solve his marital problem. He went back early to wait for Diana and to make things better again. He called her at 7pm when she's still not reach at home.

"Assalamualaikum. Awak kat mana ?" He asked as soon as she picked up.

"My car broke down. Tak boleh start tadi." Suara manja Diana kedengaran. Kereta rosak pulak dah. Kena ambil lah ni. "Oh pastu awak kat mana ? Tunggu kejap Abang ambik dekat hospita-"

"No it's okay ! Amir is giving me a ride home. And kereta dah hantar bengkel. Lagi 10 minutes I sampai." What ? Amir ? Kereta rosak dia tak bagitahu aku ? And now dia balik dengan Amir ?

He started imagining things. Was that a laugh he heard in the background noise of her calls. Sabar Ifkar.

"Okay nanti dah sampai bagitahu." He took his keys and went downstairs to the lobby. Wanting to meet that guy. Or perhaps wanting to see his wife, Diana in another guy's car.

His ride in the elevator descending down was filled with disturbing thoughts. The paranoid thoughts of a man worrying about losing the love of his life. He waited anxiously at the lobyy as he sits on the fountain's edges and glancing at the oncoming cars. Few passed through but not stopping and dropping passenger.

Then one black sleek Audi stopped and out came Diana. She greeted him cheerfully albeit being surprised. He went to the passenger windows and hunched to thanks the man who brought his wife home. "Ifkar." He put forward his hand for a handshake. It was received firmly by Amir. He thanked him awkwardly and watch as the black Audi smoothen away from sight.

At his side, a different side of his wife is seen. She's waving goodbye a bit too happily he thought. Annoyance crept in. "Yang awak happy sangat ni kenapa ?" He barked bitterly at her. Her jolly mood immediately replaced by a startled look. "Seronok dapat naik kereta berdua dengan lelaki lain ?" He spat angrily at her.