Lara's Pieces (When the Ex Returns)
Prologues

Salma is frozen, when her husband's past comes. Azzura. Askara's long-lost wife is now back again, after seven years of leaving Askara without any news, and without leaving any trace. Only a string of tears drenched his cheeks. Salma was silent by looking at Askara who was standing in front of Azzura, and her gaze was filled with longing.

“Zura, ka—kamu?”

“I'm sorry, Mas.”

Askara hugged Azzura tightly, regardless of Salma standing behind her.

“Where are you going, Ra? Seven years disappeared, no one knows where you are, all looking for you.” Askara still hugged Zura with a sobbing that sounded in Salma's ears.

Salma did not know how to. Seeing Azzura come home. Askara's wife who had been lost like swallowed by the earth is now back again with a haggard face, the body is getting thinner, and looks like she is in a deep pain.

“Doctor Salma?” azzura said softly when he saw Salma behind Askara.

“You know Salma?” ask Ask Askara.

“Azzura Amalia Princess? Is your name really?” ask Salma.

“Doctors remember?” ask Azzura.

“Yes, I still remember. It's been ten years over, we didn't meet, and you turned out?”

“Dok Doctor Salma is here, Mas?” cut Azzura.

“Di—dia my wife. I married him two years ago, a—I'm sorry, Zura. I don't know what to do. After you left, Afifah needed a mother, and only with Salma did she want to, I married her also because Afifah wanted to, Ra. Otherwise, I won't marry again, won't, Zura!” askara said with great emphasis, and made Salma aware, that for two years, her husband only pretended to love her. “I'm sorry, Zura,” Askara said.

“I'm wrong, I shouldn't have left, I don't blame you for remarrying, Mas.”

“You know Zura, Sal?” ask Ask Askara.

“Di—dia, my patient first, Mas. Before I got married to Dimas, before I quit my career first,” Salma replied.

“And I'm not married to you yet, Mas,” added Azzura.

Salama went inside. She finished her crying. By making drinks for Zura. He just found out that Zura was his patient first. Salma has no idea why Askara's missing wife is her former patient.

“During this Azzura that Askara used to tell me is my patient first? Which has been decades, even a dozen years I handled. She used to have breast cancer. And, I handled it at the time. She was single, maybe in college, or working. I was the same, I wasn't married at the time. Then why did he leave? Why has she disappeared for seven more years?” salma said in her heart wondering why Azzura left her husband and son when she was two. And now the age of Afifah is nine years old.

Salma brought drinks for Azzura and Askara. He sat down next to Askara. He wanted to know what really happened to Azzura until he left for that long.

“Ra, where have you been all this time?” ask Ask Askara.

“Afifah must have been big huh, Mas?” azzura asked to switch the conversation.

“He's nine years old, he's already third grade SD, Ra. He has not been on vacation at the mother's house,” replied Askara.

“Doctor Salma, thank you for taking care of Afifah and Mas Aska,” Azzura said.

“I—iya mbak,” reply Salma down friendly.’

“The story is long, Mas,” he replied.

Salma was convinced that Azzura's illness might be getting worse. In the past when Azzura had cancer surgery*********, there were already cancer cells that spread. Doctors have asked Azzura for chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. But, Azzura refused due to the cost, and she also could not permit too long to leave her job and college. That's what Salma heard a long time ago, from other fellow doctors.

“Dok, can we talk together?” Azzura pinta.

“Iya, can,” Salma replied. “Can you, Mas? We talk both?” ask Salma to Askara.

“I—iya, please. You two talk.” Askara replied though she was confused as to what they were going to talk about.

Askara out of the house. He let Azzura and Salma talk together. Maybe there's something they want to talk about.

“Dok, I'm sorry. Maybe my return made Doctor Salma hurt or something. I just want to see Mas Aska. I know for sure it will be like this, I also know, that Mas Aska has got my replacement. Doctor don't assume I'm coming here, because I want to go back. No, Doc. I just want to know the situation of Mas Askara and my daughter,” said Azzura.

“Why did Mbak Zura go?” my many.

“I just don't want to trouble the person I love so much. Askara sacrificed too much for me. Mas Aska's family has helped me too much, there is no way I will bother him again, Doc,” he replied.

“Mas Aska husband mbak. Already he should bear all the burden mbak,” said Salma.

“One more time I thank you, Doc. Thank you for being my replacement when I was not around,” Azzura said.

Salma is back. His mind went to and fro. He was really afraid that his household would end up the same, as it used to be with Dimas. Moreover, she heard herself that Askara married her only for the sake of Afifah.

“God ...what are these trials? Once I can escape the shackles of the past with Dimas. I've healed the wounds in my heart, put the pieces together again and made them better, also changed happy. Now, Mas Aska's past is back, and he says, he married me because of Afifa. For Afiah. Then what is the word of love that Mas Askara has been saying to me? Is that just nonsense?” inner Salma.

Azzura held Salma's hand. He looked at Salma with such sincerity. He admitted to being wrong, having left his husband and son for years, without news, and without leaving a trace. Everyone does not know where he is. Askara has been looking for it from the west end to the east end, from the south end to the north end, there is not a single trace that indicates where Azzura is. Until the remote swipe even Askara looking for him.

“Today where is it?” ask Salma.

“I just calm myself down, so as not to trouble Mas Aska and his family again,” he replied.

“Mas Aska always told me about mbak, he still loves mbak, he so lost half his life, Mbak. Maybe if there is no Afifah, Mas Aska is no longer thinking about his life,” said Salma.

“But the doctor has perfected the life of Mas Aska and Afifah,” he said.

“If about that I don't know mbak. I don't know how to live Mas Askara, after me, perfect or not. But to Afifa, I loved Afifa like my own son,” Salma replied.

“Allow me here with Afifah and Mas Aska again, Sal. Just a minute,” pinta Azzura.

“For that matter, I can talk to Mas Aska, I am not authorized to do so,” Salma replied.

Actually Salma wanted to reject it, but it was impossible for Askara to refuse Azzura's request. From the look in her eyes while looking at Azzura, Askara still kept a million loves for her.

“Do I have to let her go back and stay here? In this house, the house where my likes and sorrows with Mas Aska and Fifah?  Home to go home, home to find the happy world and the hereafter. Now Mas Askara's wife, who has been leaving him for years, has gone missing somewhere, has come home and wants to return to live here. Do I have to accept it? Should it end again because of the third person?” salma's inner self with a feeling of tightness in her chest.