Abimanyu got out of the sedan that had brought him home with Nadia, his second daughter. Nadia, who was only three years younger than Naura, tried to help her dad walk into the house.
As soon as they stepped into the living room, they were both startled by the sight of Naura lying flat on her back across the sofa.
Naura was a complete mess. Her hair was tangled, and her eyes were half-closed. The tight red tube top she wore, layered beneath a denim jacket, was also in complete disarray.
"Oh my God, Naura!" Nadia cried in shock when Naura's body tumbled off the sofa, the alcohol still affecting her.
Naura didn't answer right away. Half-conscious, she tried to sharpen her vision first, wanting to make sure who was standing in front of her.
Naura's lips curved into a smile before she said, "Hi, Nad. When did you get here?" After that, she struggled to push herself up. Then she staggered toward her bedroom.
From where he stood, Abimanyu could only shake his head at the behavior of his eldest daughter. How much longer would Naura live like this? Leaving in the morning and coming home in the morning. Abimanyu was deeply worried. He knew, though, that it was all part of Naura's job as a public figure.
Abimanyu let out a heavy sigh before deciding to sit on the sofa.
"I don't know what else to do to make your sister start thinking about her life. It breaks my heart to see her like that," Abimanyu said worriedly.
Nadia drew a heavy breath. She understood exactly how her dad felt because she felt the same way. Naura often came home drunk. But Nadia couldn't simply judge the woman who meant the most to her. She knew Naura had sacrificed everything for her and their dad.
At the age when Naura should have been enjoying her youth surrounded by her parents' love, she had instead been forced to bear an enormous burden when her family went bankrupt and was left with mountains of debt. Her father was constantly ill. And then their mother's sudden death seemed to make their family's life even more tragic at the time.
To some people meeting Naura for the first time, her haughty and proud demeanor might make them reluctant to get close to her. But Nadia knew her sister best. Beneath all those flaws, Naura hid a good side no one else had ever seen.
Nadia reached for Abimanyu's hand in his lap. "What if you went through with that matchmaking idea from back then? You said you ran into Uncle Zainudin yesterday, right? I'm sure Rafa could change Naura."
Abimanyu fell silent at Nadia's words. He watched his daughter walk into the kitchen, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He had almost forgotten about that. Now his memories began spinning back to the past, to when Naura was only fifteen.
Abimanyu smiled as he watched his eldest daughter arguing with a teenage boy nearby. It was a familiar sight to him, so there was no need for him to intervene.
"Tsk, what is it this time that's making Naura mad at Rafa?" Zainudin's voice startled Abimanyu as he grilled the meat.
They were having a barbecue in the backyard of Zainudin Attarizi's house to celebrate his wedding anniversary with his wife.
"Who knows? My daughter is incredibly dominant about everything. Sometimes I worry that when she grows up, there won't be a man who can stand dealing with her."
Zainudin smiled at his friend's worried words. He was also Abimanyu's neighbor.
"Don't worry. Just trust Naura to Rafa. I think my son is the only one patient enough to handle her."
Abimanyu stared at Zainudin for a moment. He still didn't understand where this conversation was going.
"Do I need to spell it out? I want Naura to become my daughter-in-law someday," Zainudin continued, understanding his friend's concerns.
Abimanyu's smile blossomed. He was happy to hear the suggestion, though deep down, he still had his doubts.
"Are you serious? Rafa and Naura are complete opposites. Your son is kind, calm, quiet, smart, and devoted to his faith. My daughter, meanwhile, loves causing trouble. She even bullies Rafa all the time. I'm not sure they'll agree to this," Abimanyu said, voicing his doubts.
Zainudin smiled before responding. "Hey, come on. Your daughter is a good girl—I know that. She's just a little headstrong and does whatever she wants. Maybe it's because she's used to getting attention thanks to her beautiful face. Besides, we've been friends for a long time, and I want us to become family someday. I'm actually more worried about Rafa. My son is too shy."
Abimanyu's reverie was interrupted when Nadia held out some food and medicine for him.
"Do you still remember Rafa, Nad?"
Nadia smiled and sat beside her dad.
"Of course I remember, Dad. The nerd with the thick glasses who had a crush on Naura since they were kids, right? Our neighbor back in Bandung? The one who used to break into a cold sweat whenever he got close to Naura." Nadia laughed after saying it.
"Hey, watch it."
"Come to think of it, Rafa really is a good match for Naura, Dad. He's the only one who can put up with his sister's wild behavior, right?"
Abimanyu only smiled. Maybe this really was the right solution. Though he wasn't sure Zainudin would still be willing to go through with the match.
Abimanyu picked up his phone and decided to send a message to the number Zainudin had given him the day before.
"In that case, I'll try talking to Naura too. So she can get married soon and I won't end up marrying before her."
Abimanyu only nodded and watched Nadia's back until her silhouette disappeared behind the bedroom door.
"So tell me, where have you two been all this time? Khumaira, Rafa, and I searched every corner of Bandung for you. But we found nothing," Zainudin asked Abimanyu, who now looked deeply troubled.
The two had chosen to meet at a café not far from Abimanyu's home, considering that he was sick and unable to travel far.
Abimanyu took an uneasy breath and sipped his black coffee before answering Zainudin's question.
"My two daughters and I moved to my hometown in Jawa Tengah. We've been through a lot just to make it this far. Especially Naura—she was the one who fought the hardest for us after everything that happened."
"Ah, I've seen her on television many times. I can hardly believe it. Naura, your daughter, is famous now. She's even more beautiful as an adult."
Abimanyu offered a sad smile at the compliment. Of course he was proud of Naura's success. But that pride couldn't quiet the worry in his chest whenever he thought about how disorderly his daughter's life had become. He was anxious every day, especially with Nadia's wedding only months away.
"That's exactly what worries me most about Naura, Zain. To be honest, I don't really like her working in show business. I worry about her every day. I'm afraid that if I'm gone someday, there won't be anyone to look after her. I know she's trained herself to be strong. But on the other hand, she's also easily shaken and influenced by the people around her. I want her to get married. But to a good man, like... your son."
Zainudin looked at Abimanyu for a moment. He understood where his friend was going with this, as well as the worry weighing on the man who now looked thin and pale before him. But for a decision this important, he also needed to involve Rafa. Although he had once wanted Naura to become his daughter-in-law, the choice still belonged to Rafa. Zainudin didn't even know how Rafa felt, since his son had always been reserved. But there was one thing Zainudin still remembered: Rafa had become withdrawn after the Adiatma family left without saying goodbye.
"I'll talk to Rafa about this later. As it happens, he's been working in Malaysia for the past few years after graduating from college. He's also managing one of our restaurant branches there."
Abimanyu only nodded. He didn't have many hopes when it came to Rafa, considering that his daughter wasn't exactly what anyone would call a righteous woman suitable for the devout Attarizi family. But at least he had tried to find the best for Naura—someone who could guide her and lead her toward becoming a better woman. Yes, Abimanyu believed Rafa was the best man for Naura, with all the religious knowledge he possessed. He could only hope that dream would come true.