100 Days of Being a Widow

Marriage Agreements Part 4

The letter reached Ustadz Malik through a delivery service. Melati disguises her name. He certainly does not want this letter to be a byword among the santri.

The letter was not reciprocated. Until the day H arrives.

Jasmine pensive in the corner of the mosque. Ashar prayers have been performed, however, he did not witness Ustad Malik present there. Jasmine was still waiting, until she did not realize that she was daydreaming, and attracted someone's attention.

"Assalamualaikum ukhti, you seem to be waiting for someone?"

Melati. He was half desperate to meet and explain everything to Ustadz Malik. It's not a matter of being married or not to her, however, really a good name is the most important part of Melati's life.

"Ehmmm.iya..sorry me..."

Not yet finished Melati said a sentence, he then realized that from across the place he was sitting, there was someone who was sitting there, reading a book and occasionally glancing at him.

Wanting it to feel like Melati ran towards him, for some reason, he just sensed that Malik was the right person for him to confide in at that time. However, his arm was held back by a ukhti who had just greeted him.

"Neng Melati, Ustadz Malik has delivered his message to me!"

Say it with a whisper.

Melati stopped her steps. He then tried to listen to this Ukhti talk.

"God willing, the marriage will continue. Ask Allah for help, so that Allah may ease the way in convincing the people around!"

Melati is frozen. It's like he can't say anything. He was very happy to hear that news. Until he did not realize that the ukhti had passed, as he no longer saw the ustadz that was opposite earlier.

Melati then headed home. His steps are excited. He said takbir many times.

"Thank God he still trusts me!"

Mumbles Jasmine.

***

Sure enough, two weeks since that meeting, Ustadz Malik came to meet Kyai Basuki, although not with his parents. Sticky Jasmine close her ears, once she desperately needs certainty of the continuation of a marriage. He now knows, how the ustadz behaves, so authoritative.

***

The long-awaited time has come. The marriage contract was also called. Melati enjoys her new status on top of the pelaminan. He had a covenant, so that he no longer needed to worry about a wedding rope. He also did not need to fear his opponents, because he knew, Ustadz Malik has a leadership spirit that is able to protect him.

***

After the walimah ceremony. Ustadz Malik brought jasmine to meet his parents. In-law to Melati.

Before leaving, Kyai Basuki gave her advice to a newly-official couple.

"My son, Jasmine. You are now officially a wife. You are no longer our right. So obey the husband who has given you space in his life, obey him and his parents.

Son, take my burden off as a father. I hope you can apply the religious principles that you have instilled since you were a child, until now.

Don't disappoint your husband, don't fight him, for we will be against me.

With all my soul and love, I release you to your priest, Ustadz Malik!"

Kyai Basuki said with tears. He hugged his daughter's body tightly and joined Melati's hands with Malik's ustadz.

The ustadz took a wander towards a vehicle that had been parked in front of the gate. Melati dragged her suitcase with a deep sobbing. Some of the servants took off Melati with great sadness. However, some of them are quite satisfied, because they consider that jasmine is a problem.

***

The car drove slowly. Melati still can't say anything. So fast a destiny passed through. Can't even pull back an item for a second.

Melati has arrived at Ustadz Malik's house. The courtyard of the pesantren is quite spacious, with rows of betel trees adorning the entrance corridor to the pendopo, where Kyai Mansyur and Nyai live.

Melati did not pay attention to Kyai Mansyur during the wedding procession, because so many guests were present there. Currently, they are only welcomed by the courtiers on duty.

Ustadz Malik entered the pendopo by holding Melati's hand. They then sat in a chair.

Not long after, Nyai Mansyur came out of bed, walked and sat on the opposite bench. His face was cold, colder than he had imagined, he thought that he would get a warm welcome from Nyai Mansyur, but was wrong. He didn't get Nyai Mansyur's eyes looking into his eyes. Quite the contrary, it was as if he was stealing his precious gems.

After a few minutes. He only heard Nyai speaking to ustadz Malik,

"Rest, of course you're tired, I'll ask someone to bring you later".

Say Nyai Mansyur, yes.

Apparently, they're still the same. Saving dislike for Melati. Jasmine attitude is still considered strange and liberal.

Afternoon....

"Ikut mas ngisi ya study after ashar. We're going to santriwati's cottage"

Melati just nodded. He is still adapted to in the cottage owned by the Masyur ustad.

Melati and Ustadz Malik walk side by side towards the musholla. Ustadz Malik leads the prayers. He has indeed received the task of imitating Ashar prayers since he was a teenager.

However, again...Melati felt uncomfortable among many people, but no one wanted to stand beside her shof, some santriwati rowdy to make Ustadz Malik walk closer.

"What are you guys fussing about?"

Ask the ustadz.

"We don't want a shof with people who don't understand us!!!"

"Betull!!!!!!"

"Acquired..aguuu!!!!"

"What do you mean?. The one worshipped by jasmine is the same as the God you worship!!!"

Ustadz Malik said with emotion. It seems, the rumor that liberal jasmine has reached many ears.

Melati ran towards her room. He spilled out all the heartache he felt. Very far off their thinking.

Ustadz Malik still finished his ashar prayer, but this time he did not continue the study. He saw jasmine lamenting his heartache.

"Not to be sad. You still have me who can still trust you!"

Ustadz Malik then hugged Melati gently. It's the first night for them, however, the first night is also for Melati to feel the cruelness of a slander!

"You don't have to worry about this gossip. The Messenger of Allah still had his gossip, but he was very patient!"

Ustadz Malik.

Melati then got out of bed and pulled her suitcase. He pulled out a piece of paper.

"I brought this for you, Ustad..."

Melati lirih..

Ustadz Malik must have guessed that there would be a covenant in his marriage.

"Before Ustadz opened it, let me ask, why do you still want to continue our relationship, when I am in a cage of slander?!"

"I survived because of your character. Since our first meeting, and so brave and arrogant you who challenged me to make a pre-marital agreement, of course I became a curious person with your character. Isn't marriage a way of worship, why do you still apply the conditions. However, I understand the answer, when you are exposed to slander. I know that you're prioritizing the future more than what you're doing right now"

Said Ustadz Malik while peeping his wife's forehead.

The ustadz then read the contents of the agreement point by point.

first, Melati wants to continue her studies, pursuing her ideals.

***

Time keeps passing. Melati still gets discrimination. He is not allowed to teach or study. Not only that, he was also shunned by the large family of Ustadz Malik.

Ustadz Malik decided to help continue his education for Melati, completing the level of Junior High School, through the system of pursuing packages.then, Melati continued her studies at a private university.

Melati hit a household storm. He served at a junior high school in the district where he lived. He's getting a condemnation. As if whatever Melati did, wrong in the eyes of others.

A few years running,

Life is still not on Melati's side and Malik . Two years of marriage, Melati never got pregnant.

This makes him more shunned and hostile by the family of the courtier and also the in-laws.

Melati made a fatal mistake. At the second point of the agreement, he said that he was not ready to get a baby, his age was not old enough, he did not want to have a baby too early, he said, pill KB found a courtier who was cleaning his room and handed it to nyai!!

Seriate...