A Ghost To Mak

Flashbacks

Who does not know Paul Zulkarnain. The only son of wayang Mak Nur whose good looks are famous throughout the village. Paul-Ahmad Zulkarnain's father was a prominent ustadz in the village. But because of an illness, he died while Paul was still sitting on the bench Aliyah. The bespectacled man became a village beetle, there were even some parents who came to propose to his daughter. But with determination Paul rejected them all. Mak Nur is worried about her son's indifferent attitude and the bodo period, but the woman can't do much, Paul's marriage and happiness, let him decide. Whoever the woman of her choice will be accepted with open arms.

"Mom, you want to get married!" exclaimed Paul one day, after coming home from the workshop. Mak Nur walks from the kitchen and touches his son's forehead, worried that Paul has a fever. Soon Paul removed the Mak's touch from his forehead.

"Abang, okay?" ask the Mak.

"Beauty, Mother. Brother is in love!" it's Paul again. He hugged the thin body of Mak Nur, "restui Abang ya, Mak. Whoever that woman is is going to be a daughter-in-law, Mak. Brother make sure she's a good girl as well as a Solehah." Paul's voice echoed in Mak Nur's ears.

“Who is the girl?” Mak Nur's gaze was sharp towards Paul. The man looked at the face of his beloved old woman.

“Name Laila. Said the man in the workshop, she is the only daughter of a pensioner and now teaches najai every Sunday who lives in the corner of the village there. They moved from Java, and Laila taught at the ibtidaiyah Islamiyyah school.” Paul lays out Laila's biodata that he knows from the people he hangs out with.

“Abang sure?” ask Mak. His eyes were fixed on Paul's face.

The glasses guy nodded for sure. During this time although many parents who want to ask him to be a companion of his daughter who even beauty almost looks like an artist, he rejected. Just for that reason there are still better men than him. Without being able to do anything about it, the old men went home empty-handed because his proposal was rejected.

“Kalo it's Abang's decision, ta’aruf with it. Set your heart Brother. Don't take the wrong step. Mak will always support all decisions, and will wish you all the best for Abang.” Mak Nur stood up, and returned to the kitchen to start concocting the dishes for dinner.

**

Arms-bound Paul lay staring at the ceiling of the room, Laila's round face loomed there.

“Laila .. however, you must get your father's blessing.” Both of Paul's eyes were closed. A smile rang there, as the girl was present in her dream. For the first time, a girl appears in a Paul's dream.

**

“Abi ... Laila left first, yes.” Laila tidied up the books to be used for teaching, then put them in a bag.

“Ya. Careful.” Abi Anwar reached out his hand, and greeted Laila who kissed him ta’zim.

Laila came out of the house and heated her favorite motorcycle on the terrace. The girl's eyeballs were glued when a big motorbike with its noisy exhaust sound stopped in front of the house.

Paul was wearing black jeans, and a red shirt came down from the bike. The man took off his helmet and hung it on the handlebar. The skinny man smiled at Laila who was standing by his motorcycle.

“Assalamualaikum,” said Paul as his head was called. Laila answered immediately. The girl looked nervous at the presence of a man this early in her house.

“Who to look for?” ask Laila. Usually, if anyone visits, it is definitely looking for Abi.

Laila's face looked confused, only this time there was a man who dared to come to see her and look for her. This is the first time Laila has seen Paul.

“But, sorry. I don't know you.”

Laila lifted the motor support handle with her feet and carried the vehicle into the yard. Paul followed the girl from behind.

“Means I came here to meet. My name is Paul Zulkarnain.” The man, who was 175 cm tall, reached out.

“Laila ...” The girl nodded her head, without welcoming the outstretched hand of the man before her.

“Who came?” Abi Anwar appeared from inside the house, his eyes narrowed when he found his only daughter was chatting with a man. The middle-aged man approached where Laila and Paul were standing.

“My name, Paul, Abi.” The bespectacled man greeted Abi Anwar. The middle-aged man's face was still shrouded in confusion.

“Abi, Laila leave first. Was late. Assalamu’alaikum.” Laila leaves Abi and Paul alone. Paul smiled kindly as Abi invited himself inside.

“Can Abi ask for an explanation about your arrival here?” Abi Anwar opened the conversation. Paul rubbed his hands together which felt cold. The air this morning made him shiver, plus having to face a situation like this. His adrenaline soul rose when he had to deal with the prospective in-laws.

“Sorry before, Abi. If allowed, I want ta’aruf with Laila. Princess Abi.” With Paul loudly saying. Carefully the man looked towards his interlocutor, looking Abi closed his eyes, as if he was thinking the sentence he had just heard.

“Know with Laila where?” ask Abi.

“I haven't known Princess Abi for a long time. This is my first time getting acquainted with Laila.”

“Can be sure it wants to ta’aruf with Princess Abi?” ask Abi again

“I'm sure there will be a fall in love at first sight, and I'm experiencing that now. Let Abi allow me to ta’aruf with Laila.” Paul felt a great pounding in his chest, he himself did not think, that would willingly ask for blessing even though to simply ta’aruf to the parents of his dream girl.

“If your intentions are good, may Allah give you the best path. Abi allows for anyone who wants to ta’aruf. As long as it does not present much harm, Abi persilakan.” The middle-aged man who was happy to wear the scabbard also smiled.

The Eid that echoed in Paul's heart turned warm. He felt that his good intentions were welcomed. He was grateful his intention to ta'aruf was well received.

“Thank you, Abi. So I beg you to pay. May Laila Putri Abi, soon be my halal soul mate.” Paul stood up and kissed the back of Abi Anwar's hand, he really did not hesitate to say his desire to immediately propose Laila. The man passed from Laila's house. Along the way to the shop where he worked, a smile spread across Paul's face. The man devised a strategy, how to steal the heart of his girl.

Paul takes his vehicle to the tavern, his spirit is further boosted when Laila's smile is present in his memory. The more impatient he also wants to immediately propose Laila.