A Ghost To Mak
Flashbacks
Azan Zuhur muttered an hour ago, the atmosphere of the school seemed quiet as all the students left the school area.
"Laila's going home?" asked one of the female teachers, who saw Laila leave the room. The round-faced girl smiled and nodded her head.
"I go first, assalamu'alaikum." Laila stepped out of the teacher's room, towards her vehicle parked under a mango tree that was in front of the teacher's office.
"Assalamu'alaikum ...."
"Getishalight." Laila turned her head towards the voice of a man behind her. His round eyes grew bigger when he saw a familiar figure, "Abang ... uh, sorry. I mean. Paul?" Laila stammered when she found the man who had been to her house this morning, now came to her place of teaching.
"Have you gone home, Laila?" ask Paul.
Laila's white face flushed, this was the first time a man had called her name. Hesitating Laila nodded, not daring to stare at her interlocutor. Both hands grabbed the handlebar of the motor, then pushed it backwards.
"Can you have a minute?" Paul quickly stood before Laila, preventing the girl from leaving.
"What else is it?" The originally friendly face of Laila, was now suddenly indifferent. He doesn't like it if something gets in his way, nor does he like pleasantries. Paul understood the way the girl in front of him, clearly visible from the radiance of Laila's face.
"Abang wants ta'aruf with Laila. Can you?" Firmly, loud the tall man spoke. The face of Laila who was originally looking straight at her interlocutor, slowly lowered her head.
"If it's about ta'aruf, you can talk to Abi." Down without daring to look at Paul who was looking at him with a gaze, I don't know.
"Abi put it all on Laila. His brother's wish he knew. So you're waiting for an answer from Laila!" Paul squeezed the straps of his backpack, trying to find the strength to calm his heart that was rumbling violently.
"Lantas what you want to know again." Laila lifted her face, venturing into Paul's eyes.
"May I ta'aruf."
"Please. I hope there are no regrets later on. And let me go home now." Laila inserted the key, and turned on the motor. Slowly Laila left Paul still standing pecking under the mango tree.
**
"Maaakk ..." cried Paul as he entered the house without greeting. The middle-aged woman seemed to be walking half-running towards Paul who was sitting on a wooden chair. Both of his hands supported his face which was staring out the window.
"Why, Bang?" ask Mak. Both hands examine the legs and the body of his son, afraid if the son just fell from his motorbike as the other day.
Paul let his beloved Mak examine himself, a sweet smile remained etched on his face, his eyes fixed on the courtyard of the house, no matter what was in his mind.
Platc ....
A hard punch landed on Paul's left thigh. And it succeeded in getting the man back to consciousness.
"Oh God, Mother. It hurts." Paul grimaced, his hand rubbing the thigh of the Mak's punches.
"Mr nanya, why. Not even answered. That face why keep smiling? No more crazy, right?" Mak Nur stood looking at Paul's face which still radiated happiness.
"Ang got permission from Laila's parents."
"Continue?"
"Sheath, Brother will take Laila. So Mak's ghost."
"Aamiin, prayer is also the blessing of Mak always for Brother. May your path be made easier."
Mak Nur passed by leaving Paul in the living room, "if hungry, food is on the table. Mak's going to the fields!" yelled Mak from the kitchen.
**
One week has passed since Paul's conversation with Laila the other day at school. The man carefully searched for information about the personal self of his girl. His heart grew steadily stronger when a fellow teacher said that Laila was a closed girl, difficult to talk to, what else to ask ta'aruf. Seeing the look in his eyes alone will think twice, because his attitude is always cold.
"You're lucky, Bang. Can approach Laila to the farthest point. May you be a match," said one of the teachers whom Paul met at school, of course, when the girl had returned from there.
Paul really did go through ta'aruf as Laila wished. Without exchanging mobile numbers, there is also no seintens meeting that other couples often do to just find information about their personal lovers. Laila's request overwhelmed Paul, resisting the urge not to meet too much to hurt his heart, "O God. Holding back what's got to hurt this much?" shrewd Paul.
The days are getting heavier, Paul is really following Laila's wishes. It could be that he violated the request, by continuing to visit his home or teaching place, could also send gifts that are usually liked by women. But, abstain for Paul break the promise. In his heart he was determined to wait until the girl was ready.
**
Mak Nur's forehead looked wrinkled as Paul invited him to visit Laila's house, "Abang was already convinced by this choice. Every tahajud and rest always ask to be shown. And God always presents Laila in dreams."
"Alright, Mak follow what you want. After all, the age of Brother is mature enough to immediately marry. The shop business was good too. May Allah make it easier for you to ask Laila."
The long prayer that Mak Nur said guaranteed Paul. The man's heart grew bigger when the Mak gave up everything. Just wait for Sunday, exactly two weeks after Paul's visit to Laila's house, now the man will come back with the Mak. Paul's desire to go to Laila's house he conveyed through Mak's brother whose house is not far from Laila's house.
**
Laila looked very graceful while wearing a white robe with a hijab in matching colors.
"Are you ready, Ndok?" Abi Anwar appeared from behind the door, he looked neat wearing a cocoa shirt and a brown holster.
"Goddessa, Abi. Please Abi blessing whatever will happen later. May that be the destiny that God has given to Laila." Laila's face bowed, a hue of sadness appeared there.
"Everything Abi gave to Him. May Allah bless your steps and also the man who will ask you to." The middle-aged man went into Laila's room, and sat down on the edge of the bed, "what makes your heart so sure of receiving the man's proposal?"
"Either, Abi. Laila's heart was tapped at her desire for ta'aruf, also saying yes."
"alright. Get prepared. Maybe that guy'll be here soon." Abi Anwar got up and walked out of the room, followed by Laila following behind.
Exactly at nine in the morning, Paul, Mak Nur, also relatives whose homes neighboring Laila arrived. With a friendly smile, Abi Anwar invited his guests in. The bespectacled man looked handsome in a typical Sumatran dress suit. Armed with some woven cloth typical of Sidwuan, Paul gave to the girl in front of him as a hand. Laila's face looks blushing as the man continues to look at her.
"I'm sorry for the generous banquet. Understandably, we're just newcomers here." Abi Anwar opened the conversation, fading the shackling awkwardness.
"I'm sorry if our presence is presumptuous, Abi. Straight away, we came here, wanting to preach abi's daughter, to my son, Paul." Mak Nur expressed his wish. Paul, who sat to the left of the Mak, stared fixedly. Rona face Mak Nur who yesterday had doubts about the girl of his choice, now not seen there. I don't know what pellets make the Mak become convinced of the choice of his heart.
Abi Anwar smiled wryly, his face turned towards Laila who kept looking down, "I leave everything to Laila. How, Ndok. Do you accept the sermon of Son Paul?"
Laila's lips locked, her heart pounding faster. In his heart said bismillah and his head nodded slowly.
"Thank God ...!" exclaimed Abi, also Paul the family. Abi Anwar then invited his guests to taste the food presented at the table. Without a doubt Paul and Mak Nur enjoyed the dish.
"I want this relationship to be halal soon. A month from now to prepare for the wedding. How's it?" the words that came out of Paul's mouth successfully made all those in the living room of Laila's house choke.
"Hurry up, Bang? Isn't it too fast?" seloroh Laila looked at Paul.
"That's too long, brother. Should you reduce it to two weeks?" Paul's face was teasing Laila. The girl smiled and lowered her head.
"How good, we will accept. Hopefully this good will end well" said Abi Anwar.
Aamiin ....
