Behind Aisha's Veil

Untouched.

Alvian pondered on the balcony, preoccupied with his thoughts, washing his face violently many times.

"Mom knows what you're thinking." Alvian was shocked by the arrival of his mother who was not aware of him, so busy with his mind that was upset.

"You're getting married tomorrow, not by your own choice but by your parents' choice." Mother stood beside Alvian, her only son.

Alvian did not answer he just returned to staring blankly at the view of the night sky that was bright because of the moon.

Mother glanced at Alvian beside her.

"Be assured that our choice must be the best for you."

Alvian did not immediately reply, he just took a deep breath and threw it away violently.

"Hopefully so," he replied then flatly.

***

"Your future husband is a doctor, after marriage you will come with him to the city, you will live in a new environment with a new atmosphere that is certainly very different from here, he said, Ummi only hopes that you can remain devoted to what Abah and Ummi have taught you, and especially be a godly wife." Ummi held her daughter's hand.

Aisha looked at the face of her mother.

"Aisha will remember all the advice of Ummi and Abah."

Ummi nodded with a smile then then hugged his daughter.

"One by one Ummi's children go with her husband, as a mother of course Ummi is very sad to have to part with you." Ummi tried to hold back his cries.

Aisha tightened her embrace.

"Aisha will often visit Ummi later."

Ummi let go of his embrace.

"No son. Your husband is a doctor, he must be very busy with his work, do not ask him to come here often, do not bother him. Come if he's the one who invited her."

Aisha speechless.

"After marriage, a woman's first priority is her husband and family, no longer her parents and remember the pious wife who obeys her husband, remember it's good, son, Ummi has often taught that to all Ummi's daughters."

Aisha nodded.

Ummi smiled then stroked Aisha's head.

"Tomorrow your wedding day. Ummi is sure if you're ready."

***

Aisha is taken by her mother-in-law to a room.

"This is your husband's room" said the mother with sumringah.

Aisha looked at the door in front of her.

Mom opened the door and invited Aisha to come in.

"Come in, the bathroom is right over there. Change clothes and rest."

"Listen, don't hesitate, this is your home now." Mom walked over to Aisha.

"You are also my daughter now, think of mother as your own mother." Mother held Aisha's hand, always accompanied by her warm smile.

"Yes mom..Thank you." Thank you."

"Well mom stay first, take a shower and rest, oh yeah Alvian may still be chatting down because a lot of his siblings are coming," said the mother as she walked out of the room.

Aisha nodded.

After the death of her mother-in-law, Aisha looked around again, observing the entire room that looked very neat and clean. His eyes then stopped on a photo located on the nightstand beside the bed, Aisha walked up to him.

Aisha takes the picture frame, she observes the figure of the person in the photo who is none other than Alvin, a man or rather a stranger to her but now her husband status.

Aisha continued to observe the face in the photo closely, because only this time she could see the face of her husband clearly, she said, until she knew if it was true what her fellow students said if her husband had a handsome face.

During the wedding this afternoon, Aisha did not dare to look at or even see her husband's face, even though they were juxtaposed on top of each other and close to each other, but of course the awkward feeling was very much Aisha felt, so to steal a look she did not dare to do it.

After the simple event was completed, Aisha was immediately brought by her husband's family to go directly to their house, of course, accompanied by sobs, especially Maryam who looked very sad, Aisha left the house where she grew up.

Given that the sadness felt again, but soon she tried to master her feelings, she did not want to look sad especially in front of her husband later.

Remembering the husband, Aisha remembered something, she then glanced at some of her suitcases that apparently had been in the room.

Aisha approached the suitcase, then pushed it into the bathroom.

***

Aisha walked out of the bathroom slowly, albeit hesitantly with mixed feelings, she continued to dare to walk closer to a man who was none other than her husband was busy calling on the balcony of their room.

Before getting closer, Aisha stopped her steps, she then looked at herself at the reflection of the glass not far from there.

Aisha shuddered to see her body now only wrapped in a thin and bright nightgown, which for the rest of her life only this time she wore it, unlike usual who was always wrapped in syar'i clothes complete with her niqab, tonight he left his body perfectly exposed.

It is certain that because this is the first night of marriage for him and the husband, he who has been equipped with enough religious knowledge knows that now is the time he must serve the husband, ready not to be ready, inevitably she had to do it because it was her duty as a wife.

Aisha again moved her feet towards the door to the slightly open balcony, although it was getting closer, her husband remained unaware of her presence because he was still busy with his phone.

"I won't touch it, I can't touch it because I just love you."

As Aisha halted her steps, she was stunned for a moment when she overheard her husband's conversation with someone on the other end of the phone.

"I won't touch her even if she's my wife now. I promise."

Once again Aisha heard it clearly, making her heart so broken, to pieces.

As Aisha walked back slowly, she did not want Alvian to know if she had overheard her conversation Aisha kept retreating while holding her sobs, holding her back as hard as she could so that Alvian would not notice her presence, she did not want her husband to see her in the clothes she was wearing, because it would be very embarrassing.

Ashamed of being overconfident if her husband wanted her tonight.

Finally Aisha arrived in the bathroom unnoticed by Alvian who was still busy with her phone.

Aisha sobbed, she poured out her grief knowing that her husband had loved another woman.

"Ummi..," said Aisha quietly on the sidelines of her cries.