Believe me, I'm Still Sacred

Chapter 3. Disappointment

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Zahwa looked at Bram confusedly, what does it mean not to? Did Bram refuse to explain to Raihan's family about this?

"Om...What do you mean? We have to explain everything to Raihan and his family if this isn't true!" Zahwa is still with her stance, she does not want her marriage and Raihan is destroyed

"No Zahwa, we don't have to explain to them!" Bram refused firmly.

"But why?" Zahwa asked with her innocent face.

"Zahwa..would you still want to go into that family? See, the mask is thick with religion, but they boast and insult you, and our family in front of everyone. Especially the one called Salimah! They carelessly judge you, even though they do not know the truth! For them what matters is the reputation of the family." Bram emotion, until he stood up from his seat.

Disappointment on the faces of Bram and all other members of the Calabrian family. Feeling humiliated, throwing dirt on their faces, even Amayra cried from heartache with the treatment of Raihan's family to his family, especially to Zahwa.

"But om...Zahwa is in love with Raihan!"

"Okay, I know you love Raihan. But, do you see how his family treats our family? Om don't want you to live in that family, fanatical family, religious but narrow heart!"

"Ma, Aunt, oma.ayo we go to Mas Raihan's house.we explain everything if this is not true!" Zahwa looked at Auntie, Oma and her mama who just bowed their heads sadly.

"No Zahwa, we don't have to go there." Amayra also gave the same rejection as Bram.

"Ma!"

"Mom hurt, you were insulted like that by them for a piece of photo." Amayra said firmly. "If they cancel the wedding, yes! We do not need to explain anything to them and if Raihan loves you, he will definitely talk to his family. But. don't expect Raihan to marry your son, if Raihan can't make his parents apologize to our family, especially Salimah!"

Zahwa was wide-eyed, looking at his always patient mother who now looked angry. Not like his usual self. All eyes were on Amayra who was already passing emotions. Unable to be with the disgraced Calabrian family, especially Zahwa who was hurt the most.

Amayra chose to go from there and head to her room. "Ma.mama.." - Zahwa saw his mother climb the stairs. Zahwa glanced at Diana and Nilam.

"Zahwa, sorry yes.but Auntie and Oma also agree with your mom and om." said Diana to Zahwa.

"Why don't you guys know me?" Zahwa held back her tears, she who was still wearing her bridal dress walked hurriedly up the stairs.

Everyone saw it, but they were silent. Except for Selina, Zayn and Rey who have the intention to catch up and comfort Zahwa.

"Where are you going? Never mind, just leave Zahwa alone. He needs to calm down from all these events" Nilam told his three grandchildren.

"Yes, Oma." only Zayn answered representing Rey and Selina who just kept quiet while staring at Zahwa's departure.

"We better get all this done because the wedding is off" said Nilam hurt to see the decorations, the guarantee in his house that has been neatly arranged for Zahwa's wedding.

Selina and Zayn look lethargic when they hear their words, they are also hurt just like Zahwa and other family members.

"Rey, help papa investigate that photo!" Bram told his son. Rey looked at her father.

"Do you want to investigate that photo, pa?" Diana asked her husband in surprise.

"Of course, the people who have slandered Zahwa. The photo must have been an edit.I will not let our family members be insulted. I'd feel guilty for alm Satria, if I couldn't protect Zahwa and Zayn."

Bram remembered the message his sister had left. His message is to look after his two children, becoming a papa figure for Zahwa and Zayn.

...Sis, I will take Zayn and Zahwa, if this is my last moment. Because my age probably won't make it to that day....

"Yes Allah... Satria, you will definitely be sad to see what happened today." the middle-aged man held his chest, remembering his sister.

"Assalamualaikum," the greeting voice of more than one person was heard from the doorway of the mansion.

"Waalaikumsalam" replied Bram, Nilam, Rey, Diana, Selina and Zayn who were still there.

"Sorry, we are late. But why are the guests not there?" bima asked, Bram's sister who had just come from out of town. He's with his son and wife.

All the members of the Calabrian family, were silent and showed their sad faces which left Bima, Fania, Ken and Anna confused.

"What the hell is it?" anna asked with a frown, looking at everyone there who was upset.

*****

While Zahwa was in his room, he shut himself up. Laying his body on the bed in a prone position. Her warm tears washed the pillow.

Sick, Zahwa's heart saw the decoration of the room. The room that was going to be her bridal room with Raihan. But all hope is lost. The day that should be the most beautiful day, becomes the most painful day.

"God, why did all this have to happen to me? Who's the bad guy who made that photo?!"

*****

Raihan House, which is not far from Ar-Rashid boarding school.

"Abi, Abah same Salima is outrageous!" Raihan spilled his anger as soon as he got inside the house. He did not want to get angry outside the house, especially at Zahwa's house. Abstinence for him to vent emotions in front of everyone. For him it was a bad thing.

"Raihan, how dare you speak to Abah like your Abi?!" Arifin stared intently at Rayhan who spoke in a high tone of voice, blaming his family.

"Why the hell, brother? Brother should be thanking me, I have made it not wrong for you to choose that woman. I told you that Zahwa is not a good woman." Salima smiled faintly, she was eager to get a thank you sign from her brother instead of being scolded.

"Astagfirullahaladzim.ya Allah forgive my family's sins." Raihan sighed not expecting that his religious family would make him so embarrassed.

"What is to be forgiven? Raihan, you should be thankful that you didn't marry him. What would happen if Abi's sholeh son married such a woman?"

"Abi...what does Abi mean by such a woman?! Raihan wants to know!" Raihan spoke until he hardened his own throat.

"Yes.without Abi explained, you also see for yourself how he is in the photos! Astagfirullah Raihan, if you marry him how is the reputation of our pesantren?"

"Haha...Abi, did Abi forget? Abi who has betrothed me and Zahwa from childhood, he said Abi believes that their family is a good family? Just because Zahwa's photo is not clear, Abi directly mapped the marriage of me and Zahwa.. Abi, Abah and Salimah, you also insulted the Calabrian family..."

"Raihan, we're not insulting but it's all facts!"

"Abi and Abah who know the most about Adab reprimand others, even though the person is wrong. But is it worth being scolded and insulted in front of everyone?"

Raihan who has school knowledge in Egypt, he dared to reprimand his family who had done wrong.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَومٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَى أَن يَكُونُوا خَيْراً مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَاء مِّن نِّسَاء عَسَى أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْراً مِّنْهُنَّ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا بِالْأَلْقَابِ بِئْسَ الاِسْمُ الْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ الْإِيمَانِ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

“O you who believe, let not a group of men denounce another group, may the denounced be better than them. And let not a group of women denounce other groups, it may be that the denounced is better. And do not like to reproach yourself and do not call with a title that contains ridicule. As bad as calling is (call) bad after faith and whoever does not repent, then those are the wrongdoers “ (QS. Al Hujuraat :11)

Hearing the chant of the holy verse of the Quran recited by Raihan about the verse insulting others, making Iqbal and Arifin ustadz speechless.

"Obah, same Abi! You guys are aware, right? If you have wronged Zahwa and his family. Come on, Raihan will not explain at length again...Raihan believes that Abah and Abi know more about religion than I do. Whatever you think of Zahwa, I will marry him!"

Raihan cares about his family's reputation and assumptions about Zahwa, he believes in Zahwa and loves her very much.

The man was about to step out of his house, but Arifin stopped him. "Raihan, where are you going?!"

"You go to Zahwa's house." Raihan replied upsetly.

"No! You can't go!" Arifin, the grandfather strictly forbids Raihan to go from there.

Raihan looked at his grandfather in annoyance. "Muhammad Raihan Abizar! Abah doesn't agree you're married to that girl named Zahwa!"

...*****...