Between Maghrib and Isya
Ta'aruf
The day has changed. Tomorrow is the 7th day after that shocking day arrives. Tomorrow I have to answer to A'a Fachri's family.
This time, he gathered in Surabaya, my hometown and also the city where the family lived A'a Fachri.
Maybe tonight my family will come to the house oma, to welcome tomorrow.
"Nara, yuk memenin mama shopping to the market", pinta mama I.
"Ok ma", answer me .
I and my mom went to the market to buy food that would be cooked to welcome guests tomorrow.
Actually I still can't believe, can soon someone come to invite me ta'aruf. Yes it can be said that my age has entered the age that is appropriate for a household.
About 1 hour accompany mama shopping to the market. We also arrived home with a typical market fragrance that we brought hahaha.
After cleaning myself, I helped mama to cook her food for today.
As I said, my family has arrived. Including the family of Faiz who came from Yogyakarta. Some come today, some choose to come tomorrow.
Evening has arrived. Almost all of my family has arrived, especially those from outside Surabaya.
"Nara, how about tomorrow?", asked Umi Henny.
I was told to sit down with Umi Henny, Faiz's brother, grandfather, mother and oma.
"God willing, tomorrow Nara will give us an answer" I replied.
"Have you thought carefully? Do you pray istikharah?".
"Udah. Only Nara is not familiar with A'a Fachri deeper. While santri Nara was also not close to him. So this isn't the answer I'm asking is it umi?".
"Nara Not yet. Like this is the answer if you want to share'aruf with A'a Fachri. Now from after this you know more deeply with him, and ask for guidance from God, whether he is the best for you or not, then if it is equally steady so next to a serious stage", explained Umi.
"Good umi"
***
Morning has arrived. Today's event will begin after the Zuhur prayer.
I helped prepare the event today, starting from clean room, preparing food, and including preparing myself.
5 Minutes before the zuhur adhan I was ready, wearing good clothes and did not forget to pray zuhur, pray hopefully easier and hopefully what I do is always Allah ridhoi.
The sound of the car began to sound. "A'a Fachri's family has arrived. Aduuhh, Bismilbornrahmanirrahim", I said when I saw a white car entering the yard of the house from behind the bedroom window.
"Nara, it's arrived" said someone from outside the room.
"Yes, I'm ready" I replied.
"Bismil was bornrahmanirrahim, O Allah help Nara", I murmured while looking at myself behind the mirror.
"Uuuhhff Bismillah", I said as I walked out of the room.
I also welcomed his family by kissing the backs of his parents' hands and allowing them to come in and sit on the sofa.
"Assalamu'alaikum, waahh very beautiful", say ustadz Syahrul.
"Wa'alaikumsalam ustadz, please enter ustadz", reply me.
Guests also sit on the sofa bench that has been prepared.
"Alhamdulillah, how is the trip this time?", Saut abah Faiz opened a chat.
"Alhamdulillah smoothly. It was close from home here. Can often play this if this", replied Mr. Ustadz Syahrul with a little kidding.
"Hehehe, ready sir ustadz. Will soon be our best", saut abah Faiz.
The conversation this time was so warm, not so formal. Very exciting in fact, maybe this is way abah let me not be nervous time ya hahaha.
Until we get into the core conversation.
"So, my family came here to find out the answer from Nak Nara about 7 days ago. Well so what about Nara?", asked ustadz Syahrul who made me instantly speechless in shock.
"Waahh like her A'a Fachri can't wait to hear Nara's answer, don't you want Fachri?", asked Faiz.
"Hehehe yes abah. As promised by Nara 7 days ago. And I've been waiting for 7 days too" replied A'a Fachri who was a little nervous as well.
"Alright, please nak Nara", saut abah Faiz.
"Alhamdulillah" answered everyone.
I who initially lowered my gaze now raised my head, and I saw the face of A'a Fachri who seemed so pleased with my answer.
"Alhamdulillah. Well then, you can get to know each other more closely. But remember not to go out of bounds. And you must also seek guidance from God. Abi always doain may you mate until the paradise of God" explained Ustadz Syahrul.
"Both abi", I replied.
"Oh yes I want, because all families have agreed, it is better if our marriage contract is accelerated so as not to cause slander. How about 3 months from now? As the Prophets claim", saut ustadz Syahrul.
"I as Nara's mom, I agree. I returned it to her son. And because Nara no longer has a father, so I leave it to Faiz's brother" explained my mother.
"Well, faster is better. Let's look at the development of our children first. Whether they are in line and ready to get married or not" Faiz said.
After an intense conversation was completed, the guests were invited to eat the food menu that was available.
When everything went to the kitchen to take the food menu, and for a while...
"Hemm sorry, can we talk together?", Saut A'a Fachri who came to me.
"could. We'll talk on the bench outside", I replied.
We both walked to the park bench. Oops but we're sitting not close together huh, we still keep our distance.
"What's A' ", I asked deluan
"Why would you accept this match?", asked A'a Fachri.
"I accept this match because of my heart, and because of the guidance of God as well".
"Oh that".
"A'a why would you want to be betrothed to me?", asked me back.
"From the beginning of seeing you I was sure that we would be close. I also asked for guidance from God. Antum forgot? I once talked about prayer at the same time as the ta'lim ceremony".
"Oh that, yes I remember. I think A'a is no longer, because I once squirm A'a close to sister Kayla".
"I'm the same Kayla is just a winner, we have been in the race together, so that's close. Antum jealous?".
"Oh that" I answered briefly.
"A'a don't eat? A'a's family is eating inside" I asked again.
"Biarin. We were told to get to know each other better. So don't you mind if we talk together here?", Saut A'a Fachri.
"It's not papa anyway".
"Antum after graduating from further pesantren where?".
"I got a scholarship to Turkey. For 7 years I lived there".
"Oh that. Steady dong".
"If A'a was alone?".
"If I stay in Indonesia. I helped abah to take care of her pesantren in Sidoarjo".
"Don't you have a pesantren in Sidoarjo? Near dong from here".
"Yes, so I was there to take care of the boarding school and teach".
"Oh that"
After a long conversation, we both went inside.
Today super duper exciting plus touched. I still can't believe, at my very easy age, 25 years old, I've found my soul mate. Yes, although not necessarily he my soul mate, it is not a deal, but it feels very moved. Someone I admired when I was a santri, now comes to ask me. Oh Allah....
---
"Dad, now someone's asking for Nara. I hope you agree too. My son is grown now. Nara wants her father to be Nara's guardian when Nara gets married. Nara wants to see when dad shakes hands with Nara's future husband. Nara is sure, dad will come at Nara's wedding. Nara kangen dad", muttered me inwardly while looking at the star from outside the room window.
"Some of the things that a child wants to see from both of his or her parents is, when both parents are happy to see the achievement of his or her child, seeing the success of his or her child. And the most awaited by a woman is to see when her father shakes hands with his future husband when saying the Kabul hijab. It's the kind of thing a woman can feel"
*NEXT*
