First Love of Ustadz

Chapter 21 A Decision

Rhea still hesitates to tell her dream to Umi Sarifah. And Umi Sarifah also knew it from the look on her face when she asked Rhea about the matter.

Umi Sarifah also began her story to Rhea about her dream at that time. Umi Sarifah explained it very calmly and slowly so that Rhea did not feel burdened by the story.

Rhea lowered her head not firmly withstanding the feeling of haru and her tears that suddenly dripped just listening to the story told by Umi Sarifah.

Rhea was now convinced that the dream was Ustad Fariz, but she was still hesitant to accept the marriage plan, because she did not want Mirna to hurt her heart again. What Rhea wanted was to live a harmonious and happy household with a loving partner.

"Sir, why shut up? Can't believe what Umi told you? Gapapa really, Umi just told me. The problem you believe in is not, it's up to Rhea. Umi will not force," Umi Sarifah always smiled, there is no element of coercion in every speech.

"Emmm... Umi.. in fact, Rhea already had a clue, last night Rhea asked God for guidance, and the guidance was the same as the guidance that Rhea got at the time before Rhea married Andri at that time," Rhea now dared to see Umi Sarifah.

"really? Can Umi know the clue?" ask Umi enthusiastically.

Rhea nodded and she began to tell him about her dream last night and her dream that time, at the time of getting married to Andri. The dream about his sheath prince made him smile a little when he woke up the next day.

Umi Sarifah smiled, then she hugged Rhea.

"So how, did you take it?" asked Umi Sarifah while breaking her arms to see Rhea's face.

Rhea hesitated to answer. He just silently did not give an answer to Umi Sarifah who from earlier looked at him to wait for the answer that came out of his mouth.

"Umi know, you must be upset. If Rhea wants to, Rhea can share it with Umi. If you do not want to share your turmoil with Umi, no problem. Umi knows. But if you really need advice from Umi, just say yes," Umi Sarifah smiled to calm Rhea's dilemma.

Rhea still thought for a while, until she finally told Umi her heartbreak.

Umi just smiled, she knew very well what Rhea was feeling. Which woman does not worry about being a second wife, let alone her first wife is still alive and often hurts her.

Umi wisely told Rhea if indeed God predestined them to be a match, surely whenever they would be together even if not now. And as for Mirna, Umi is convinced that Ustad Fariz will be fully responsible for protecting Rhea from Mirna's wrath.

Rhea nodded in agreement with what Umi Sarifah said, and she would give her answer to Ustad Fariz when Rhea had already spoken to her Father and Mother.

Mirna stayed without permission at her uncle's house. At first Ustad Fariz ignored him when he did not return to Maghrib, but Ustad Fariz could no longer ignore it because it had begun at night and the clock had shown at nine o'clock but Mirna had not yet returned home. Ustad Fariz contacted Uncle Mirna and as she expected, Mirna was indeed at her Uncle's house.

Mirna's uncle told Ustad Fariz that he did not approve of Ustad Fariz doing polygamy because it hurt Mirna. It is true that Mirna told her Uncle, she reasoned not to go home because her husband would remarry without her permission.

Ustad Fariz was very upset at Mirna's attitude as if to vilify her and Rhea. Ustad Fariz invites Uncle Mirna to come to Umi Sarifah's house to know the truth.

After a few minutes Uncle Mirna came to Umi Sarifah's house. There are Umi Sarifah, Ustad Jaki and Ustad Fariz.

Uncle Mirna immediately said his objection to polygamy will be done by Ustad Fariz. Because he couldn't see Mirna getting hurt and sad. And Mirna won't go home if Ustad Fariz doesn't cancel her wedding plans.

Ustad Jaki is emotional because again Mirna slandered her family. Ustad Jaki explained all of Mirna's bad attitude and behavior during her time at Pondok Pesantren Al-Mukmin and also Ustad Jaki informed her that the candidate to be married by Ustad Fariz had been hurt more often, slandered and debased by Mirna before the crowd.

Ustad Fariz said that it was Mirna herself who told him to marry Rhea. And Umi Sarifah also mediated among them. Umi Sarifah said that Mirna should calm down first at her Uncle's house so that she can install herself for now.

Uncle Mirna was ashamed of his actions which ate the raw information from Mirna, and he was also ashamed of the attitude and deeds of his nephew.

After Uncle Mirna withdrew, Umi Sarifah went inside to go to the bathroom, she saw the pensive Rhea with tears on her cheeks sitting in the next room. It was likely that Rhea heard all their conversations.

Umi Sarifah approached her, but Rhea did not realize that someone was walking closer to her.

Umi Sarifah holds Rhea's shoulder. And Rhea looked over.

"Umi..," Rhea hugged Umi Sarifah.

Unable to be held back again, all her tears spilled on the back of Umi Sarifah who was Rhea's back to cry this time.

Ustad Fariz, who was going in to return Uncle Mirna's drink, stopped. He listened to the cry of grief Rhea who was so stifling of his heart.

Ustad Fariz did not expect, her decision to marry him could make her shed tears of sorrow.

Ustad Jaki also listened to what Rhea was talking about with Umi Sarifah. Ustad Jaki hugged Ustad Fariz's shoulder to strengthen him against everything whether it was now or later.

Umi Sarifah gave Rhea a gift to live her life. Umi Sarifah said that for this time Rhea can be selfish to accept the proposal of Ustad Fariz because according to Umi Sarifah their love journey to unite is very long and of course in accordance with the instructions given by God, until Umi Sarifah sure if any circumstances later surely they will unite.

And as for Mirna's problem, Rhea still had Umi Sarifah, Ustad Jaki and Ustad Fariz who would always protect her, so Umi Sarifah told Rhea not to worry.

However, Umi Sarifah also said that she never forced Rhea to accept Ustad Fariz as her husband. Umi said that Rhea should be sure of her heart and of Allah.

Ustad Jaki gave support to Ustad Fariz to continue to marry the woman he loved if Rhea accepted her.

Ustad Jaki also calmed him that Rhea would definitely not be affected by the arrival of Uncle Mirna earlier. Because Ustad Jaki is convinced that Umi Sarifah can convince him.

Ustad Fariz smiled bitterly as she felt her feelings mixed up. She feels happy if Rhea really wants to marry him, but she feels sad if she has to know that Rhea was hurt because of her marriage to become a second wife.

The next morning, at the dinner table the atmosphere was so quiet. Ustad Fariz did not dare to say hello or see Rhea. He just looked down like he was sad to lose something precious.

Umi understands the situation. So with swiftness Umi diluted their mood.

" When did Rhea's parents come here Le?" ask Umi Sarifah to Ustad Fariz.

Umi Sarifah's question managed to make Ustad Fariz raise his head.

"God willing will be Umi" replied Ustad Fariz with a bitter smile.

"Yes, we will prepare food and cakes, Nduk," Umi Sarifah asked Rhea.

Rhea nodded and smiled at Umi Sarifah. They also eat in silence. Unless Ustad Jaki is constantly blabbering, ask to be made this cake and ask to make this dish. They all know that Ustad Jaki just enlivened the atmosphere to be as usual.

After they finished breakfast, Umi Sarifah invited Rhea to shop at the market looking for ingredients for them to cook later.

Inside the market, Rhea was still a little traumatized by the events of that time. It felt like people's views on him were still the same to him, a blasphemous look.

I don't know if it's just her feelings or if it's true that they look at Rhea like that.

"Eh Umi, what do you want to do?" ask the new vegetable trader visited by Umi.

In Rhea's heart to make basmalah so that the mother of the vegetable seller does not recognize him. Because now they were at the same vegetable stall as Rhea and Mirna met at that time.

"You want to buy fresh vegetables, ma'am," Umi chose vegetables assisted by Rhea.

"Fresh vegetables are all Umi" said the mother of the vegetable seller.

"Yes, I believe that Umi is the same mother" joked Umi Sarifah.

"Umi, that's all, that's pretty. Ustad Jaki's candidate, huh?" ask the vegetable seller's mother to Umi Sarifah.

Rhea lowered her head while picking vegetables. She was afraid that the vegetable seller's mother would remember her.

"Not Ma'am," Umi Sarifah gave the vegetables that Umi and Rhea chose to sell vegetables.

"It's a pity Umi, even though the mama is very beautiful. Umi is it true that Ustad Fariz has another woman? At that time, Ms. Mirna was here fighting with a beautiful woman who was not veiled, said Ms. Mirna, the beautiful woman who seduced her husband," The mother of the vegetable merchant explained to Umi Sarifah but the effect was like gossiping.

"Astaghfirullahaladzim. It's just a misunderstanding. Yes ma'am, it is a drop calculated how much the total is," said Umi Sarifah while removing money from her wallet.

"This is Umi a total of twenty-five thousand aja," said Ibu vegetable seller while giving groceries Umi Sarifah.

Umi gave the money to the mother vegetable seller, then continued his shopping quickly so as not to be asked again by other traders.

In the car, Umi holds Rhea's palm and smiles at her.

"Patience is Nduk, it will surely bear fruit of happiness. You must be strong to face all the trials of life."

"Yes Umi," Rhea nodded and smiled, then she hugged Umi to strengthen her heart.

In the afternoon, Father and Mother Rhea had come to Pondok Pesantren Al-Mukmin with ushered by Mr. Sardi.

They had dinner together. There are Ustad Jaki, Umi Sarifah, Ustad Fariz, Rhea, Father and Mother Rhea. They enjoyed Rhea's cooking voraciously and jokingly.

After dinner, they gathered in the living room to talk about Ustad Fariz's proposal to Rhea.

"How about Rhea, did you accept Ustad Fariz's proposal to you? Father and Mother hope that this answer is truly from your deepest heart, and you must be ready for your choice, because Father and Mother do not want to force you again" Father told Rhea.

Rhea nodded and closed her eyes.

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