Khadijah the Angel of My Heaven

Chapter 8. Ta'aruf

"Ah is it not a hassle, ustadz?" asked Umi Mutia feeling bad.

"Not at all Umi, I will also go home so all the way."

"Well if so, I give you the address where Alia works, because at this hour she is usually already in the store. Thanks in advance!" Umi.

"Together with Umi,"

Then Azril said goodbye to them and began to drive his motorbike to Alia's workplace.

She had very much memorized the place, her beloved mother's subscription Bread Shop.

When Azril entered the bakery, Alia herself welcomed him.

"Good morning Brother, how can I help you?" alia smiled kindly.

"Madam, we'll see you again." Azril smiled funny.

"Surely see you again brother, Bu Hajjah subscription remains here. Oia thank you very much, brother, has helped me at that time, sorry only had time to say thank you." said Alia sincerely without daring to look at the interlocutor.

He was really nervous dealing with that handsome man, his heart always beating unusually when dealing with him.

"Together Miss, it is our duty to our fellow humans to help each other" Azril and Alia nodded.

"Oia Miss, do you know a woman named Ma'am Alia? You have a deposit for him" asked Azril.

"Sa.. My name is Alia brother," said Alia increasingly nervous.

"Well! Seriously? So you're the one called Madam Alia?" asked Azril who was surprised at once unexpectedly and Alia nodded.

"Ah has known for a long time but only just knows her name," muttered Azril who smiled funny and made Alia also smile funny.

"This is a deposit from Umi Mutia, he could not deliver because there was an event earlier. So I offered to drive him" Azril said, handing over a plastic bag containing his uncle's mixer.

"Ah, thank you very much, brother! I was worried, I thought I fell on the road, it was left in the cottage, Alhamdulillah." said Alia with a happy twinkle while hugging the plastic bag.

"Sama-sama Ms. Alia. Oia thanks for the chicken porridge last night, it tastes great!" puji Azril's.

Alia was surprised to hear Azril's words, she only realized that in front of her was Ustadz Azril, an ustadz who was always a byword and was praised by many santri both men and women.

"A.. Are you Ustadz Azril?" Alia ensure.

"Yes right, I'm Nazril Mohammad. Greetings to know, Ma'am Alia." said Azril as he placed both hands in front of his chest.

"Yes Ustadz, greetings know as well. I am Alia Khadijah," Alia did the same with Azril.

"Call me brother as usual, because I'm not your teacher" Azril recalled.

"Ah yes brother sorry." Alia was wrong.

"l.. Don't date mulu! He was called Mr Hamid!" nita whispered and could still be heard by Azril.

"Hush..what the hell are you!" grouse Alia.

"I'm sorry, excuse me for going back to work." said Alia and Azril, smiling.

"Truly a hardworking girl, she works but can still split her time for the children in the boarding school. How interesting!" muttered Azril who was suddenly amazed by the figure of Alia.

***

For days, Azril never went out of his house except while working alone.

He was not traumatized nor did he want to find a future wife again, but not infrequently some of his relations wanted to match their daughter with Azril, but Azril did not respond so much to them. He is only tired if he has to feel the heartbreak again, better he alone and submit to the Almighty.

"Ril, Umi could ask for help?" ask Umi Fatimah.

"Yes can be Umi,"

"Please deliver this envelope to Umi Mutia now, because tomorrow afternoon there is a routine study at the cottage, but Umi can not attend because Umi must go to Bandung to attend your grandfather's haul event. So you're the one who delivered the kasana!"

"Okay Umi,"

Azril also left by car to go to the boarding school Abah Romli.

When he reached his destination, he did not go straight inside, he just stood in the courtyard right beside his car while looking at Alia who was teaching the children to learn together, on the terrace of the boarding house.

The beautiful and simple girl suddenly teased her frozen heart. According to him, the nature of Alia was so pleasant that even the children looked very comfortable talking and joking with her.

"Assalamualaikum Nak Azril. "congratulations Abah who suddenly appeared from behind Azril.

He was surprised and looked back, "Wa'alaikumsalam.. Warahmatullahi.. Tabarakatuh.. Abah," Azril replied with a clumsy smile.

While Alia who just realized Azril came instantly became calmer, she became misbehaved and suddenly died of style.

"Sister Alia, we're lagers! Are the cooking and cake ripe?" ask one of the students in front of him.

"Yes, Alia, we are hungry. You miss sister's cooking." said the children innocently.

"Blesson, I'll see you in the kitchen. It's a laper, so patient, baby!" Alia pinched slowly then went to the kitchen to check all her cooking.

Now Abah and Azril are sitting in the chair in the courtyard, enjoying the night atmosphere while looking at the stars scattered in the sky, so very beautiful and soothing, both thought.

"How's Azril? Have you found another wife?" ask Abah.

"Yes, Abah understands. The important thing is not to be traumatized, because the ups and downs in life are ordinary, we are tested so that our faith is stronger and continue to remember Allah SWT." said Abah wisely and Azril nodded.

"Well pray, may you find your soul mate soon, son,"

"Amin Ya Robbala'laminn.thank you Abah."

"If there's a woman who wants to take you to ta'aruf, do you want to, son?" ask Abah.

"I'm willing Abah, I take it as my endeavour."

And Abah nodded and smiled.

After that, they had dinner with the men.

While Umi Mutia and Alia had dinner with the female santri.

After finishing their dinner, Azril met Umi Mutia and conveyed the Amanah from his mother and returned to Abah and Umi.

Alia herself also happened to be going home too and since time had already shown at half-time 9pm, Azril offered to drive her home.

"Mbak Alia, if you want to go home with me, because it's already this malem, afraid there is danger on the road." he asked.

"Hehehe I'm used to it Brother, sorry I have to refuse, I better go home alone brother so as not to bother."

"No trouble mbak, later let the bike take my men and follow us from behind,"

Umi and Abah were just smiling looking at the interaction of the two of them without wanting to cut their conversation.

"It's even more unpleasant, brother, sorry my brother came home alone! I'm sorry to go home first." said Alia and then also said goodbye to Umi and Abah.

Then he immediately drove his motorbike and got out of the boarding school.

Azril who was about to return home was prevented by Abah, because Abah wanted to talk to him in private.

"I'd like to talk to you for a minute, son, don't go home yet."

"Both Abah" Azril sat down as Abah and Umi sat back down.

"Alia wants to take you ta'aruf, are you willing to kid?" ask Abah without further ado.

"A.. Alia Bah?" Azril was shocked as well as making sure.

"Yes right, you know the guy? According to Abah she is a good and hardworking girl, she is indeed not a girl from among the people but she is the most sincere girl for us. We wanted to make him a son-in-law but unfortunately he's more interested in you son. But if in ta'aruf there is no match in your heart, you can be good friends as usual."

"Okay Abah,"

"Oia this is Alia's CV, you can read everything here, how about her in detail. If you also want to give her your CV, leave it to Abah or Umi."

"Good Bah thanks,"

A few minutes passed, Azril left the boarding school, with a bad feeling. He did not know to be sad, happy or ordinary, when there was a girl who wanted to ask him ta'aruf because honestly he himself did not have any feelings for the girl, they have only met a few times.

**

Three days later, Azril came again to the boarding school, handing over his CV to Abah to give to Alia.

When he had just entered the boarding school, he was seen sweeping his eyes in all directions as if looking for something.

"Who's looking for Ma'am Alia, sir Ustad?" goda Fahri, the santri of the Abah faith.

"Astaghfirullah Hal'adhim.. You can not greet Fahri first, make people hang you this!" azril's grumbling was shocked.

"Hehehe, sorry Mr. Ustadz! Assalamualaik.. Ustadz Azril," said Fahri with a cry.

"Wa'alaikum.. Warahmatullahi.. Tabarakatuh.. Don't whine at you!"

"Canda Mr Ustadz! Tumben is serious? Very rarely like seriously you know," tease Fahri again.

"Ck! Joking you're crisp Fahri!" his grunts again and Fahri just chuckles, "Which Abah?"

"Search Abah what's Miss Alia?" goda Fahri again.

"You are dark!"

Azril went to find Abah himself.

After he gave his CV to Abah, he left. He had hoped to see Alia, but it turned out that today was Monday, so it was not Alia's schedule to the boarding school.

She did not like the girl yet but somehow she wanted to meet the girl again, her sincere smile at the children made her heart so calm.

On the way home, Azril suddenly saw a figure he really wanted to meet earlier.

Again the girl demanded her matic motorbike which seemed to be breaking down again.

"Tin.. Tin!" Azril honked his car horn and opened the window

"Assalamualaikum Alia.. Strike again, ma'am?" yelled Azril from his car.

Alia was very familiar with the voice, although her face was not clearly visible.

"Astaghfirullah Hal'adhim.. Duh shame me! Why did you meet on strike like this? Where else I'm so cute again," muttered Alia in her heart.