Lightly Longing

Rice Front

Mr. Arbi did not answer just silently and slowly climbed up to Aisyah. Aisyah has welcomed us even though it is still about five hundred meters away. He asked for my arm and hugged her.

"Sister Ananta, you said you wanted to be punished with me."

"The law?"

I glanced at Mr. Arbi who looked silent while smiling.

"Come, Brother." Aisyah slightly dragged my arm to rush to see her mother. I was still staring at Mr. Arbi who was behind us. He seemed to be walking leisurely while whistling.

Once at home, many people filled a room that was quite spacious. I took a deep and long breath.

I exhaled heavily a few times. Mr. Arbi looks a triumphant smile. I raised the corner of my lips, with clashing teeth staring at him who was already sitting next to me.

"Yes, brother?" whispered Aisyah who I replied with a nod.

"Every newlywed must be made this way, brother."

"I mean it was made this way?"

"Yes, this is the party. Last night it was just a marriage contract."

My mother-in-law seemed busy organizing things. Various kinds of sweets with all forms of fruit as well as vegetables. Like a chili that's turned into a sweet.

"This, what?" my whisper nudged Mr. Arbi's stomach.

"Sweet."

"The cayenne from the chili?"

"Not just chilies, papaya flowers also exist. Look, um," she pointed out, and then my attention turned toward the little Barbie doll that had been made up of candy shaped as her dress.

"Unique, yes," I said again.

"What do you never see?"

"Once, I've never done it myself."

"Eh, uh. It's the newlyweds whispering all the time, "the middle-aged woman's seduction that makes me feel embarrassed. Neighborhood and strangers to me.

A large tray of towering rice, there was also sambal, noodles and vegetables surrounding the rice.

"You're facing each other, yes" Pinta Kiyai. I looked at Mr. Arbi for an explanation.

"Follow it, Ta."

"But."

We were dealing with rice in our midst. Mr. Arbi raised both eyebrows which made me careless and turned the eyeball lazy.

Seen a middle-aged man wearing a golden-yellow customary outfit complete with his hat. He drives events and chimes.

I looked at myself who was wearing only ordinary clothes. Very different from the host.

"We're not wrong with this dress?"

"Let's go, Ta. That's his trademark."

We were asked to wash our hands in a small bowl and stir the rice in front of us.

Many times I stared at Mr. Arbi and everyone took turns. I'm not sure about this, our hands should go in and mix everything in the tray. How could they eat it?

"OK, now you have to fight over the chicken. Ready, yeah. One, two, three."

I was still confused and dumbest for a moment. Everyone is surrounding us.

"Come, Arbi, Arbi."

"Sister, don't lose! Cepetan search, even bengong!" said Aisyah who looked so excited and put one hand to look for the chicken.

Cheers rang out, Mr. Arbi first scrawled to find a whole chicken. I sighed and looked so lethargic. Still tired of the rest of the struggles in the room last night.

"Come, come..!" everyone is getting laughed at.

The fierce battle for the chickens began. Mr. Arbi and I looked at each other and didn't want to lose. I rolled up my sleeves and started looking.

We wrestled with the heap rice, long enough until we finally got a whole chicken together.

Once we were able to, we were asked to pull both sides of the chicken. I put all my energy into getting the biggest part. However, the timing was not right and the situation did not give me a good chance this time.

Mr. Arbi got the whole body of the chicken in full, while with me only the wings were left. I let out a faint sigh, everyone cheering for Mr. Arbi.

It is said that if he gets a bigger share, he will lead in the household. So is the tradition and customs here.

We immediately washed our hands and wanted to leave, but were detained by my mother-in-law. I'm inching up to get up.

"Where are you going, Ta?"

"Emh, it's over, isn't it, Mom?"

"Yet, the punishment for you is not yet."

"Huh? Still got to be punished?"

He chuckled for a moment, I suddenly suspected. What punishment will be given to me. In the past, when married to Satria there was nothing like this.

Several boxes of gold ribbed mica brought Aisyah before me. I snorted for a moment. I look at the contents, there is a set of red nightclothes, full underwear, toiletries, bags, shoes, including famous brand skincare there.

"What's all this, Mom?"

"For you."

"But, Mom."

"We prepared all this in just one night. I don't know what's right for you, I hope you like it. It's a thank you mom, because you've become a daughter-in-law in this house."

I was moved, my eyes began to heat up and condense. My mother-in-law hugged my body tightly. He brushed my back gently.

"Thank you, baby."

"Thank you, Mom."

Mr. Arbi approached and grabbed my shoulder, he swept my arm. My mother-in-law let go of her embrace.

"You have to take care of him, Bi. Don't hurt her, who else would love Ananta if it wasn't you and all of us."

"God willing, Mom. Arbi will always take good care of Ananta," replied his beloved son confidently. My tears are flowing river.

"The show's network is over, you can rest."

"Thank you, Mom."

We walked towards the room, I swept a clear circle that soaked the cheeks. Mr. Arbi sat me on the edge of the bed. Then he knelt down in front of me while squeezing both my hands slowly.

"Ta, thank you for being my wife."

The clear threads were getting away one by one and slowly sobs sounded and my shoulders shook.

"Hey, how do you cry?" he said again who slowly got up and sat parallel to me. I put my head on his shoulder.

"This is my second marriage, sir. Why, just like the first one to me."

"You can consider it the first. I don't mind. Consider it, I married a girl who is not a virgin" he said, smiling. I looked up at that handsome face. The perfect man seems to be why he chose to marry a widow like me.

"But I'm not a girl!" my protest made him round his eyes.

"Yes, but you're a girl in my opinion!"

"As far as you!"

I still lay my head on his shoulder wide enough. Maybe this will be my favorite place later.

"Have I passed probation yet?"

I was like being flushed by him, indeed he said it with a smile but quite stuck to my heart. Mr. Arbi always acts as he pleases.