Look At Me Once
The arrival of Abi and Umi
While Alwi and Lathifa were busy looking for an excuse for the question posed by Anisa, the sound of a house bell rang with the sound of greetings from outside the house.
Alwi and his two wives threw eyes at each other, they were wondering who was visiting so early?
"Assalamu'alaikum ...."
Alwi who felt familiar with the voice immediately got up from his seat and rushed towards the living room followed by Anisa who was tailing behind him.
Lathifa continued her work, cleaning the dinner table, then washing the dirty dishes from their breakfast.
Although there are mbok Ijah who work in the house, it does not mean all work must be done by mbok Ijah. As long as Anisa and Lathifa could still work on it, they would definitely not ask for help from mbok Ijah.
"Wa'alaikummussalam," exclaimed Alwi and Anisa from inside the house.
Arriving in the living room Alwi found his parents standing at the door. With wide steps Alwi approached the two middle-aged people and kissed their hands in turn.
Anisa did the same thing, then Anisa and her mother-in-law hugged each other tightly to let go of longing.
"Let's go in, Abi, Umi," said Alwi then brought his parents to sit on the living room sofa.
"How are Abi and Umi?" ask Alwi.
"Alhamdulillah abi as if you were healthy Al," replied Abi Husein.
"Your news is fine, right?" ask Umi Hanifa.
"Thank God we're fine, Umi. When did Abi and Umi come from Egypt?" ask Anisa.
"Night at 23:30 Nis. Abi you invite to stay at the hotel, do not want to disturb your rest," explained Umi Hanifa.
"Nisa's back for a second, Umi." Seeing her mother-in-law nodding her head, Anisa rushed to leave the living room.
Anisa enters the kitchen and sees Lathifa still busy with dirty dishes in her hands.
"Is there still much, Fa?" tanya Anisa walked towards the pantry.
"A little more, Ma'am. Who's coming, Mommy?"
"Abi and uminya Mas Al came. You're out to meet them, yeah!" take Anisa while busy preparing drinks for their two in-laws.
Suddenly Lathifa felt uneasy hearing the arrival of her husband's parents, because she had never met the two parents-in-law. The wedding ceremony used to be without the family of her husband, because almost the entire family of her husband lived abroad.
'Are they good? Will they accept me? What if they don't like me?' so many questions in Lathifa's mind, she finished her laundry and approached Anisa.
"Sir, will Mas Al's parents accept me well?"
"Of course, the Fa. Abi and Umi will definitely accept you, they're good people."
Lathifa nodded her head.
"Let's go outside now! You help me bring this drink, yes! I'll take the cookies first."
Anisa wears a robe complete with her scarf veil walking towards the living room with a tray containing various pastries followed by Lathifa behind her who carries a tray containing drinks.
Lathifa wears a brown toenote suit with a white hoodie and a brown veil to match her pants. There is a difference between the two women.
"Please enjoy, Abi... Umi.." said Anisa after all the dishes served on the table, then she sat next to Alwi.
Lathifa walked over to her mother-in-law, grabbed her hand and kissed her.
However, as Lathifa was about to grab her father-in-law's hand, she pulled it back because the man in front of her only cupped both hands in front of her chest. Lathifa cupped her hands together in front of her chest and smiled awkwardly in embarrassment.
"Who is this, son?" asked Umi Hanifa while pointing towards Lathifa, the beautiful girl who came with her daughter-in-law.
Alwi is nervous, he has not told his family about his marriage to Lathifa.
"Ehm, it's Umi-" Alwi is confused as to what to say, should she be telling the truth to her parents?
Anisa gave a quick glance towards her husband then towards Lathifa. "Umi, meet her name Lathifa. Actually she's there" Anisa's speech was cut off by the ringing sound of her phone.
Anisa grabs her phone from inside her gaming pocket and looks the name 'Pak Ali Rector' on her phone screen. Anisa then agreed to take the call.
"Where is Mbok Ijah? How not to be seen? You're helping out here, huh?" ask Umi Hanifa shortly after Anisa's departure.
"Actually I-" Lathifa glanced at Alwi who was looking at her sharply. "Sa-I'm a student at the university where Miss Ma teaches, Mom. And I'm helping out in this house" Lathifa lied.
Alwi took his ashes to his study to discuss work.
"Sit, Son! Temani umi chatted for a while," pinta umi Hanifa.
Lathifa was sitting next to her mother-in-law, she was getting nervous.
"You're still in college? How old are you, son?"
"Call umi only! You live in this house?"
"Yes, Bu-Eh ehm, U-Umi," stuttered Lathifa.
Anisa came already neat with the bag in her hand.
"Umi, Nisa say goodbye first, yeah. Sorry I can't accompany Umi. Nisa's got a seminar schedule out of town."
"It's okay, Nis. There's something more important for you to take responsibility for" Umi replied. "Have you done with your husband?" umi Hanifa.
"Umi, Nisa said goodbye, yes." Nisa kissed her mother-in-law's hand, then shook hands with Lathifa.
"Assalamu’alaikum," hail Anisa.
"Wa'alaikummussalam," replied the Umi Hanifa and Lathifa together.
After Anisa's death, Lathifa and Umi Hanifa talked about many things. Umi Hanifa told me that their extended family still holds tight to the tradition of arranged marriages between their children. The same thing happened to his son, Alwi and Anisa who married because of an arranged marriage.
"You know, Alwi was very much against this matchmaking. Even for a month he ran away from home" explained Umi Hanifa.
Lathifa tried to be a good listener for her mother-in-law. Despite his strange feelings, he tried to shake it off.
"Umi remembered the beginning of their marriage, how very cold and indifferent Alwi attitude to his wife. But now that I am grateful, everything has changed. Umi saw so much love that emanated from Alwi's eyes when he looked at his wife" said Umi Hanifa without knowing that there was a broken heart along with the gratitude she expressed through her words.
"Hopefully you will find a man who loves you sincerely, takes care of you patiently and can guide you with his tenderness towards His Jannah." Hanifa's heartfelt prayer for Lathifa then held Lathifa's hand.
"Yes Umi." Only that could come out of Lathifa's mouth, her focus was lost even to guarantee her mother-in-law's prayers she was unable to.
'O Allah, if it is not destined to be together, let this sense flow to find its true owner. Do not let him settle with the hope that his owner has held. If you will allow me to fall in love, please drop my heart on someone who loves me because of You.' Lathifa said in her heart.
"You're young, umi wants you not to work first, just focus on your education!"
"God willing, Umi" replied Lathifa.
"The matter of cost or residence, later let me tell Alwi to take care of it. You'd better stay in a dormitory, wouldn't the university where you went to provide a dormitory?" ask umi Hanifa.
Lathifa was stunned, she looked at the face of the middle-aged woman in front of her. Not that he wanted to refuse, but Lathifa was confused as to what to answer. Lathifa understood the direction of their conversation.
"Sorry, Son. It's not that Umi wants to throw you out. But in this house there is a man who is not your mahram, there is also a wife who must be guarded feelings. We do not know what will happen in the future, umi is afraid that your existence will cause slander later."
Deg.
Lathifa's body froze, as if a sharp knife had slashed her heart.Only one word did Lathifa want to reveal. Be ill.
*****
Lathifa sat in front of her study table. He looks busy with his laptop, occasionally his hands are busy doodling something on the paper scattered on the table.
Maybe people think he is working on his college assignments, but what happens is that Lathifa is actually typing the script of his novel.
Lathifa is actually one of the most popular online novelists in cyberspace. But no one knows his side job, yes side job. On his identity card he was enrolled as a student.
But for Lathifa, writing a novel is a hobby that she likes. Since elementary school, he has often participated in various writing competitions both in school and outside school.
By channeling his hobby, at least Lathifa can eliminate his anxiety about his conversation with his mother-in-law this morning.
Geck! Geck! Geck!
There was a knock on the door, without opening it Lathifa could already guess who was behind the door.
"Come in! The door's not locked!" lathifa.
Chequek.
Alwi opened the door a little, he just put his head in from outside.
"If you want to sleep, go to sleep first and don't wait for me! I'll sleep in my room, Anisa's not coming home tonight" Alwi said, closing the door again without hearing a response from her interlocutor.
Lathifa only glanced at the door, then her eyes refocused on her laptop screen.
"Ck, I don't think this is his room? There sleep in your room, I'm free to stay up tonight." Lathifa smiled, because usually if her husband slept in her room, she could not stay up late to continue writing her novels.
Time shows at 00:30. Lathifa felt her eyes begin to heavy to open, she yawned several times. Lathifa stood up to make coffee in the kitchen.
"Huft, tired! Finally free after almost a week there is a bully. Fridge's husband!" lathifa said and turned her body.
Deg.
"Who do you call a refrigerator?" say someone's heavy voice.
