LOVE OF ORDINARY MEN

Come to meet the invitation

A few days later, a young man was seen sitting on his motorcycle. He deliberately used the two-wheeled vehicle, because he did not want to be considered a show off when he met the invitation of the parents of the girl he wanted to take taaruf.

Yes, Leon is currently studying at Nurul's house, but he stops in the middle of the road because his heart continues to beat so fast.

He repeatedly took a deep breath and exhaled it at once, to throw out the nervousness in his chest.

Leon who usually looks relaxed and a little muddled, this time looks a little different. Jeans that are always torn on the knee, now look closed. Shirt that is usually not on the button, this time he buttons neatly.

The piercing that usually adorns his earlobes is also now invisible again. Even her hair, which is usually colored on the top, now looks completely jet black.

He tried to look his best when he met Nurul's parents for the first time. He wants to give a positive impression to his parents.

After long enough to stop, Leon again continued his stressful journey. He tried to stay calm even though his heart beat kept cold sweat pouring out of his temple.

Until the moment his motorbike entered the grounds of the Nurul family home, his heart seemed to pump faster until he felt increasingly short of breath.

He remembered Olivia's message, if in a situation that was so stressful and made him nervous, multiply beristighfar so that his heart could be calmer.

He was also seen kamit several times while getting off his bike. He then took a deep breath and stepped towards the main door.

A knock was heard from the main door, and not long after, a mother wearing a negligee and a short hood appeared to open the front door.

“Assalamu’alaikum, Mom. Sorry, I want to see Mr. Kyai,” said Leon.

“Wa'alaikumsalam. Oh, monggo in, Mas,” said the woman who seemed to be a household assistant.

Leon came in and followed the woman.

“Monggo sit down first, Mas. Later I will call Mr. Kyainya,” exclaimed the woman.

“Thanks, Mom,” says Leon.

He sat down and saw the woman go inside. His eyes began to wander around looking at the inside of the house. The Islamic atmosphere inside. Many calligraphy inscribed with the Quranic verses hang on the wall.

Not long after, a man with a tall stature straight, white face beaming and wearing a white skullcap on his head.

His hair was almost completely white, but his face looked fresh despite the wrinkles adorned there.

“Assalamu’alaikum,” sapanya.

Leon immediately stood up to welcome the presence of the man who was none other than Nurul's father.

“Wa'alaikumsalam,” says Leon.

His hand stretched out and grabbed the hand of the kyai, then kissed the back of the cleric's hand.

“How are you, Mr kyai?” ask Leon for a little chat.

“Alhamdulillah, fine. Son Leon yah?” ask Nurul's father.

“True, Mr. kyai. Sorry if my arrival interrupted my time. I'm here because Bang Alzam asked me to come here for friendship,” said Leon tried as polite as possible.

“Yeah, I did ask Nak Alzam to say that,” said Nurul's father.

Both are silent. An awkward atmosphere suddenly returned to ambush the young man. Until the women berdaster came and brought drinks for the two people.

“Please tea,” he said.

“Thanks, Mom,” says Leon.

“Let's drink first, Son Leon,” take Nurul's father.

“iya, Mr. kyai. Thanks.” Leon also took his cup, and drank the tea served by the housekeeper earlier.

After putting his cup back on the table, Leon then tried to open the conversation first even though his heart was really nervous.

“Sorry, Mr. kyai. Maybe Bang Alzam has told you about my intentions towards Nurul,” said Leon.

“Ehm... Well, Alzam has told you, if this leon boy wants to taaruf with Nurul. That's why I asked Son Leon to come here. It also happens that Nurul is picketing at school, so we can chat more freely,” said Nurul's father.

The old man put his cup on the table. Soon, a middle-aged woman wearing a long hijab came out and approached the two men of different ages.

“Eh, no guests,” say.

Leon immediately stood up, and greeted Nurul.

“Assalamu’alaikum, Ma'am,” greetings Leon.

“Wa'alaikumsalam. Son Leon yah?” ask Ibu Nurul.

“Iya, Ma'am,” says Leon.

“Please sit, Nak.” She was sitting in a single chair next to her husband.

At first, Leon wanted to greet the woman, but he doubted if my wife like this would just shake hands with him. Until finally, he decided to win himself first and look at the situation.

Leon did not answer. He seemed to take a breath first and threw it away while saying bismillah softly.

“Sorry before if maybe this is too sudden, considering that Father and Mother also do not know me at all. I first got to know Nurul at Bang Alzam and Olivia's wedding. After that we often met at Bang Alzam's shop. Sometimes I also deliberately wait for Nurul to come home to teach and invite him to eat together."

"As long as I knew Nurul, I felt like there was a change in me. Something empty and hollow, which had long since become a hole in my heart, was slowly covered and filled with warmth. His cheerfulness, his intelligence, and his maturity make me feel good about him.

"But more importantly, he was the one who made me find the right path, after all this time I was lost. He's like a directional guide. So if he's not around, I'm afraid I'll get lost back,” Leon said.

Nurul's father and mother are seen silent while listening to the words of Leon. Nurul's mother felt that Leon was a young man who was still very ordinary about marriage.

His forehead had been continuously wrinkled from hearing the reply from the young man before him. While the husband, it looks ordinary and still listened well to the answer that came out of Leon's mouth.

“Sorry before, Son Leon. Before meeting our daughter, what was the daily habit of Nak Leon besides college?” ask Ibu Nuril curious.

“Sa... I helped my dad work after college, and my night... L am... Go to the nightclub,” I'm Leon down at the end of his sentence.

At once, the two were heard saying Istighfar together.they did not expect that the young man who came this time wanted to taaruf with his daughter, had a background like this.

“Pak...,” call Ibu Nurul with a soft look at her husband.

However, Nurul's father gestured with his hand, for the wife to be quiet first before deciding on something.

“so it used to be so well.. um, all right. But I'm sorry, Leon boy. May you know what activities Leon Nak is doing besides college?” ask Nurul's father.

“Now, after college I only help my father work, after that go to the house of ustadz to learn to read the Quran. Once a week also I participated in the study of Bang Alzam in the youth hijrah,” replied Leon.

“Then his nightclub?” asked Ibu Nurul could not stand the limb.

“Some time ago, honestly I still come occasionally there. For some reason, the place felt strange to me. In fact, in the past it was always a favorite place every night arrived,” replied Leon.

“What are all your changes, Nurul asked for?” ask Nurul's father.

Leon shook his head slowly.

“Nurul did not ask me to do anything at all. He never spoke religion in front of me. It's just, somehow getting to know him, I feel like I'm a very small person."

"Then I pondered more, and felt that what I had been doing was in vain. Especially when I see the changes that are happening with my best friend, Olivia, who now looks much better.

"He asked Bang Alzam to take my studies. From there, I became increasingly aware that all this time I had strayed very far,” replied Leon.

The two old men looked at each other. Then Nurul's father asked his wife to take something inside.

Moments later, Ibu Nurul rejoined her husband and Leon, while carrying a Koran along with a fairly large interpretation. He handed the thing to his husband.

“Nak Leon can teach?” ask Nurul's father.

“Slightly, Mr. Kyai,” said Leon

“Then I want to hear Nak Leon's reading. Monggo read any letter that Nak Leon can,” exclaimed Father Nurul.

Leon was confused. He even scratched the back of his head that did not itch.

“Ehm... Sorry, Mr. kyai. Najai I have not arrived in the Quran,” said Leon.

“Bright continue?” ask Nurul quickly.

He was completely inexhaustible, the young man had never even read the scriptures.

“Ehm... Ba... New book iqro... Volume... Volume five if not wrong,” replied Leon.

At once the old woman spoke Istighfar quite loudly, until the husband rebuked her.

“Bu,” call Father Nurul.

And at once Nurul's mother was silent, even though she was still stroking her chest, seeing how the young man who wanted to propose his daughter.

“Jilid five is also good, than can not at all. Then you will open a random page, later Son Leon try to read one verse that I pointed. Can?” ask Nurul's father.

Leon stiffens. He again took a deep breath and exhaled it along with the bismillah.

“InsyaAllah can, Mr. kyai,” the answer is steady.

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