LOVE STRATA 1

CS1 Preparations Towards Halal

Humming cheerfully, Meli stepped into the kitchen to help her mother that morning. Meli's face is bright. It's brighter than usual.

“Duh happy who was applied Nak Azka,” tease Fatimah.

“Iya, dong.” The mother's words are justified.

Meli held both cheeks. A beautiful smile adorned her sweet face. Back, Meli hummed while watching her mother chop up the cabbage.

“Even night sleep well?” ask Fatimah idly because Meli continues to smile himself.

“That's sooooooooo, Mom. There was a face of Mas Azka there. Hihi.” Meli chuckles.

“You dream’in Nak Azka?” ask Fatimah to know.

“Iya. Mas Azka continued to look at Meli with a smile. That aura looks like it, ma'am. Duh, make the heart not because it feels.” Meli explained the picture of her dream last night.

“Teruuus?” Fatimah was even eager to lure her daughter to continue telling stories.

Return to smiling to yourself. He stepped slowly, then picked up the carrot and knife. Her hands peeling while continuing her sweet dream story last night with Azka.

“Terus, Meli cubitin deh cheeks Mas Azka. Gemeee. Mas Azka is very cute, sih.” Meli returned a smile because she remembered her dream last night.

“Terusss?” ask Fatimah again.

“Puas nyubitin his cheeks, continue to hug Deh Mas Azka. Uuuuh.” Pleased with excitement, returning his own smiles.

“Teruuus?” Fatimah asked with a meaningful smile.

“Teruuuus? Ah, shame!” meli exclaimed while covering her face with a pack of unopened wheat flour.

“Eeeeeh. That's flour for cake!” Fatimah picked up a packet of wheat flour her daughter had made to cover her face.

One hand landed on Meli's forehead. Fatimah who touched him, so that his daughter was quickly aware of his dreams with Azka.

“Let's get up-wake!” Once again Fatimah touched Meli's forehead.

“iya-iya, Mom. It's awake. Already showered. Already fragrant. Already beautiful. Ready to go to HALAL.” Meli pressed the word HALAL, then returned her own smiles.

Fatimah chuckled at the attitude of her daughter. Soon he asked Meli to finish the carrot peel immediately. Carrot cabbage will soon be cooked for breakfast that morning.

Breakfast was just alone, Meli and Fatimah. Roni after dawn had already gone to her stall in the market, and was already used to it. During breakfast, there was a lot of advice given by Fatimah for her daughter who would soon be the wife of Azka.

“Nduk, whose name is marriage is really sweet. Although sweet, but you should not forget that there is still such a thing as pebbles, sour salt of life.” Fatimah advises Meli.

“That is, Bu?” Meli doesn't understand that much.

“Remember what Uncle Sam asked you last night?” fatimah asked, wanting her daughter to remember.

Meli keeps remembering while still chewing her food. A mouthful of water then slid past his throat. Simultaneously, Meli recalled Uncle Sam's question last night.

“Meli, are you willing to be the wife of Nak Azka? Hard to be happy together?” Meli mimicked Uncle Sam's question last night.

“Well, there it is. It's hard to be happy together. Like your mom and dad, for example. When you married your father, the economic situation was more than enough to live at that time. Until then your father moved to work in the factory, and when his career has grown rapidly, suddenly your father got a PHK. Still remind me how messy it was at that time?” ask Fatimah.

Sipped his drink again. He remembers well a few years ago before college, his family's life had fallen. Then Uncle Sam helped his family to rise again.

“Along with the fall of the family economy, there are even more cheating mothers. Alhamdulillaah at that time mother was not persuaded his appeal and chose to be difficult to be happy with your father. Mom stays by your dad's side when he's down though.” Fatimah took a pause. He sipped his drink.

“Not meant mom prides herself from mom stories, nih. But I want this mother's daughter to know, that faith and the power of love God can make the household relationship remain intact even though no matter how hard the test befalls,” Fatimah added, smiling at Meli.

Meli's smile expands. He nodded because he understood the mother's advice. Meli quickly stepped towards her mother, then hugged her tightly.

“And if Meli has finished college, no longer LDR-an, then follow Mas Azka living in Jogja, will you be lonely in this house?” Meli took off her embrace.

“Nduk, the life of every human being on this earth has been predestined. No need to worry about being lonely or not. Besides, I already have your replacement, kok.” Fatimah seduces her daughter.

“Mean mother? Meli has expired, continues to be replaced? Kayak wheat flour dong!” Meli origin concluded.

“Ih!” Fatimah was worried about her daughter's answer.

Fatimah flicked Meli's forehead repeatedly. Disentile is just a crybaby. Meli's intention was to tempt the mother.

“Jelasin dong, Mom! Meli doesn't understand, here.” This time Meli asked for a better explanation of the mother.

“Adit, his son Budhe Siti in the village, will stay with us here.” Fatimah Antusis called the name Adit.

“What? Adit who makes astaghfirullaahal adziim? Who is still SMA?” Meli was surprised to lean the mother with a question.

Fatimah chuckled and covered her mouth with her hands. Fatimah had guessed her daughter would be surprised when Adit's name was called. Still clearly remembered how nosy Adit when dealing with Meli.

“Yes, Adit that you often nicknamed BOCIL. His father is dead. Then Budhe Siti decided to migrate outside Java. Your father wants Adit to stay here. Your father will also pay for his school,” explained Fatimah.

Lips Meli manyun. Not that he does not like the good intentions of his mother's father, but Meli so how to remember Adit's ignorance.

“If Adit ngejahilin Mas Azka how?” ask Meli.

“Not possible. He is now in High School. It's more adult. From now on you should think of him as a sister,” pinta Fatimah.

Meli breathes rough. Sipped back the drink in a glass that is still half left.

“Iya, huh. When does Adit start staying here?” ask Meli.

Just now Meli finished asking, not even getting an answer from her mother, there were already heard greetings and someone's cry from the door. Meli. That is Adit.

Fatimah stepped forward to open the door for Adit. Fatimah was sure Adit had left the village early in the morning. As far as Fatimah had heard, ever since the father died and the mother decided to migrate, Adit had turned into a more independent child. That's what Meli doesn't know.

“Tante Meli's. Assalamu’alaikum.” Greetings to Adit.

Meli threw away her face, but soon got a hand from Fatimah. Only then, Meli grinned and welcomed Adit's arrival better.

“Wa’alaikumsalam, BOCIL, uh Adit. It's getting bigger now, yeah. Tumben call Aunty? Usually also call Mbak?” ask Meli.

“So. Adit call Mba Meli aja. This cake is for Adit, yes Ma'am. Lapers. The tea too. This one too, deh.” Adit comot nothing in front of Meli.

“Mbak Meli not ikhlash? If most do not ikhlash later drag a mate, you know. Hap!” Adit immediately ate Meli's cake.

Meli refrained from fussing with Adit. Meli remembers the mother's message to consider Adit as a sister.

“OK. All of this for you, huh. Ahem, after all Mama Meli no longer drag a mate. People want to marry Mas Azka, nih.” Meli deliberately clarified her sentence in front of Adit who was eating.

“Wow. It's a miracle Mama Meli can find a partner. Pray fast SAH, deh. What can Adit help?” ask Adit while still eating the pastries in front of Meli.

Melia began to realize something. The old adit has changed a lot. Adit who used to be known Meli mana want whose name pray let alone offer themselves to help.

“Help clean house, yes. That's a broom there. Mop cloth behind the door. Wipe near the sink.” Even Meli who looks ignorant on Adit.

“Huus. Meli!” fatimah's code to keep his daughter from judging Adit.

Meli chuckles. He saw Adit scratching his head because he did not understand. While Fatimah, she began to be relieved because she felt that Meli could accept Adit's presence in the middle of their family.

***

At nine in thirty minutes, Meli and Anjani go to Mario's house. Mario, who asks the two of them to go to his house, discusses the preparations for Meli's wedding.

Mario showed Meli some invitations. There is an initial M 💘 A on the front cover of the invitation. Mario also showed a photo of the backdrop wedding design he had ordered.

“Kak Mario really. Invitation until it's finished.” Meli showed the invitations to Anjani.

“So here's enough or less, Mel?” ask Anjani.

“That's enough. A little invited, really. Some neighbors, brothers, same college friends some aja. The important thing is that someone will witness the moment of me and Mas Azka SAH.” Meli returned her own smile when she mentioned Azka's name.

Anjani quickly nudged Meli's shoulder so as not to continue smiling herself in front of Mario. Meli understands, and quickly clears.

“Son Mario. Backdrop wedding is not very good. Definitely expensive. Shouldn't I just use a backdrop? It's just a simple wedding.” Meli.

“It has been ordered and cannot be canceled. Backdrop wedding should still be there for the Jember-Jogja family photo spot. For catering and all kinds of pastries for katan selamatan, I have taken care of with Mommy and Alenna.” Mario explains everything like a professional WO.

Meli blinked fast. It was far from his prediction. Explain how much it will cost if

all of this has to be ordered.

“Why so, Mel? Is there anything less?” tanya Anjani who caught Meli's confused face.

“Ti-dak. Em, that's .. Kak Mario's choice must be expensive. Afraid my savings are not enough.” Meli bluntly.

Mario smiled, and straightened things out.

“Meli. You don't have to reimburse anything for any of this. Think of this as a wedding gift for you, from me and Anjani.” Mario looked towards Anjani.

“A-me?” Anjani accused himself.

Mario nodded quickly confirming his words. Meli made a smile at the codes of love that Mario showed to Anjani.

Anjani did not expect that Mario would say that. Moreover, Mario constantly looked at him. That's what makes Anjani wrong.

“Sister Mario, don't steal a glance. Cepetan. Anjani will not refuse!” exclaim Meli pumping.

“Me-li!” Anjani pinches Meli's waist.

“Aw! Hidhi. How, Brother? When will I follow Mas Azka?” Meli continued on.

Back Anjani rained down on Meli with an anxious pinch. Not only at the waist, but also on the cheeks even Meli's nose was targeted. Not wanting to misbehave in front of Mario, Anjani quickly diverted the conversation.

“Ehm, Mario. Where's Mommy Monika? How do you not look?” Anjani looks right and looks left.

“Mommy again has to go to dad's office. Why Anjani? Do you want to ask for Mommy's blessing?” Mario tease Anjani.

Meli laughed until she held her stomach. Meli did not expect Mario did not hesitate to tease Anjani like that. Meli even felt that soon Mario-Anjani soon followed the happiness of himself and Azka.

Anjani held her forehead in shame. Anjani regretted for wrongly taking the topic of diversion. Not even subsided, Anjani actually increasingly made wrong behavior. However, once again Anjani tries to open new topics so that he does not continue to be in the spotlight.

“OK. What else can I help you with your wedding preparations, Mel?” anjani asked Meli. But Mario answered it.

“InsyaAllah is ready, Anjani. Letters and documents to carry out the marriage have been assisted by the family Mas Azka. Other trinkets have also been taken care of. Stay Meli who prepared herself, counting the days to SAH,” explained Mario. “But, please help me one more,” added Mario.

Meli enthusiastically listened. There may be less preparation. Anjani is too. Quickly he asked what he could help.

“Say, what can I help you with?” ask Anjani.

“Please persuade Mommy to cancel the order of custom Javanese couple clothes,” Mario explained.

“Eh? Who's that shirt for? For Meli and Mas Azka?” guess Anjani.

“Not for them. Mommy ordered that for us, Anjani. I told Mommy, I don't want to look more striking than her bride.” Mario seriously explained.

Anjani and Meli compactly laughed. The two of them were not completely satisfied with Mommy Monika's idea. However, since Anjani is also linked to wearing the same outfit as Mario, Anjani is determined to persuade Mommy Monika.

“Good. I'll persuade Mommy later.” Anjani wipes away the tears that come out in the corner of the eye because it is too late in laughter.

Mario asked Meli to make a list of the names of anyone who will be invited to his wedding ceremony. It did not take long for Meli to write it down, because the invited guests were only a few. When Meli was busy writing with Anjani next to her, from the outside came a greeting.

Three men step through the door of Mario's house. Anjani and Meli recognize them. Those are his friends. There's Ken, Juno, and Dika. Mario welcomes all three.

“Meli,” Ogled Dika while looking towards Meli.

Meli glanced at Dika, then threw away her face.

Connect ….

Any Dika? Greget-greget little because there are characters who are hurt no papa, yes. 😁 Btw, in Jogja there are also hurt because Azka chose Meli. Took who he is. Find out in the novel THERE IS ALWAYS A LEANING PLACE by Kak Cahyanti. Support our collaboration, yes. Thank you for the support of the brothers who have voted, liked, and left a trail of comments. Barakallah 😊