LOVE THE EXPATRIATE
39. Faris or Furqan? (2)
Sarah crossed a large courtyard overgrown with a few mango and mangosteen trees to get to the terrace of her house. The pebbles his father had spread out in all corners of the yard made a noise as his sneakers spiked at the tiny objects. No doubt his mother who was busy watering adenium and bougenville in stone pots that filled the terrace, turned to the origin of the sound. Suddenly his smile expands when he finds out his favorite daughter is coming home.
“Asallamu’alaikum.” said Sarah while kissing her mother's hand.
“Wa’alaikusallam. Wanna go home why don't you tell me first?” tanyanya reached out her hand.
“I'm just for a second, Mom. Later in the afternoon at half-time three must enter work again.”
The girl handed a white plastic bag with the famous bakery and cake shop logo in Medan to the woman in a gloved and brackets. The bag contained his father's favourite layer of legit and durian pancakes.
“Where to, Mom?” Sarah looked inside the house.
“Your father is looking at the rice fields. Last night Ms. Kasim came to tell me that this morning the tractor was going in and plowing our fields. Maybe he will be home soon.”
The woman brought Sarah in. But the girl went to fetch the little kingpin her mother had worn and watered the adenium and bougenville.
The plants were the fruit of his cold hands from adolescence until before working in Zafora. He used to diligently connect the stems of adenium with young shoots of various varieties, so as to produce various flowers in one pot. Sometimes also the stems of ‘si rose desert’ are years old and has been barking it he moved to flat pots so as to create the impression of bonsai plants.
“Beating home directly do something before entering first.”
His mother said as she stood at the door, looking at her daughter. Sarah just nodded and stopped watering the flowers and followed her mother into the house.
At half-eleven her father had just returned from the rice field with a body covered in mud. The old man immediately cleaned himself into the bathroom.
Sarah served a cup of tea and a layer of legit and pancakes that she brought earlier to her father. The old man had finished his bath and was now sitting on his kretek cigarette on the side porch. After putting down the tray he was carrying and kissing his father's hand, the girl sat down next to the old man. With the sentences he had calculated before and carefully, Sarah told Furqan about her proposal to her father who was enjoying a piece of legit layer.
“Subhanallah. Father's daughter is now growing into a pious and beautiful girl, so many men want to propose.” said the old man smiled as he sipped his tea. Sarah just blushed hearing the flattery.
“Then I only met Furqan once ten years ago, but I know he is a special person. The boy is not only handsome but has good manners and ethics."
"Abangmu, Rais also often told his father about him. Last time he said if he met again with Furqan at the place of study.”
It seemed like Tengku Furqan had become a sweetheart in the hearts of everyone, including father. In Sarah's heart sat the man.
“So I have to how, Yah?” ask the girl to worry.
“Follow your heart, Son. Because who will live it later is you yourself.”
“But I'm confused, Father.”
The old man smiled again. He wisely advised his daughter.
“That's a sign that you also think Edward's presence also means something in your life, right?”
Sarah said nothing. The girl just fell silent. But his residence seemed to have interpreted if he agreed with his father's words.
The old man's gaze was distant.
“Furqan is indeed the perfect candidate for life companion. Which parents do not want to beat a godly man like him who can lead his daughter to his paradise God?.” he said rhetorically while sucking in his clove. Then put the cigarette butt into the ashtray.
“But you must also remember, my son. We have promised Edward to keep waiting for him to return to this house, when he has become a good Muslim.”
Sarah's eyes glazed over as they were filled with tears.
“Of course you don't want Edward to think your father is a hypocritical man who reneges on promises, right?”
Sarah wiped the melted tears from the corner of her eyes.
Bada zuhur girl also say goodbye to her father and mother to return to Medan. Before leaving, the old man once again gave a message that was replied by a nod by Sarah.
“Do salat itikarah. Ask for His guidance so you can make a decision. Whoever you choose, God willing, is the soul mate He sent for you, my son. ”
...---------------------------------------------...
After the Saturday evening study, Rais invited Ustadj Faruk and Furqan to sit down. He wanted to give an answer to Furqan's proposal to Sarah a few nights ago.
“Ustadj, Tengku, I've already conveyed the intent of Tengku Furqan to Sarah."
Rais looked alternately at the two people before him. While Furqan who was sitting right in front of him also looked seriously, as if he could not wait to hear the news that the man was about to deliver.
"And I personally really want if Tengku Furqan and Sarah can connect the line of the silahturahmi."
Rais. The man swallowed his saliva with difficulty. Like there was a heavy burden that made it difficult for him to continue the sentence. He looked at Furqan who was waiting for an explanation from him.
"But our family apologized profusely to Tengku Furqan, because Sarah could not accept this proposal."
Instantly Furqan's facial expression became flat.
"Why Tengku Rais? Is Sarah still having doubts about me?" Although disguised, looks gratefully disappointed in the look of Furqan's face.
"No! That's not it at all, Tengku." Rais argued quickly.
"But something else. He said that he was currently talking to someone."
Rais turned his gaze to Ustadj Faruk who from earlier was just listening. The middle-aged man was now a mark-beard to understand what Rais had just said.
"God has not meridhoi you recite Sarah, Furqan. Stay tawakal. Maybe he has other more beautiful plans" Ustadj Furqan said, patting the grieving man on the back.
A drop of clear grain fell onto his lap from his teary eyes.
Once filled with regret in the heart of Furqan, why did he delay to come to study at this mosque? He should have known Sarah earlier and preached her before she met another man. But soon the man was privileged. O God forgive me who has forgotten what is Your destiny,
"God willing I can take it, Ustadj" Furqan said, wiping his wet eyes with the thumb and index finger of his right hand. Still put a smile on his face even if forced.
"Tengku Rais, may I know, who is the man who has been lucky to take Sarah's heart?" ask with a hopeful look.
Rais who also felt the sadness that hit his close friend shifted his seat forward. With a deep sense of guilt, Furqan embraced and patted the man's back to strengthen.
"Someday Tengku Furqan will know for himself who that person is."
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Hail Author!
Because there is work that can not be delayed in April, then while the author vacuum first continue this story. Hopefully after Lebaran, new episodes will come up again. Thank you to the readers who have followed this story.
Riono Muhari's
