Mystery of Small Shoes

32

Rudi always thought about Sarah and Fabio. Feelings of longing and worry blend into one. He doesn't know where to look for them. Sarah and Fabio are lost to the earth. He tries to always think positively about them and wishes them well.

In his turmoil, Rudi continued to work as usual. His concentration could not be focused because his mind was always on the whereabouts of Sarah and Fabio. Suddenly the phone rang. There's a MOM on her phone screen.

"Assalamualaikum, ma'am."

"Wa'alaikumsalam, son." There was a voice of a woman from across the street who was none other than her mother.

"Yes, Mom. What's up?"

"That night I talked to my dad. We've decided to hasten to formalize your relationship with Arini. You agree, don't you, son?"

Deg.

Rudi's heart seemed to stop suddenly. Rudi didn't know how to answer his mother's question.

Being too focused on building a relationship with Sarah, she forgets her plans and Arini to explain to her parents that they are not willing to be betrothed. As a result now Rudi's parents assume that his relationship with Arini is fine and everything is going their way.

"Sorry, Mom. Rudi will talk to Arini first."

"If your relationship is okay, I don't think it needs to be talked about anymore. Arini is a good boy. I'm sure she'll agree and won't refuse our parents' requests. Now the decision is on you. That's why I asked you."

"But Ma'am..."

"Already, Rud. What are you considering again? Arini is a good woman to you. What else are you looking for?" Rudi's mother cut off Rudi's conversation.

"That's not what Rudi meant, ma'am." Rudi tried to keep the intonation of his voice so as not to rise.

"Then what? Do you want to be stuck in your past? Do you still expect a woman who would betray you?"

"No, Ma. Rudi did not expect it at all. It's another matter. Tell you what, ma'am. Let Rudi and Arini talk to mom and dad. Rudi will set the time with Arini."

"alright. I'll wait for you at home."

Rudi closed his conversation with his mother after saying hello. In his deep breath, the burden of his mind increased now. He had to find a way to explain everything to his parents. He also has to figure out how to find out Sarah and Fabio's whereabouts.

Rudi took his phone and called someone.

"Assalamualaik." Someone across there gave me a greeting.

"Wa'alaikumsalam, Arini." Apparently Rudi called Arini.

"Yes. What's up, huh?"

"Ar, we have something to talk about. It matters!"

"Yes, already. Tell me what's wrong."

"It seems we should meet soon. Let's talk it out. We'll see you at the usual place, okay?"

"Oh, fine. When?"

"Now. Can you?"

"Maybe later ba'da Dzuhur can. Insha Allah."

"OKAY. Are you busy?"

"Now?'

"Yes." Yeah."

"If you're busy anyway, but one of the people who helped me was asking permission to go until noon. Something has to be taken care of. So I'm the one who takes over the job until he gets back, '" Arini explained honestly.

"Do I need to pick you up?" tawar Rudi's.

"Oh, no. Don't need. God willing I will come."

"Yes, I'll see you later, okay? Assalamualaikum." Rudi closed the conversation.

With a workload that is increasingly added to have to think about his personal problems, Rudi must be good at dividing his focus in order to solve everything well. And this time he chose to solve his matchmaking problem first

***

"Assynolajet. It's old?" Rudi's greeting surprised Arini who was playing her mobile phone.

"Oh, wa'alaikumsalam. Not yet, not long."

"Sorry, huh? You have to wait."

"It's okay. I'm waiting for this time anyway, usually."

After they ordered food and drinks, Rudi started the conversation again.

"So this is it, Ar. Mom called me and wanted our relationship to be formalized. I tried to explain, but I didn't listen. Finally I said we'd come to explain. How do you think?"

"Oh that. Looks like we should explain. And it's our fault for not explaining it sooner."

"So you agreed to explain everything, right?"

"of course. When are we gonna explain?"

"If today could?"

"It could be. But the time is narrow. How about tomorrow? I'll set the schedule so it's a little free and not rushed. I also need to tell my mom to get ready with an explanation that her mom called her."

"All right then. Oh yeah, how's your candidate doing?"

"Alhamdulillah came home yesterday."

"Alhamdulillah. So now has the task moved here?"

"don't know. If I can't, maybe I'll go there. I agree too."

"Try me to talk to his boss again. At that time he did say that he could not promise to move in the near future, because the power of Dawn is needed there. Whereas if you move here, Dawn expertise will not be used because the head office only takes care of administration."

"Yes, Dawn also told me that. And after consideration, I think it's better there, so I'm willing to be brought there after marriage. How was it myself?" Arini turned the question on Rudi.

"The whole story, Ar. We were close. And now I'm confused."

"Near place? The owner of the shoes? Confused why?" ask Arini curiously.

"Yes, now he's gone."

"Disappeared how? Mean run?"

"It's not really that sure yet. But we did not meet for 3 weeks because of my busyness, but still communicate. Well the third week when I wanted to see her, she wasn't at her house and had asked for a week's leave of office without telling me."

"Maybe he has family needs."

"But it should have told me."

"Have called?"

"The number cannot be reached. I'm so worried!"

"Just pray that nothing is bad."

"Oh yeah, the house is close to you."

"Oh yeah? Why never introduce him to me? Who knows I know."

"I've been planning to introduce you. But the hunt is gone."

"Well, I'm curious. If anyone lives near my house, God willing I know all."

"I think so too. Yeah, I said it first, huh? There's still a lot of work in the office." Rudi stood up and went to the cashier to pay for all their orders and returned to meet Arini who was waiting outside the cafe.

"Do I want to take you?" haggling Rudi to Arini.

"No need. I ordered an online motorcycle, not far from here. Oh yeah, can you tell me what that woman's name is?"

"Sarah," answered Rudi briefly.