Rasidha Bidadari Clear-eyed

Chapter 11 - The annual event

Arrive an annual event that is so welcomed by all students and also santriwati, where the hospitality event will be held by several pesantren and meetings that are always held in a very orderly manner. The santri prepare the event and ensure the meeting of the great kyai and also ustadz, while the princess just looks from a distance and prepares food.

Rasidha focused on helping other santriwati to cook, she was used to cooking to make it not feel difficult. Someone patted his shoulder, immediately he turned to look at the perpetrator who was none other than Neneng and next to him was Elis. "What's wrong? You guys are surprising me."

"Sorry," answered Elis and Neneng grinned, they chose to sit next to Rasidha.

"Hem." Rasidha shook his head and smiled at the behavior of the two friends. 

"Are you not interested in seeing ustadz and gus? All I hear is, they're very handsome and who knows if one of them is our soul mate." Said Neneng who was very excited and enthusiastic. 

"I haven't thought about the matter, it's all set up the same khalik." Rasidha replied without turning his head, still busy peeling onions.

"Stupid doesn't come by itself, I just want to get married. In a moment we'll pass," Elis' gaze straight ahead, considering they'll be separated in a few more months. He began to plan for his future, considering the underprivileged family and also had many sisters such as stacking nails, each child was a year to two years apart.

"Do you have no intention of working?" Rasidha looked at Elis as if interested in the discussion.

"Who doesn't want to continue his studies and also work? I want to, but circumstances force me."

"What does that mean? I don't understand." Now Neneng was very curious, he also did not know about the lives of his friends.

"I've been betrothed to my parents' chosen man, he's the village chief's son." 

Rasidha sympathized with the fate of Elis who was constrained economically, let alone his sister numbering eight people out of ten brothers. "Did you accept that match?" 

"I believe in my parents' second choice, I can only surrender to Him." Elis smiled strengthening himself, pointing upwards with a trust.

"Maybe I'm going to be TKW, seeing my village people who have worked a lot abroad, they all live well after coming home from the land of people." Neneng smiled imagining himself being able to raise the dignity of the family.

"But being TKW isn't as easy as you think, Neng. A lot of people out there are getting less than pleasant treatment from their employers, or you work at my mom's bakery, how about it?" bargain Rasidha who could not bear with his two friends. 

Neneng and Elis stared fixedly at Rasidha, they smiled with kindness from a Palestinian girl. "It's not necessary, you don't have to bother."

"I don't want you guys to drop out of studies."

"It's not necessary, a lot of things can't be solved easily. Thank you for the kindness of your heart, Rasidha." 

"Hem, if you need my help, just say so. I'm ready to help, as long as I can."

"Thank you." 

"Rasidha, is the bringer peeled?" yayuk shouted from inside the room.

"Yes, in a moment." Reply Rasidha who finished peeling the onions. 

"Mbak Yayuk just ruined the atmosphere," complained Neneng who also shouted, it even invited the laughter of Elis and Rasidha.

An old woman walked towards Rasidha and her two friends. "Assalamu'alaikum."

"Wa'alaikumsalam." Follow the three girls with a smile on their faces. 

"Him?" 

"Yes, Nyai wants to borrow Rasidha first, okay?" 

"By Nyai, borrowing long is fine." Guyon Neneng who used to melt the atmosphere. 

"What's the matter, Grandma?" 

"Follow Grandma, yuk!" 

Rasidha followed where Nyai Ainun was stepping, he did not know why the woman before him had brought him. "Sorry before, Grandma, where are we going?" her question was stopping the footsteps of the old woman.

"Later you will know." 

Rasidha bowed his head as he passed the ustadz and also the gus, he did not know the reason he was at the gathering. 

"Let's go in, someone wants to see you." 

"Who's Grandma?" Rasidha was very curious, who would be met. 

Rasidha went into the open house and was asked to bring tea and snacks to be eaten to guests in the room. "You are their jamu and will be in the stone of other khadimahs, here the lack of people."

"Yes Nek." 

Rasidha delivered snacks and tea, with great care. He was very nervous when the big kyai guests from Kyai Baharuddin, afraid to make mistakes. 

A few minutes later, he immediately returned to the kitchen and decided to help the others. He thought nothing of the banquet, and went back to help the other sisters. 

"Have you delivered it?" asked Nyai Ainun who patted Rasidha's shoulder gently.

"Already Grandma, I've delivered it."

"Good, you stay here first. Aisyah and Ayna will catch up with you here."

"Yes Nek." Rasidha nodded his head slowly and politely, he was very curious what really happened. Moreover, many santriwati and also on other khadimah that can entertain guests.

"I feel like there's something weird here, but what?" gummy. 

"Sister, umi's been waiting in that room." Ayna surprised Rasidha. 

"Yes, but what's going on? Why do I feel like something's covered up by Grandma?"

"Someone saw Brother" answered Ayna.

"What's wrong?" Rasidha grew curious, grinning his forehead. 

"Astaghfirullah, I'm slipping." Lirih Ayna who hit her mouth slowly. 

"Snakes? What's the matter, actually?" 

"It's nothing, let's hurry! Before umi and grandma pick us up." Ayna moved her legs very quickly, she immediately moved away more precisely avoiding her suspicious older sister. 

"Assalamu'alaikum." Speak to both of them who entered after getting a response from the people in the room. 

"Here son, sit down." Aisyah patted the chair next to her, looking at the strangers. But he was a little surprised to see the Afif ustadz and also the man who helped him. 

"So this is Rasidha?" 

Rasidha only replied with a nod of his head and smiled for a moment. He only listened to the elders chatter and only kept silent, occasionally smiling.

"It is our intention here to propose that Rasidha be the wife of Afif, my son."

Deg

The statement of the old man wearing a robe and also a turban over his head, really made Rasidha very surprised by the simple sentence but it contained quite a deep meaning. He turned his gaze toward the head-bending Afif ustadz with a smile, not expecting the teacher who taught him to propose to the family of his uncle. 

Not only was Rasidha shocked, but Gus Habib was also greatly shocked. He began to harbor a sense of interest in the woman he helped, but his intention was surpassed by a cousin.