Sendu Sweetener

Sendu Sweetener
PS 8 - The First Lie



"Assalamualaik." Gifari said hello, and I followed him.


"Vaalaikumsalam. Uh, mom's son is home." said one mother, if I notice, she's the same age as my mother. I'm assuming she's Ghifari's mother.


She wears a long, beautiful, and graceful headscarf.


Ghifari kissed his mother's hand. I did the same. For a moment the woman was stunned to see me.


I nudged Ghifari, I was really afraid that Ghifari's mother was a fierce person. I don't want to be scolded right now. Especially on the first day of meeting.


Ghifari only glanced at me and tried to calm me down through the look in his eyes.


And not long after, his face returned to normal. I am grateful in my heart.


"So, this is your daughter-in-law's future? MashaAllah is beautiful. It is fitting that you reject Ghifari's match" Ghifari's mother said.


His eyes are looking towards me. I smile. After all I can't ignore his gaze which means that it requires me to return the puncture, right?


"I'm sorry, Auntie. My name is Azzahra." I said again.


"Oh, no. Aunty is happy that Ghifari prefers you over the matchmaking. Auntie is sure you're a good boy, son." Ghifari's mother said again.


I turned towards Gifari at a glance. I was really confused as to what to talk like.


This is the first time I have been introduced by a man to his family. I'm really nervous. Moreover, this is just a pretense, remembering that I became even more nervous. However, I can't seem nervous. I have to be able to handle all this.


"Thank you, Auntie. O yes, Auntie, it's sorry I could only bring this." I said, smiling, handing over the parcel.


Ghifari's mother smiled and took the parcel given by me with a bright face. Eyes twinkling.


I'm confused what else to do.


"Ehem.. His son-in-law is tired, Ma was not told to come in" Ghifari said.


"Oh my God, Mama forgot. Come on, Azzahra boy come in." The mother of Ghifari.


"Za only, Auntie. It's okay." I said.


At first, I wanted to ask Ms. Ghifari to call me Ara. Like everyone who knows me. However, I feel like I should have a nickname that reflects a bit of a good person. So, I chose the name 'Za' instead of 'Ara'.


"A pretty name, Za" said Ghifari's mother.


"Come, Son. Aunty make a drink first." Ghifari said.


"Not bother, Auntie." I said.


"No, no hassle at all" Ghifari's mother said and left for Ghifari and me.


I was able to breathe a sigh of relief for a moment when I saw that Ghifari's mother had gone to make me drink. I looked at Ghifari. I want to go home.


"Gue wants to go home." I said sulking at Ghifari, I touched his arm.


Instantly Ghifari was sculpting as I began to shake his arm.


"Ara, don't believe me. Do you want to marry me today? I have no problem" Ghifari said.


"Ih, what do you mean? What does marriage have to do with it?" I don't know what Ghifari's words mean.


Ghifari looked at my hand.


"Our family knows you've held me, we can be married, because we're not mahram so you can't hold it" Ghifari said.


I immediately let go of Ghifari's hand. However, I do not want to be married today by the Ghifari family.


I really just found out that I can't play when I touch it because we're not mahram yet. I even heard that word for the first time.


"Smart kid" Ghifari said as if talking to a child.


"Gue's scared." I said honestly.


"Not to be afraid. My family is well. You just need to be a part of this family again" Ghifari said.


"Again?" ask me to frown at me because I am confused.


"Ah, this must be because I'm not focused. That means tomorrow-tomorrow if you come here again so you're used to it because you've become part of this family" said Ghifari.


"Who knows marriage, right?" asked Ghifari while chuckling.


I immediately intended to pinch his arm but when I raised my hand Ghifari immediately gave a very accurate ultimatum.


"Eh, so we're getting married today?" ask Ghifari.


Damnit.


I also racked my brain. I don't want to run out of sense.


"What the hell. My man wants a real veil." I said lie.


Ghifari. Shit, I really want to catch him right now.


"Lho, you guys haven't sat down yet?" ask Ghifari's mother who came.


I immediately turned around with a forced smile, "Yes, Auntie. Hehe." I said.


"Come, sit down first" said Ghifari's mother. I nodded too.


We sat in the living room. Then, after making sure I sat down, Ghifari got up. "Za, I'll stay first."


I'm speechless for a moment. That one sentence really made something explode in there.


Remember Za, this is just a charade.


Without even knowing if I should answer, I just smiled and nodded. Instantly he was stunned, I wanted to feel like I caught him right then and there (again). Then, Ghifari left, probably to his room.


"Drink, son" said Ghifari's mother.


"Thank you, Auntie." I said take the drink.


Shortly after Gifari left, someone knocked on the door of the house, Mother Gifari also said goodbye to open the door. I can only nod.


And from there entered the company that I estimated was the Gifari family.


They were happily talking at the door. I'm starting to deg-degan. How'this? What am I supposed to do? I hurriedly took my phone. Send a message to Gifari via Whatsapp.


When to exit? –kukirim.


I hurriedly put my phone in the bag again. Then stand up because the guests who come to me.


"This is Ghifari's future wife. His name is Azzahra." Gifari's mother introduced me to everyone. I also kissed the hands of the mothers in the company.


As for the men I just clenched my hands in the chest reluctantly kissing their hands. Ghifari said that if I touch a man who is not a mahram I will be married. And I don't want that to happen.


Ghifari's mother introduced one by one the families there. I couldn't focus on hearing what he said. For there was one of the guests, a grandmother looking at me with a gaze I could not explain. Her tears are dripping. I approached the grandmother. I forgot that Ghifari's mother was talking.


"Grandmother why? Did Za say something wrong?" I asked grandma.


Grandma looks like my mother. Honestly, there's a feeling I can't explain right now. Why is that grandma crying to see me?


"No, Son. Here, son, let grandma kiss your cheek." I approached grandma.


He kissed me. I tried to smile and wipe my grandmother's tears.


"Lho, Mama why?" ask Mama Gifari and a woman who is also the same age as Ms. Gifari.


"Mama's happy to see Gifari's future wife, she's beautiful. Mama just found out that my granddaughter can know women too. Haha." Grandma laughing. Until everyone laughs. I smile. But no matter why I caught from the words of another grandmother, she seemed to have hidden something.


"Yes, sit down first. Son, you're helping Auntie?" said Ms. Ghifari.


I nodded politely.


I say goodbye to help Gifari's mother. It turned out that I was taken to the kitchen to prepare drinks and food for the other Gifari family.


"This is my aunt, you can call Bude Ulfa like Gifari" said Ms. Gifari. I smile.


"This, Son. Please bring this drink to the living room, yes, you will be here again" said Ms. Gifari.


"Okay, Auntie." I said.