
"Assynoltom..."
"Vaalaikumsalam. " Akhtar immediately shifted his seat giving a place to someone who had just come. But it turns out the assumption was wrong. That guy is still standing.
"You're looking for Abah, mas. "
"Oh. Ja. I'm going there. " Akhtar got up and stepped into Pak Kyai's house. And the woman who helped behind him.
Akhtar arrived at the hall where it was commonly used to conduct studies taught directly by the cottage babysitter.
"Assalamualaikum, mr. kyai. " He said as he greeted the hands of the middle-aged man who was always kind enough to share his knowledge with him.
"Vaalaikumsalam. Akhtar's. "
"What sir Kyai there's a need with me ?."
"Yes. Be sitting. "
"Yes, mr. kyai. "
Akhtar sat politely in front of Kyai Anwar. The figure of a man who has high authority because of his knowledge.
"Look, son Akhtar. I want to ask you something. Can it be ?."
"Yes, of course, mr. Kyai. Please. "
"Hmm before I want to ask, does Akhtar have a companion?." Ask Kyai Anwar carefully.
"Alhamdulillah already, kyai sir. "
"God willing." Kyai Anwar was seen letting out a long sigh.
Akhtar looked at Kyai Anwar's face with a puzzled look. "Sorry, mr. kyai. What do you mean by asking that question ?." Ask.
"I wanted to bring you closer to one of my nephews. Because I guess you're still alone, son Akhtar. Because judging from the figure of Akhtar's son who I think is still single."
"Oh. Then sorry if I let you down, kyai. I already have a life companion even I already have children, mr. Kyai. "
"Subhanallah. If you can tell, how old is Akhtar?."
"Alhamdulillah is thirty-two years now, kyai sir. "
"Yes Allah. Should I have a family?. Wong is very mature. "
"Yes mr. kyai. Oh yes, mr. kyai. If I may know, who ponakan pak kyai who wants to be close to me ?." Ask Akhtar curiously.
"Zahras. You know him, right ?. "
"Yes, I know mr. Kyai, Akhtar replied confidently. Because it is impossible that he does not know Zahra, because as long as he often goes back and forth to this pesantren as santri kalong, Zahra often appears in front of him even though just passing by or giving a banquet to him when he comes to Pak kyai Anwar's house.
"Yes. Zahra is not just my santri khodam. Zahra was my niece, her parents had already passed on her responsibilities to me before they died."
Ow. So the girl no longer has parents?. Bathin Akhtar's.
The beautiful and innocent girl, whose real name is Princess Az-Zahra, is one of Kyai Anwar's nephews who was put into the boarding school three years ago at the age of twenty.
Zahra was an only child, so when both parents died in a plane crash on their return from Egypt after a visit to the family from his mother's path there, Zahra went with her father's sister, Kyai Anwar.
In addition to all that, Zahra is also one of the figures of a quiet girl, does not like to mingle with the people around her that she does not recognize, afraid of the outside world also in the figure of men other than his father and also his uncle.
Many things related to Zahra that do require a big question mark. Even Akhtar who often met here a little curious about the figure of Zahra. Because every time he met Zahra often lowered his head, talking as necessary when asked.
It is a mysterious figure. And made Akhtar even more curious.
"Sorry mr. kyai. Had I tried to approach Pak Kyai's nephew, would I have been allowed ?."
"What ?. But... Doesn't Akhtar's son already have a companion alive?." Kyai Anwar asked in shock. Perhaps more precisely Kyai Anwar did not want his only nephew to be made the second companion of an Akhtar.
"My wife is dead, from our baby son, mr. Kyai. "
"Innalillahi wa Inna ilaihi Raji'un."
"How about mr. Kyai, am I allowed to know pak kyai ?."
Kyai Anwar did not immediately answer and chose silence while fondling Akhtar's question. Kyai Anwar slowly breathed out. "alright. Ja. Please. May Zahra fit in with you, Akhtar." Kyai Anwar said at last.
"Alhamdulillah... Thank you, mr. kyai. " Akhtar said sincerely.
"Yes, son Akhtar. Then I'll call him to come here. "
"No, mr. kyai. I mean, Mr. Kyai just sit down. Let me call him. "
"Oh. Yes already. Come inside. Maybe Zahra's in the kitchen. "
"Yes, excuse me, mr. Kyai. " Akhtar got up and walked towards the kitchen of Kyai Anwar's house.
Akhtar has memorized the ins and outs of the house owned by Kyai Anwar because he also often stayed here while studying with him.
Akhtar's foot stopped. His ears were sharp listening to the humming of sholawat nariyah which sounded very melodious and soothing. The voice completely hypnotized him. I don't know who the owner of the voice was, which Akhtar obviously really liked.
Unknowingly, Akhtar's legs again stepped up to reach the kitchen.
There was only one beautiful girl he knew, she was Kyai Anwar's girl, Zahra. Zahra was busy washing dishes with her lips unceasingly humming sholawat.
Oh Allah... I hope my choice is right now.
It's my decision, which fits your door, Ai. Hope you get a much better man than me.
Akhtar prayed very much. He also hopes that Azrinna, the beautiful girl mother of his sons and daughters will always be bestowed happiness unlike when with her who is full of lies.
"Assynoltom..." Akhtar said when he was close to Zahra's body.
"Astaghfirullah's. " Zahra tiptoed in shock. Zahra turned towards Akhtar. A moment after the gaze of his eyes met with Akhtar's eyes, Zahra immediately broke her gaze and looked down fully. "Vaalaikumsalam. " the answer.
Akhtar who saw the attitude couldn't help but smile.
"Am I bothering you?." Akhtar asked after dimming his smile.
"Sa-I'm washing dishes, sir." Zahra replied a little.
"Oh means to bother?. Alright. I'll go again. But, earlier I wanted to tell you that you were called mr. Kyai. " Said Akhtar and left without looking and waiting for Zahra's reply.
While walking, Akhtar still showed her sweet smile. Somehow it makes his old heart dry now cool again. After calling Zahra, Akhtar went back to meet Kyai Anwar, not to join him again but to give him permission to return home.
After a few minutes of Akhtar's return, Zahra came and sat beside his brother.
"Assalamualaikum, Abah."
"Waalaikum salam." Kyai Anwar and Akhtar answered.
" Here is Zahra. Abah wants to talk to Zahra." Kyai Anwar said to his nephew.
Zahra did not immediately respond, because he was still confused to join, because he felt there was something important that the uncle would say.
"Zahras. "
"Ehh. Yes, Abah. " Zahra sat next to Kyai Anwar.
His eyes only looked down full as if he was counting the fur of the tapestry that was sitting on.
A feeling of worry filled his heart at this moment. Because he was sure that his uncle would say something related to the world out there.
That's what Zahra is like. He had been too afraid of the outside world ever since a major incident happened to him a few years ago.
"Zahras. " Call Kyai Anwar again, making Zahra immediately lift her face and turn to the uncle.
"Yes, bah ?." ,
"Zahra, Abah as one who accepts Zahra's responsibility from Abi Zahra, Abah asks Zahra for permission so Zahra may accept Abah's decision. "
"What decision does Abah mean?. " Tanya Zahra was confused.
"Zahra's life is mature enough. Zahra it's time to live a household life. So, Abah has chosen a mate for Zahra. Is Zahra willing to take it ?."
Zahra looked back. He had thought of himself before. Because it is certain that something like this will happen later on, exactly it turns out today.
"Zahra is up to Abah, bah. But Zahra permits, Zahra wants to know first who the man Abah chose for Zahra. " Say Zahra in a very soft voice.
Hearing Zahra's words made Kyai Anwar and Akhtar smile. " yes. Zahra must know who Abah's man chose Zahra for."
"Who is bah ?."
"Akhtar. You've seen it a lot, haven't you ?."
"Yes, it's bah. "
"Alhamdulillah. So, how?. Is Zahra willing to accept it?."
"But, isn't he... Nausea bah ?."
"Yes, right. Akhtar is a convert. "
"Will you allow him to ask me?."
"Mother. Akhtar is indeed a convert, but according to Abah his understanding can also be said to be perfect. Abah believes he's a good man so Abah asked him for you. " It's obviously Kyai Anwar.
"So, did Abah ask for it?."
"Yes nduk. And, you should also know, if Akhtar is not a single man. He was married and had a child, but his wife died when he was a baby. "
Hearing the words child and baby made Zahra stunned. There was a feeling that only himself and the author knew, greeted his heart.
"Change."
"Yes, son?."
"Change." Zahra put her head on the lap of her uncle. Although only an uncle and not his Abi, but Zahra's spoiled attitude towards Kyai Anwar is like a child and his own father.
Kyai Anwar also considered the daughter of his sister as his own.
Kyai Anwar's hand gently rubbed Zahra's head.
"You want to talk to Abah ?."
"Change, forgive Zahra. Forgive Zahra who humiliated you all in the presence of God. " Zahra spoke softly with her eyes beginning to glaze over.
"You have a secret you don't know about, do you,?." Kyai Anwar said on target.
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