The Father's Choice Husband

Chapter 1

"Mell!" He took me to sit down to talk that night. I've always been scared of times like this. My father was not a fierce person, but he was very authoritative, making me gymnastics heart every time invited to chat together like this. There must be some serious problem he would say.

"Yes, Sir? What's up?"

"Look, you've graduated from college, you've taught too, so it's appropriate to go home. Many of your friends are also married. You how? Is there a candidate? Why haven't you introduced me to me yet?" You asked carefully. I'm only 25 years old, actually not too old. But for some reason, you're so worried that I'm going to be a spinster.

I shook my head slowly.

"Mela doesn't have a candidate yet, sir. Let alone the candidate, the person who Mela is targeting also does not exist. There's no picture at all." I'm bowed. Honestly, I'm afraid of putting my heart on the wrong person. I also don't want to make my parents' good names so bad if I have a relationship with the opposite sex, before it's halal.

"What if you marry the son of Joseph? The former rois village next door. He's looking for a wife. Coincidentally yesterday her brother came here and saw you drying clothes, so he asked you to Mr."

"Ask how, sir?" I still don't understand what you mean.

"Ask, you want to or not be his wife. He's been looking for a wife for a long time, but hasn't seen her yet. So her brother hoped that you would be the wife of Mr. Yusuf's youngest son."

The deg!

I can't say anything. Why should it be so fast? Even the two of us didn't know each other. The only people who know each other are the Father and the eldest son of Mr. Joseph. It's not me and Mr. Yusuf's youngest son whose name I don't even know. Can you marry in this way?

"But, Sir. We don't know each other, how can we suddenly get married?" I ventured to ask.

"Tomorrow would be acquaintances, if you agree. At least get to know first, who knows, he is your soul mate, right? After all, he was the son of Mr. Joseph, I am sure that he must be as good and as good as his father. His eldest son was also kind and pious, so most likely his younger brothers also went down to the nature of Mr. Joseph." You tried to convince me, by carrying the name of Mr. Yusuf who is quite famous in my village.

"So, you agree with this match?" I asked carefully, not wanting to make you hurt.

"Father agrees, if you look at his family profile, he must be a good boy. But it's all still up to you. I'm not forcing you, because the one who's going to have that marriage is you."

"Did Mr. Yusuf's youngest son know, if he wanted to be introduced to Mela, sir?" I just want to know, because it would be weird if I wanted to, but he didn't, right?

"When asked, if you want, then you will go to his house, to ask directly, want how and what the next."

"Yes already, sir. Mela follow what you say." I bow down.

I was actually confused as to how, wanting to refuse, but afraid that I would become a spinster as the old people said. It is not good to refuse a proposal. Who knows if he is my soul mate, right? And this is the way we met.

After all, I have always been troublesome Father, since childhood until now I have taught still troublesome Father. Maybe this is my way to make you happy, by making it from someone who is respected, right?

"But you didn't have to, did you?" Father asked once again.

I'm shaking.

"Bismillah, sir. I want to try to get to know him. I hope we both fit in." I finally said steadily, with all the considerations I had thought of.

"Thank God. Then tomorrow you will visit Mr. Joseph's house to discuss this matter." I saw the happy smiling face of my father. Maybe this is what you want.

"Good, Sir. Tomorrow let us exchange CVs to get to know each other. No need to meet and so on. I'm afraid there will be slander and things that are not desirable, sir. If you want to contact me, can be represented to his family who are women only, so that we do not send messages in a negative direction, before we are absolutely halal." I told you to equalize the perception.

You are not a well-informed city person, nor a religious leader who understands much about the rules in religion. But he tried to keep the five prayers in the mosque and also liked to listen to lectures on the radio or in public lectures that could be reached. I'm sure, you can understand the basic principles that I also just found out after I went to college. Things related to ta'aruf to get a soul mate.

"Well, tomorrow I'll tell him." Father nodded in understanding.

***

He immediately launched his plan after getting my approval. He really wanted this man to be my husband. I can't resist, I'm self-conscious, it's been too much trouble for you all this time. Maybe it's time for me to be filial, by following what he wants. I steadied my heart, may this be the path I must take in finding a soul mate.

I sent my CV first to the man I didn't know his full name. I just found out her nickname, "Aak". It was also when you gave me a piece of paper containing a row of phone numbers as well as his nickname. No other number than that, I think it's okay, we didn't send a message of any kind. Ta'aruf only.

One day later, I just got a CV reply, as I asked. I read it during school breaks at the office. I read one by one the words written by Mas Aak.

"What's up, Miss Mela? Really serious?" Bi Lina, my close friend since school, who happened to be teaching at the same place as me suddenly patted my shoulder. Although familiar, but we still respect each other and since we became teachers, we are used to call with the name Ma'am, to get used to our students.

"Eh, no." I smiled, and he had been watching me ever since.

"Don't lie, ma'am! Looks like something is being thought of."

"This, Ma. I'm sending a CV to a man, I'm receiving an arranged marriage from my father." I'm telling you what the truth is. I'm not used to lying.

"Well! Some want to give up their free time, nih!" Miss Lina just mocked me.

"Yes, Mom. But I doubt." I'm not as sure as yesterday after reading the CV that Mas Aak sent me.

"Why hesitate?"