The Love of the Sinner

CHAPTER 22. New Confusion and Slander Again

Read until it's over, yeah. Alon-alon, let's not fail to understand. Have a happy day.

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Chapter 22

     The morning after the morning prayer, Aulia and Grandma Halimah talked about the problem last night. Although her heart was calmer, a line of sadness was still visible on Aulia's face. Her eyes were also swollen from crying last night.

"Say the ndalem family spoke last night of the sermon of Gus Fathir. Gus' desire to marry you is so strong, Nyai Khadijah, and Annisa also supports him. Although many people opposed the decision," said Halimah's grandmother.

"Aulia felt unworthy to be Gus Fathir's companion, Grandma. Aulia felt burdened with the status of a wife of Gus, if later married," Aulia replied.

"You, you can't think like that. If, God had been willing to match you with Gus Fathir, we would not all be able to change it" said Halimah's grandmother.

"Aulia hoped that God would give the soul mate of a man, whose extended family did not care about the past" Aulia said with a sad look.

"May Allah give you the best soul mate in the world to the Hereafter." Halimah's grandmother hugged Aulia's body.

    Not long after Joseph's grandfather came home from the mosque. He also invited Aulia to talk about last night that Kiai Akbar told her by phone.

"Son, last night Kiai Sholeh called, he asked for help to convey the request to you. All this time, he was looking for you at the request of a man named Rangga. The young man's desire to marry you still exists. Are you going to go back to your lover to account for what he did?" ask grandfather Yusuf.

"It seems Aulia can not if you have to re-establish a relationship with Kak Rangga. Both of his parents were clearly against our relationship. Aulia did not want to build a household that already had problems with in-laws since the beginning. Our house will be fucked. Is it not that we should be married with the intention of hoping for His Gift and Ridho, so that our lives will always be in His Grace?" aulia answered by looking at Joseph's grandfather's shady face.

"Alhamdulillah, if you think like that. So, in this way Grandfather will say that Kiai Sholeh should not tell Rangga about your whereabouts here," Yusuf said with a smile.

"Aulia also hoped that way. Moreover, he already has a fiancee," replied Aulia.

"So, Rangga already has a fiancee?" ask grandpa Joseph not to believe it.

"Yes, Cake. In the past Aulia wanted to join Grandpa was also one of the reasons because Kak Rangga insisted on asking for marriage," replied Aulia embarrassed by dismantling the reason, it turns out there are shrimp behind the stone. Joseph's grandfather laughed as he rubbed Aulia's head.

"Terus Kiai Akbar also said, if Gus Fathir insisted on wanting to preach you. Are you still willing to be married by him?" ask grandfather Yusuf. A red hue adorned Aulia's cheeks.

     Neither did Aulia answer the question of Grandfather Joseph. In front of the house were screaming people. This surprised the residents of the house. Grandpa Yusuf hurried to look at the terrace.

"What's this?" joseph's grandfather asked after opening the door and saw many people coming.

"We have come here to ask that Ustadz Yusuf not marry Gus Fathir to Aulia!" said someone loudly.

"Yes!" exclaim other citizens.

"Yes, right. We disagree!" the other shouted at each other.

"Why did you guys happen like this. Where there are neighbors, you!" said Halimah's grandmother who came to follow with Aulia.

"Sorry Ustadzah, that pela_cur doesn't deserve to be Gus' wife!" shouted the man who was standing at the front.

"Don't talk recklessly, you!" yusuf's grandfather snapped furiously at hearing the insults to Aulia.

"Then, what is the proper name for this adulterer if not pela_cur?" ask the woman named Sumi, Yusuf's grandfather's neighbor.

"Get your mouth, Sumi!" hardik Halimah's grandmother was very angry. The old woman who usually spoke softly now shouted.

"What Bu Sumi said is true, Ustadzah. Don't defend and protect that despicable woman!" exclaimed a mother who stood beside Sumi's mother.

"Yes, Ustadzah. This will even tarnish the good name of our village which is famous for its moral goodness," said the middle-aged man.

"Nice character, you say! Then what do you do today deserves to be called a person of good character?" asked grandfather Yusuf quipped.

"This is because we do not agree that the woman received a proposal from Gus Fathir" the man replied.

"At least don't do something like this. Come well, we talk well, and we have deliberation together" said Joseph's grandfather and everyone was silent.

"Then, it's not appropriate for you to insult Aulia with that name. A believer must not reproach another believer because of his mistake, because of the sin that has occurred. It may be that the person you despise is not necessarily despicable in the eyes of God. She could have been more noble before God" said Halimah's grandmother.

     Everyone is silent. They could say nothing more after hearing the words of Joseph's grandfather and Halimah's grandmother. Everyone was told to go into the house and talk about it.

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     It turns out that it is not much different in the pesantren environment. The santri went to Ndalem and refused that Gus Fathir wanted to marry Aulia. They protest not to make a pela_cur as the wife of the prospective successor of the lodge leader.

"We reject Gus Fathir's wish to marry Aulia!" yell santri boy.

"It is not appropriate that a Gus candidate for the leader of the Pesantren Al-Ikhlas cottage married a pela_cur," said another.

"Find the Muslimah sholehah as Gus Fathir's wife" said santri and followed the others.

     The ndalem family was surprised by the arrival of santri after they finished teaching. Of course this makes the residents of ndalem feel uncomfortable. Moreover, Kiai Akbar has not returned home since leaving the congregation earlier.

"Why is it going so fast?" nyai Khadijah asked from behind the window.

"This must be something cute, Umma. Not that last night Umma asked not to let this news come out on the citizens and students. But, look at this! Someone must have talked about our family meeting and said nothing. What did he say? Bela_cur? Did someone talk like that last night?" Annisa sewot because of emotions.

"none. This is slander. It should be investigated, who has been spreading this fake news?" furious Fathir.

"According to Mas Fathir, who has spread this slander?" ask Annisa.

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Who has made the situation even more chaotic. What will be the relationship between Aulia and Fathir? Read their story in the next chapter?