The Marriage of Haram II

#05

Siti Nur stepped foot slowly entering the house. He had no appetite at all even though his stomach was hungry. His erratic mood made his footsteps weak towards his room. Moreover, the rest of the annoyance and anger to Mr. Darmanta, making his heart pound and beat faster.

Siti Nur threw her body on her bed. The presence of Mr. Darmanta has always been a frightening specter. Moreover, the time is getting closer to the fulfillment of that promise. Only one more year will Milna finish her studies. He has to hand Milna over to Mr. Darmanta. Whether Milna likes it or not.

Siti Nur. He was trying to regret what happened a few years ago. Milna was in junior high school. The need for life that began to increase, as well as the price of basic necessities that are increasingly soaring, making him forced to borrow money on Mr. Darmanta.

At first he thought Mr. Darmanta was a kind and generous old man. When he first saw her, he looked so friendly and generous. Most of the villagers depend on his hope to help Mr. Darmanta lend the money. Mr. Darmanta who is a rice merchant and corn businessman is indeed considered one of the richest in the subdistrict. He who was in desperate need of money to finance his needs with Milna, was forced to dare to borrow money to Mr. Darmanta. News of his generosity and the invitation of his neighbors, made him entangled in the trap of Darmanta's crafty sir. There was no agreement when he borrowed money from him. She only expressed her readiness to repay her debt every month when receiving her husband's pension. But lately the true nature of Mr. Darmanta looks. He does not want to receive any more deposits every month. He said he did not benefit at all from the installment. He wants Siti Nur to pay cash plus interest within one year. Things that did not come in their initial conversation. Initially Siti Nur protested when she saw her debt record that was far from her estimate. How could a debt that was originally only 10 million, turn up to 25 million. Siti Nur clearly did not accept. He didn't have that much money to pay for it. Until Mr. Darmanta offers her bleaching all her debts on condition, she must be willing to be the wife of Mr. Darmanta. Siti Nur at that time had no choice but to accept the requirements of the Darmanta pack. He only asks for time until Milna graduates from her high school. Mr. Darmanta agreed. But again Mr. Darmanta canceled the agreement unilaterally. Seeing Milna who grew up with a beautiful face and her body that seduces, makes Mr. Darmanta more interested in Milna. Mr. Darmanta has trapped him into a growing maelstrom of debt. He can no longer pay for it. Marrying her to Milna was one of the decisions she had to make.

Siti Nur turned her body and tightly hugged the bolted pillow beside her. Her pushy eyes carried her flying into the past when she first met her late husband. Nugi Pratama's. Her love story with her late husband was long and full of contradictions. Her late husband, who was her half-brother as an infant, proposed to her, making their marriage fiercely opposed by the villagers. She and her late husband were almost burned alive by the community in her village because they were considered to have violated religious law.

Siti Nur sighs long. The journey of human life is determined by God. What and how the journey of life in the future no one knows. Man can only accept whatever God decides. But he always prayed every time he finished praying. Pray that God will give her a way out so that Milna will never marry Mr. Darmanta. Even if God has recorded Mr. Darmanta as a companion to Milna's life, then he hopes God changes Mr. Darmanta into a better person. Being a good husband to Milna. Even if the disease that gnawed his body made him die sooner, he would feel calmer in his grave.

Adzan Ashar sounded. Siti Nur still refused to move from her lying down. He was still so comfortable hugging his pillow roll as he reminisced about his past.

* * * * *

Black clouds seemed to be rolling over the sky. Occasional wind blows and throws dry leaves on the side of the road. The cloudy atmosphere instantly changed the sunlight that had been scorching stinging. Some hikers and bikers opted to pull themselves aside at roadside stalls as the rain spatter began to fall. Not long after, it rained heavily.

Nazril was still pacing on the porch of the house. It's 6 in the afternoon. Almost maghrib. Pipit hasn't come home yet. The increasingly heavy rain flushed, making him even more anxious. He was used to it when he came home, Pipit had already welcomed him home. Make him coffee and tease him with the theme of staying wrapped around the wedding. Although Pipit had contacted him and told him he was going home late, he still felt anxious.

Nazril. His head feels dizzy. The time of writing is past. Making his own coffee is still lazy. It also will not be as good as made Pipit. He's used to black coffee concoction pipit.

Nazril turned his body about to enter, but the sound of a car horn in front of the house undoes his steps. He looks. The phone's ringing. He immediately lifted it. The noise of the rain made it difficult to hear the sound of Pipits from across. It increases the volume of calls.

The gate slowly opened. A red Avanza is seen behind the gate. Pipit and his female friends waved their hands at a woman at the front of the car. After the car turned and speeded through the heavy rain, Pipit and his two friends then rushed into the house.

Nazril noticed one of Pipit's friends who covered his face with a black veil. The woman lowered her head.

"Sister, meet Pipit's friend. It's Amira and it's Milna" said Pipit, who introduced the two friends. Nazril smiled. She seemed familiar with the face of one of the women named Amira. Pipit often shows his picture. He is one of those who is often shown his sms by Pipit. But the veiled girl, who was none other than Milna, she had not seen him yet.

Amira thrust her hand towards Nazril with a smile. He looked groggy when Nazril experienced it. Pipit pretended not to see when Nazril glanced at him. As Nazril was about to greet Milna, Milna fused her palms together and bowed half her body. Nazril smiled.

"Come Pit, make warm drinks for your friends. Make coffee, yes" said Nazril. Pipit scrunched his forehead.

"Jam wants to have a coffee. Not wrong, brother," said Pipit astonishedly looking at his watch.

"I haven't been coffee since noon.wait for you to come home,"

Pipit shook his head.

"Make it a quick wedding, brother. Let something go" said Pipit. Nazril. His forehead shriveled. This time he tried to show a displeased face to Pipit. Amira and Milna smiled lowered their heads.

"Yes, kidding. Don't be angry" said Pipit. He held Nazril's right hand and kissed him.

"Come, sana. Sitting sweetly in his chair. Wait for the bitter coffee. Let these beautiful girls be the sweetener" Pipit said. He pushed Nazril's body into the house. Milna and Amira just smile at Pipit's spoiled behavior. He then took his two friends into his room.