The Pledge of Love Embroidered Heaven

CHAPTER 29. Dining Events

A man in a cocoa shirt with a black peci decorating his head has sat down to join the guests who come and go. They all came to fulfill the invitation to the prayer at Sarah's house. Among the guests present was Azzam. Unlike Marvin who came with his wife, Azzam actually came alone not accompanied by Dhanisa, his wife.

Marvin, Azzam and Sarah, they were shorting S1 college so they knew each other. Each of them is only a few semesters away. Marvin is the older brother of Azzam and Sarah. Azzam and Sarah are four semesters away. After completing the study of S1 they both continue the study of S2 in accordance with the objectives of their respective studies. Marvin took up the study of Educational Leadership and Management in the UK, Azzam chose to take the Dirasat Islamiyah study in Egypt, and Sarah took medicine in Yogyakarta.

Marvin arrived 10 minutes after Azzam. His eyes circled around to look for Azzam who had left him first. Marvin's eyeballs managed to find the figure of the man he was looking for. He immediately took a sitting position docked to the side of Azzam.

“Hey, I think we'll go together. Uh, even you first.”

“Yes, the initial plan is so. But I was thinking again, you were going to go with your wife so I felt bad. Fear of bothering you.”

“Oh, so. Is your wife not invited?” marvin sela.

“Not invite, only he can't come tonight,” reply Azzam flat.

The sheen in the night sky dimmed again, not a single star wanted to show his comolekan tonight. The wind again began to carry a characteristic cold scent. The sign tonight that the details clumping in the sky will come crashing down again. Sayup-sayup sound chanting lafadz tahlil, tahmid and prayer from the direction of the house Sarah also helped cool the atmosphere of the night that has been wrapped in cold weather. Street lights swerve left and right when hit by strong winds.

Sarah still stayed at the door and gave some gifts to her guests who had taken the time to attend the prayer ceremony as a form of gratitude, Sarah wanted to share some boxes of rice with them.

“Wah! thank you very much, Sister Sarah. May his provision be doubled by God,” the happy voice of one of the guests who also got a parcel from Sarah.

“Amiin, thank you also for taking the nights to meet our invitation,” reply Sarah is no less friendly.

Inside the house there are still some guests who are none other than Sarah's coworkers and also her special old friends are also invited tonight. Sarah was deliberately preventing them from going home first. He said there was the next session of the event that Sarah was preparing for. A moment after all the guests had run out, Sarah immediately approached those who were still in the living room.

“Hmm... Friends contact other guests have gone home. I intend to make a special meal for boutique co-worker Sarah and fellow college comrades,” he said with excitement, and a joyful look.

“Wah, we love this idea,” voice Aunt Arini said first.

“We don't bring anything Sarah.” Marvin followed. “We just brought a thank you.”

Sarah laughed out loud.

“You all came here has been an honor for me," said Sarah.

Without much ado Sarah directly guided them towards the boutique. When the door was first opened, there was already a long and large table with chairs that had been neatly arranged. Dining table used so widely can be reserved for about ten people, not only some dishes are already presented on it.

“Come please sit,” exclaim Sarah.

They all took their own sitting positions. Marvin took a seat next to his wife, followed by Vina, one of Sarah's boutique employees. While the row of seats in front of them filled by Azzam, Sarah and Aunt Arini. Everyone is sitting tight.

Sarah glanced at the man sitting next to her. He realized Azzam was only coming alone tonight. He also invited his wife to attend.

“Mas, Mas's wife is not coming?”

“But can not come, because there are school friends at home who come to visit,” Azzam reply.

“My wife is sick?”

“Just exhausted. Understand the learning activities that must be followed in school quite densely especially already approaching the test maybe that makes his health condition less stable,” he explained.

“Oh yes. Not that you have a brother. Where's she? Why not join?”

“Maybe still with her friends. Let it be, he'll be here soon.”

Marvin was just a plongo rainbow from earlier looking at the menu presented in front. He actually wanted to start first taking the menu but was reluctant because he had not been invited by the host especially not his host to invite them to start tasting the dish.

Marvin mendehem long.

“It can be eaten nih?” asked Marvin quipped.

Marvin's wife who was next door turned and glared at her husband.

“Mas,” says his wife is incubating.

Marvin throws laughter. “Not started, darling.”

“He's right, we're hungry. Must the other friends also equate?” Aunty Arini also chimed in as a representative of boutique employees.

Sarah smiled rattlingly.

“Aduh, yes. Sorry-sorry. Come please taste the dish and enjoy.”

Azzam dropped his first menu on grilled fish, coincidentally his favorite food was there. Unexpectedly, Azzam's hand outstretched along with Sarah's hand which also touched the grilled fish menu. Azzam relented, he pulled back his hand and let Sarah take it first.

“Please, you go first,” said Azzam offers.

“You will, let me choose another menu,” replied Sarah with a downcast face, feeling bad.

Finally, Azzam chose to take fried chicken instead. But what happened again their hands touched the same menu a second time. The incident certainly made the people who ate with them become astonished. Including Marvin who saw two friends alumni of the campus.

Marvin mendehem's.

“Honey, the feeling of side dishes here is so much huh? But why do we never touch the same side dish?” sindir Marvin with his eyes trailing towards Azzam.

Marvin's wife just smiled amusedly at what happened.

Azzam became hesitant to take the next menu for fear of going together again. Finally, he only reached for the white water right in front of him, because it was impossible to be together because everyone had been provided with water one by one.

Marvin stood up and reached for the Azzam plate.

“Sini let me get you, than you don't eat and only drink water tonight. Yes no?” goda Marvin gerling jail.

Azzam was silent about what Marvin was doing.

That night seemed to be a fun night for them as they were able to exchange stories. Whether it's about memories during college or work problems respectively. But unlike Azzam, he is more silent this time and only a good listener.

After their dinner is over. Azzam came home, actually Marvin was not satisfied talking that night. But not good with Azzam who first permission to go home finally he followed Azzam's steps to leave home too.

Azzam's steps suddenly came to a halt when a young boy came to greet him.

Azzam did not reply to the question with the word YES or the word NO. He just silently looked at the young man in front of him.

“How's Dhanisa doing, Om? She sehatkan?”

Azzam nodded slowly. “Sehat.”

“Om, want to go home? Wait a minute here, yes!” pinta the young man.

He disappeared briefly into the house, then returned with an object in his hand. Similar to a gift, it has been wrapped neatly using wrapping paper and given a ribbon on it. Not forgetting a piece of paper stuck there. Maybe a greeting card sent to Dhanisa.

“Om, I drop this yes?” The young man pulled out the thing in his hand. “Say from Hanan.”

Yes that young man is Hanan. Hanan whom he had met at the bookstore and the second time at home when he returned his wife's wallet. It felt to Azzam that the world was so narrow, there was no stopping him from meeting this energetic young man.

Hanan smiled faintly as Azzam's hand greeted the given object.

Azzam accepted the hesitation.

“What is this?” azzam asked skeptically, taking off his glasses.

Hanan threw a clumsy smile.

“There, Om.”

Azzam then shut up and thought.

“Why didn't you give it to yourself?”

“Actually I was going to take you to Dhanisa's house just did not have time because there is still campus duty,” he said. “Nah, happened to meet with Om, so just titip with Om. That okay? What Om object?” ask Hanan in one pull.

Azzam gave a long sigh. “Oh no problem.”

“Then thank you, Om. Greetings to Dhanisa,” he said with a big smile.

Azzam immediately stepped into his car as the drizzling gurgles began to descend. Throughout the journey his mind was not calm. He himself could not explain what was going on with him. Suddenly a feeling of confusion. Azzam turned to look at Hanan's parcel placed in the seat of the car seat next to him. Soon the view was moved forward. Gurgling drizzle as closely as possible, it looks like tonight the rain will fall more heavily than the night before.

Azzam braked suddenly. He almost hit the jeep in front. The car crucified Azzam's car so tightly. The driver was really careless when driving a car, lucky Azzam can still control the speed of the car to prevent a collision. Because of this incident Azzam decided to pull over for a while trying to calm down and control himself.

His eyes were rolled out of the car glass. Dew from the car glass makes the view not so clear. Azzam turned his head back to the left side car seat. Slowly Azzam hand scooped the gift, he was very curious about the greeting card Hanan wrote for his wife.

Azzam's eyeballs moved following the writing he read.

Hi, Dhanisa I know we have the same reading taste.

This is just a gift for you.

Hope you like it.

Get well soon, yeah

If you want to contact me further, you can call me here. 0878XXXXXXXXX

-hanan

Azzam's heart rippled as he read Hanan's greeting card to his wife. Azzam took a deep breath as his chest began to feel tight. His head rested on the headrest of the car seat, as his eyes closed. In her heart her tongue always recites remembrance to calm her thoughts and feelings.

Drrt... Drrrttt

Mobile Azzam on top of the dashboard flashing a blinking sign there is an incoming message. View the message notification printed in front of the screen. Dhanissa. Nisa sends a message via whatsApp.

📨Dhanisa

Assalamu’alaikum

Brother, Nisa wants a report. Nisa was visited by Jihan. Nisa went out with Soraya. Nisa is now at Umi's house. So, you don't have to worry about finding Nisa if she's not home. Nisa doesn't know when to go home. Clearly not gina. Brother brought a key? So many reports Nisa. Wasalamu’alaikum.

Azzam only fluttered around with a big smile as he read a message from his wife. “Basic Nisa! Nisa, this is what makes you always miss Nisa. His spoiled attitude. His expression when a frown that made him look adorable,” muttered Azzam alone.

Azzam's hands groped the car dashboard to find the serep key of the house, to check whether he was carrying it or not. His hand managed to find the spare key. Azzam smiled jail. He who does not want to lose with his wife also sends a message.

📨Azzam

Wa’alaikumsalam. Ready. Report received. But Brother didn't hold the spare key.

📨Dhanisa

But Nisa also did not hold. Nisa just held one. Say it with Abang Azzam!!.

📨Azzam

Yes, Nisa will not be at home for long, Umi. It was asking Brother Soraya to take you home. Brother wait at home.

📨Dhanisa

Y!

Azzam smiled broadly. Then the reply to the message must be that he is upset.

Slowly Azzam taught Nisa to understand her responsibilities as a wife. Although not yet fully run by Nisa. But Azzam always asked his wife if she wanted to leave the house to ask for more permission

back then. Azzam once taught his wife about the concept of nusyuz. Nusyuz means defiance.

Ibn Katsir rahimahullah said, “Nusyuz is abandoning the order of the husband, defying it and hating it” [Tafsir Al Qur’an Al ‘Azhim, 4:24].

The Hanafiyah scholars argue that the nusyuz is a woman coming out of her husband's house without any correct reason. Malikiyah scholars, Shafi’iyah and Hanabilah argue that the nusyuz is the exit of women from obligatory obedience to the husband. [Al Mawsu’ah Al Fiqhiyyah, 40:284].

Azzam took a deep breath, then exhaled. He reconfirmed his position to drive the vehicle. After the thoughts and feelings began to calm Azzam turned on the car starter, then stepped on the gas pedal to return to racing with the streets.