Women of Choice
Preserving Faith
"Mrs ... Mama, really, just came home, anyway, I'd like to play in the park this afternoon with Mama," the 4-year-old boy chirped as his round eyes caught the figure of a young woman in a short-sleeved shirt with her hair plastered into the door of the house.
The adorable jet-haired boy named Frandana who had to be left all day by the mother to work outside the house.
"Dana, right, can play to the same park as Elis if there is no longer a Mama," replied Marlina, the mother while kissing her baby's cheek. Fragrant telon oil emanates from the tiny body of the big-nosed.
The hour hand on the wall of the central room was painted white clean it showed to the figure of 7 nights. Tiredness that whack makes Marlina want to immediately enter the room and then lay down the body on a soft mattress after previously cleaning herself in the bathroom.
"Now Dana plays or watches television accompanied by Ms. Elis first, yes, Mama is tired of wanting to rest first," said Marlina hope that her only child understands.
The boy immediately looked down. Hiding the lightning his eyes that were beginning to redden held back tears. Stepping out of the mother's room with a sense of disappointment in the heart.
Marlina is a single parent who has to work to support herself and her child in a metropolis without relatives. Luckily he was able to get a livelihood with a salary large enough to be able to hire a household assistant while keeping Dana when he went out of the house to look for rupiah.
To him, the time is money. That time is money. Which must be used as well as possible in order to survive in the midst of the rigors of life.
Never be able to take the time to just chat and accompany the child to play. To pray five times and other worship as if there is no time. Twenty-four hours over one day and one night feels so cramped for a career woman like Marlina.
After being left for granted without the word talak by a man who had been her husband Marlina was required to be a tough and independent woman. Let only God give justice to men who have abandoned children and wives without a living for many years.
***
A loud shrill from the alarm shocked Marlina from her deep sleep. His eyes narrowed at the working clock hand perched on the room table that had shown at half 7 am. He jumped out of bed and as fast as lightning grabbed the towel and ran towards the bathroom that was fused with his private room.
In an hour, Marlina had to leave for work. If it is too late for one minute, then the slamming and ridicule will be received from his superiors who always emphasize discipline to all employees.
After finishing the meatball fried rice that Elis made. Marlina entrust the money shopping as well as pocket money Dana for a day to her assistant who has worked for approximately 3 years at her house.
It only took him about twenty-five minutes to arrive at his office. Marlina walked hurriedly to the room on the 3rd floor using the elevator.
***
Filling time off. Marlina chose lunch in the cafeteria nearest to Vienna, her co-worker and close friend who both had one child. The difference is that Vienna still has a husband who willingly nurtures and keeps his baby at home without having to hire household assistants and baby sitters.
In the middle of enjoying his lunch. Marlina's phone inside the bag rang loudly. He saw the name Papa calling.
After saying hello and asking the news to his father who lives far away in the village there Marlina then asked the condition of the mother who has recently started to get sick due to chronic diabetes.
Marlina's heart rippled when she heard her father's words just now. One side of him wants to take care of the elderly mother and help ease the burden of the father in the hometown.
However, on the other hand Marlina felt heavy if she had to take off the work she had been in for years until she was able to survive with her baby without depending on anyone.
With a hefty salary, Marlina can save little by little to buy a house and furniture ranging from television, refrigerator, sofa, washing machine and others with the results of her own sweat. Meanwhile, if he returns to the village, the sign is that Marlina must start her life from scratch again.
Finding a job in a village that suits his abilities is very difficult for a Marlina who is used to living a good life and luxury. Every wish he could easily achieve even though he had to spend some of his time behind the desk at work.
"Lin, until when did you live alone with Dana. Papa wants you to get a mate immediately so that Dana has a father figure like her other friends." The father's words spread the reverie of Marlina.
"B ... Yes, Pah. Later Lina thought again," replied Marlina stammered. Then say goodbye to end the phone call from his papa because the break time will run out in the next few minutes.
***
"Your salary will be tripled if you accept my application and are willing to follow my beliefs once we are married. Or you don't have to work anymore and you're going to be the big lady of my house" said Kevin's boss, Marlina's boss, one night when she was invited to eat together.
Getting that tantalizing offer made Marlina's heart whose onion-thin faith almost lulled her. If only Vienna, his best friend did not remind. When Marlina asked for the opinion of her co-worker.
"Do not let us willingly exchange aqidah only for the sake of the actual material is a mere trick," said Vienna trying to give a warning to Marlina who had been considered as her own sister.
In the Qur'an Allah says:
وَلَقَدْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
It means: “And indeed it has been revealed to you and to the (prophets) who before you, ‘If you join forces (God), will surely abolish your charity and surely you are among the losers.”(QS. Az-Zumar verse:65).
Vienna quotes one of the Quranic verses hoping that Marlina is not complacent with the lure of Kevin's boss of a different religion and asks Marlina to be willing to be his wife.
***
To avoid the possibility that could endanger himself and his faith now Marlina chose to return to her beloved hometown. Leaving a job that is already very loved because it seems to have ingrained in him. With a strong determination he was able to let go. Save the heart so as not to waver with the ephemeral luster of life.
"Lina, you add ayu and charming with a wide robe and hijab like this," said the mother saw the appearance of her daughter had changed status eighty degrees from before who was accustomed to wearing jeans and tight short-sleeved shirts.
"Come, Mah, we're leaving now with grandma and grandpa!" get Dana excited to pull Marlina's arm towards the mosque, which is located a few hundred meters from her parents' house.
