WRONG MARRIAGE

193.

Arkhan and Zalfa exchanged looks. Arkhan turned his gaze when he found the glare of his wife's sharp eyes. Zalfa was very upset that Arkhan acted as if his brother's sacred events were meaningless in Arkhan's eyes. And now Arkhan gave up just like that while being punished.

“Stay here until all guests leave!” zalfa insisted in a low voice so that his voice would not be heard by those around him.

“You told me to sit here quietly without doing anything? Even you left me.”

“Do you consider this event unimportant?”

“No need for me then the event feels important right?”

Geez, until now Zalfa had not understood how Arkhan thought about the relationship of two families? Arkhan considers Ismail's wedding event important in his absence?

“If you think this event is important, of course you will stay here,” shouts Zalfa again.

“Do you consider my departure to be a problem?”

“Sure.”

“OK. Accompany me here!” Arkhan held onto Zalfa's wrist tightly and yanked him until Zalfa sat down along with Arkhan who was also seated.

Zalfa was silent.

Suddenly the sound of someone talking through a microphone, a buzzing sound filled the room through loudspeakers that were originally used to play Islamic songs.

Zalfa turned to the source of the voice, looking at the Bukhori ustad who stood holding the microphone, the other hand holding the holy book of the Qur’an.

After saying greetings and opening the conversation with the opening sentence, as well as a joke that invites a crisp laugh in the audience, he circulated his gaze around. He had asked the host for permission before holding the microphone and Ismail allowed it.

“Thank you for the presence of brothers and sisters in this house to attend the happy day, which our brother named Ismail has lived a new life.” Ustad Bukhori spoke with a big smile. “May be a sakinah, mawadah and warohmah family. No need to talk at length, I will be directly on the topic. In this glorious event, it would be nice if filled with noble things as well. I want our brother to recite the holy verse of the Qur’an. May I have a minute, Arkhan?”

Zalfa turned towards Arkhan. The one who looked back with a flat expression.

Arkhan stared silently at Ustad Bukhori.

“Arkhan, will you read these verses to be listened to by the friends present here?” Ustad Bukhori looked at Arkhan with confidence.

Zalfa nudged Arkhan's arm as her husband remained silent as if he were thinking.

Gaining Zalfa's unwillingness, Arkhan's head reflexes nodded.

“Alhamdulillah.” Bukhori's smile grew wider. Then his eyes rolled back around. “Arkhan is our brother who just converted to Islam. I asked Arkhan to read the Qur’an is to open our eyes that have been Muslim since birth until now, but his heart has not been tapped to learn to read the Qur’an, so he could not read the book. Alright, please Arkhan!” Ustad Bukhori put the Qur’an which he brought to the table.

Arkhan rose to his feet shortly after glancing at Zalfa but received no response from the woman. He breezed towards the table provided, he passed the people sitting sweetly on the floor to get to the table.

Arkhan was already sitting in front of the table. His gaze focused on the book sheet he opened.

Seeing Arkhan will read the Qur’an, Zalfa's heart felt deg-degan. The mothers talk about Arkhan, who is said to have just converted to Islam by Bukhori.

Arkhan stopped opening the book when he got Al Kahfi's letter. He took a breath. His eyes focused on writing.

TB

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