Young Marriage (?)

5. Proposal

***

Three days in a row I'm istikharah. But I still hesitate to make a decision. I was afraid I was taking another wrong step.

I always thought of the handsome guy I dreamed of in the hospital yesterday. Either the man is or I don't know where I am.

"Tan!" I approached Intan who was reading a novel while lying on his stomach.

"Why?" he woke up and sat facing me.

"You want an opinion."

Intan closed the novel. Then sit closer to me.

"Why that proposal?"

I'm nodding.

"What makes you doubt?"

"Eitherway. Perhaps the cancellation of my previous marriage made me a little afraid to accept or reject this proposal. I'm confused, Tan."

"You've been istikharah, haven't you?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Why do you still hesitate to make a decision? Besides, don't you really want to be Mother's daughter-in-law?"

"Ish you are. Precisely because Mother proposed so I became more confused. If I refuse I'm afraid to hurt my father and mother. If I accept it, I'm afraid of disappointing again. I don't know that mother's child any more. Brother Arisya is twenty-five years old, how old is he? how old is it? if he turns out to be a widower? Uhh I can't stop thinking about that."

As long as we know their families, I never knew about Kak Arisya's brother.

Mother also never told me anything about her son. Eh tibatiba now even came to propose.

"Aisshhhh drama deh. I don't know any macemmacem yet. Just accept it first. Even if you accept it, you will not be married at that time. Hehe still had time to recognize him. From my perspective, he looks like a good man."

"You talk like you know him already" my son.

"I don't really know him very well. But I can guess from his gestures, his way of speaking, his attitude towards his parents, I think he's a good man."

Intan was really excited when she told me about this guy.

"Wait .. Have you ever met him?" I just can't believe it.

Intan was smiling meaningfully.

"How come? When's? How do I not know? Is he not someone we know? All this time we never know who the Mother's child is. Quickly tell me when and how you met."

I'm really curious.

"Slow is, Fa. Look, when Mom and Dad proposed to you, he came too. And at the end of last month he came back here too, but you weren't home. Really lost you. Haha!" bright Intan.

"Isa. What's the face, Tan? Not saucy? Not too old, is it?"

"If it's about that I'm a No Comment. Fa, if you want to hear my opinion then I will only tell about him about his attitude and that is not necessarily true. Because it's subjective from what I see. If you ask the appearance, age, position, economic situation and other things that smell worldly, I will not answer. What is clear is that God is looking for a fortune with halal. Do not be too fixated on that thing, which is already all okay but the behavior is not right. Clear your mind, after that you pray istikharah again," explained Intan at length.

What Intan said was true. I don't want my decision to be affected by that either. I want to decide on the basis of the steadiness of my heart.

"Judek. Timekaciihh yes dear Intan," I said then hugged him.

"Ish, it's gone." Intan let go of our embrace.

"Eh I have a bonus information for you. Mother's child is not a widower" he said with a smile.

"Certainly? that guy's husband?"

"Sengklek. You want to be wife number two?" tanyanya threw a pillow at my face.

"Well, how do you know he's somebody's husband."

"She's single, never married Syifaaa!" intan said.

"Ohh, weathered bujang" I said without a sense of sin.

"Woyy. Your mouth is that. Evil."

"Just kidding me."

***

I've been waiting too long for everyone. I have to make a decision soon.

Although Father and Mother never mention this every time they meet, but I still can not hang them.

I already loved them.

If I hadn't been a match for their son, would they still treat me like their own daughter? Ah no. I can't think about that. If I accept this proposal because it's 'not good' they won't be happy either.

"Fa, can we talk?" Mama broke my daydream.

"Speak what Ma?"

"You've made up your mind?" ask Mama.

I can see Mama's hopeful eyes.

"Ma, before Syifa answers Mama's question, can Syifa first?"

Mama nodded.

"Intan said yesterday his son Mother came along with the proposal, right? Did she agree to marry Syifa without coercion from Father and Mother?" my many.

"But why did he agree? He doesn't know Syifa." I still don't understand.

"If it's better ask him directly."

"Is it possible because Syifa is beautiful?" my dug. "www!" Mama pinched.

"Many beautiful women he refused. Don't you feel good first."

Many beautiful women he rejected? Mom knows where to try. Either she nolakkin a lot of women because they are not beautiful. Who knows.

"Where do you know?"

I just can't believe it.

"Mommy's many friends who want to match their children with your Mother's child. But he refused it. Though they are beautiful and good at COOKING."

Looks like Mama deliberately emphasized the cooking word to heat me up.

"Why did he accept me?"

"Ask yourself later."

"But Syifa didn't want to see him until we got married. How's it going?"

I don't want to change my mind after meeting him. I decided not to see her before I got married.

"That means you accept it?" Mom has rounded her eyes.

I stuck my mouth out.

My mother hugged me tightly. It seems like Mama is very happy.

"Mom don't tell me to tell the other first."

"Okay baby."

"But Ma. Does he and his family know about Syifa? He meant about what happened to Syifa before. About ba..baa..the marriage of Syifa," I stammered.

"You don't have to worry about that. They knew. And they don't think that's a bad thing. You haven't done anything wrong, have you. You take it easy, yes" said Mama calming me who was still in her arms.

***

By night, everyone was gathered in the family room. Tina sat next to Mama. I sat in the middle between Papa and Dafa.

"Ehhmmm. How tense is this," I said breaking the silence.

"So what's your decision?" ask Papa.

"I want you to answer this first. We don't know what will happen in the future. But for now, what do you think Syifa is good for her? And is he good for Syifa?"

Everyone was silent, still no one spoke.

"Constant. You're my best friend, you're my brother. Nearly twenty-four hours we continue. You know me very well. Do you think I'm good for her?"

"Well ... Currently Yes. God willing, you are good to him. It's not that I'm close to you that I'm good at you. But because I know you. And he, I think God willing this time you will not be disappointed" replied Intan.

"Mama agrees with Intan." This time, my mother spoke.

I looked at Papa and Dafa in turn.

Dafa held my hand.

"Abang knows this brother's sister has many shortcomings. But you also know, this brother is never lazy to learn and improve. So did he. So, you guys feel good together. God willing he is your match," said Dafa confidently.

"Papa?" I asked while looking at Papa. Now it's just Papa.

"Papa believes in Papa's son. Papa believes you are able to do your best and serve well to anyone who will be your husband later. About him, in Papa's eyes he's a good boy. But he's not perfect either. Papa is sure you can complement each other. But it all depends on you. We're not forcing you." Papa seems to be careful in speaking. Maybe he doesn't want me to be burdened.

I took a long breath.

"alright. Now is my decision.

What is good for you is good for Syifa. What is good for you is good for Syifa. Syifa decided to accept the proposal. Syifa accepted the proposal without any coercion from anyone" I said.

Huh I can breathe a sigh of relief. I think my burden is gone now.

Everyone says hamdallah. Papa and Dafa who were beside me immediately embraced me.

My family is very happy with my decision. I hope this happiness will last. I hope we're not disappointed anymore. Thanks God.

"Papa will tell them this good news" Papa said, standing up and calling Mother Nurfa's family.

"Don't be happy first," said Intan tibatiba. We look at him. "Don't we get Grandpa's blessing after this? Your extended family has to agree first and then we can all be relieved."

"Mama is sure Arsy is able to make everyone accept him" Mama replied with a sweet smile.

Mama is sure. How good he is.

'ARSY'

So his name is Arsy. Why hearing his name makes me tick. I held onto my chest which felt tight. What feeling is this.

Why just the name alone has made me like this. How good he is.

***

SERIATE.