
At exactly 15:00, before the sound of the asar azan roared, Kiai Rahman and his family had resigned. But before they left, I had to venture to make an appointment with Ustadz Ilham the next day.
"Ustadz Ilham," called me as the people were about to head for the exit.
The man immediately turned around, as well as the others. "Yes, what's up, when?" tanyakanya.
With some hesitation, I said, "Sorry, can you talk to me for a second? I have something to say."
Practically, the faces of Abi and Umi became as stiff as a stone. They must have thought that I would present my rejection to Ustadz Ilham at that very moment.
Take it easy, I'm not that nice.
Ustadz Ilham circulated a glance to the four elders in the room. "Can Mr Kiai?" ask Abi.
Oh my goodness. It's very polite of him.
Abi nodded. "Yes," he said. "Please."
"We're the only ones out" I said. "It's not good to be in the room."
All the old men nodded, confirming my opinion then they sat back down.
"What's up, Salsabila?" ustadz Ilham asked as we were on the front porch, sitting in chairs and facing each other.
I'm throats. "Look, Ustadz," I said, still confused as to how good it would be to start making that appointment.
"What's wrong?"
"Emm.. that...."
"You... refuse this match?"
"Oh, no. That's not Ustadz."
"Oh, Thank God. I guess...."
"Eh? Thank goodness...? That means...?"
"Eh, that. eee. I mean...."
"Em, don't talk about it, Ustadz."
"alright. So... What do you want to talk about?"
"That's. Em, look, that's what a lot of chatting was both of our parents. So, I think we need time to get to know each other better. Oh, I mean, there are many things that we must discuss, so that among us... many things do not fit between us."
Haddeh! I'm dizzy myself how to string those words together.
"Sorry, Ustadz. Ustadz don't misunderstand me. But, in my opinion, before we take such an important decision about marriage, we need to know a lot about each other. Especially about the ugliness.I mean about our shortcomings, our minus, even about the way we look at things. I need to know a lot about Ustadz Ilham. And vice versa. Ustadz Ilham must know a lot about my vices. how my daily life is, and many other things. Ustadz got it, didn't I mean?"
He is indeed calm. He let me slurp long while he only listened to my words well. "I understand" he said later. "So, you want us to have another chat next time?"
"Yes, Ustadz. If Ustadz Ilham did not mind of course. That way, after we chat and get to know each other further, we can take the decision to accept or reject this matchmaking. Sorry, lo, Ustadz, I do not mean anything or violate the rules of matchmaking or marriage that are usually applied by... Ustadz understood my point. In essence, I am not willing to accept the lack of a partner that I did not know before I married him. I mean in big things. Things that are fatal if known later after we get married. And, I want to marry someone who can accept me for who I am. Including all my shortcomings. So Ustadz."
Again, he listened to my talk without a doubt. "alright. I-i understand. Now you better get in. Maybe you're thirsty, drink it!" the chuckle with a little. "Later I ask for your mobile number from Umi, so that we can determine when we can take the time to get to know each other further. Can, right?"
"Can, can. Let me tell Umi."
Ustadz Ilham nodded in agreement. "Yes already, you're in, yeah. I want to go home."
"Crazy."
"Yes?" I turned back my body.
"Assalamu'alaikum."
"Oh," I'm stunned. "Wa'alaikumussalam, Ustadz." I smiled at him thinly.
As I left it on the terrace, I looked back in quick motion. Ustadz Ilham returned with a warm smile to me. He is indeed a charming figure.
That sweetness can make me really want to consider this matchmaking....
Ah, if my heart had not been attached to Mas Imam, I would have easily fallen in love with Ustadz Ilham who had that physical perfection and attitude.
But he's an ustadz....
"How, Nduk?" umi's voice shocked me who was standing behind the window, peering at the people who were still chatting a little near Kiai Rahman's car.
I smiled as I toyed with the empty glass in my hand. I just had a drink because of my sniffles, or because I was told by Mr Ustadz? Eh?
"He's perfect, Umi," I said. "But baby he's an ustadz."
Besides, I also do not know the person of Ustadz Ilham well. Who knows, Ustadz Ilham's view of polygamy is not much different from Abi's view. Although, it is possible that he is also the type of loyal man who will only love and marry one woman. But who knows?
Umi exhaled. "As Umi often tells you, as women, we must try to sincerely accept everything, both pleasant and unpleasant."
Single-minded? How many times have I heard that word come out of Umi's mouth about polygamy? But it's an impossible thing. How could a woman be hundred percent sincere? Only God knows.
"I wouldn't be able to be sincere if it happened to me, Umi. Anyway I'll ask Ustadz Ilham how he thinks about polygamy. And if he...."
Umi nodded. "Yes, yeah, ask. Umi believes you can convey this well to Nak Ilham."
Yep, it all depends on the person, right?
I just walked into my room and changed clothes when my phone clinked. Whatsapp messages coming in.
》 Assalamu'alaikum....
From whom? ask me to myself.
》 It's me. Brainstorm.
Oh, I'm surprised.
》 Sorry, I was sassy, I asked for your contact directly to Umi.
All two contengs on the Ustadz Ilham phone screen must have been green. I feel bad if I don't reply to whatsapp directly from him. So, yes, I immediately replied to the message.
《 Wa'alaikumussalam. Yes, Ustadz, it's okay. I'll save Ustadz contacts.
》 Thankful. Thank you, Salsabila. Oh yes, tomorrow I have free time around eleven o'clock in the afternoon. Do you have time at the same hour? Maybe we could have lunch? I am excited to talk to you a lot. I don't know why I feel like you keep a lot of questions on your mind. Sorry if I was wrong.
He's correct. And I smiled at myself. I thought he would be stiff like most of the ustadz-ustadz played in religious movies. Apparently not, he's the one. You could say, he could behave completely as a friendly and fun friend. New friends who can bring themselves so that people do not feel that he is a man who is not fun, rigid, and boring, let alone pretentious, arrogant, or arrogant. He's not at all.
Ustadz Ilham Akbar's. The 28-year-old is amazing.