USTADZ
7. Let's Marry!

"Ustadz was joking? This is Ustadz's wedding, not a house-warming!"

"Who said he wanted to play in whose house?" Ustadz Amar's voice remained calm despite his fiery interlocutor. "I'm serious about this marriage, too,"

"Why? What's in it for Ustadz?"

"If fortunately it remained, because I was almost thirty and not married, my family urged to immediately find a son-in-law. If from your side, it is even more profitable. Besides being able to go back to college in Jakarta, there is me who can always keep you there,"

Syahla. Right, too, but right?

"Are Ustadz sure you want to marry me? I was a little boy, 19 years old! I can't cook, I can't clean, I'm immature. Ustadz must have been married to me!"

"I got married because I was looking for a life partner, not a maid." Answer Ustadz Amar relax. "I'm not going to force you. If you don't want to, I can still find another woman. But if you refuse, maybe the chance to go to Jakarta will be lost."

Shahla listened carefully. Mind raging. He felt unsure if he should get married now, especially if his partner Ustadz Amar is fierce. But, he also still wants to continue his studies in Jakarta.

"Alright," Syahla sighed after being silent for quite a while. "I'm getting married. But, I have some conditions."

Ustadz Amar looked wide open for a moment. But then his face calmed down. He nodded his head. "What are the conditions?"

"Wait a minute" Syahla went into the room and came out with a laptop. Abah, Umi, Gus Sahil and Hafsa who noticed them looked at each other confused.

"Why bring all the laptops?" Gus Sahil asked his wife. Hafsa shook her head in ignorance.

...----------------...

"First point, there should be no physical touch that neither side agrees to.

The second point, should not interfere with each other's privacy.

Third point, the second party is not allowed to force the first party to do homework such as cooking, washing, or cleaning." Ustadz Amar read the details of the requirements Syahla made on the laptop screen. "Whose first and second are those?"

"The first side is me, and the second side means Ustadz" Shahla replied arrogantly.

"Third coin is removed only,"

"Why is that?" Syahla Protest. "It's a requirement that I make that Ustadz marry me,"

Ustadz Amar sighed. "Because later we will live in the same house, the task of cleaning will be a joint responsibility. If it's cooking, I don't care. But if you wash, do you want to************ you I wash?"

Syahla. Hurry up to clear the third point. He didn't think at all about getting there.

"Just so! That means two!"

"Add one more" added Ustadz Amar. "Third party, the second party will take full responsibility in the financial and safety affairs of the first party."

Syahla's finger is ready to type stopped. He looked up at Ustadz Amar with a questioning look. "So that means, Ustadz Amar will finance all my needs?"

"Clearly" Ustadz Amar nodded his head. "If I were your husband, I would be responsible for all your needs,"

Syahla was silent for a moment. Then he typed the last point proposed by Ustadz Amar. After reading it carefully, he then nodded his head.

...----------------...

"Yes Pa, so we can prepare the proposal immediately," Ustadz Amar seemed busy calling from inside the guest room. Tonight he was told to stay at his parents' house.

After he finished calling, Ustadz Amar sat his ass on the bed. He re-imagined the incident, when he gave the idea to marry Syahla.

"Actually, I have one solution" Ustadz Amar said at the time. "But I'm not sure if it'll be useful or not,"

"What solution is Ustadz? Just say, we can't think of anything now." Gus Sahil.

Ustadz Amar gulped his saliva nervously. "Ning Syahla must be married, so there will be someone who can take care of her while in Jakarta."

"Married?" Abah Baharuddin responded quickly. "What is true? Syahla was a child, when was she told to get married?"

"But.. Come to think of it, it's also good lo Bah," Umi Zahra tried to convince her husband. "The problem is that Syahla is there alone, we do not have a close family living in Jakarta. If Shahla gets married, the business is done. We can leave Shahla to her husband, so we can calm down!"

"Who will marry Shahla? Does Umi have a good male acquaintance? Abah is not willing if Syahla married a random person!"

The atmosphere became quiet again. Now they change their mind object. Who would be worthy to marry a Shahla?

"Hm.. Actually, I am also currently looking for a wife. If Abah and Umi don't mind, I can—"

"Oh yes! There's Ustadz!" Abah Baharuddin suddenly approached Ustadz Amar and clasped his hands tightly. "If Shahla is married to Ustadz, I agree!"

Reimagining it made Ustadz Amar secretly smile. He himself did not know what demons possessed him at that time until he dared to do 'indirect Islam' to Shahla's parents. Although he did not expect that it was directly approved just like that.

The next surprising thing was the approval of Shahla. From the beginning, Ustadz Amar had suspected that the girl would reject his offer, because Syahla had been blatantly showing hatred for her. In fact, the girl finally accepted their wedding plan despite some conditions.

Ustadz Amar slid his face on a pillow. Her lips have not stopped smiling since. Married to Shahla? Ustadz Amar did not even dare to dream before.

Ustadz Amar's first meeting with Shahla was actually mediocre. As a fresh graduate of S1, she was appointed by Al-Raudhah's nanny to become a teacher at Madrasah Tsanawiyah while continuing S2.

(Madrasah Tsanawiyah: Islamic school of Junior High)

When he first taught, Ustadz Amar was amazed by a very clever girl. The little girl was always able to answer all the questions she gave. Ustadz Amar who loves learning certainly can not ignore the genius child just like that.

Over time, Ustadz Amar was appointed as the teacher of the Aliyah Madrasah, along with the graduation of Shahla and her classmates from the Tsanawiyah Madrasah. In the end, they meet again at school as teachers and students.

(Madrasah Aliyah: high school Islamic school)

During his three years of study, Ustadz Amar realized that the genius little girl had grown into a beautiful girl. Many santri sons secretly admired him and wrote love letters in secret. Unfortunately, the letters were always discovered by Ustadz Amar and finally the sender of the letter ended up being punished.

Realizing that his feelings had changed, Ustadz Amar insisted on dismissing him. He was still sane to fall in love with his own student. And so, sometimes he behaved silly by giving excessive punishment to Shahla.

But, everything changed when he heard Syahla was going to move to Jakarta. Ustadz Amar felt something was missing from inside him. He then switched to looking for a job in Jakarta. And in his first week working there, he accidentally met with Syahla who was on the verge of danger.

And so, when the opportunity arises, Ustadz Amar will not waste it. His over-sized love did not allow the girl to be stricken with danger alone. He wanted to put Syahla by his side at all costs.