EL NATH (Glorious Regrets)
BonChap-Nair (8)

The House of Rahman.

"Nai, um you called, bude."

"What's Bude?" ask Naira who is helping peel onions in the kitchen. After the Zuhur prayer, he and Nair immediately went home to each other.

Not delivered by Nair with his car or motorcycle, but with his subscription female motorcycle taxi.

"Your mother is the same bude, is there a man who is close to you at this time, Nai." The sentence Bude who was picking kale and sitting on a small bench made Naira directly look at the woman who is her father's sister-in-law.

"Bude answer what?"

"Yes bude said, nothing. You're not close to anyone, Nai."

"Brought home with men never, right?"

Naira nodded with a faint smile. He lowered his gaze while peeling back the onions.

"Marwah, haven't come home Bude?" tanya Naira switched the conversation. He asked his cousin who was still in college semester 6.

"No, Nai. He usually finishes Asar just came home. You know, he's writing the thesis, but he's busy like an office clerk, Nai." Bude was a little upset at his daughter who always came home late

Naira laughed softly. "Bude there's-there's just one."

***

Two days passed...

Nair and Naira had never left just the two of them again. He only occasionally met Naira at the hospital where she interned.

Not to say a word of love and convey how hard it is to endure longing, but just want to remind for lunch.

Tonight, after returning from the mosque Naira laid her body on the bed. Slowly, he began to understand the meaning of longing for the creature of God he loved.

It's been two days now, Nair hasn't been to a mosque near Naira's house. The man went to a mosque near his home because of his exhausting activities, leading Nair to choose prayers at a nearby mosque.

Sometimes, Nair only prayed at home with his family.

Drrt.. Drrtt... Naira's phone is vibrating.

A call in.

"Eye?" naira was shocked. It's 10 p.m., why um call? Is there anything important?

"Hallo Assalamualaikum, Umi."

"Girisham, Nai?"

"Again what?"

"Just returned from the mosque, Umi. This is Nai still lying in bed. What's up Umi?"

"Well, can't Umi call Umi's daughter who is far away?"

Naira laughs. "Of course you can, Umi. Nai kangen Umi."

"Relove... Umi's also kangen."

"Nai?"

"Yes, Umi."

"Are you ready to get married, son.?"

The deg!

Naira's stunned. What is this so-called feeling and the inner bond between the mother and the child is so strong?

Why did Uminya ask like this when she had confessed her feelings to Nair?

"Ma... Umi mean?" ask Naira nervously.

"Aren't you ready, son?"

Naira was silent, she bit her lower lip worried about what to answer.

He loves Nair, and will want to make a promise to live with the man. But not for now, as he told Nair the other day.

"Why did Umi ask like this?" ask Naira.

"Look, Nai."

"Umi's actually afraid to say this."

"But please answer honestly, son?"

The Uminya sentence makes Naira's feelings unpleasant. He felt that there was something big trying to convey Uminya. But Naira herself doesn't know what this is about.

"Are there any good men who put their hearts on you?"

Naira slowly began to understand the direction of Uminya's conversation.

"Umi wants Nai married?"

"Did Umi really want to pet a grandchild?" naira asked while laughing softly. Though his heart was pounding.

"Nai.. Not so dear."

"Your servant, a few days ago came to the pesantren. And Kyai's first son is back from Saudi Arabia."

"Abi and Kyai are planning to match you up."

The deg!

Naira's heart stopped beating. He did not expect this to be his destiny. Rejecting Abi's request was hard, then what about Nair and his heart.

And what makes Naira most disappointed is Abinya's plan.

Is this the reason Abi never said if anyone asked me? Has Abi prepared the man of his choice to be my companion? Has Abi been waiting for the man's return?

"Nai? Are you okay, son?"

Astagfirullah, I can't su'udzon with Abi.

"It's okay, Umi."

"Nai, Umi knows you're shocked, but Umi says this so you don't overreact when Abi tells you later, son."

"During this time Abi always did what was best for you, son."

"And Umi was sure, this time it was the same."

Her tears shed for a moment. O God, I'm sorry to love your people so deeply. But all this time it was only Nair who really understood the servant.

Why is this road so hard. Why there should be a choice between Abi and Nair.

"Yes, Umi." Naira tried to restrain herself so that her crying was not heard by Umi.

"Thank you, Umi always thinks of Nai."

"Thank you, Umi."

"Umi loves you, Nai."

"Tell Umi if there's someone you love, Nai."

"Ti. not Umi."

"Nai rest yes... I have to go to the hospital tomorrow, right?"

"Yes Umi."

"Assalamualaik."

"Getishalight."

Call terminated. Naira wiped her tears. Shoulders shaking. He was crying hugging the bolts.

During this time he became a child who always obeyed the wishes of his parents. Starting from studying in pesantren to having to stay at Pakde Rahman's house during college in Jakarta.

Naira who wants to kos and live independently, must obey the wishes of Abinya. The goal is only one, so that there is someone to watch over and guard it.

Big city life that is prone to sacrilegious acts makes Rahardi not calm to let his daughter live alone, even in a special boarding house for women.

Naira began to fall asleep. He was tired of crying over his heart that had just felt love now had to be broken to pieces.

Naira awakens when the time shows at 2 p.m. He immediately took wudhu . He intended to pray Istikharah for the sake of asking Allah for guidance. Whether she should accept Abinya's decision or tell her family that there is a man she wants to be her husband.

Naira sat on the prayer mat with her hands looking up at the sign she was praying. Sincere prayer in his heart, purely asking for guidance from God.

O Allah, I ask You for the right choice. Please guide You with all Your Power.

O Allah, If Nair's intention to marry me is better for my religion, better for me in the future, then ease the way. Make our steps together and then bless us all.

O Allah, If the intention and presence of Nair brings danger to my religion, my life, and its consequences to me, then please remove it and keep me away from it. Destine my goodness wherever it is and then give it to me.

O Allah, If Abi's choice is much better, then ease me to accept all his wishes. Make it easy for me to love him. And give us blessing.

If Abi's choice is not good for me, for my religion and for my life, then please, keep the man away from me without hurting Abi's feelings.

***

Starting to feel tense yet? 😂