EL NATH (Glorious Regrets)
BonChap-Water (14)

For over a week, Nair really proved his point. He did not meet Naira even during the holidays. Nair was never again present at the mosque near Naira's house.

"Dreamy, Nai?"

Naira who was sitting in the TV room was suddenly shocked because the appearance of Pakde Rahman right behind her.

"Eh... No, sirde."

Rahman laughing. "Not a dream, but how shocked is that?"

"Think what?" asked Rahman who was sitting on the sofa.

Naira shook her head slowly.

"Nair?"

Naira looked at the man. Rahman smiled at him.

"Pakde knows there's a special feeling about you for that man."

"According to Pakde, he's worth fighting over the girls, Nai."

"The physical is good."

"The science of his religion, God willing, is also good."

"He can doze, teach even be a priest."

"If he wanted to, maybe Pakde would have betrothed him to Salwa."

Naira looked at her uncle not accept. Because he said he would match Nair with his cousin.

"Hehehe.... Pakde's kidding, Nai."

"May you ask me something?"

Bude came to bring a cup of tea for her husband. He sat next to Rahman.

Naira nodded. "Ask what, Pakde?"

"Ehm... Nair never met you at home, do you always meet outside the house?"

Naira thumped at the question. What do I have to answer?

Naira slowly nodded.

"Why?" ask Pakde.

"Huh? Why what is Pakde?"

Rahman laughed softly. "Why should it be outside, and not at home, Nai?"

Naira answered honestly, she should not lie for what she thought was right.

"We've only met in a few places Pakde, crowded places that were not just the two of us."

"First, on campus."

"Second, at her brother's party five years ago."

"Three, in the mosque. As usual I see."

"Four, a few times in the hospital. Nair usually delivers lunch to Nai."

"Oh, huh?" bude asked a little astonished.

Naira nodded. "His brother, has a restaurant, both brothers-in-law have a kebab shop business with a cafe."

"So, Nair always orders food for Nai from there."

"And fourth, we've met in the park. Recently and nothing has crossed the line."

"That means Bude misrepresented to Umimu about you not liking any man, Nai."

Naira smiled a little. "No problem, Bude."

"But your Abi will match you to another man, Nai."

"When you have special feelings for other men."

Naira smiled miris. "Bude same Pakde has not heard from Abi and Umi?"

Rahman and his wife nodded. "What news?"

Naira looked at her Budenya with teary eyes. "Nair came back to Abi to ask for his blessing. But Abi hasn't given it."

"Oh God!" Rahman and his wife muttered together.

"A week ago, Nair came home. He is willing to go home from work and return to Jakarta in the early hours. He had to go to the hospital in the morning."

"Nai told him that Abi was going to match Nai." Naira's eyes began to glaze over. I don't know why the pain is the same.

"And Nair can't seem to wait until the holidays come."

"He was afraid that Abi would immediately tell Nai the matchmaking."

"And Nair must be afraid that Nai can't resist Abi's will."

"But everything Nair did was in vain."

"And Abi instead told Nair and Nai to stay away from each other, Bude."

"We can't see each other again."

Naira had wiped away the tears with her fingers. Bude also changed seats to hug her. Make that niece look fucked up.

"According to Pakde, your Abimu took the right step if he does not want you to get married in the near future." Naira and Bude looked at Pakde curiously as the man was defending Abi.

"To avoid things that are not desirable to happen."

"To avoid adultery and slander."

"If it's for the old man, it's the most appropriate path, Nai."

"But if Abi doesn't want Nai to get married any time soon, why would Abi be planning Nai's match?" ask Naira.

"All still plans, Nai."

"You haven't even met that guy yet, have you?"

Naira shakes. "That means all this is still a plan and the time has not come."

"Maybe Abi waits until your Internship is over, Nai."

Naira began to think about what her uncle was saying. It's true, but why does Abi seem to reject Nair. Oh God, I have to go through all of this.

****

After the incident that night of rejection, Nair always prayed and taught at home. Lintang and Akhtar feel compassion for their son who is like losing his spirit in life.

Time passed by, a month, two months, they still never met. Nair occasionally sees Naira from a distance. The girl looked skinny, looking from her cheeks that were starting to taper.

Nair and Naira only occasionally exchange news through WA. Never make video calls or voice calls. Either because he was too naive or indeed he felt he had to keep his promise to Abi.

Time is moving faster, five months are up and Internship is still five months away. It's getting harder to control his mind. Between profession and Naira.

Nair sat in his backyard. He looked at the clear night sky.

Puk!

Akhtar patted his shoulder. His father sat next to him and did the same thing, which was to look up at the sky.

"You see that? That brightest star, Nair?" point Akhtar at the brightest star in the direction they are looking.

Nair nodded. "What is it, Pa?"

"You have to be like that, Nair. Keep shining."

"Don't lose it just because what you want hasn't been achieved."

"You must be like that star, keep shining whether or not one sees it."

"Even if there is or does not admire it."

"Show me you can still stand up straight."

"The star never knew we were looking at it from afar."

"Just like you."

"You never knew that Naira would have secretly watched you."

"Maybe Naira, she might as well do the same."

"Pakdenya Naira, maybe too."

"Just because you don't want to meet him, you've forgotten the activity God longs for you, Nair."

"Tadarus, recitation, and prayer at the mosque you used to go to."

"Are you angry with God for not giving you what you want?"

"Or do you indeed obey Abinya's desire not to meet Naira?"

Nair just shut up. He tried to think about every sentence of his father.

There's a point too. Why did he stop coming to the mosque? Why did he reduce his activities in the mosque just because of Naira? Wouldn't he still be able to avoid the girl despite being in the same mosque?

"It's almost 5 months Nair."

"Not getting up, you're getting worse."

"No goodwill is in vain, Nair."

"Back to the Masjid, Nair."

"Not for Naira, but for yourself."

Actually in the complex mosque, Nair also often pray there. But never take part in a study that is relatively rarely done.

"For the business of you is the same as Allah."