Almahyras
Section 14

...14 : Intermediary Letter...

A month has passed.

After a great dispute occurred, people of age and old age in orphanages or pesantren, continue to make himself and Mardiyah as a byword. Because it is impossible, the loud speech of the Mardiyah is not heard to the walls with ears - surely there are those who hear.

To go to the hospital, it must be canceled. Because Umm Salamah and Umma Sarah had to defuse this situation, so that no gossip that he and Mardiyah received openly. And regarding the promise he has agreed with Umm Salamah, it will be done in the next six months. No more rejection. He has convinced himself that the choice of a mother for her child is the best.

"Sister Alma!"

Alma's daydream was lost when she heard a loud call from Kirana.

"What, Na?"

A piece of paper was handed to him. "This, sister," said Kirana.

Alma's forehead shriveled. "This is what, Na?"

"Letter from Umm Salamah, Brother. But the one who gave me Umma Sarah, continued Umm Sarah said I told her to give to Brother Alma," explained Kirana.

"Thank you, Na."

After receiving the letter. Alma moved from the edge of the field. Really he is pensive here because it is very sad last month he had to miss the Sunday event together, for the first time. Even though this month he followed, it still felt different. Of course because there is an uncomfortable feeling that involves him and Mardiyah.

"Hey, ukhti!"

Alma looked to the side, seeing Lutfan sitting on the garden stone chair with a wide smile and waving hands. "Ukhti, you really can't greet me?!"

"Hey, Brother-in-law!" lutfan, again.

Alma stopped walking. He turned and said, "Waalaikumussalam, Sister-in-law."

Alma emphasized the nickname Sister-in-law. So that in case Mardiyah heard, no longer concluded that she had taken someone from her life again.

"Yes I mean that. Aksalamualaikum, waalaikumussalam. Ukhti, why don't you just go to the office lately?" lutfan.

"That means I'm no longer an important person" Alma replied.

Lutfan's eyes widen. "Flame! Precisely elo is important because soon want to be my sister-in-law, you should be often-often to the office, instead--"

"Lutfan, please stop. You're a lot of nonsense" Alma said.

Lutfan shook his head, with his right hand stroking his chest many times. "Astagfirullah, ukhti. You must be shouting your own sister-in-law! You really don't have taste-"

"Don't dramatize, Lutfan. What age are you, anyway? Can't that make your behavior a little conditioned?" talk Alma with questions.

"Twenty. Wh why? You didn't expect it, did you?"

Twenty? Pantesan is a bit rancid.

Alma did not heed and sauntered away. Then as usual, all the chatter will come out of Lutfan's lips shamelessly.

Alma lowered his head, looking at the letter given by Umm Salamah. Then stared straight back, when it had reached the dormitory. As soon as he entered the room, locked the door and opened the veil, also sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Thus ... Ummi Salamah who sent?" muttered Alma, as she looked at the letter that was now on her lap.

Slowly his left hand tore the paper envelope, and his right hand took out a piece of paper inside. Alma's forehead shriveled slightly when she saw that there were two papers there. "Both of Ummi?" his monologue.

The first fold of paper that became two was opened slowly by Alma-after it was completely wide open, he read it.

This is Auntie Flower, Alma Darling.

Please accept the check that Auntie gave you. Maybe the money is nothing, but Auntie sure can help. Don't refuse, dear. And never take that money as a sign of Aunt's apology to you. Because until anytime the word sorry can not be replaced by money.

Get to the hospital, baby? Immediately perform the operation. And Aunty will wait for the good news from Umm Salamah and Umma Sarah.

Again, please forgive Aunt, Alma.

Alma looked at the envelope again, which turned out to have one paper inside . That is, a check of ten million. He was silent about the check.

Aunt should have come. So that I could apologize for my insolent actions back then.

Alma sighed, her right and left hands folded the letter given by Aunt Bunga, and kept it with the check. On the bed there is still another piece of paper, which Alma believes may be from Umm Salamah. He opened the second letter slowly and read it.

Arieskiyama, Alma.

Six months to go. Have you changed your mind? Or do you still decide to accept this mute man?

Please don't push yourself, Alma.

Marriage is a worship that must be lived with all pleasure. And when you feel that I am not a man you deserve to obey. So reject me firmly in front of Ummi, like that time.

I have suffered enough with this life. So if I can ask, please refuse this marriage as soon as possible. So that Ummi does not expect more and feel disappointed in your decision later.

I only have Ummi for this life support. And I really do not care if anyone hurts Ummi again.

For the time being, please forgive me.

- Jafars

Alma's memory revolves around the incident where Jafar gripped his arm under a dim light. Even when he reached the dormitory his arms turned a little blue because of the checks were so tight. It really hurt, but he realized that the guilty person was him, not Jafar.

"You say marriage is a worship that is lived with all pleasure  ..." The letter was folded back by Alma, and stored in a box containing other Jafar letters. Then he said, "Then if I want to have a husband like you. Are you also going to have a wife ... like me?"

Alma stood up to take out a pen and paper. Then a little crouching take the study table-then open the table on the bed. And after sitting there, began to open the pen and write a reply letter to Jafar.

Waalaikumussalam´s chat.

My decision will remain the same until any time. And I will never disappoint Umm Salamah again.

As you wrote, your life has suffered enough. So I don't want to add to your pain by rejecting a marriage that should already exist.

Folded the letter. He stood up and opened the second nightstand, picked up a white envelope and put a piece of paper in there. Then he sat back on the bed, rubbing his face with both hands.

"definitely. This marriage is going to happen. And I will never disappoint Mother, Aunt, and Ummi again" muttered Alma.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door from outside. As soon as Alma stood up, took the black-robed veil and put it on. When he got to the door, he opened it.

"Yes, Sal?" alma said as she saw Salsa in front of her.

"Sampean already ate?" salsa.

Alma's forehead shriveled. Why did Salsa ask that question? Though the hour hand has shown at half-two, where lunch together has been done at 12:00 WIB. "Already, Sal. I ate there with me" replied Alma.

"So right now you're not a laper?"

"No."

Pause five seconds Salsa said again, "Sampean want to come with me daft ndak Mbak?"

"Where?"

Salsa looked down for a moment. Then he looked at Alma again and said, "Ke Pesantren."

...🌺...

Alma agreed to go to the pesantren. I don't know what Salsa wants to do, he just waits in front of the boarding school - because if he comes in he will definitely meet with Umm Salamah.

Suddenly a black daihatsu car stopped right in front of him, not on the pesantren fence. And not long open car glass shows the figure of Salwa and Aunt Sulis in it.

"Sister Alma! What's up ahead?" salwa said by opening the car door. Salwa came out and pulled Alma inside.

"Udah, I got in the car. Later we will go out together in the pesantren parking lot," continued Salwa.

Aunt Sulis painted her smile as she stared at Alma from the rearview mirror in the car. "Yes, said Salwa. Why aren't you here?"

"I-it, Bi. I-I-I mean I'm waiting for you, Bi."

"Nungguin temen can be in the ndalemnya Bibi Salamah, Kak," said Salwa.

Alma just smiled clumsyly and nodded. As soon as possible he sent a short message to Salsa, to inform him that he was waiting at the house of Umm Salamah.

"Yes, Sal" replied Alma.

About a minute in the car suddenly the engine stopped, and it turned out to have reached the parking lot. Netra beautifully staring into the outside window looks santriwati so crowded passing by. He slightly lowered his head and sighed heavily, as a form of preparation to listen to the soft whispers of those who saw him later.

"Come, Brother get down!" salwa exclaimed by pulling him down.

Alma, Salwa and Aunt Sulis are down. And indeed, on the way to the residence of Umm Salamah the passers-by whispered about him. Salwa and Bibi Sulis may not know the root of the problem and may not know if he and Mardiyah had a big fight at the time.

"Aunt Salamah! Assalamualaikum" said Salwa cheerfully.

As he was about to enter the residence of Umm Salamah Alma's footsteps stopped in the doorway. His net was staring straight at the living room where Mardiyah was there. He nodded, not knowing how.

"Come in, son," asked Ummi Salamah who had been by her side and nodded her right hand.

Mardiyah looked down, after giving her a quick glance. "You sit beside Ummi here, son," said Umm Salamah.

In the living room there is Umma Sarah. Then he suddenly stood up and looked at Umm Salamah. "Sal, I'm the same as Mardiyah going home first."

"Lutfan is coming?" ask Umm Salamah.

"Here, Brother."

Umma Sarah pulled Mardiyah's hand slowly and took her out. As for Alma, just sitting quietly did not flinch with a deep bow.

"That was his future wife Mas Lutfan, huh Bi?" ask Salwa.

"Yes, Salwa." Umm Salamah looked at Aunt Sulis and said, "Sulis, the same daughter the Son walks the same Ustadzah Aini, Dek."

"Yes, Mother. If that's what I'm sorry for."

Aunt Sulis and Salwa are gone. Alma and Umm Salamah live here. He really did not know what to talk about with his future father-in-law. There was a bit of awkwardness because he knew of his quarrel with Mardiyah back then.

"Have you eaten, son?"

Alma nodded. "Already, Ummi."

"Have you read your letter?"

Alma nodded. "Already, Ummi."

"The letter of Jafar has been read as well?"

Alma nodded again. "Already, Ummi."

"Reported too?"

Alma looked up no longer lowered her head and nodded. He slightly smiled and said, "I-it's Alma that his reply letter, Ummi. W-did Alma give this letter to Ummi?"

"Can. Ummi the intermediary" replied Umm Salamah.