Ballad First Wife
Advice from Old Friends

"But how?" manya curious.

"Andre told his friend and happened to be my friend. When I found out I knew you, he told me that Andre was married again. Before you know, I already know." said my boss explaining.

I gasped in disbelief at what I heard.

"Who?!" ask me with a trembling voice.

"Who?My pal?" my boss repeated my question.

I'm nodding.

"He's a neighbor in your house. You must know." replied my boss in a riddle.

I'm silent. I looked for who my neighbors might be talking to Mas Andre until a shadow appeared in my mind.

I smiled wryly. So proud that you were able to remarry Mas until you told your friends before you told me. So that's why mothers whisper every time I pass by. They must be talking about your marriage. Tega you Mas.

"You wait here! Soon there will be a surprise for you" said Alan, the boss who was my old schoolmate.

"What surprise?"

Not yet Alan replied, a knocking sound on the door.

"Assalamu'alaikum!"

I'm turning. I saw the Judge and his wife come in. Same with Alan, Judge was my old schoolmate. He is now an ustadz and has a pesantren. His wife sat right next to me. We do know each other.

The hijab-wearing and berniqab woman hugged me.

"It's a surprise for you" Alan said.

"That means?!" I'm confused, though. Why the Judge and his wife are a surprise, we don't see each other often.

The judge smiled. "We came to strengthen you. So you don't feel like you're living this on your own. Whatever you're feeling, we're there to support you."

The judge's words were taken by his wife. "Yes mbak. So strong yes."

I smiled proudly to have a friend who was always there at any time and no matter how I was.

"Ra, our lives aren't long. How old are we now? If our age ration is the same as the Prophet's kanjeng, then there is little time we have. Are you sure that the rest of your time you can use to atone for your sins?" ask Judge.

I kept quiet and tried to digest the Judge's words.

I'm still quiet. Tears began to fall without me holding back. I felt a hug on my shoulder. I said Ani, the wife of the Judge sitting next to me. From his eyes, I could tell that he was smiling trying to calm me down.

"What your husband did was right but not "pener." True because he prefers to justify rather than fornicate. Only way wrong. No syar'i. This is what makes polygamy scary and painful. If men knew that polygamy was to protect women, they would be grateful. "

"Protect women?!" I half disagree with the Judge.

"Don't get angry first. Hear me. You know why polygamy is recommended. In the past, the man could have married more than ten, without any rules, until God's word about polygamy came down. But most people read the beginning, the sound of the next verse is forgotten. Until polygamy becomes wrong with wrong behavior."

The judge paused his explanation for a moment.

"Being able to polygamy is not just being able to do justice, but more than that. Must be able in terms of religion as well. Because the husband's responsibility is not only to provide a living but also the religious education of his wife. If one wife alone he is unable to educate her to continue to add new wives, how do you think he will account for everything before God? So it's actually not just a test of your patience but a test of your husband's. And unfortunately he failed the test of patience and loyalty."

"So what should I do?" muttered.

"Run life as usual. Fix worship. Leave everything to God. If there is a right you have not received as the wife of your husband, ask God directly. Don't ask your husband. Obey your duties as a wife sincerely because of Allah. Do not rush to divorce. Try to live first.goods one or two years. If you can't, you can ask for a divorce" the judge said.

Ani kept stroking my back as long as her husband enlightened me.

"How's Ra?Explain already?" this time Alan, who had been a listener, asked me. "Married is an old worship. So just go for it."

"Know married worship why don't you get married soon?" the judge said to corner Alan who was at his age who had four heads was still loyal to celibacy.

"That's not me who wants, my soul mate hasn't come, how donk?" elak Alan with a witty attitude. This man is very relaxed to live life.

"You're too picky." I followed Alan's corner. Alan's eyes looked at me, making me look down. I never looked Alan in the eye. Either I'm a kegeeran or Alan has a taste. I always felt like there was something different about the way Alan looked at me.

I talked to the judge, Alan and Ani for a long time. Our conversation ended on the eve of the dhuhur. Judge and Ani go home. I went back to my room.

"Talking to the boss? What's the conversation?" The goddess immediately nyerocos as soon as I arrived at the room where I used to work.

"There's an old friend of ours coming, so the one who talks a lot." I replied shortly. I sat in front of the computer but was confused about what to do. My mind is still not fresh and calm. I finally decided to write down everything I felt in the form of a story on my computer.

The day goes on. I tried to do what the Judge and my sister advised me to do. Trying to live it patiently. It doesn't feel like a month has passed.

When Eid al-Fitr arrives, as usual after ied prayers, my small family will carry out a sungkeman event. I went to Andre. To offer my apology if I haven't been a good wife to her. And so did Andre, he apologized if he had not been able to be my good priest. He mentioned one by one his mistakes starting from not being able to give me a decent living and much he said. He apologized for not being able to make me happy.

I'm silent. No apologies came from my mouth. I feel like Andre's apology is a little weird. He realized he could not make me happy, but why even give me a wound.

"Aren't you going to forgive me, brother?" asked when I didn't answer his apology.

I looked into Mas Andre's eyes and said, "I forgive everything you said, except for one. I can't forgive your betrayal." I said, then stood up and sat down next to him to receive a condolence from Ryan.