BECOMING HONEY'S SISTER
GIVE A CHANCE

"What do you say, Mil?" Mother immediately rose from her seat when I said that I would accept the arrival of the husband and wife who was about to propose to me.

"Mom, this is not a final decision yet. Mila wants to know what kind of person who wants to make Mila as a member of her family. Perhaps it is true what the Goddess Union says that they are good people. If so, it would be a pity if Mila refused the sustenance to be part of their family." I said, trying as quietly as possible even though the truth was right now.

"No. No need to mil, no need to acquaintance either. Never mind. Let's forget that proposal. We go back to life as before. No one ever talks about polygamy again. We are still lacking knowledge, less also salihnya, have not been able to run all that" said the mother. "Polygamy is not easy, Mil. Ustadz's wife just gave up, let alone us who are nobody. Many have failed to practice polygamy because the younger brother is not easy for a man!"

"Many have failed, but others have succeeded, right? It all depends on their intentions and the way they run. If it were all for Allah, God willing, the help of Allah would come."

"Why are you, Mil? Yesterday I didn't want to, now why did I suddenly change my mind? Don't just be bad for someone and force yourself. Mil, think carefully. You have Yumna too. You have to imagine, how will Yumna be? He'll have a half-brother. Will he be comfortable with all that?" mom is back to suing.

"Thank you for a chance, ma'am. Let's see how they. Counting all together, who knows, so the road brings sustenance for us." I said. She insists somewhat on the mother that that is the final decision. I'm gonna try. Yes or no, we'll see after we meet.

Disappointed, I turned to my father. Seeking support. "Well, talk to Mila." ask mom. "Dad has to change Mila's way of thinking, convince her that she can't yet be polygamous. Sharing a husband is not easy. What do the people around us say anyway?"

I didn't answer, just a quick glance. Then back passed out of the house to leave the nagging from the mother's mouth.

"You guys on why the hell? No father, no son, the same. Dizziness mom thinks of you!" mom grunts annoyed.

***

That afternoon, after teaching, Uni Dewi came back to me to Mushalla. The goal, of course, is to find out how my decision developed.

"Don't think about it for long, Mil." The Goddess Union opened the conversation. "The opportunity didn't come twice. Who knows if he's your soul mate."

"If you are a mate, you want to answer for what time, it will also be Ni?" I replied, while tidying up the Iqra and the Qur'an that had just been read by the santri.

"Yes, the Union means ...."

"It's just tell them to come home."

"You mean, Mil?"

"She said she wanted to preach ukhuwah, get acquainted."

"Ka .. Are you serious, Mil?"

"Yes Ni, I'm serious. Want to try to live ta'aruf."

"MasyaAllah. Alhamdulillah .. alhamdulilah. Uni's really happy, Mil. All right, the Union will tell them right now. Thank you Mil, thank you very much!" The Goddess Union hugged me a few times, before she finally left me alone.

Around the beginning of last month, the Goddess Union came to me. Said that someone wanted to propose to me. He has done this several times, matching me with several men of his acquaintance, since my husband died. It's just that, the difference is, for the proposal this time, Uni Dewi feels more excited. It's like he wouldn't want me to refuse that proposal. Maybe because Uni Dewi knows the economic condition of our family who is experiencing distress.

The man was acquaintance of his friend Uni Dewi in Jakarta. There are actually many names proposed, but somehow they prefer me who is nobody while they are a wealthy man who is well-respected and highly educated.

That's why I doubt so much. Either it will fit or it won't. Isn't in marriage should also be considered, whether it is equivalent or not. If it is too old, it is also feared that it will be a problem in married life later.

But, when I convey it all to the Union of Goddesses, he said they did not mind. Even they are looking for those who can be educated, they intend to teach me later. Either directly or bring a teacher so that I can be equal to a couple.

With my family, they don't matter either. They promised to help our family's economy. They will send my children and nieces and nephews, as well as bear the cost of living for our family. An offer that is certainly heavy for me to avoid because honestly I do not know anymore how to ease my father's burden. As a person who did not graduate from Elementary School, I can only work on energy. But I wouldn't allow it if I had to do rough work or had to search the capital for a job

***

"Tomorrow they have reached Minang, Mil. God willing, come here to meet you and your family. You're ready, aren't you Mil?" ask Uni Dewi who returned to the house to convey the results of his proposal with the man who will propose to me.

"If it doesn't fit, is it okay for the Union?" many doubt.

"It's okay, Mil. The important thing is to try first. Who knows what fits. More importantly, please be taken seriously, they have come all the way here specifically to meet you and your family. So appreciate their struggle, yes!"

"Yes Ni, I understand."

"Oh yeah, this." Uni Dewi gave the package he had brought since. After opening it turns out that it contains a long maroon-colored robe, complete with a matching colored veil.

"What is this, Uni?"

"This is for you, Mil. Uni knows you don't have a good game to meet them. Uni deliberately bought it as a gift for you."

"Geez Uni, there's no need to bother."

Our family economy is very simple. Sometimes even lack. Let alone to buy a robe, eat only with ration rice with a side dish of salt or ground chilli. Even if we really do not have money, we only rely on cassava planted on the side and back of the hut.

Every day, only two very old games are what I use to teach. The dry-washed style, I got as a wedding gift from Bang Hasan, but now the color has faded so often washed.

"Mil, let's go get it!" the Uni Dewi.

"Thank you very much Uni, I will never forget the goodness of the Union." I said, trying to hold back that no clear details came out of my two neutrals.