Betting Love Above Destiny
32 The Difference

"Mas Rafka." Shaykhona turned slightly to the handsome young man who was sitting not far from him.

"Dhalem." Arafka answered politely without paying attention to the great figure of Kyai who is very respected. And all those present there, except Meidina Shafa who remained lowered, so both set their eyes on the handsome young man.

Arafka's handsome face remained calm. His gaze remained straight and there was no visible ripple of uneasiness. Somewhat how loud the feeling of the beautiful young man, why the decision of this shaykhona, who betrothed him to the girl who was older than him, as if unsettling his soul, and unable to seize his calm.

Azmi and Nizam who knew him better than others, were also quite surprising the attitude of the handsome young man who looked ordinary. As if there was nothing. Or, he was ready, because he had been told before.

If Rafka had known before, why his attitude seemed ordinary when Zaskia asked for his help to take photos, which there was Meidina Shafa as well. At least he did not show any unusual attitude, not even a small interpretation of him for Meidina, in the form of a gaze, or perhaps a greeting. He just rushed away because he fulfilled the call from the shaykhona.

Furthermore, it was clear that the speech of Shaykhona to the handsome young man was certainly heard by others. "There is still time, if you want to get to know each other first with your future wife, before you get married on the 14th of the upcoming Final Friday."

The words were agreed by Arafka. While in his mind thinking. The fourteenth of the final Friday is about 2 weeks away. Because tonight is the night of the one month hijriyah. He knew this, during the announcement of the race on the big page of Alh-Hasyimi earlier.

So, it's less than two weeks away?

Only then did Arafka faintly sigh.

While Davina and Nabila can only look at each other, realizing their best friend will soon be married within the next two weeks. In contrast to Ning Zaskia, who was immediately bowed like a drooping flower bud, which withered before blooming, accompanied by tears that glistened.

The decision made tonight, at the Alhsyimi mosque, is a unanimous decision that has been agreed upon, a decision that has been qat'i, and should not be contested again. Thus the impression obtained by all, when Shaykhona ended the meeting with a word of saying goodbye, in the form of an expression of gratitude for everything.

Apparently, everyone he attended there was to witness what he had decided about his foster son, Irfan Arafka Wafdan, who was about to marry the woman he had chosen.

Kyai the nanny immediately left the mosque by holding on to Arafka's arm, as a support force. Previously, he had advised ustadz Rahman to deliver kulliyatul mullimin students to their guesthouse in Albadar nature studio by using pesantren car. And Kyai Musthofa Tamimi followed suit to leave the Great Mosque.

However, just a few steps, Shikhona turned the body and, "Azmi Khalidi."

"Dhalem." Azmi reflex rose and stood folding her hands ready to accept the decree.

"Take a friend, take Zaskia to the branch, and give my regards to Kyai Fadholi."

"Sad." Azmi obeyed with her head fixed. And after Alhasyimi's great nanny passed, Azmi glanced at Zaskia who could no longer hold back tears.

Everyone is still equally as yet no one has moved from his seat. And still a very deep silence enveloped them.

"Subhanallah ... Oh, my God." The sound of ustadz Fadil broke the silence.

"Excellent love of shaykhona on dik Rafka. As far as I know, he never overcame a santri marriage to this minute detail. From starting to select candidates, submit applications, and determine dates. Even against the sons of kyai members of Masayikh Alhasyimi, he did not come to this extent. All must be because the shaykhona has regarded the Rafka deck as his own son" said Ustadz Fadil.

"I also think like that, Ustadz," said Ustadz Widad, and some others also agreed.

"Whatever Meidina's response to this, but God willing, what was decided by her was a kindness," he told one of his brightest students at KM.

"Amen." All answered in unison even with a soft voice.

"That's it, Meidina," timpal ustadz Fadil.

"You are a very special woman, so must be judged by the shaykhona. So that you are the one chosen by him to accompany the deck Rafka who is also very privileged," he continued, staring at Meidina who was still quietly bowed with a pale face due to crying too much.

Not without reason if ustadz Fadil elaborates so, all already know who Meidina Shafa, especially for the achievements he achieved tonight as the first champion. Make all the santri Alhasyimi family recognize the greatness of the girl ayu who always adorned her face with the pasmina. She is a very accomplished student at KM, and in several other areas of Alhasyimi education. His intelligence is widely recognized in his work as chairman of the executive board of santri kulliyatul mullimin, whose thoughts in the Koran study forum fill the main pages of Alhasyimi magazine and mading. Not infrequently also become reference material by Alhasyimi students centers and branches in their scientific assignments.

Meidina Shafa, one of the few santri in Alhasyimi known for her achievements and prowess. You can imagine, the figure of a man who is how worthy to be juxtaposed with the girl berparas ayu it. Very far away the criticism if it is attributed to Irfan Arafka Wafdan, who he said was just a beginner in the field of religion.

Arafka was a young man who lost the ethical beauty of religious beings in his dark youth, full of blasphemy. Live casually, and tuna meaning. Until time has passed in vain. It was Shaykhon who inspired him and brought the handsome young man to Alhasyimi to rearrange the pages of his life in an Islamic way, of course starting from zero again.

But as little as the story about the figure of the guitarist of the handsome shalawat group Albadar only ranges from mouth to mouth and based on "he said, and he said it" no one has been able to ascertain the truth and authenticity. Because Rafka himself has never told anyone about his past in detail. Like he really wants to close the previous sheet tightly only in himself.

What the young man often said was that he was a nobody. In Alhasyimi it is santri who is among the lower class santri in terms of knowledge and virtue.

Very different from Meidina Shafa. Very pointed differences.

And a little word utadz Fadil said should be able to blunt the pointed difference. But Meidina Shafa just silently heard it. It stays down as before. For him at this moment, there was no sentence as beautiful as anything that could comfort his heart. There is no real advice that can cool his mind.

Davina hurried over.

"Meidina." He took his best friend's hand. Meidina looked up at him, but no words were spoken except tears. Davina was unable to contain herself, her pair of eyes were also glazed over. "We're back yuk," Davina gently asked. Meidina nodded both of them got up followed by Nabila who guided Zaskia's hand to get up.

The four kulliyatul muallimin students immediately left the mosque with no one to speak. Until he arrived at the front yard of the vast mosque, Azmi approached Zaskia.

"Ning, let me take you back to the branch."

Zaskia nodded, and momentarily looked at Nabila. Then Kyai Fadholi's daughter stepped in front of Meidina who stepped slightly to the side of her.

"Mbak" he said in a hoarse voice, looking at Meidina's face that was soaked with tears. "Congratulations, Ma'am," he said in a raucous voice.

Seeing that, almost everyone who saw it lowered their heads. They were heartless and at the same time touched by the greatness of Zaskia's heart.

"The boy who was chosen to accompany Rafka, I don't have to mention what privileges you have until they deserve it. As well as Rafka who was chosen to accompany Meidina's mother. It must be because there is power in him to be a priest for you, Ma'am."

Zaskia's voice trembled as it held back the sobs as it said so.

To Zaskia, Arafka was a special figure, no matter how word-of-mouth rumors about the young man's past he had heard. And Zaskia believes that Arafka is able to accompany Meidina Shafa, a very special figure. So he said that to Meidina.

But, for Meidina Shafa himself, he still took a long time to believe the truth in Zaskia's words. Because the opposition that was in her soul, was not only because she had to marry a man younger than her. But, because he had to be separated from his soul mate, the figure of Rayyan Ali Fattan, whom he loved with all his taste.

And for others, who listened to Zaskia's words, they not only admitted that they were true. But, it also acknowledges the personal elegance of Kyai Fadholi's daughter.

Because they know how great and beautiful Zaskia Arifa hopes for an Irfan Arafka Wafdan. Though all hope and love rest entirely on the will of the One. But, it was clear how broken the beautiful girl was, knowing that the idol would soon marry the woman who was his own friend.

Zaskia's relentless tears represent all the heart's unbearable pain. However, in a very graceful way he congratulated Meidina Shafa, using the remnants of his soul power that had been destroyed scattered due to the depth of the disappointment felt.

This, of course, is not an easy thing.

And finally, all must admit, all must,

Your personal beauty, as beautiful as your beauty, Zaskia Arifa.