Heaven In The Eye Pelupuk
The choice is complicated

..."Truly, believe that this love belongs to God, then the best host is only God. Leave everything to Allah, for Allah will not burden anyone but their ability."...

The atmosphere today was quite calm. It was not hot and it did not rain. Silk blobs mixed with blue shade the beach.

The girl in her sleeping pajamas was still walking down every street. There were sounds of clashing footsteps attacking the asphalt. His breathing began to be irregular, the sweat pouring out on his forehead which not one bit made Aida disturbed. The light brown veil she was wearing was slightly exposed as a result of being blown by the wind. Sometimes he smiles when he meets people who pass around him.

"Alhamdulillah. A little more until." Breaths festering. The back of his palm rubbed the sweat that was pouring down part of his face. In front of him has been emblazoned an old green building with a black fence around his house overgrown with ornamental plants.

A step from the fence of her house, Aida was surprised when she saw some cars that had been parked in her yard. Was it the car of someone who had been waiting for him?

However, just as she was about to enter the house, Aida was familiar with one of the cars parked in her yard. Yeah, looks like he's seen that silver car, but where?

"Dad." Not yet getting an answer to the question lodged in his mind, the baritone voice of the middle-aged man resuscitated Aida from her short daydream. Aida looked at the source of the voice. Before long, a knotty smile rose from Aida's sweet lips.

"Dad." Zulkifli. Yes, it was the man who became Aida's first love. The man who was never rude even snapped at him. A loving man who always stood up for Aida. In fact, when Aida found out that she would be betrothed, Aida felt hesitant to the father to refuse her. Fear of everything taken makes disappointed and sad both parents.

"Why stand there? Come inside!" he said as he walked to the princess only wayangnya. A second later, the wrinkled hand that had been eaten that age grabbed Aida's palm and brought her inside.

"Assalamualaik." Aida and her father were standing right in the doorway. That couple? Oh, ja. They are the parents of the santri mas who will be betrothed to him. How could he forget, their faces were always in the shadows in his mind.

"Waalaikumus greetings, Nak Aida." Umi Salamah gave a friendly smile to Aida. However, the young man sitting next to her uminya, it seemed Aida was no stranger to that posture. Wait for. Not wrong, it seemed like Aida had seen that posture and clothes a few minutes ago. Yeah, correct. But is this just his guess? Ah I don't know, Aida also has not seen the face of her future husband.

To be sure, again the girl scrunched her forehead. Thinking hard, like something stuck in his brain. Aida tried to recall the familiar posture. Slowly, the young man turned to him. Aida was shocked as she looked at her face. His mouth was slightly agape, his cornea perfectly rounded. Oh God, his heart has stopped beating. No. gabe. No way, this is all a dream. Aida, wake up!

"Assalamualaikum, Ai-." That handsome face was like hypnotizing Aida. Body freezes. Both are equally petrified. Unmoved. While Aida was still standing in the doorway, never stepped foot to enter the house.

"You-you." Aida's mouthfuls let out words even though they were stiff and cuddly.

"You?" Likewise with the man, he put on a surprised face when he first looked at Aida. How not, the girl he will be betrothed to is the girl he almost hit. Aida's palm slowly squeezed the sleeping pajamas she was wearing. The girl tried to neutralize her breath, eliminating the nervousness that came her way.

"Well, you guys know each other?" There's no response. They're still glued to each other. Like I can't believe all this. The memory of what happened this morning is back. That innocent face? Oh God, it feels so shameful.

That guy? So the man who almost hit her was her future husband? So, is that speeding is a sign?

Slowly, the father's palm pushed Aida slowly from behind so that the tiny foot step by step forward. Mother Aisyah greeted him with a sweet smile, the hand took over Aida's arm and took her to sit on the soft sofa next to her.

Aida decided on that view unilaterally. Throughout the conversation, the girl only listened to the conversation between her father and the parents of her future husband. Wait for. Kenzo, what about the fate of his girlfriend? Did he know that the girl he loved would marry another man?

"How's Nak Bima, do you agree with this matchmaking?" Bima lowered her head, the man linked his fingers to each other. A second later, the man stared firmly at Aida's father's face.

After a long sigh, Bima answered the simple question firmly."Bismillah, Sir. In the Lord God the Milky Way is ready."

React to all the people who were in the room a patch was not big enough or small it was simultaneously tidying up the hamdalah.

"If indeed Aida is the answer of Bima's prayer so far ... Bima accepts this match Abah, Umi."Imbuh Bima made everyone nod their heads, except Aida.

Aida squeezes her sleeping pajamas. Ah I don't know, how could this girl face the prospective in-laws and future husbands just by wearing sleeping pajamas? Where is the robe and veil given by Umi Salamah? Never mind, he didn't even know they were coming this early. Aida did not have time to preen, even just change clothes Aida did not have time.

"Aida, what if you do, son?" Aida jerks. His lips were crabby, as if the dictionary in his brain had run out of vocabulary. He was confused as to what to answer. God, help him. Set your heart on the answer you will choose.

Repeatedly the palm of her life womb tightly grasped Aida's palm. Unable to answer, Aida chose to bow in.

"Aida," called her father slowly. The palm of the hand that always wiped his tears if he was sad now stroked the back of the top of his head.

His neck feels stiff. However, Aida still forced herself to look up, then she smiled wryly. Know that pretending to look cheerful is not easy. On the other hand there is a heavy heart to perform this charade. Rabb, when will all this end? Would if he accepted this match, then for the rest of his life he would have to pretend to be happy in front of his in-laws and parents?

A long time to reflect. Aida breathed heavily. By saying bismillah, the girl was convinced that her decision was the best. Even with God, he had prepared a myriad of happiness for Aida.

"Dae ... Aida's." Why is it so hard to say?

"Bismillah, Nduk!" That shrill voice became a stronghold of strength for Aida. His heart was beating faster than usual. Can you hear that beat?

Aida's attention stared fixedly at Abi Nur and Umi Salamah. Sometimes, the tip of her eyes also glanced towards Bima, her future husband. The girl did not continue with her hanging sentence. The sentence was left floating in the air, making the one who heard it become curious about its continuation.

The gentle caress still accompanied Aida in gathering the courage to reveal her answer. Aida breathed a tired breath, then replied. "Sorry ... Aida can't."

Connect ....

Pasuruan, Wednesday 18 January 2023.