Hot Couple: Inspiration From God (I Love You, Ustadz!)
Inspiration

The red tinge on my cheek made me dare not raise my face. I bowed, finishing the meatballs in my bowl in silence. Like that was also the rest of the time we passed, along the way, I stared out the window. The expression of a stifled smile on Ustadz Ilham's face made my smile also unable to stop expanding.

"Zahra," he called before we got out of his car. We were in front of the house. Ustadz Ilham's car just stopped and parked.

I looked up, looking at the handsome face in front of me.

"If you still have questions, you can answer them at any time. Don't hesitate to call me. Yea?"

I nodded, and my smile expanded. "Yes. I'll call you later. Emm I mean. I'll call Mas Ilham if there's anything I want to ask."

"okay."

"Em, then I-I"

"May I ask for one thing?"

"Oh, what is it?"

"Istiqharah, yes, please?"

"Ashida?"

"Yes, to convince your heart."

I'm nodding. "Inshaallah," I said.

"May God give you an answer soon. Whatever the outcome, I will be sincere. Even if you are not my match, I will still pray for the best for you, and hope that God will give you the best man for you. The man who can glorify you as a woman, and who values Abi and Umi as both of your parents."

I smile. Those words sound so sincere. There's a haru infiltrating my heart. Slowly I write the words. "Thank you for your sincere prayer, Mom. And. I promise," I said nervously. "I. I will be istiqharah. I also hope that God will show you the best choice."

"Aamiin's."

I was momentarily stunned, looking at that soothing handsome face. How sincere it is to ask me to perform the prayer of Istiqharah so that my heart is sure to accept or reject this match. If I don't get an answer at all, how?

"Aamiin's."

"Same amiin, right?"

"Eh? Em, yeah. Inshaallah the same, Mommy."

"I wish I was the answer in istiqharah***you."

Aamiins. I laugh. Cheerfully. Series of birds that traverse the clouds, flying in tandem decorate the blue sky. Blue which soon dyed dusk.

The voice of the asar lamat-aim was heard from a distance. Abi came out the front door and Ustadz Ilham told me to come in. He was going to the mosque with Abi.

"Assalamu'alaikum, Zahra."

"Wa'alaikumussalam, Mas Ilham."

"Soranghae."

I kept quiet without comment. If there's no Abi, I'm gonna laugh. I am happy, meeting a person like him. Ustadz Ilham was almost perfect.

Perfection belongs only to God, Zahra.

It's weird, I can't stop smiling till night. Smiling in front of the glass, gnawing a few times. My chin is on my wide dresser. Yeah, not a really dark night. There were stars scattered, shining the sheen of light.

"Cieee. who's in love."

Now Umi is happy to float me into the room night-night, enter secretly into my room and tease me like that.

I blushed. "Ah, this Umi, it could be." I hurried to go somewhere else. Pretending to clean up the books on my desk.

"It's beautiful, yes, to be in real love."

I massaged my forehead, hiding my smile from Umi. "Is that what it means for real?"

"Yes real. Not just an escape."

But it's true. What I feel for Ustadz Ilham is not just a normal taste. It covers everything: including my admiration and respect, and I cherish it as a good young man, good manners and noble character.

"Umi, if you want to ask me something."

"What, Nduk?" He sat on my couch.

"For example, this is, lo, yes. Don't be considered-"

"Yes, what would you say?"

"Misal. i. married Mas Ilham. About, later Abi will ask us to stay here, or we can stay alone? Uh, is he gonna take Bila to his parents' house, huh?"

Umi giggled.

"What the hell, Umi...?" my protest.

"You're funny, anyway. Why confuse yourself so?"

"Already. don't discuss. Just answer the question if."

Umi muffled her laughter as she approached me, then grabbed and held my hand. "Umi asked you to stay here, huh? Temani Umi's. If you leave, Umi will be alone again if Abi is not here."

My God, my desire to get out of the pesantren environment has been broken just now. How was it when I was in college and living in the city? Umi must have been very hurt.

Hicks! I can't bear to see Umi's eyes glazed over. "You, right, Nduk? Keep Umi old, huh? Nak Ilham still has a younger brother who can accompany his parents. Umi only has you."

"Yes, Umi. If I'll accompany Umi forever. If you will love Umi a lot of grandchildren so that Umi is not lonely. Yea? Don't cry."

But I was crying myself. My tears were unstoppable, but I was happy to see a smile on my mother's face.

"Later to talk to Mas Ilham. If he's sure he won't mind staying here."

My mouth and my brain are not one frequency.

Umi's eyes that were glazed now sparkle. "Have you agreed to accept this match?" tanyanya enthusiastic.

And that's when I realized the mistake of my words. I grinned, then scratched my head. "Yes, yes, Mi. There's no deal yet." I'm giggling by myself.

"Yes, already. Umi amenkannya then."

I kept a smile in my heart, and guaranteed Umi's hope.

"Oh yes, Mi. Did Mas Ilham know the relationship.emm mean When, what did Mas Ilham know about Bila and Mas Imam?"

Umi nodded and agreed. And I hit it off myself. "Mommy who told the story. But Umi assured him that between you and the Imam it was only a friend. Umi's right, isn't she, Nduk?" Umi inched closer, she held my shoulders gently from the front, then faced me towards her. "You're not mad at Umi, are you?"

"No, kok. Umi need not worry."

"Alhamdulillah...."

"Keep, how did Mas Ilham respond then?"

"You want to know what he said? He said he will fight for you as long as you have not been preached by another man. It's very gentle, isn't it? Dream man."

Uuuh.. I'm back giggling. It seems Umi is more enthusiastic than I am. Just as he is fighting for his love.

Well, after Umi came out of my room, exactly eleven o'clock at night, but I had no intention of resting. Still caught up in the sweetness of this introduction.

I rubbed my face which was starting to feel cold. I smiled at the stars, at the night. Wetting hands, ablution. Then stand up straight, raise both hands, raise your head, plead with the Heaven Enforcer. Praying.

Istiqhaarah. Seeking Inspiration.

I wonder, how does the Almighty show me the answer to that choice? And how will I know when he tells me?

But somehow I was sure that His inspiration would come to me.