KANAYA
04. Meet the Mackenzie Family.

This is my last day in Subang. Tomorrow morning I have to go back to Jakarta. Ardy sent me a text message that night. He said he wanted to see me so we could get to know each other. I hesitated but I thought it would not hurt to give a chance to the men who wanted to approach me. I agreed and we decided to meet at one of the restaurants in the city later in the day. I was also getting ready to meet him. At first Ardy wanted to pick me up but I refused and I preferred Tony to take me. I'm not selling expensive but I feel uncomfortable with the guy I just met. Tony drove me to the front of the restaurant. I told him to go home and not have to wait for me. I went into the restaurant and I saw Ardy was there. He was wearing a blue shirt with dark pants. I approached him and he smiled at me.

“You are ten minutes late.” He said with a smile.

“Oh yes? Sorry then.” I said and sat in front of him.

I don't know what his nature is like but he obviously can't make small talk. I called the waiter and ordered a cold drink. I saw Ardy had ordered it first when I saw a cup of coffee at the table. I waited for my order to arrive when Ardy started our conversation.

“Naya, I heard you work in Jakarta?” tanyakanya.

“Iya, right. I work in book publishing. My position as editor.” I clearly.

“Oh, so.” He then sipped his coffee.

I'm speechless. Either I feel it or Ardy's not the one who makes me feel comfortable.

“How many hours do you work?” smith again.

“Depends. Work hours are only eight hours, but sometimes I have to go overtime and continue my work at home. Fortunately, I can take my work home because our office is quite scary at night.” My canda.

“Oh, so. Actually I have special criteria for the woman I will marry.” His word.

“Oh, yes?” my word.

“Iya. If we get married, I want you to stop working and just stay home taking care of my needs and the kids.” His word.

“Why? But I like working. My job doesn't take up much time outside the home. Sometimes I do work at home without having to come to the office.”

“But I don't like it. I also want that if we get married you should move with me here.”

I just kept listening to his chatter about what I could not and what I could do when I became his wife. My heart was irritated to listen to him and why again why the waiter had not yet delivered my ordered drink.

“Ardy, I don't think we're a good fit, huh. I can't live with all the rules you've made. Especially about work, I really like my job now.” My word.

“Then you are not suitable to be my wife. You are like a dissident woman, not obedient to the husband. Not yet a wife you have protested, do not love me if later you become my wife.”

Whats?

His face looked innocent but his words were sharp. I was hot and upset to hear her say as if she was perfect. I couldn't listen to his chatter anymore so I decided to end this meeting. I got up from my chair and took my bag.

“Where are you going?” tanyakanya.

“Ardy, we'd better not see you again. I want to go home.” My word.

“Nay, you don't want to think anymore. I'm a PNS loh. You'll never see a guy like me again. It's handsome, big salary, PNS anyway. But you're right too, we better not see you again. I can't be the same girl as you.”

“Women like me? What do you mean? Uh, danger yeah. I don't need your rank, I don't care how big your salary is. If you can't appreciate women, you're not more valuable than bedbugs though, understand?” my word.

And it just so happened that the waiter came to bring my drink. I took my drink from the tray and poured it over to Ardy. He looked at me like he couldn't believe it. I left her wet. I came out of the resto and at a glance there was a voice of mockery from Ardy. I can't figure out why someone always considers himself at most ‘wah’ when they become PNS. I don't think that's anything special.

I stopped the public transport car that led to my house. When I got there, apparently my mother was waiting for me to tell me how I met Ardy. I was sitting next to my mom watching television with Tony.

“Where? You match Ardy?” ask my mom enthusiastically.

I shook my head.

“Why?” ask mom.

“Where are you, mom? I don't fit in with him. Udah, point.” I got up from the sofa and headed for my room.

“Cowok is so. If you have a high office, it feels like the world belongs to him. Ih, really nice same guy like that.” Comment Union sitting in his chair.

I told Uni about my meeting with Ardy after he insisted on asking me why I went home to my parents. Uni seemed annoyed as I told her what Ardy said to me to the point that several times she was cursing.

“Your mother really wants you to marry her, Nay.”

“Iya, Un. I know my mother really wants to see me marry but yeah want how again.”

“You still can't open your heart? Come on, Nay, spirit. You have to move on.”

“I'm not able to move on, I'm just still a bit traumatized. But I'm trying to open my heart to another man.”

“Hust, dong. That's the new Kanaya I know.”

I'm just smiling. Sometimes I also want to get married but sometimes the wound in my heart makes me hesitant in stepping. But I always try and try to open my heart to other men.

My daydream broke when the sound of my phone rang. I saw my mother's name on my phone screen. I know what he wants to talk about right now. I took a deep breath and prepared myself to hear my mother's scolding on me. I went to the kitchen and picked up my mother's phone. I was about to say the word ‘halo’ but my mother had already nagged me at length.

“Naya, you're kumaha tea, anyway? Why you can be so insolent is the same Ardy. You know not? The village mothers again talk about you because of your attitude!” nagging mother.

I've guessed.

Everything that is done when in the village will be the talk of all mothers. In the city there is CCTV monitoring but in the village there are mothers who monitor and disseminate. I was lectured all over by my mother about me watering Ardy with a cold drink. It's amazing, isn't it? They even knew that I was watering Ardy with a cold drink with nothing to miss.

“Yes Allah, Nay, you make your mother ashamed.” Said mom.

“Udahlah, mom. Some mothers don't know the truth. Let's just say people talk about Naya.”

“How are you doing now? What do you want to find, Nay? I want to see my only mother's daughter married and get momongan.”

“Iya, mom. Naya also wants to but want to know again has not found a suitable one. Mother's part of the intention to make a soul mate for Naya but do not say.”

“If mom says you don't want to. Sure mom mah. Nay, I am old and do not know when God calls me. So before mom dies, mom wants to see you marry continue to have children.”

“Mother what the hell? How do you say that?”

“No one knows, Nay.”

“It's the same, mom, soul mate also no one knows when it comes. Naya does not refuse if I know Naya to any man, but on condition that all decisions are in the hands of Naya.”

“Bener, huh? Later I will find another prospective husband who is right for you. But you do not mostly picky, later your soul mate further away. Inget, next month you want to be 30 years old.”

“Iya, mother.”

Mom hung up the phone without saying goodbye. A few days later, my mother asked me to come home on weekends and introduce me to her man of choice. Some work as TNI, police, self-employed, until the son of a pak lurah. Of all the men she introduced to me, none of them made me feel comfortable. I thought my mom would give up but it wasn't that easy. I got a call from my mother that my aunt was going to introduce me to a man. Bibi said I didn't need to go back to the village because the man was coming to Jakarta. Aunt gave him my cell phone number. He told me to wait for news from the man. A few days later after my conversation with my aunt, someone sent me a message. He introduced himself first. Name's Faridh. He's three years older than me. He works in a private company in Bandung. Faridh also said she wanted to meet with me in order to introduce herself directly. I called him and I told him I had a weekend off. Before I met, he used to send me messages after I worked. I think Faridh is a nice, nice guy. We talked about a lot of things through messages. I think he is a guy who fits me.

The weekend came and I finally got to meet him. He asked me to meet at a restaurant not far from my house. He told me not to travel too far. I've been waiting for him inside the restaurant for five minutes but I don't know where Faridh is. I've never even seen his face. Uni scared me when I talked to her about this. He said it was possible that Faridh had an ugly face. I don't think it's a problem he's ugly or handsome because I feel Faridh is the right guy for me. I glanced at my phone I put on the table. Suddenly I heard footsteps approaching me. I looked back and saw a man with a tall posture standing looking at me. White skin. His face was so handsome with his thin beard.

“You Kanaya?” ask the man.

“Iya.” I still look at his handsome face.

“Assalamaicum, Naya. I'm Faridh.” He said in a soft voice.

I just fell silent while smiling looking at her shady looking face. I pinched my own hand hoping it wasn't a dream because this guy named Faridh turned out to be very handsome. I hope he likes me.