Pledge of Love Rumi
meet Papa 2

A few minutes passed, the rice on Rumi's plate was up. Same with John. A large glass of warm tea in front of Debby's father has also been reduced by more than half.

Right now Rumi was still humming politely, her own warm tea.

"Alhamdulillah," muttered Rumi without a sound, while lowering her glass.

"You want to add the name?" Ask Mr. Yohan, offering.

"Thank you, I'm full. This is enough."

"But there's a lot of side dishes here, right?"

Rumi smiled thinly, very stiffly. "Really, I'm full of Pa."

Hearing that, Mr. Yohan cleared his throat, then fell silent. Because Rumi was silent. While holding a large mug filled with warm tea with both hands, bow politely. Feeling nervous due to the gaze of Mr. Yohan who continues to be directed at him.

"Then can I talk to you now?" ask her. Where Rumi immediately put the glass, then lowered both hands under the table. Sit more politely.

"Yes Pa, can you?"

Mr. Yohan grabbed his drink glass, then sighed. Look at the glass in front of him.

"How's my daughter doing?"

"Good... Debby's fine, Pa."

"Did she play a good role, as a wife?"

"Thank God, so far Debby is trying to be a good wife" said Rumi with a faint smile. Mr. Yohan looked back at Rumi, deeply.

"But he's happy, isn't he?"

"inshaAllah's. All I know is, De... Debby's happy."

"thank God, because, if the child is still unhappy after being edited by you. That's a sign I've made a mistake."

The deg...! Rumi lowered her head, all because of the growing awkwardness.

"i want to ask you something? Honestly, I am very curious. With people like you. I hope you're not offended by this."

"Emmm... Please Pa."

"What do you see of the child, me?" Mr. Yohan directly spoke at his language point.

"Emmm, that?"

"Debby, isn't she a religious woman?" Cut off Mr. Yohan, while Rumi fell silent again. "Males like you, should choose women who are much better, more religious with all their obedience. As for my son, what can he do?"

"Sorry Pa, Rumi interrupted, I think? Debby's good enough, for Rumi."

"You talk like that because there's me, right?"

"Not really. Rumi spoke as is. Because Debby is a good wife. Although, He still needs a lot to learn, but his passion to deepen the science of religion makes my heart interested."

Mr. Yohan was silent again. He directly dipped the remaining sweet tea in his glass. And now the glass was empty, which he put again on the table.

"About? Are you the kind of guy who feels good enough with one wife?"

Rumi sculpted, she herself was confused as to what to answer? Because such a question is very difficult, it does not mean that he has the intention to double. It's just that the thought of not preempting fate is what makes Rumi silent.

"Why silence?"

"I'm sorry, Rumi's a little hard to answer."

Hearing that Mr. Yohan smiled cynically. "Hard to say?"

Rumi shook her head quickly as she raised both her hands in front of her chest.

"Can you listen to me first?" Asked Master Yohan, while Rumi immediately nodded. "You know how disappointed I am with my daughter?"

Rumi nodded again, slowly.

"Like a dagger stabbed in the back. This chest, the pain I feel. Disillusioned.... Very disappointed! You can imagine, when you become a father and find his beloved daughter changing beliefs, without deliberating first. How do you think it feels?"

Rumi. "Rumi knows, Pa."

"My disappointment is more than you can imagine. Even I feel? Just want to end life." Mr. Yohan touched his chest. He then sighed. "But as hard as a father's heart? She would never be able to, to completely throw away her child. And you want to know why I agreed to your marriage?"

Mr. Yohan drew his sword against Rumi.

"Because to whom else can I leave the child, in addition to the man who can accept him as he is, as a life partner. Although, this heart is still worried about the loyalty of my son's husband. That's you...!"

Mr. Yohan closed his eyes for a moment, looking down and then rubbed it slowly.

"Honestly, I couldn't see his sorrowful gaze that was resting under my feet. Ask forgiveness for his decision." Debby's father's voice was a little hoarse, then cleared his throat later. "It was enough that I saw him hurt because of his father, who could not accept his decision. No more, she was crying like that. Because you hurt him. I hope you understand what I mean."

Rumi nodded slowly. He understood the meaning of his father-in-law.

"Make me sure that not all devout Muslim men like to be duplicitous. Because if that happens. I'll really curse you!!"

"I'll try, Pa." Rumi answered politely. While Mr. Yohan felt relief in his chest.

"Now, after chatting like this? how do you look at me?"

"Emmm... Good papa," replied Rumi.

"Don't say just to get attention. Just tell me honestly."

"Rumi answered, according to what was in Rumi's heart. Maybe a little firm, but papa's good." He answered very carefully, timidly the father-in-law became offended.

"Actually, since I was in junior high school, I've realized something. When Debby began to criticize the Godhead. He always asks about things I can't even answer."

Rumi listened well, whatever came out of the father-in-law's mouth. Either Debby's habits, get to the things she actually already knows.

"I was worried actually, especially when he had a lot of Muslim friends. I don't like it because I hate Muslims. More because I was once disappointed, when my sister changed beliefs. Just because someone can be said to be obedient? But in reality, she made her a widow at a young age. I just wish Debby would never have fared the same as her Tante."

"Sorry Pa. Even in our religion, polygamy is not prohibited. But not all of us are double. And Rumi will try to make Debby the only wife in Rumi's life."

"I hope this is a promise that you need to hold on tight and that you remember always." Debby's father breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes already... Does he look happy? He also seems to eat well. So, maybe our conversation is enough to get here." Mr. Yohan moved from where he was sitting.

"Emmmm, is Papa going home?" Rumi also moved. The middle-aged man did not answer. Even without saying goodbye, he just walked away from Rumi's desk. "Pa? Should I say hello to Debby?"

Mr. Yohan who walked a few steps stopped. He looked back.

"No...! Just knowing the news is fine, that's enough for me." Only that, he turned his face again. Approaching the cashier table, pay and then get out of the Padang restaurant.

Rumi smiled, staring at that wide back that had started to age. He knew Debby's father loved his daughter very much even though Debby herself often cried due to chat messages that were never responded to. But he understood, Debby's father must have always missed his daughter.

***

The epilogue...

On the way, Debby's father stopped his car when he got a chat message.

He opened it, quickly. Maybe he understood, at this hour Debby used to send him chat messages. And his smile was immediately broken.

(Papa... How are you doing? Lunch yet? Remember the lunch is not too fatty. Keep Papa's health, Debby dear Papa.)

He stared at his phone screen for quite a while, reading over and over again, with his lips still expanding.

"Papa ate. Papa ate with your husband. You should eat too. Papa also loves you very much. Debbie." Debbie." Mr. Yohan only replied with words coming out of his lips directly, then kissed the screen of his phone.

Yeah, that's what he used to do. Although Debby's contacts always appear gray tick, but actually everything is only because of the arrangement he made. In order not to see that the father always read his chat messages without hoarding it for a long time, even he pinned Debby's number. Always be on top.