Reaching the Moon
Chapter 28

"Beautiful, she's beautiful, but she's older than me!" reply Nizam whispered, occasionally glancing towards Syifa.

"Are your eyes cracked? Beautiful and young are so even said to be old," said Arfan with a furrowed forehead.

"Yes, it's a fact that he's old" Nizam replied that he didn't want to lose.

The two men continued to whisper to each other as Boy and Syifa were telling stories.

"Zam, is there anything you want to ask him before you go through ta'arruf?" boy asked while pointing at the Moon with one hand.

For a moment Nizam frowned feeling confused, then said, "What is Nizam asking him? Wouldn't it be better to ask Syifa's mother directly?"

Everyone in the room was confused to hear Nizam's answer.

"Ah, well, looks like it's better. Please ask if there is anything you want to ask, Zam," Boy said later.

"Sorry before, Ms. Syifa. If you may know, how long have you lived without a husband?" tanya Nizam looked at Syifa seriously.

"Sir Nizam asked about me?" syifa asked a little hesitantly, not only herself, but again everyone was staring confusedly at Nizam, including the Moon.

"Yes, I'll look at you, not the others" said Nizam still in serious fashion.

"If I had been about a year old" replied Syifa.

Nizam nodded his head slowly. "What is the vision and mission of your marriage?"

"My vision and mission?" This time Syifa pressed the word 'me' to make sure if he did not catch it wrong.

"Yes, who else?" Nizam replied with complete confidence.

Arfan who could not stand the strangeness of Nizam finally opened his voice, "What are you doing, Zam? Why are all your questions directed at Ms. Syifa?"

"It's wrong to ask the ta'arruf couple themselves?" ask Nizam.

"Hey, Zam! What the hell are you saying? Ta'arrufmu's partner is not Miss Syifa, but ...." Boy's words were cut short when suddenly a middle-aged woman came carrying a crying Quinzy to the Moon. With painstaking care the woman held the little baby, until in a short time, her crying subsided.

"But who, Dad? Is there another woman in this house who is single other than Ms Syifa?" ask Nizam plain.

"Astaghfirullah," murmured Boy while rubbing his face rough with teeth tightening together until his jaw was clearly visible. "Don't you think of the Moon as a single woman here?" the man continued asking.

"Isn't the Moon married again? Just look at the baby."

Boy clenched his hand, wanting to feel like he pinched Nizam because he was so upset and anxious. However, he was forced to hold back in order to maintain his attitude.

"Quinzy is my son, Mr. Nizam. The single one here besides me is Moon, he's the one I want to introduce to you."

Nizam was silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to the Moon who had been looking down deeply since then. The man's heart instantly palpitated without any clumsiness. There was an immeasurably shocked as well as happy feeling in his heart at this moment.

...

Earlier, the,

"Month, marry me, Deck. I think the only way to get your trauma off is to get married."

"Who would want to marry a widow with a psychic disorder like me, Ma'am? I ..., I'm afraid that the old events will repeat themselves" said Moon.

"No, Moon. I think I've found a guy that suits you. The first time I saw him, I could tell right away that he was a kind and sincere person. I've been investigating him, too, and it turns out he's a man who doesn't like violence."

"Who, Ma'am?"

"The name is Mr. Nizam. He's the leader at the Malaga company who works with the clinic."

"Nizam's?"

"Yes, this is the guy." Syifa showed the photo of Nizam that she managed to get to the Moon. "Do you see? He's very handsome and still single, you know!"

The moon rounded her eyes when she realized that the Nizam Syifa meant was the Nizam she knew.

"Hows it? Want, dad! You need a husband as a support system because I can't be with you forever."

The moon is bowed in sorrow. "Will he accept my shortcomings, Ma'am?" ask the woman lethargic.

"I'll take care of it. As long as I take care of it, you can solidify your heart with Istikharah prayers. After all, God is the best guide."

-

"Not yet, what is it?" ask Khaira.

"Well, if you haven't, I'd like to introduce Mr. Nizam to my sister if you don't mind either."

"Introducing sister? What does it mean to match Nizam to Ms Syifa's sister?" ask Boy.

"Yes, Mom, Sir. Her name is Moon, she's not really my younger sister, but I already think of her as my own sister."

"Moon? Can you see the picture?" khaira said curiously.

"Of course, Mom." Syifa pulled out her phone and showed me a picture of the moon.

Boy and Khaira look at each other when they find out that the photo is a photo of the Moon they know. "May we speak for a moment, Miss Syifa?"

"Please, Mom, sir."

Boy and Khaira finally moved away from the crowd and discussed for a moment.

"What do you think, honey?" ask Boy.

Khaira was silent for a moment while giving a rough breath. "Honey, actually Nizam once said that he wanted to marry Moon, but I did not agree because the Moon was already married."

Boy frowned. "Is that your only reason for not granting Nizam's wish?" Khaira nodded in response to the husband's question.

It made Boy shook his head slowly, then again said, "Did you forget if the Prophet Muhammad used to marry Mother Khadijah whose status was also a widow, even her age was far above the Prophet? Did the Prophet question him? Was the life of the Prophet and Mother Khadijah unhappy? No, Honey. They even lived happily in love until death picked up Khadijah first."

Khaira nodded slowly. "You're right, honey. But I'm also afraid that Nizam will be hurt again because of the status of the Moon and has trauma in the past" Khaira said with teary eyes looking at her husband.

Boy held both shoulders of the wife and began to speak, "Honey, the status of a widow or widower is not a new benchmark of household happiness. Nizam had already stated that he wanted to marry Moon when he knew and was aware of how the Moon was. That means, he was ready to accept all the consequences. After all, the Moon's trauma can definitely be healed, who knows with Nizam's presence by his side it could erase that trauma."

"But, Honey ...."

"Honey, Nizam is an adult, he can already weigh what is good and what is not for him. As parents, we only need to support her if she is right, and reprimand her if she is wrong. The Moon is a good and tough woman, not all women can survive after passing exams like the Moon. I'm sure it was one of Nizam's considerations choosing him."

Khaira is now silent in a thousand languages. Everything Boy said was true, and it was enough to hit his already rejected heart just because of his status and trauma.

"All right then. Let Nizam choose."

...

"How, Zam. Do you agree to go through ta'arruf with the Moon?" ask Boy.

Nizam bowed for a moment, then began to raise his face and said, "There is no need for ta'arruf. I already know the Moon, and I want to marry her right away."

Boy commented on the smile seeing the confidence in the son.

"Alright, then our intention of arrival this time changed, from silaturrahmi to proposal." Boy gives Nizam a code to start expressing his wishes.

Nizam swallowed his saliva with great difficulty. I don't know why the atmosphere in the room changed. He was even more nervous to start his serious conversation. He took a few breaths and slowly threw it away so that his heart was calmer.

"Ecchem .... Bismil was bornrahmanirrahiim, with only hope for Allah's ridho, I along with my father and brother-in-law came here for a good cause. Sorry because I'm not good at putting together beautiful words. Actually it's been a while since I wanted to say this, but since the Moon left first, so I pared it." Nizam stopped his words for a moment.

"God is truly All-Good, He gave me a chance back to say my sincere purpose of wanting to propose the Moon to be my wife, to be my mother, to be my mother, at the same time my life friend in building love in the way of God. Hopefully, you can give an answer to this goodwill."

Everyone in the room now changed to look at the Moon who was still late in his bow. Syifa even took over Quinzy so that the Moon could think well before making a decision.

"How, Moon?" ask Syifa quietly.

The moon did not answer. The woman mer3mas her skirt on the knee, her tears are now dripping down her cheeks after hearing Nizam's words. There was a feeling in his heart right now that he could not express with words.

Several times the Moon takes a deep breath, then exhales slowly. "Bismil was bornrahmanirrahiim, in expectation of Allah's Ridho, I accepted Mas Nizam's proposal."

Expressions of gratitude filled the room. Nizam could not even stop mentioning the name of Allah for his incomparable happiness.

"Well, so when do you want to have your wedding?" ask Boy to Nizam and the Moon.

"Tonight too, Dad."

"What's? Don't joke, Zam!" pekik Boy unintentionally because he was so surprised.

"Nizam's not kidding, Dad. It's just, Nizam doesn't want to fail again this time."

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