The charm of Ayra Khairunnisa
3. The girl, Ayra Khairunnisa

Kyai Rohim laughed at the answer given by Bram. It was seen that Kyai Rohim leaned his body towards the table and took 2 pieces of candy. Kyai Rohim opened one candy and put it in his mouth, after a few seconds the candy was removed again by kyai Rohim and placed on the fingertips of his thumb and index finger.

"Pak Rangga, if I offer your family a very sweet and tasty candy for your eldest son. Which candy do you choose? this one in my hand? or is that still wrapped up?"

Kyai Rohim moves the candy flanked by his index finger and thumb.

It appears that Mr. Erlangga is looking at Bram and the candy asked by Kyai Rohim. Mr. Erlangga also gave an answer.

"Of course I will choose who is still wrapped in Rohim's pack, how could our son eat the food of others' scraps."

Kyai Rohim smiled at the words of Mr. Erlangga and glanced at Bram who was still looking straight at Kyai Rohim.

"I think Mr. Erlangga will do the same in choosing a son-in-law. Will you choose a santri that I betrothed to my son-in-law to be a daughter-in-law or who might not know if he is still awake or not?"

The deg!

Instantly the faces of Mr. Erlangga and his wife also look embarrassed, even at once the memory of Mr. Erlangga and his wife returned to remember the incident a few hours ago.

Actually Mr. Erlangga and his wife were invited by Bram to meet his girlfriend who had just returned from Paris. That Bram did because his mama constantly betrothed him to women who made Bram feel upset because almost all the girls introduced to him only made his mood worse.

Bram's heart wanted to surprise the lover but he was surprised. When he arrived at his apartment Bram who had already invited papa and his mother in had to be surprised by the scene where the girlfriend was making out with a man he did not know.

The anger towards Shela and the shame towards her parents is still Bram felt until this moment. The moment where he was still stared at by Kyai Rohim.

Bram raised his head slowly upwards and looked at the haughty Kyai Rohim. His heart asked why this kyai could know who he was even a few hours ago. Wasn't it just the three of them who saw Shela's indecent behavior.

Bram took a deep breath.

"What is your real purpose, Kyai? You're like a shaman."

Bram smiled mockingly.

"My goal is to find a mate for my students who are already in puberty, as long as you know Mr. Bramantyo Pradipta. Almost 20 times I refused applications from some men because I felt they were inappropriate for him. And I think you deserve her other than the late Amir. For your coming here signifies that Allah wills you both to be fooled."

Bram snorted in annoyance because he was likened to the man he had been trying to save.

"Don't equate me with that guy, Mr. Kyai. He's just a weak crybaby. He even cried out of desperation."

Bram smiled mockingly at Kyai Rohim.

"But are you as capable as he is of handing over your future wife to someone else when death comes to pick her up?"

It is now the turn of the smiling Kyai Rohim. Kyai Rohim is still trying to be patient enough to face Bram's arrogance but not this time. Bram was embarrassed because he had thought about the happy face of Amir when freefall from the cliff when it was released from his hands.

Bram massaged the base of his nose as if his head felt dizzy. Bram is puzzled how Kyai Rohim knows what he is going through even if Bram is still astonished and continues to imagine Amir's happy smile, when Amir is out of his hands. Bram then raised his head and confirmed his sitting position.

"I'd like to see what kind of woman you're offering me that's mr. Kyai."

Bram's words made his parents gawk in disbelief, as did Bu Lukis. This made him feel very happy. He hopes that the girl offered by Pak Kyai is able to melt the heart of his eldest son who is almost at the age of 35 years.

A door was opened and a woman of almost the same age as Kyai Rohim was seen. The woman bowed her head towards the family of Mr. Erlangga.

While Burhan was still sitting in front of the door with his head bowed.

"Umi, get Ayra here and have her make tea for our guest."

Kyai Rohim looked at his wife who had just sat next to Kyai Rohim.

"Nuggeh Abi."

"Ayra is Ayra's girl's name."

Bram muttered in his heart.

The woman walked out of the room but was not like Burhan. The woman was walking as usual unlike Burhan earlier. Bram concludes that the woman must be the wife of Kyai Rohim.

After the departure of Kyai Rohim's wife, Bram seemed to want to take advantage of the conditions to benefit him.

"What if the girl disagrees with this proposal, Mr. Kyai?"

Kyai Rohim again smiled at the thing that had made Bram annoyed because no one had dared to talk to him in a manner like Pak kyai Rohim. Bram felt that Kyai Rohim's smile was a smile of ridicule.

Kyai Rohim is a smiling scholar. He was almost never angry. His anger was his silence.

"We will hear for ourselves what the answer is even my wife did not know what we just talked about. The decision remains the same - it all depends on you Bram. If you accept my proposal then you will marry her today at this boarding school."

This time there was a sense of disdain for Kyai Rohim, the first feeling he had other than respect for both his parents and his grandmother.

"Thank you Bram, rather than the same woman! mama didn't have a daughter-in-law earlier. Or did you accept your betrothal to Helena?"

Bu Lukis finally felt annoyed because his son from earlier as if always dodging. Not to mention remembering the incident when he saw the woman Bram told his girlfriend. They had LDR for 3 years. This child has been many times he betrothed to the girls he knew but not one glimpsed by his son.

Bram who heard his mother to receive the santri or Helena rounded the two netra that were under both thick and black eyebrows. Helena is a very spoiled and very perfectionist girl that will make Bram very uncomfortable.

For Bram not only beautiful to conquer his heart but most importantly his heart can feel comfort and tranquility when with the woman. But Helena was far from roasted from the fire. Hearing Helena's name alone Bram was already feeling lazy.

"Now you choose Helena or this girl later. If not, you're moving to Amrik again."

Bu Lukis threatened the son who was seen still silent without response.

"Ma, this is a wedding, not a dress. I don't want to marry just any woman."

Bram tried to defend himself but again had to be silent when Mr. Erlangga who is usually called Rangga by his business relations was speaking quite firmly to Bram.

"So that Shela wasn't just any woman? Shela was your choice, right? Come on, Bram, let's take a look at this santri pak kyai."

Suddenly the door opened and appeared Kyai Rohim's wife followed by one woman wearing a white headscarf long enough to cover the chest and white robe that was large enough to not appear curves of the girl's body. It looks a thin decoration on his face.

The woman in white brought a tray containing 3 cups of tea and one cup of coffee.

But the face could not be seen clearly by Mr. Erlangga's family because the girl kept her head down even when putting the tea on the table, the girl wearing the robe was walking with the head of her knees and still lowered her head. Finished putting 3 cups of tea and 1 cup of coffee in the direction of Kyai Rohim, the girl walked backwards still with her knees and without turning her back on Kyai Rohim.

"Mother.... Come." Comehere."

Kyai Rohim's voice sounded quite calm. Stopping the girl's movements.

The girl walked towards Kyai Rohim still with her face down and still with both knees she advanced towards kyai Rohim.

Buk Lukis saw the motion of the girl immediately fell in love because according to her a rare girl in this day and age. A girl is capable of being so obedient to parents. Even so shy, do not look at Bram and his parents did not do it.

All this time if Bu Lukis introduced Bram to the girls must be the girls were crazy because of the good looks of his eldest son.

Likewise Mr. Erlangga, Mr. Erlangga immediately felt a match with the girl offered to be Bram's wife until the father of Bram was thinking hard for this time there should be no rejection from Bram.

Unlike the husband and wife, Bram was irritated because how could Kyai Rohim want him to marry the girl. The girl who looks very fashionable, very simple and her face is still not visible has been considered to have an ugly beauty according to Bram. For Bram, it was only the unattractive-faced woman who dared not raise her face before others.

When the girl was sitting next to Kyai Rohim's wife who is usually called Umi Laila by the santri there.

"Sir, have you heard the news about your future husband?"

Kyai Rohim's voice carefully.

"It's Abi."

"Are you not sad?"

"Every living person in this world will face and feel death. Nothing is eternal in this world and all that we enjoy, have, are now but a deposit. Including people we love very much and dearly, will leave us. A protracted sadness will only lead us to despair. Is that not what Abi taught us in the face of calamity?."

The girl's voice was so soft her answer was straightforward and firm yet which made Bram wonder the woman did not raise her head until the girl's face was still downcast.

Mr. Erlangga and his wife who usually do not like if anyone lectured this time the mangosteen heard the answer the sign girl agreed and was amazed to hear the answer from the girl.

"If anyone Abi deems fit to replace Amir to marry you today, will you accept him Nduk?"

Kyai Rohim sipped his coffee before asking the girl.

"Whatever Abi decides, I obey. Saami’na Wa Atho’na ya Abi."

"Thanks to your face, your future husband and his parents want to see your face. Her name is Ayra Khairunnisa daughter of my late brother."

Kyai Rohim introduces Ayra to Erlangga's family.

Ayra raised her face slowly until it can be seen clearly by Mr. Erlangga and Buk Lukis and Bram. But his eyes are still down.

"Pretty."

One word was simultaneously spoken by Bu Lukis and Bram. But Bram said that one word in his heart not on the lips like Bu Lukis until heard by all in the room.