The Gema Shahadah Aisyah
Tears on Happy Days

Jaya booked a restaurant for lunch with the Umar family after Aisyah's graduation. They gather to celebrate Aisyah's graduation while adding intimacy between two families. This is the first time Jaya and Renata have met Umar's parents.

Two very different looking families are at one table. The unusual sight left the restaurant employees astonished. Umar's family who dressed all covered contrasted sharply with the appearance of Aisyah's parents. Bringing two different families together is not easy either. But for the sake of children's happiness, parents suppress their egos for the sake of happiness.

In a Chinese marriage there should be some procession to be done but they missed it because it was not suitable for the Umar family. They relented because Umar was the husband.

Umar saw Aisyah speechless from the moment they reached the restaurant. Umar had no idea what was happening because when Aisha came out of the auditorium, he was accompanying Daniel to buy a gift for Aisha.

Umar wanted to ask why Aisyah looked sad even though before entering the auditorium Aisyah's smile was still blooming. The circumstances did not allow for Umar to ask Aisyah let alone their sitting distance far enough.

"Please." Jaya let them all start eating after praying.

"Thank you Mr. Jaya and Ms. Renata for inviting us." Zaid made a sound after being silent for quite a long time.

"We should have invited Umar's parents." Jay smiled formally.

"I understand it must not be easy for Father and Mother to accept Umar as a son-in-law."

"What does Mr. Zaid mean?" Jaya frowned, she did not not not know the meaning of the sentence. He just wanted to say that the sentence was not entirely true. Accepting Aisha as a new human being was much more difficult for them.

"Pak Jaya and Ibu Renata definitely expect a daughter-in-law from the same class as you guys— just as I expected Umar to marry a girl from among us."

Zaid's words stunned everyone, Khalid touched Zaid's thigh so that his brother would not continue his words. Everything has gone as it should, there is nothing to regret.

"Honestly I was quite disappointed with Umar because only this time he decided his own path and chose Aisha." Zaid let out a sentence that shocked everyone.

"Would Umar have married a girl who wasn't Atalie?" Jaya saw Umar sharply.

"Papa." Aisyah shook her head faintly hoping her papa did not ask that further. He can explain it to Jaya later at home. Now they have to finish the lunch.

"Wait for Atalie, Papa needs an explanation." Jaya does not want to lose, because two families have gathered so they have to talk about everything that is still unclear.

The tense atmosphere overpowered them especially Umar. This is an important event for Aisyah, they shouldn't discuss things like this. But because it is already over, Umar will explain it honestly.

"I'm sorry Mr. Jaya and Ms. Renata because I didn't say this from the start but Aisyah already knew everything so I didn't cover anything from Aisyah." Umar tried to make his tone as low as possible.

"So it's true that you made Ayesha a second choice?"

"It can't be said like that, it's entirely my fault because actually from the beginning I loved Aisyah and wanted to marry her but at that time I was betrothed to another girl, we were also engaged."

"Atalie, why didn't you tell me about this?" Now Jaya looked towards Aisyah, she did not accept the words of Zaid.

"For me it doesn't matter Pa, it's just Mas Umar's past."

"You don't see, they even demean you."

"We apologize profusely, we have absolutely no intention of degrading Aisha." Maryam raised her voice, she did not want any misunderstanding between them.

"I've been trying to believe in you guys but now I'm starting to doubt, Atalie is our precious daughter but how could Mr. Zaid say such a thing?" Renata chimed in, as a mother she did not want Aisyah to be hurt.

"Atalie has a future that we've arranged, but in the end we have to give in to Atalie's wishes, we just want to see Atalie happy, if this marriage doesn't make her happy we'll cancel it."

Everyone was jolted with the words Jaya especially Umar and Aisyah. Aisyah's mood has not been because since she was on campus is now getting messy. Aisyah had hoped that their family would become familiar with this meeting but the opposite was true.

"No Mr. Jaya, I will still marry Ayesha." Umar insisted, since deciding to cancel his match with Hilya, Umar was determined to marry Aisyah. He was more than sure to do that.

"And let Atalie be denigrated?" Jaya clenched her hands firmly holding back the anger.

"I'm not gonna let that happen."

"You think we'll believe it?"

"I will protect Ayesha, I will marry Ayesha with or without parental blessing." Umar was undaunted, he had to prove to Aisha's parents that he meant it.

"Summer!" Sentak Zaid's.

"No Umar, you will marry Ummi's blessing, Ummi will bless you and Aisha for marriage." Maryam grasped Umar's hand, her tears just melted away.

"Pa, Ma, for now there's nothing happier than this marriage."

Renata rubbed the back of Aisyah's hand, she would do anything for the child's happiness.

Umar smilingly looked at Aisyah, he did not want to promise Aisha much. Their lives are so different. Umar could only promise himself to always protect Aisha and guide her to the love of God. It is the most important thing in human life to achieve the love of the Creator.

******

"Aisha, forgive Abah's words." Maryam held Aisyah's hand when they were all out of the restaurant.

The event was awkward, delicious food served tasteless. But they must continue and eat the dishes that have been served.

"I really understand that Ummi, Abah is not wrong."

"I'm sorry Ummi." Maryam gave Aisha a hug, apologizing for not being able to do much when Zaid said something that offended Aisha and her family.

"Ummi don't apologize, I'm not angry at all about that."

"Thank you Ayesha." Maryam rubbed Aisha's head, now she could understand Umar's choice. "May all go well until the wedding day."

"What about Abah, Ummi?"

"You don't have to worry, Ummi will try to talk slowly with Abah, don't think about it."

Aisyah smiled in gratitude because Maryam has now given her blessing. Since meeting, Maryam has always treated Aisyah well.

Actually Zaid at that time was also no less good, he guided Aisyah to say the shahadah and asked Khawla and the santri to accompany Aisyah.

But to become a son-in-law, Zaid wants Hilya whose religion is certainly good, memorized the Qur'an and his parents are also good friends. They are perfect for building a household and giving birth to the children of sholehah. Much different from Aisyah who is still weak in her Islamic religious knowledge.

According to Zaid marriage is not just about love, the science of religion is much more important and the feeling of love will follow after the passage of time. But the rice had become porridge, Umar had canceled his engagement with Hilya without Zaid's knowledge and chose Aisyah.

Zaid lays down the future of the boarding house he founded on his children. Zaid did not want his children to choose another path.

"You're gonna get out of the cabin after marriage?" Zaid's heavy voice broke the silence in the car.

"Why did Abah ask like that?" Khalid looked at his Abah, "no one will come out of our house Bah, Umar will take Aisha."

"Did Abah want Umar to leave?" Umar replied, if that is what Abah wants then he will go with Aisha after they get married.

"As for you, why ask, now Abah's opinion is not important."

Umar let out a heavy sigh, "Umar has promised to take Aisyah after marriage."

"Umar and Aisha will live with us all Bah." Maryam. They will live together in that simple house, and Aisha has lived there. So it won't be too difficult for Aisyah to adjust.

"Wouldn't it hurt his pride, how could he live in a cottage environment, he hasn't even smoothly brought the Qur'an, yet, he will be distressed by the younger santri but his recitation of the Qur'an is much better."

"Aisha is learning and she will not be easily depressed just because the santri children are better at reading the Qur'an." Umar was sure about that, Aisyah was not a person who easily felt inferior. Aisyah is always eager to get new things every day.

"Are you sure about that?"

"He found Islam himself and his faith may be much thicker than we are born as Muslims, Abah do not underestimate Aisha."

"That's not to underestimate Aisyah, it's her reality, she even has a tattoo."

Umar was silent, Aisyah once asked her opinion about the tattoo.  But Umar did not want Aisha to be sick twice to remove the tattoo, he knew if making the tattoo also hurt.

"Now it is not visible."

"Don't love blind you, Umar."

"Umar is not blind Bah, Umar has spent long nights to make Umar's choice, please Abah appreciate this choice, God willing everything will be fine, everything will be fine, the things that made Abah worried wouldn't happen."

Zaid was silent until they got home.