The Gema Shahadah Aisyah
A Little Preparation for Marriage

"Ning Hilya is sick, we'll see her today, aren't you coming?"

Umar shook his head to answer Maryam's question. Umar's face was flat and focused on enjoying his breakfast. Saute kale and fried tempeh made by santri which is always delicious because they cook it sincerely.

Umar plans to check the preparation of his wedding hall, he may not come to visit Hilya when their relationship is not like it used to be. Umar, instead of breaking the line of friendship, just did not want any misunderstanding between them.

"He's in the hospital, sure you don't want to come?" Ask Mary again.

"No, no Ummi." Umar did not want to meet Hilya before he and Aisyah were married.

"Khalid will accompany Umar, Mi." Khalid said he would not let his shy brother go alone. Although he had three heads but Umar had no experience with it, so Khalid had to accompany him.

"Well, Ummi and Abah will go with Khawla as well."

The invitation has been spread, most of the invited guests are relatives of Umar family while the rest are from relatives of Aisyah family, not much Aisyah invited because she did not have many friends.

Wedding preparations have been around 80 percent, on the sidelines of which Aisyah also prepared her grand opening boutique. Named Boutique Muslimah, Aisyah will start a clothing business that became her dream since childhood. It will open tomorrow, located in the strategic area of the suburb of Banyuwangi.

"People know what pain Ning Hilya is?" Umar asked as they were on their way to the wedding reception building. The meeting will be held at the mosque which is located next to the reception building.

"Bloody fever, you don't have to worry about it, just pray for Ning Hilya's recovery."

Umar fell silent, guilt crept into his heart after hearing that Hilya had to be hospitalized, which meant that the pain was quite serious. As Khalid said, Umar could only pray for Hilya's recovery.

"Do you expect Ning Hilya to come to your wedding?"

"I didn't expect Ning Hilya to come Mas, she was already amazing at being able to shepherd all of this."

"Ning Hilya was raised well, it must have been very hard for her because you canceled the match but it hurts more if it continues, your decision is right Umar."

Khalid's words made Umar a little calm. Umar will prove it to Zaid if his decision is not wrong. Umar would never choose wrong. Since first seeing Aisyah, Umar felt that the girl was special. The girl who asked to be introduced to Aisyah.

The Surya hotel ballroom will be the venue for the wedding reception. It was at the request of Jaya and Renata that had been approved by Maryam. While Zaid did not comment much, he let things go as they should. Letting Umar arrange all the preparations, Zaid did not care much.

All seemed busy when Umar and Khalid arrived. They arranged the lamps, chairs for the guests, flower decorations, crystal lamps that were all white.

"I don't know if this is after Aisyah's wishes, but everything has been arranged by Ms. Renata, she is a perfectionist Mas."

"Mas knows, one of the decor teams complained that Ms. Renata had repeatedly asked them to change the dinner mat on the table."

"Mas heard about that too?"

"Of course, Ms. Renata said the feeding mat should be patterned with pigeons because she said it was a symbol of loyalty."

Umar held a laugh, he was sure Aisyah was not too fussy about it. Renata was the one who made this preparation even more complicated.

"I also think so Mas but Bu Renata actually said that this is very simple, apparently simple according to us and Bu Renata very different."

"But your future wife is simple."

"It's actually not that simple Mas, I know the price of his shoes is equivalent to my salary of one month teaching at two campuses."

"You have to be patient after you get married." Khalid patted Umar on the shoulder before stepping towards the crowd of decorators who were lifting a large cardboard box in the middle of the room.

It is possible for Aisyah shoes worth 2 million is something simple different from Umar, it can be to buy seeds, fertilizer and all kinds of purposes and saved. They are like two people living in different worlds. But as long as they had the same goal, for Umar it did not matter if they came from very different families. The goal is to achieve the love and pleasure of God, the ultimate purpose of which man is created.

*******

The sun had just risen in the eastern horizon, its rays watering the back garden of Umar's house that looked lush. The mustard seedlings and tomatoes began to grow after Umar sowed them a week ago.

Umar sat in the gazebo smiling watching his garden. He wondered if he still lived here when his mustard and tomatoes were growing and ready for harvest later.

Umar has been looking for a house near here. He and Aisyah did not discuss about where to stay but Umar wanted to give the best for his wife later. Umar did not say this house is not good, it is the most comfortable place for him. But not necessarily Aisyah also felt that way.

"Some." Maryam came with warm tea and placed it beside Umar and sat down in the gazebo. He also saw a stretch of kale that thrives, maybe later in the day they will cook kale.

"Yes Ummi?" Umar smiled softly thanking Mary for bringing tea for him.

"Today to go to the hospital where Hilya was treated."

"But Ummi, Aisyah will open her boutique, she has asked Umar to come since long ago."

"Hilya's condition is severe, she's in the ICU room. When we came, he didn't even open his eyes."

Umar was stunned, was it that bad. Though Umar thought it was just dengue fever, after being treated for a few days Hilya will soon go home like he used to when attacked by a similar disease.

"Come before it's too late and apologize to her."

"Why did Ummi say that?" Umar did not want to think badly about Hilya's situation. He prayed that Hilya's disease would be lifted up by God.

"You'll find out after you see him."

"Will Kyai Abizar accept Umar's arrival, Mi?"

"Of course, Ummi and Abah knew them well, not even if they held grudges."

"All right Ummi." Umar said obediently, he almost never refused the request of Maryam and Zaid. Marrying Aisha was Umar's only courageous decision. Umar also wanted to see Hilya's condition and apologized to the girl. His marriage to Aisyah was just counting the days and it made Umar even more nervous and guilty at one time. Maybe apologizing to Hilya, will make Umar feel better.