The Gema Shahadah Aisyah
New Home

The old house that was originally deserted was now filled with guests. They sit on a pedestal that has been held throughout the living room. The holy verse of the Qur'an was recited by Zaid who presided over the celebration that afternoon. Today Aisyah and Umar officially moved into their home after a draining renovation and transfer process.

They invited the nuclear family and some of the closest neighbors. Although their houses were far apart, Umar wanted to have a good relationship with the neighbors.

Plates containing food and tea glasses on the tray issued ready to entertain guests. Simple but the event was full of service.

Renata and Jaya were also present on the first day their son moved home. Renata brought a lot of new furniture for Aisyah. Although Aisyah asked Renata not to buy a lot of goods but Renata still did. Renata will also hire a security guard at the house, again he does not accept rejection. Renata wants to make sure the house is safe, especially its location far from other settlements.

Towards the time of Magrib, one by one the guests left the house of Aisyah and Umar.

"We say goodbye, may your household be filled with blessings and soon be blessed with a baby."

Aisyah and Umar looked at each other and smiled and guaranteed the prayers of the neighbors.

"Ummi, let Aisyah do the dishes." Aisyah went to the kitchen to find Mary washing dishes and glasses.

"Nothing Aisyah, you must be tired of all day to take care of this."

Aisyah does not feel good to see Maryam washing dishes like this even though in the boarding school, all work is done by students.

If Maryam and Khawla do the dishes, Renata is busy putting up photos of Aisyah and Umar's wedding in the living room. Renata believes Aisyah will not have time to beautify her home. Never mind that the house is old, Aisyah will leave it plain without any decoration. Meanwhile Jaya and Umar put the sofa back into the living room.

Umar and Aisyah led their parents to the courtyard. Maryam said that Umar and Aisha would visit frequently.

The house was again deserted, Aisyah felt sad when she saw her papa car slowly away then not seen at the turn. Aisyah was sad when before she had lived apart with her papa and mama. But on the other hand Aisyah was happy because finally she and Umar had their own place to live.

"Let's go in." Invite Umar when he heard the adzan magrib from the mosque located at the end of the complex.

Aisyah held Umar's hand in, "Mas pray here first yes, I'm afraid to be alone."

"Yes dear." Umar knew Aisyah was not a coward but because this was their first day living here, Aisyah was not used to the atmosphere. The security guard is also working tomorrow.

"I'm glad there's finally a water heater in the bathroom." Aisyah enters the room first, opening the hijab for ablution. Aisyah never imagined in her life that the water heater would feel special. After getting married and living in a cottage, things that used to be ordinary so it feels special.

Umar held Ayesha's hand when he was about to enter the bathroom.

"Sorry yes I can not love you luxury but I promise with me— Aisyah will be happy, I will try to meet all your needs"

"Mas, I don't need that luxury, I'm grateful that you're my companion, my prayer priest, my life's priest." Aisha clasped Umar's hand and kissed him. "Mas wudhu first gih."

"Don't you want ablution just now?"

"Gus Umar first let me prepare the alphabet, I want to be a good wife for you."

"You've been a good wife, baby." Umar stepped into the bathroom after Aisyah pushed her shoulders slowly.

Aisyah got two new prayer mats from Zaid, she held them facing the qibla. Aisyah put the siwak and tasbih Umar on the prayer mat.

They established the magrib prayer and the ba'diyah magrib then tilawah together. Aisyah also memorized the longest letter in juz 30, she was quite difficult to memorize the entire letter but Umar always encouraged her to ask Aisyah not to give up easily.

"I'm tired of it." Aisha buried her face in Umar's lap after repeating the first 10 verses of An-Naba.

"Yes, we continue after the prayer'."

"Tomorrow."

"Yes after dawn."

"Really?" Aisyah narrowed her eyes to look at Umar, usually Umar will force her to memorize longer.

"Let's get up first."

Aisha raised her head to face Umar.

Aisyah dropped in Umar's arms, her energy re-filled after Umar hugged her like this.

"Tomorrow what breakfast?" Aisyah remembered if there was anything to cook in the kitchen because they had not been shopping anything. Suddenly Aisyah missed a meal with Maryam, Ali and Hafiz when Zaid had just returned from school. Usually Zaid carries one large basin containing rice, side dishes, cakes and fruits. Believe me the rice will taste better than ordinary food.

Aisyah will watch Ali and Hafiz scramble for their favorite cake but then Maryam will take Mendut cake for Aisyah. Since the first try the cake from the sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves Aisyah immediately likes it so that every time there is mendut, Maryam will set aside her for Aisyah.

"Fry the leftover rice."

Aisyah looked up, "is it still delicious?"

"Still, you never ate fried rice leftover yesterday?"

Aisyah shook her head, hearing the fried rice in her head was the chef-made fried rice at home with the addition of shrimp, peas and eggs.

"Come wudhu again keep praying isya' ya." Umar went from his seat to ablution followed by Aisha.

******

Early in the morning Aisyah went to the kitchen to make breakfast, in fact she also wanted to make provisions for Umar but no ingredients of any cuisine. Aisyah planned to go to the market after Umar left for campus.

"Mas, we only have rice." Aisha turned to Umar who had just caught up with her.

"Did my wife never make fried rice?"

"Early but now there's only rice, I'm not sure if I can make good fried rice without other ingredients."

"Please, puree the onion and chili like regular fried rice and then love soy sauce."

"How good would it be?"

"Enak, it must be delicious." Umar convinced Aisha.

"Yes already." Aisyah obeyed the words of Umar, smoothed the seasoning then sauteed it and poured all the leftover rice yesterday. Do not forget the soy sauce exactly as Umar said. It was really just rice and soy sauce. "The smell is good."

"Dear, I told you it must be good."

"My husband does have a lot of special recipes like this."

Umar chuckles, it is not a special recipe that almost everyone knows. It's just that Umar does not know how Aisyah was raised, what kind of life Aisyah so far so that fried rice was not familiar to him.

A plate of fried rice made by Aisyah is ready to eat. Aisyah saw Umar was very greedy eating black fried rice, it seemed she added too much soy sauce.

"Are you sure you don't want to eat?"

Aisyah shook her head, the rice was very little, if Aisyah came to eat maybe Umar would not be full. Aisha promised to serve a more decent meal to Umar. Although Umar seemed to enjoy it but Aisyah was not used to it, she had to cook something more than rice and soy sauce.

"Later Ummi took to study after Ashar Mas."

"If that's what I'll take you with me."

"No need Mas, you'll have to rest later I'll pick Ummi."

"What is a women's special education?"

"Yes, actually I'm a little nervous about meeting a lot of people especially without you Mas."

"The important thing is always near Ummi huh." Umar held out a hand stroking Aisha's cheek. "My wife of 24 years could have been braver."

Aisyah smiled forcedly, she wanted to stick directly to Umar. People would see Aisha differently if she was with Umar.