The Honorary Owner
2

Ruby had just finished praying together with Nyai Hannah and Nyai Zubayah at a small mosque in her house. The sound of water gurgling from the fish pond in the middle of his house gives a calm and shahdu effect.

"Nara's still here, isn't she?" nyai Hannah asked, her hand had just finished folding its face.

"Yes, Ummi. Still in Ruby's room," replied Ruby, he asked Umminya's and Nyai Zubaidah's face to place it in a small cupboard where the face was kept.

"Call, gih. We're eating together" pinta Nyai Hannah..

"Okay, Ummi."

Ruby walked backwards with half a bow out of the mushola, then walked normally towards her room.

"Ra, let's eat together." Ruby immediately took Nara out of the room.

"Huh, don't want me to By. It's not good that I'm with your Abi" she said. He refrains so Ruby can't pull him.

"No, it's Thursday. Abi ate together at the mosque. I haven't been here in a long time, until I forgot the same tradition here."

Nara immediately went out of the room, "if I don't, By."

Ruby laughed at Nara. He took Nara to the dining table.

Ruby's house is different from the houses of today. All the walls of Ruby's house are made of wood, typical of Javanese houses. The house is not too big and there is too much furniture.

"Yong, Nara. How are you doing? Never been here in a while?" greet Hannah when Ruby and Nara arrive at the dinner table.

Nara kissed Nyai Hannah's hand, "dayang Ummi. Nara has been busy with handsome artists in Jakarta Ummi, until she forgot to come here."

Not to forget Nara kissed the hand of Nyai Zubaidah who looked at her full of question marks but still kindly greeted Nara.

"I'm sorry if it makes Miss Nyai uncomfortable with my presence" said Nara.

"Ah, no. I am more than happy to meet new people" replied Nyai Zubaidah. "Did I hurt your feelings, son?"

Nara shook her head and smiled, "no, Miss Nyai. Absolutely not ...," answered Nara kindly.

Ruby pulled out a chair for Nara to sit down immediately. He also sat down next to Nara.

As usual, Nyai Hannah invited her guests to take her rice and side dishes first and then she took a meal for Ruby and Nara and then she herself.

They all prayed before eating, but there was something different about how Nara prayed. He clasped both hands just below his chin and he ended his prayer by touching his forehead, right and left shoulders and a gentle kiss on his thumb and index finger.

That made Nyai Zubaidah's question was answered already.

"I'm a non-Muslim, Nyai's mom." Nara clarifies.

"Thank you for telling me and I don't blame him, son," replied Nyai Zubaidah, "let's start eating it."

While eating the dishes, they exchanged stories on the dining table. Both are flexible, but do not take away the respect of Ruby and Nara to the parents in front of them.

Their conversation continued into the living room, this time warm tea became their conversation companion.

"Assalamu'alaikum."

The voices of Kyai Abdullah and Kyai Marzuki saluted, Kompak all answered the greeting. Nyai Hannah and Nyai Zubaidah approached their husband. Ruby goes into the kitchen making two new cups of coffee for Abinya and Kyai Marzuki.

Ruby came back with two cups of hot coffee on a tray. Not to forget he brought two cups of teas that are still full of Umminya and Nyai Zubaidah. He placed the cups on the living room table, right in front of each owner.

"Thank you, son." Kyai Abdullah.

Ruby smiled and returned to the living room accompanying Nara to finish her tea.

"So, gini Kangmas Kyai. Our presence here actually wants to clarify the process of ta'aruf between Iqbal my son and Ruby Kangmas Kyai's daughter."

"A few days ago we asked when Iqbal would return to Jombang? And apparently, there's still something he hasn't finished. Iqbal asked for four to five months for us and the Kang mas kyai family to complete their obligations there. Is Ruby's son willing to wait for Iqbal?"

Hearing Kyai Marzuki's statement making Ruby moody, he had to be friends even longer with a long wait.

"By, go to Yuk's room?" Aaak Nara's.

Ruby nodded, He stood up and slowly left the middle room then entered into his room.

"Udah, don't be sad. Just waiting a few months." Nara cheers on her disappointed friend.

"I've been waiting for four to find out, Ra." Ruby expressed her disappointment.

"Patience a little, it's just a matter of time. Don't antagonize him, it'll just make you feel like you're standing at one point."

"Yes, Ra. Maybe I should still save this miss."

**********

Ruby just finished her Isya's prayer with Umminya. He immediately returned to the room because he was tired of making a long trip since last night.

Nara had already gone to the airport after Ruby performed the magrib prayer. Nara is not willing to be escorted by Ruby, because she knows how tired her best friend is.

The room lights are out and Ruby is behind the blanket. After reading the do'a, Ruby tried to close her eyes. However, his eyes reopened when he felt his phone shake once.

He could have ignored the message, but not this time. He got out of bed and read a whatsapp message from a number that was not stored in his cell phone contact.

//Assalamu'alaikum Warahmatullahi Westarakatuh.

I repeatedly typed a message for you, but it was too little courage to send this message to you.

How's Ruby doing? May you always be in his protection.

-iqbal-//

A short message that makes his fatigue and sleepiness disappear.

As soon as he turned on his room light again, he sat down on his study desk chair and stared at his cell phone screen. Only the black background becomes the profile photo of the sender of the message.

How happy Ruby was when she found out that Iqbal had kept the number. But he also felt it was unfair. What if all this time he always saw whatsapp status that shows his daily activities, while he had never heard the news even what Iqbal's face now.

And now it's his turn to be confused. Repeatedly he typed in a reply for Iqbal's message, repeatedly deleting it.

//What took you so long to reply to my message?//

One more incoming message from Iqbal shocked Ruby and almost dropped her phone. His brain seemed desperate to quickly decide what reply he would send to Iqbal.

//Wa'alaikumsalam mas Iqbal, I'm sorry if I've kept you waiting. Thank God I'm fine, Mom. How's Iqbal doing there?//

//I only worry if you're disappointed because I've made you wait a little longer//

"Yes, Right. I'm disappointed because of you, ma'am" replied Ruby, but she did not dare to reply and send a message about what she was feeling.

//Patience a little more, so that we can let go of longing in a halal way. Good night Ruby, keep your time so you don't wait too long. Assalamu'alaikum's chat.//

"Well, why the chat? Just once I replied to her." complained Ruby disappointed.

//Wa'alaikumsalam mas Iqbal//

- Connected