When Hamzah Met Alifa
Meet Alifa's Father

"What?" Hamzah was surprised to hear Joseph's words. He looked closely at the teenage boy to see if he was just joking or not.

A few seconds passed, Hamzah was silent and he laughed. That made Haida frown in confusion.

Then Hamzah shook his head. "Why would Oma Haida match me with Alifa?"

"Because I see you're a good man and you come from a good family" Haida said without hesitation. "So, how, Hamzah? You want to marry Alfah?"

Hamzah was silent for a moment. He thought of the answer to Haida's question. While Yusuf who could not wait for an answer finally chanted, "Just accept it, Mas Hamzah."

"Marriage is a matter that cannot be decided arbitrarily. I asked for time to think about this. Does Alfah want to marry a man like me?

Haida took a deep breath and said, "A mother's hunch is never wrong. And I am the mother of Alfah's mother. I am very confident in the decision to marry you both. You can definitely complement each other."

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"What?" peeked Alifa when she heard the story from Haida. "I don't want to and won't marry my own teacher."

Alifa walked back and forth in front of Haida. Now they were in the room of Alifa, talking about the match made by her grandmother.

It was late, and Hamzah came home two hours ago. However, Haida's debate with Alifa is still not over.

Alifa of course was furious at the grandmother who arranged him with a man without Alifa's consent first.

Alifa's face became agitated and angry. Of course he strongly rejected the match. I don't know what would happen if he married.

The other person who is her husband is Hamza. The man who in the view of Alifa is someone who is innocent and pretentious.

"You take it easy, Alifa. Hamza asked for time to make a decision. If he doesn't want to marry you, Oma won't make a meaning either."

Alifa took a deep breath. He tried his hardest to stay calm even though his heart was still broken.

Seeing her eldest granddaughter in doubt, Haida got up from her seat. He looked at Alifa face with shady eyes.

"Oma's going to the room. It's night. You sleep too? Don't stay up too much!" said Haida advising Alifa in a soft voice. 

But Alifa turned her face to Haida. The anger bolt was still clearly engraved on his face. 

He folded his hands in front of his chest and did not reply to Haida.

"Oh yes" Haida said as she closed the door but remembered something. "Alifa, don't forget to pray! And pray that Allah will always give you the best choice."

Alifa remained silent. But Haida smiled as she closed the door slowly.

After that, Alifa laid her body on the bed. He pulled the blanket over his neck.

Then Alifa clucked and shook her head to eliminate the chaotic thoughts inside her head. 

"Just tomorrow I have to meet Hamzah and tell him that I don't want to be fooled" Alifa muttered to herself before she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Meanwhile, in a different place, more precisely in Haida's private room. It looks like the woman is calling someone. 

From the look of his face looked very serious while walking towards the balcony, looking for fresh air.

"I want you to find out more information about Hamzah. Remember that! In full. Understood?"

"Well, Miss Haida," replied the person across the street.

"Okay, good. Your payment will be transferred immediately."

Haida cut off her phone connection with the man. Then he looked for a phone number he hadn't called in a long time.

For a moment Haida's heart felt crowded when staring at the row of phone numbers. However, he steadied his heart to press the green button on the screen.

Not long after, the phone connection was picked up by a man across the street. Haida took a deep breath when she first heard the voice of her ex-daughter-in-law after a long time without seeing each other.

"How are you, Steve?" ask Haida for pleasantries.

"Mrs Haida? What's calling these nights? I'm sorry I'm busy" said Steve, Alifa's father.

Yes, since the divorce with his daughter, Steve has indeed become a distance with Haida as well as with Alifa and Yusuf.

"Aren't you going to ask me about your son, Steve?"

"I know they must be okay" said Steve.

"Alifa will soon marry someone. Don't you want to say something to her? Or you don't want to meet a man who's likely to be your son-in-law?" Haida asked in a soft voice. 

Haida is very hopeful that Steve learns that the news that Alifa will be betrothed to Hamzah will knock the man's heart to meet his son.

There was no response from Steve. At the end of there, it sounded quiet and silent.

So Haida asked, "Hello, Steve?"

"Hmm," Steve muttered in response. "Yes, tomorrow I'll try to see Alifa if I have an empty schedule. Sorry, ma'am, I have to hang up. I'm busy tonight."

Haida opened her mouth to speak but the phone was ended by Steve unilaterally. Haida took a deep breath.

It's not the first time Steve has behaved like that. Even receiving a call from Haida was a very rare moment.

*

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*

In the afternoon, according to plan, Alifa went to Hamzah campus to talk about the matchmaking between them.

Accompanied by Caca, Alifa walked as she swept around looking for Hamzah. And apparently Hamzah was with his friends talking about something on the campus page.

Alifa was preparing to approach Hamzah but at that moment her phone rang which made Alifa glance at the phone screen.

Alifa was stunned when she saw her father's name on the phone screen. This is the first time Steve has called Alifa after so long without seeing each other.

"Alifa, why?" caca asked Alifa who was still in place while staring at her phone.

"Dad I called, Ca," said Alifa in disbelief.

"Yes, dong. Shucks!" tell Caca who knows about Alifa's problem with her father.

Alifa picked up the phone and put the phone on her earlobe.

"Assalamualaikum, dad. What what?" Alifa asked with a tight chest due to the power to resist longing and also curiosity.

"Girishalah, Alifa. How are you doing? Did you hear you were getting married?"

"What's? Says who?" Alifa asked in an irritated tone. He could already guess who the person who told his father about the news was.

It was definitely Oma Haida who told father. Who else? Thought Alifa.

"Oh, so you're not getting married?" Steve asked back. "Yes already. I heard you were getting married. So I intend to meet with your future husband."

Across the street, Steve, sitting in the topmost room of a skyscraper, could only massage the base of his nose.

Steve realizes now that Haida called last night just so he called Alifa to make a fake news about Alifa getting married.

Elsewhere, Alifa looked disappointed in her father. She had been very eager to meet Steve but it turned out that her father only wanted to meet if she brought the man who would be the future husband of Alifa.

Not having any ideas, Alifa hurriedly said, "Eh, Dad. Waita minute. I'm really getting married. Where do we want to meet, Dad?"

"really?" Steve frowned looking thoughtful. Then he said, "How about we meet at Lilac Cafe? I'll wait for you there."

"OK, Dad."

After hanging up the phone, Alifa smiled. To make Caca curious about what the contents of the conversation Alifa with his father.

"Why, Fa?"

"I'm the same Hamzah will go see my father," said Alifa happily.

Caca was getting frowned upon. "Well, you don't want to marry Hamzah? How the hell?"