Almahyras
Section 10

...10: The Delayed Willingness (2)...

Bakda dawn Alma was given an impromptu assignment by Umma Sarah. That is, memotongi tempe to be made dry tempe for dinner together, before the event began.

"Sister Alma!"

The voice was clearly from Kirana. Because no one called her that loud and cheerful other than this adorable little sister of hers.

"What's up, Na?" answer Alma.

Kirana smiled broadly, as she stood before him. "I help you, huh Brother? Can ya? Let the chips in the fry, continue in the oseng-oseng using spices and keep Kirana cobain finished deh! Continue to go to the supermarket quickly. Okay, Sis?"

Alma laughed a little. Kirana remains Kirana. "OKAY. Just don't take your nicotine. And you're willing to help Brother."

"Ikhlas, Brother!"

Alma has finished memotongi tempe into four thin sections of boxes. And continued by Kirana memotongi tempe into several parts with elongated shape. Netra Alma stared at the frying pan hanging between the pot and the claw. Then take it, then put it on the stove, pour oil and blame the fire.

"Na, if you put it here, huh?" alma said with her index finger pointing at the small container next to the stove.

Kirana nodded. "Yes, Brother."

Kirana's hands are getting better at chopping up tempe. A few seconds of silence occurred between them, because Alma focused on frying. Kirana finally opened her voice. "Sir Alma" said Kirana.

"What, Na?"

"Hm ... Papa and Mama Kak Alma died because of what?" Kirana.

Obviously it was spontaneous to make the new Alma put tempe into the face looking back. "Why are you asking, Na?"

Kirana looked up at Alma and stopped her cutting activity. Then Kirana frowned and said, "Kirana can't ask about that huh Brother? Not polite, right? Then Kirana apologized. Kirana is not going to-"

"No, Na. Notwithstanding. It can't be. I mean, brother, why are you asking?" argue Alma.

Three-second pause Kirana beucap, "Just want to know. Did Papa and Mama Kak Alma die in an accident too?"

"Sister's parents died of illness, Na."

Hearing Alma's reply, Kirana fell silent. In fact, only the sound of knives and wooden cutting boards collided with each other because Kirana was too stressed when cutting tempe.

"Slowly, Na. The sound of the chopping was too loud," said Alma.

"Yes, Brother."

A few minutes later Kirana stood up. After already cutting tempe and put it into one in the side container of the stove. Kirana put it by saying, "It turns out, here that Papa and his mother died in an accident just Kirana. The others don't, they hurt, either."

"All is the will of God, Na. Enough of you do'a in your parents. May God give you the best place by His side" said Alma.

Kirana nodded. "Surely, Brother. Every time Kirana prayers always do'a, always ask Papa and Mama to go to heaven, always ask that if Kirana died in one with Papa Mama, let me see you again, keep one more house in heaven with Papa Mama."

Alma's right hand stopped moving. The net suddenly heats up, not due to exposure to smoke from the oil in this hot pan. Except, because of Kirana's words. Really I don't know why now Kirana is always talking about her parents when they are together. Alma felt that in Kirana's face there was no longer pain, but for a few moments sometimes the water turned sad, then a moment later a cheerful smile printed again on her face.

It's true.

People are good at pretending.

"Printers. So that's a sholeh kid, huh Na? So that later if you meet Papa Mammu, he feels proud to have children like you," said Alma.

Kirana smiled knot. "Yes, Brother."

"Mr Alma!"

The voice of the call spontaneously made Alma and Kirana turn her head. "Eh, Brother Sal!" Kirana.

Salsa painted her smile to Kirana. Then looked at Alma and said, "Sampean called Umma Sarah, Ma'am. Let me continue to cook the tempeh. He said it was important, so Ma'am went straight to the office and didn't have to stop by again."

"Eh? Yes, Sal. This is one fry tempeh. You'll be ready by yourself, Sal?" said Alma.

"Come, Ma'am. Easy."

Alma's footsteps hurried to the office. Because there's an important word there. He didn't want to make Umma Sarah wait. After running for about a minute because the distance from the kitchen from the office is quite close. He has reached the doorway. "Assalamualaikum, Umma."

"Guiland, Alma."

A smile choked. Alma stepped slowly closer to Umma Sarah, then welcomed Umma Sarah's request that she sit on the wooden chair opposite. "Umma Sarah, what's wrong with me?" ask Alma.

"Your desk has called-"

Alma refuted, "Yes. He called Alma last night."

"It's good that you should have surgery as soon as possible, son."

Hearing Umma Sarah's words, Alma looked down at her stomach wrapped in a black robe. If it's like this, there's no lump. But if touched will be very sure that the lump is felt. "One week, Umma. Please give Alma a week to convince herself" Alma said.

"good. Umma will love you for at least a week. After one week Umma hopes you are ready to go to the hospital, and wait for the doctor's decision when it is better for the operation to be done," said Umma Sarah.

Alma nodded.

"Right ... Umma is happy to hear that you are willing to marry Jafar" continued Umma Sarah.

Alma looked straight at Umma Sarah's face. "A trust must be carried out as well as possible, Umma. As long as the man that Mother chose for Alma was. Why would Alma refuse?"

"Yes .. yes although in the past, Alma had refused," said Alma.

"Umma understands that it takes time."

For a second, Umm Sarah finished talking. Suddenly, the sound of knocking on the door made Umma Sarah turn her head. Then followed by him, to see who came so early.

... far?

"Jafar yu--"

Umma Sarah's words were contradicted, because suddenly the son of his only puppet-Lutfan came and spoke quite loudly. "Oh Allah, Gus Jafar!" exclaim Lutfan.

By raising his eyebrows alternately Lutfan continued to say, "Gus-gus until you remember the same handsome brother Gus is not?"

Jafar stared at Lutfan. Then his lips spoke without sounding, "Forgotten."

"This lutfan of you! Your masmu told me to go in first. Don't talk in front of that door, son!" tegur Umma Sarah's. Then looked at his nephew-Jafar gently and said, "Fear here you come in, son."

Jafar and Lutfan come in. There were two chairs near the stacking closet, and chosen by them to sit there. When Netra Alma meets face to face with Lutfan. His flat gaze was greeted by a wave of hands as well as the wide smile from the man.

"This one often goes to Umma's office. Don't you think you're important, huh?" lutfan.

"Lutfan!" Umma Sarah reprimanded. And his eyes glared at Lutfan for so long. Then say, "Don't take lo-lo or what it is. You are not in Jakarta or any other city. And also the woman you call lo-lo is Mas---"'s candidate"

Lutfan's eyes widen. Even spontaneously refuted, "The candidate Mas? O Allah, so this is Gus Jafar's candidate? Ow hell! Umma why can Mas have a future wife I'm not told, anyway? When I first met him, Umma said Umma's foster son, not-"

"Sorry Lutfan, you talk too much" Alma said suddenly and clearly made Lutfan stop talking. He looked at Umm Sarah and said, "Alma said goodbye, Umma. Because there are still many tasks that Alma has to complete."

After greeting, Alma came out. And it was clear, Lutfan grumbled for a while, followed by Umm Sarah who spoke about the task he gave to Jafar for the event later tonight. Then the rest, he did not hear because the distance was getting further.

Brak!

"Astag."

Spontaneous Alma lowered his head to pick up some oil paper that fell splattered on the ground.

"The same eyes of your feet if the road can be synchronous, anyway?"

Alma. And it is true that the one he collided with was Mardiyah. It's always Mardiyah to talk to him using loud and harsh speech.

"So fall all, this!" continued Mardiyah.

"sorry. Not intentionally" said Alma.

Mardiyah's forehead shriveled with her hand which gathered some oil paper. "Fraudulent. Here's the oil paper!" sentak Mardiyah's.

You're too grumpy, Mardiyah.

My name is also unintentional.

"I'm sorry again" said Alma.

Mardiyah left him. It is recalled in Alma's mind that Salsa said that Mardiyah liked Jafar. Indeed, he could not imagine how it would be if Mardiyah heard the news that Jafar would marry her.

This fate makes every human being interconnected. Either to love each other or ... hate each other anyway. He also did not understand how the relationship he would live with Jafar after marriage. Do they love each other? Or just hate each other?

The string that was in Alma's gamis pocket suddenly sounded. Sontak made him reach into the game directly. And saw that there was an incoming call from Aunt Maryam. The beautiful Netra stared at a rock chair in the garden, then she decided to sit down and raised the call.

"Assalamualaikum, Alma."

"Waalaikumussalam, Aunty."

There was a loud coughing sound from across. "elma ... Auntie loves to read the messages you sent."

"I agreed to marry Jafar, because of Mother Bi's request" replied Alma.

Once again there was a loud cough.

"Auntie no pa-pa?" ask Alma.

I heard Aunt Mary sigh. "Auntie's fine, Alma. In Malaysia Bibi is well handled."

"Alhamdulillah. Aunty should get well soon, so that later if I get married Aunt can come," said Alma.

"Surely, Son. Do'a in Auntie huh, Alma? Auntie misses you. I'd love to hug my beautiful Aunt's son when I get married."

Alma smiled at Aunt Maryam. "The best do'a for Auntie."

...🌺...

At 06.15 WIB. After Aunt Maryam contacted him, Alma went to the field. The place where the event will start tonight, with the right hand carrying duct tape and scissors. He went through every game booth maybe there is a need for the goods he brought.

"Mbak-mbak!"

A man from the left-hand-play-place sort of archery a ball suddenly just called out to him.

"The reason is calling me?" alma asked with a point of her own.

The man smiled and nodded. Alma remembered that the man was the senior of the boarding school who helped Salsa last night. "I can pinch the scissors you brought, Ma'am?"

"Can. Please, Mas." Alma handed him the scissors she was carrying. After taking Alma again said, "Not all the same duct tape, Mas?"

"No, Ma'am."

"OKAY. Excuse me, later Masnya love to the need, maybe there is a pinjem."

About five minutes around the room, and it was felt that no one needed duct tape. Alma again sat on the stone chair that happened to be on the edge of the field. He looked up at the sky, seeing the sun no longer shamelessly shining on the earth this morning.

He slightly lowered his head, his hand placed the duct tape on the empty left side. Then Alma spread his gaze, and saw so many people passing by.

"I didn't expect. It turns out ... this orphanage has activities once a month, as a form of knowing each other and relieving boredom," muttered Alma.

A little girl suddenly approaches him - which Alma believes is an orphanage boy from another dormitory. "Mr Alma, huh?"

"Yes. What's up, huh Dek?" said Alma.

A piece of paper folded into two halves was given to him. He frowned slightly before receiving the letter. "This is for Mama?" ask Alma.

"Yes, Mommy."

"From who?" ask Alma, again.

The little boy who was eating the lollipop was silent for a moment. It seems to be remembering this letter from whom. "Male, Ma'am. If it's not wrong, Gus. Yes, Gus. I'd love to, anyway, Gus from the pesantren, Ma'am."

Alma covered her smile. "Thank you, yeah."

Gus from the pesantren?

Why ... My mind goes to Jafar.

He's Gus, too, right?

After seeing the little boy actually leave. His right and left hands shrewdly opened the folds of the piece of paper. He only hoped, if this letter was true of Jafar. Hopefully, no writing that when spoken will sound bad for him. Because he had been trying to accept the marriage that would soon take place, and he only hoped that Jafar at least as well as in appearance.

"Allalamaicum, Alma.

I heard that you changed your mind and were willing to marry this mute man. Will you really not regret having a mute husband like me?

Seven months. The time you ask. Is it enough for you to think that I am a decent man?

I think that time is very less for you.

Because to be honest, I really don't want someone forcing you to marry this disabled man. So before you regret everything and feel ashamed to have a useless husband like me. You should cancel this marriage and find a useful husband and not humiliate you in public.

- Jafars.

(You don't need to reply to this letter)" Jafar wrote, in the piece of paper.

Be ill.

I don't know why his heart seemed to be pierced by something when reading a letter written by Jafar. Even his net suddenly heated up, a second later a tear fell on his left cheek. Why would anyone look so low on themselves? It was as if even one person did not deserve to be in hers. Those men. Why does a letter that is always rude and contemptible and hard-pitched turn into a piece of paper that invites cries of sadness.

Why do you think that I would feel ashamed of mute husband like you, Jafar?

What if instead, you would be ashamed to have a wife like me?