Almahyras
Section 13 (2)

...13 (2): About Choice And Time....

"Not just Mardiyah. But with anyone," said Ummi Salamah.

Alma nodded and mutely. The fingers of his right hand rubbed his nose slowly, occasionally he was still as excited. Her beautiful Netra had been reckless, because of the relentless crying earlier.

"But, Ummi---"

Ummi Salamah refuted, "But what, son?"

"Mardiyah likes Jafar. And Alma doesn't want to take--"

Soon Umm Salamah shook her head and refuted, "Take what, son? Take someone else's property? Notwithstanding. Jafar was Ummi's son, and Ummi's."

"There is no such thing as seizing before the guy actually pairs up. Jafar is single and unmarried. You don't think as if you're taking someone else's husband, son!" ummi Salamah.

Alma agreed. But still his heart said this was wrong. "Ummi please ask Jafar. He'd rather marry Alma or Mardiyah?"

"Why should Ummi ask? Jafar will marry you, and Mardiyah with Lutfan. It has been established" said Umm Salamah.

Alma nodded in disagreement. "Ummi should know that one's feelings cannot be forced. Especially this is about marriage. Alma only asked Ummi to ask Jafar, if Jafar preferred Mardiyah. Alma is not pa-pa" he said.

"If at last Jafar would prefer you. Are you willing to marry him?"

The words of Ummi Salamah made his heart race faster. "Yeah. Of course Alma will marry Jafar, Ummi. If Jafar is willing."

"Okay. Ummi will ask Jafar," replied Umm Salamah.

Umm Salamah stood up, and pulled her up. "You don't have to spend weeks together on the field. Today you rest in your room" said Umm Salamah.

Alma nodded. "Yes, Ummi."

...🌺...

This fate is painful enough.

He is only willing to accept and live. There is no intention of questioning the justice of the Power where. Because in the end, he can survive in this position of course by the will of the Creator. So is it good, if he questions things that should have been destiny?

No. gabe.

He will continue to survive without asking again.

"Jafar ..." muttered Alma.

He did not understand why his mother had to marry him to someone so far away? Especially Jafar is the child of the owner of the pesantren.

Really sometimes, he feels very inappropriate in conjunction with Jafar-regardless of all the shortcomings that Jafar has. Still, he felt small. Umm Salamah was such a nice person, he would never again be able to disappoint her. This marriage was the wish of both parents from his side and Jafar's side.

Should have.

But how else? There was someone who had deep feelings for Jafar, Alma felt it was worth considering. Because to him, one's feelings are not trivial. Moreover, that person was the Mardiyah-girl whom Jafar had known for many years.

And himself?

Maybe it's only been a few weeks.

"Will be better. If you choose Mardiyah compared to me, Jafar," muttered Alma, again.

The room is dim and quiet outside. Everyone must be busy on the field enjoying such a festive event. He tried to hold everything. However, when Mardiyah recalled back, it made her a little claustrophobic.

"Because I am not a woman worthy of your company" murmured Alma, again.

Suddenly, the door to his room was knocked. Alma was ready with the veil on the nightstand and wearing it as soon as possible. He walked to the door and opened it.

"U-ummi?"

Umm Salamah smiled. How could he be here? He saw the clock in his right hand at 19:30 WIB. An hour and a half later he left, but he came back.

Alma opened the door of her room wider. "Please, Ummi. Sorry, kinda messy Alma's room."

Umm Salamah took a seat on the edge of the bed and pulled him to join there. Then he grabbed Alma's right hand and said, "Jafar's choice remains yours, son."

I don't know what feelings surround Alma's heart right now. His heart was pounding hearing the words of Umm Salamah. That man-jafar. Why did Jafar have to choose her as a wife? Though he was sure Mardiyah would appreciate Jafar more as a husband, than he ever blatantly insulted Jafar.

"Mrs ..."

Alma. "I-iya Ummi what?"

"Jafar chose you to be his wife" said Umm Salamah.

Alma simply replied with a nod.

"So?"

Alma was in a daze, completely clueless as to what Umm Salamah meant. "So what, Ummi?" tanyakanya.

"So when do you want to be ready to marry Jafar?"

Hearing Ummi Salamah's question directly, Alma spontaneously coughed. He did not know what entered his mouth all of a sudden, but he was really surprised to hear the question.

"A-anu Ummi's seven months away, right?" said Alma.

Ummi Salamah. "You said that Jafar would prefer you to be a wife. You are ready to marry Ummi's son directly. You didn't forget, did you?"

But not now, right?

"But Alma needs time, Ummi" replied Alma.

"Ummi knows. But seven months is too long, son."

Alma breathed. "Alma must be operation--"

"One month after you had surgery. How, Son?" the Ummi Salamah.

Alma nodded in disagreement. "Ummi .. that's too soon, Alma---"

"Faster is better, son."

Alma nodded again. Faster was better, but for the wedding he felt it was too rushed. Alma took off Umm Salamah's hand, then grabbed her right hand and held it. "Ummi please .. at least Ummi understands Alma. Marriage is good immediately. But Alma still needs Ummi time. Because for Alma wedding readiness is not about fashion, walimatul'ursy and others. But the marriage was also about Alma's own and Jafar's self-readiness."

Alma breathed for a moment. Three seconds later he continued to say, "Alma asked for time not to stall, Ummi. It is precisely Alma wants to prepare himself as well as possible to be Jafar's companion."

Umm Salamah's net gaze looks teary. Would that speech be wrong? Why would she cry like that?

"Ummi is really grateful, Jafar will marry a woman like you, son," said Ummi Salamah.

Shouldn't I also be grateful that I will have a husband like Jafar, Mi?

"Either you and Jafar were married, or either Mardiyah and Lutfan were. Ummi will keep waiting for that good day" continued Umm Salamah.

"Now, are you taking a break, son? Tomorrow we go to hospital---"

"No, Ummi. One week, Ummi promises Alma love for one week," argued Alma by removing the hand.

"We're going there to check. Promise is nothing more than that. We need to see a doctor first, son."

Alma nodded forcefully. "Yes, Ummi."

Note:

• this is the connection from the part that was yesterday.

• next part will be POV Jafar. You are ready to know everything about Jafar's life.