A Match for 'Izzah
Chapter 6 (Refusing kang Adnan's proposal)
“Before, I apologize profusely, Sir, Mom. I really appreciate the arrival of my Mom and Dad to my house. And, for the application problem, sorry if I am forced to say, I refused the application from the Adnan kang family.”
All the Adnan kang families looked at each other, after hearing the stern remarks from Izzah. They spoke to each other in confusion, until it was clear a sentence was thrown out loud from the man who belonged to the elders of the Adnan kang family.
“What does this mean, Sir, Mom? How could your daughter just reject the proposal? Isn't it, if the male family has come, a sign that the two families have agreed? But, what is this?”
Of course it surprised Joseph and his wife, including Izzah. Because they do not know about the proposal that comes suddenly. In fact, kang Adnan had never discussed this with Izzah before.
“I—.”
“We apologize profusely, sir. Again, I'm sorry. There are things that make us have to refuse the application. Again sorry once.”
Quickly, Izzah crammed his father's sentence to say.
“Halah! Tick-tick ayu, use the picky all. Turn into a spinster, new nyesel.” The middle-aged woman next to Adnan grumbled loudly. “Wes, Sir! Come on, muleh ae! Wes far brought handover, even rejected raw,” he continued while cleaning up all the goods brought for application.
In fact, until they were outside the house, they still vent their anger by grumbling throughout the activity. Apparently, kang Adnan like being scolded by his mother. I don't know what sentence he uttered, as it sounded like blaming kang Adnan for wrongly choosing women.
Even so, Izzah and his father and mother still threw friendly smiles and cautious sentences as the vehicle they were riding in slowly left his yard.
***
Izzah's heart again felt pierced when he recalled what he and his parents had just experienced an hour ago. Not the spicy words spoken by his mother kang Adnan, but because he felt so guilty with the Adnan kang family.
Indeed, what happened was not purely his fault, because kang Adnan did not tell in advance about the proposal tonight. If Izzah was told before that, of course they would not waste time and fatigue for the sake of coming from Purworejo to Jogjakarta, which was ultimately futile, because he would first forbid it.
“Why didn't you speak honestly earlier, Nduk? In the end, we are to blame for the Adnan kang family. He thought, we were playing them.” Aisyah approached her daughter who looked agitated. “Mom also feel guilty about them. Kasian, they came all the way, had to accept this risk,” continued his mother again pitched regret.
“Izzah ndak tega, Mom. If they know because kang Adnan did not give the news first, surely kang Adnan scolded all out with his family.”
When Izzah was forced to reject Kang Adnan's proposal, he did not speak honestly about the reason. He only resigned even though he was bad, especially by his mother kang Adnan. At least, the guilt of his rejection of the proposal, slightly treated by protecting the name kang Adnan in his family.
Because what Izzah knows, kang Adnan has heard about the matchmaking of himself with kang Farid. That meant, he would no longer dare to come to his house. At least, there was a limit to her being more distant from him. But strangely, he still forced himself to propose to Izzah. As if, the proposal would still be accepted
Aisyah sighed harshly, then said, “Yes, already, Nduk. I can only do’a, hopefully Adnan kang is betrothed to a good woman. Because he is a very good man, understanding.”
“Cuman kang Adnan prayed for?” izzah protested without looking at her mother's troubled face.
“You it, Nduk. You're a mother's child, yes, I must have been praying every day, to,” concluded Aisyah.
Izzah only chuckles at the reaction of his mother who he accidentally teased.
Izzah smiled, then kissed her mother's hand that was attached to her cheek. These are the moments Izzah always miss when in the cottage. In a time of solitude without a place to rest, his heart always longs for the figure of the mother beside him, who always calms the heart and relaxes his mind.
***
Finally, a week has passed. The cottage vacation that was only ten days was finished. All students will return to the pesantren one day before the beginning of njai begins, not least Izzah. That's the rule. If violated, will get a detailed question from Bu Nyai Khodijah.
“Ngopo wae ning omah, to, Ma'am? Is opo less a holiday? Opo iseh peek karo mamak-e?”
Such is the sentence that Izzah often heard when he was just a santri pemayaran first, because he came to the cottage on the day starting the opening of the study. Understandably, new students who certainly do not feel at home in a new place. Not to mention imagining the figure of the mother who was usually beside him.
In fact, this is not the first time Izzah mumps in pesantren. Previously, he had felt six years in the cottage as well when he was in school. It's just that, the place of mondok is still in one area, so he can go back and forth to his house every break or school.
While in the cottage now, only he felt away from the old man. Being a new santri to him was a sad moment. But not for now. He has enjoyed the taste of nano-nano that he is accustomed to.
“Wes ready, Nduk?” Mr. Yusuf looked at Izzah who was still in the room.
“Already, Sir,” said Izzah who then came out of his room.
He only carried a small bag that had been brought home. So, it's not too heavy to carry it. However, there were two boxes that Izzah saw on the porch of the house. Two boxes that Izzah did not know were removed by his mother, and then put in the trunk of the car. Although I did not know the contents, Izzah had guessed if it contained snack food, which parents usually bring to the cottage.
“Do not forget, divided into all your friends, yes, Nduk.” Aisyah glanced at her daughter while lifting one more cardboard into the trunk. “This one, specially for you. If this, make it divided,” he continued pointing to the two boxes he held.
“Iya, Ma'am,” says Izzah.
Izzah then prepares to get into the car that turns out there is Nisa. “Loh, Adek not school?” tanyanya. Izzah thought his sister had gone to school since then, because it was not visible in his eyes.
Nisa just smiled unjug teeth, before she finally said her brother's words, “So mommy has permission to Bu Shofi. Anyway, no repetition, kok.”
“Udah, yuk, departure!” Her mother was seen getting into the car in the front seat, next to her father. While Izzah and his sister, sitting in the back seat.
Today, both of Izzah's parents deliberately took the time to come to the Izzah boarding school. Usually, if it was just dropping off, it was at most just his father. But this morning, everyone came along, including her Nisa—adikan, who usually left for her aunt because she could not leave school.
Both of Izzah's parents will be invited to meet the call of Abah Yai and Bu Nyai Khodijah who were ordered through their daughter. Because the call from Ndalem, is not a haphazard call, which of course must be fulfilled immediately.
***
Arriving at the pesantren, Izzah was a little surprised. There was an unusual sight that he felt, even from the beginning of getting into the kitchen path that he went through when he just entered the cottage. Two mbak Ndalem who was in the kitchen of the princess cottage, suddenly looked at her in surprise, not even greeting her arrival as usual. They then smiled after Izzah who first greeted him.
Even more astonishingly, almost the entire madam Izzah had met while passing the road leading to his room, stared expressionlessly flat at him as well. Their eyes were like they were looking at a new santri. More strangely impressed. Only a bland smile that they throw, maybe because in honor of the arrival of an ustadzah in the princess' cottage. I don't know what's going on. Whether there was any scene, so the strange gaze Izzah got on the first day into the cottage. (*)
