My Bow to the Destiny of Love
Requesting to meet

"Come on Ummi, Ayra is well. Ayra is bored at home without any activities." Chayra whined to Bu Ainun to be allowed to the Ta'lim Assembly. It had been two days since his return from the Hospital, his job had only been lying in the room.

"Ummi says tomorrow, son. You must completely recover first."

"Ayra has completely recovered, Ummi. It's look..."

Chayra stretched her muscles, moving her limbs in front of Bu Ainun.

"Yes, Ummi knows. But not good, son, just healed directly on the move. Good thing is, rest until you're fully recovered."

Chayra snorted at Bu Ainun's reply. "If you walk by the pool, may you?"

Bu Ainun glanced at Chayra. "Rest, son, Ummi says." Mrs Ainun passed by leaving Chayra for the kitchen.

Chayra was singing her lips, snorting because she did not like the attitude of Umminya. He exhaled violently and then stepped into his room.

A knock at the front door undoes Chayra's intention to enter her room. Just holding the handel door of the room, he turned around again to open the guest's front door.

"Assynolt,"

"Wa'alaikumsalam," he replied as he opened the door.

Chayra's eyes sparkled with delight as she saw who had come. "Saras, Tania.." Chayra hugged her two best friends. "Your tumbens are coming. I miss you guys so much."

Saras and Tania just smile at Chayra's words.

"Come on, come on in."Chayra pulls Saras and Tania's hands into the house.

"Not good with Abah, same with Ummi." Saras.

"Yes, Ayra. We don't feel good about Ummi." Tania was silent for a moment while looking around. "Ayra, we're actually here to tell you something."

"Come, that's why you guys go in first. Yes, we're talking at the door."

Saras. "We're talking on the edge of the pool right there.." He said while pointing towards the fish pond.

"I'm not allowed to go anywhere with Ummi."

Tania furrowed her brows at Chayra's confession. "Why, Ayra? You're cured."

"Yes, but Ummi won't let me out of this house until tomorrow."

"Eh, Son Saras, Son Tania. Enter, Son. Why talk at the door." Ms. Ainun who just came out of the kitchen greeted them. "Ayra, bring your friend in, son."

"Ayra asked from earlier Ummi. But they both refused."

"Ihh, Ayra is talking about Ummi." Tania.

"It's the truth, right." Chayra said without guilt.

Saras pinched slowly on Chayra's arm because he could not be compromised.

"Udah, don't blame each other. Come on, kid, come on in." Ainun ma'am again let them in. Chayra pulled Saras and Tania's hand slowly to follow in her footsteps. They don't want to finally get in.

Saras brought his face closer to Chyara's ears as Bu Ainun passed from before them. "This is Ustadz Ghibran, Ayra." Saras whispered so as not to be heard by Bu Ainun.

Chayra knitted her brows. "What happened to Ustadz Ghibran?" He asked half a whisper.

Tania came closer, then took out an envelope from the pocket of the robe she wore. "Ustadz Ghibran leave this for you." He said, handing the envelope to Chayra.

"What's this?" Ask wonder.

"Later to open. But if you don't mind, we'd like to know what it is." Tania spoke with a bit of embarrassment.

"Issh, you are. Let Ayra open it by herself. Not good dong, if we're too kepo." Saras brushed off Tania's itchy hand wanting to open the envelope.

Tania poked her lips. "I told you, didn't Ayra mind. But if he doesn't want to, I won't make it, either."

"Mmm,bgini. I want to see it first. If this isn't personal, I'll tell you." Chayra tried to come up with a solution.

"OK!" Both are compact.

"Saras, we're back, yuk! It's not good for Ummi Ainun if we stay here long."

"Later dong. I just met you guys."

"Let's meet kangen if you've joined the Assembly again Ta'lim." Tania rolled her eyes at Chayra.

Saras just nodded his head in approval to Tania's words. "Come on, Nia." Saras pulled Tania's hand.

"Assynolt,"

The two leave the contemplating Chayra again enjoying her solitude.

"Wa'alaikumsalam,"

Chayra went into her room. He stared at the envelope still in his hand. Sitting in front of his study desk while observing the envelope. Just a white envelope. But, it was able to make Chayra curious what it contained.

"Bismilahbornrahmanirrahim.." Lirih. Tear the top of the envelope. Slowly open the folds of paper inside.

Chayra was stunned to see such a neat handwriting. Word by word lined up neatly on a very fragrant white paper. I don't know how many times Ghibran sprayed perfume on the paper, until the fragrance really stuck.

Chayra smiled looking at the writing. The handwriting of a man who admired him.

Bismillahrushmanirrahim..

Agra, Zahra..

Sorry if I'm interrupting your time..

How are you doing ?

May always be in the protection of the All-Knowing of the heart of his servant..

Aria ..

Actually, there's something this despicable man wants to tell you..

But..

I can't say it on this paper..

I want to hear straight from your mouth that smiley..

I don't know why that smile of yours always makes my heart flutter..

I want to meet you*.

I wait for you Thursday, for Ashar prayers in the classroom next to the Ta'lim Assembly..

I do not forbid you to bring one or two of your friends, so that we avoid slander..

*But..

I can't accept your excuse if you refuse to come*..

I'm sorry I was selfish to say this

Because I was really expecting your arrival..

From the despicable men who secretly admired

Ghibran Abdullah

_ _ _ _ _

Chayra was still staring at the paper containing the handwriting of Ghibran. Did Ghibran really put his heart on him?

He took a deep breath and exhaled it violently. He's really confused. What he's gonna do now.

Chayra put the paper on her desk. He went out of the room to look for Mr. Ismail. But it seems Mr. Ismail has not yet returned. He rushed into the kitchen looking for Mrs Ainun. But, Ms. Ainun is not there either. It was only Bi Inah that he saw there. The middle-aged woman who was the maid in the house. Chayra saw Bi Inah was busy cutting vegetables while singing dangdut.

Chayra giggled as she walked closer to the woman who looked almost the same age as her mother.

"Bi." call Chayra in a low voice.

Bi Inah was silent. He tried to figure out who called him. He did not see Chyra who was already sitting crouching behind the chair she was sitting on.

"Bie.. This... Where's Ummi?!"

"Allahuakbar, Astagfirullahal'adhim..!"

Bi Inah jumped in shock at the sight of Chayra who had suddenly been standing behind him. Suddenly, his actions made Chayra's laughter explode.

"Oh my God, Bi. Bi Inah looks really funny.."

"Son Ayra why don't you take Bibi?"

"You make a joke. Ayra is bored inside the house, Bi. I have no activities."

Bi Inah shook her head while rubbing her chest. "Son Ayra asked me, was it Auntie?"

Chayra stopped laughing then looked at Bi Inah. "Where's the Ummi, Bi?"

"Mom went to the market. Ayra boy needs something, let auntie get ready?"

"No, Bi. Ayra just wanted to talk to Ummi."

"Oh if so, Nak Ayra wait for Mom to come home "

"Yes, how else. Thank you, Bi, for making Ayra laugh."

Bi Inah smilingly nodded as she stared at Chayra's departure. The girl was seen entering her room.

* * *

Ba'da salat isya, Chayra can only gather with Mr. Ismail and Ms. Ainun. Amrina who had just returned from the Assembly of Ta'lim also gathered.

"Said Bi Inah, you were looking for Ummi this morning. What do you want to ask, son?"

Instead of answering Ms Ainun's question, Chayra turned to look at Mr. Ismail instead. Mr. Ismail fixed his sitting position.

"What's up, son?" Ask the Chayra.

"It's Ustadz Ghibran, Abah, Ummi."

"What's up with the Ghibran, son?" Ask Mr. Ismail.

"He sent Ayra a letter."

Mr. Ismail smiled. While Bu Ainun was still curious about the continuation of his nephew's sentence.

"It was expected from the beginning. Abah would've told you that the Ghibran had a heart for you."

"What's the matter now is that he's taking Ayra to meet, Abah. But, Ayra was afraid of breaking the rules of Pesantren. That's why Ayra said it was with Abah. If Abah says it's okay, Ayra will see him. But if Abah doesn't allow it, Ayra will only return the letter without seeing him."

"When did he ask you to meet?" Ask Mr. Ismail again.

"Thursday Ba'da prayers Ashar."

"Where?"

"In the classroom next to the Assembly Ta'lim."

"Meet him!"

"Change!" Ms. Ainun was shocked to hear her husband's answer.

"Say, meet him, son!" Said Mr. Ismail affirming.

"Change!" Hit Bu Ainun again. Bu Ainun shook his head looking at her husband.

Mr. Ismail smilingly looked at his wife, then rubbed Bu Ainun's head gently. "Ummi don't worry. Ghibran couldn't have asked Ayra to come alone. Right, Ayra?" Mr. Ismail turned to look at Chayra.

Chayra just nodded her head.

"That's right Abah said. He's a godly man, son."

"Boy shaleh kok ngajak people meet." Miss Ainun.

"Ummi, Abah explained. Ghibran knows his limits. He's a man he can hold his words to."

Ms. Ainun shrugged her shoulders. "So Abah. Ummi does not want to interfere if there will be a reprimand from the board of Pesantren."

Mr. Ismail smiled. "You're too much, honey."

Chayra gaped in disbelief. "Well, can Abah also say baby?"

* * *