Not the Cinderella story
Rejected

Maryam took Adinda to her room. Miss Maryam wants her talk this time not heard by anyone else but Adinda. Miss Maryam invites Adinda to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Neng,” call Bu Maryam.

“Iya, ma'am,” answered.

“Tadi A Irsyad said what?”

“A Irsyad asks Adinda to be a tea substitute Eva.”

“Neng, answer what?”

“I asked A Irsyad to meet my parents, mom?”

“Means unanswered yes or no?”

Adinda nodded her head. In him Adinda really likes Irsyad. His heart always trembled when the name Irsyad was called. Even as a tit for tat, when Adinda asked God about the answer to her feelings, Irsyad said that he wanted to make Adinda as a substitute for Eva which means being a wife and a connecting mother for Nadia.

“Is there hope for A Irsyad?”

“Honest,bu. Dinda loves A Irsyad. When Adinda stayed at that time, Adinda began to like A Irsyad. But sorry, chances are Adinda can't accept A Irsyad.”

“Why, neng?”

Ms. Maryam's eyes started to glaze over and it made Adinda feel guilty. Adinda was heavy to reject Irsyad actually. But when Irsyad wants to establish love first Adinda immediately intends to refuse. Adinda looking for sholih man. How will Irsyad guide him if he has now invited him to an obedience?

“There is a reason why Adinda refused, bu.”

Let this be Adinda's secret regarding the reason for her refusal. Adinda does not want Miss Maryam or others to feel hurt by the reason of her refusal.

 ***

Adinda Pov's

Suddenly, Maryam's mother held my fingers tightly. Her tears had already run down the river on her cheeks that were no longer tight.

I cried and tried to wipe away the tears on her cheeks and Ms. Maryam even sobbed with my attitude.

“Mother wants Nadia to have a mother who will love her. From the baby she never knew the figure of her mother. Only from the photo did he know the figure of his mother. Why is Nadia like that? She had to lose her mother figure even when her eyes had not long seen the world.”

Miss Maryam clasped my fingers tighter, even the most heartbreaking of her tears fell on my hands. My heart aches more and more to see this old man pleading for the sake of his grandson.

“Sometimes Nadia calls her aunt Aina, sometimes also aunty and it makes Aina often cry to see the fate of Nadia who does not have a mother. Not a drop of ASI water enters her tiny mouth. Eva's mother also asked Irsyad to marry again.”

“Why Adinda, bu.”

“Mother believes that Adinda will sincerely take care of Nadia. Nadia stuck up with you, even as if you were her mother. I was already old and could not afford the maximum to take care of Nadia. Mother also often sickly sometimes also easy cape.”

“A Irsyad does still love Eva, but gradually can love equally neng also.”

“Not that the problem, ma'am?”

“Then what?”

“Dinda need istiqarah first, bu.”

“Do it.”

Maryam hugged me tightly. Her tears were breaking in my arms.

“Neng, please consider carefully. Mother is selfish to force you to accept A Irsyad. I just want one day when I die there will be someone who sincerely membersama this family.”

I was crying too. I remember my mom at home and I remember my little sisters. I can't imagine what if my father or mother were gone forever and how would I calm my sisters down? How will I answer the question when they ask, ‘Where is it?’ or ask, ‘Which father?’. I never imagined a woman who was no longer young would win Nadia?

“Mama...!!!”

I heard a scream from outside Miss Maryam's room and it was Irsyad.

“Mood, Nadia is vomiting...!!!”