"Astaghfirullah! What are you doing?" shouted a middle-aged man Varun and Lily didn't know. Suddenly the man entered the house and caught Varun and Lily like that.
Varun and Lily gasped. Immediately let go of the grip and walk away from each other. However, it was too late. The middle-aged man was already furious and had a bad attitude towards them. Turns out he wasn't alone. Several other men followed him into the house.
"Astaghfirullah. Zina! Zina! Bad luck for our forty houses like this!" another man exclaimed.
Varun rushed forward to explain what happened. "It's not like that, sir. Sorry, gentlemen, don't get me wrong. Lily and I didn't do anything. There was a fire here. We're trying to put out the fire."
"Fire? Where's the fire? You sinners! You have polluted this village with adultery. We can't be fooled," shouted the man who was bigger and had a stern face.
"Just arrest them. How dare they commit immorality in our place! Call the police so that they are immediately brought to justice!" There was a provocation cry from one of the gentlemen.
Lily started to cry. "By Allah, we are not lying, sir. We have not committed any immorality. This is just a misunderstanding. You can see for yourself that this table was burned. kitchen, we're trying to put out the fire."
The men looked at the table Lily was pointing at. However, there was still doubt on their faces.
"It could be your trick. Knowing that Bang Ridwan is senile, you take the opportunity to commit adultery." The father waught Lily first and Varun insisted on his accusation.
They all glared at Varun and Lily.
"Sir, I swear I won't commit immorality as you think. Please don't jump to conclusions. The fall of slander," said Varun.
"Wait a minute, you're Jamal's nephew who came from Jakarta right?" a man asked Lily.
Lily nodded shakingly. "That's right, sir. I'm Uncle Jamal's nephew."
"Innalilahi. How can Jamal a pious have a nephew who commits adultery? I know Jamal very well. He is my friend. There is no way he would let his nephew in" The father who had asked Lily became doubtful.
"Ah, that's the pious Jamal. His nephew could be a hypocrite. The proof is that he has now been caught alone with a man in the house." Others are still provoking.
Pak Ridwan appears and looks confused by what happened. More and more people came because they were curious about the commotion. Pak Ridwan was asked by residents about Lily and Varun.
"Indeed. They are my guests. I told them to sit inside. I didn't know there was a fire. What was burning?" Mr. Ridwan looked dazed and began to chatter to himself when he saw the burnt mark on the table.
"We shouldn't play judges on our own. If they don't lie, we're just as slanderous. That's a sin!" cried a clear-headed man.
"But after all, it's wrong for them to be alone in the house. We saw for ourselves that they were hugging. It can't be left like this. Later our children will imitate."
There are many expressions of anger among residents.
"Let's just say, let's not report to the police yet. We'll settle this amicably. We'll talk to Jamal," said the father who claimed to be a friend of Lily's uncle.
"What do you mean, Faith?"
"They should be married off in the village soon This g is to clear the good name of our village!" A father named Iman who was none other than Lily's uncle was so sure of saying those words.
Meanwhile Lily and Varun gasped in surprise. They were momentarily limp and confused. Never thought it would be like this.
The residents agreed that Lily and Varun should be married immediately. Varun had refused. It wasn't that he didn't like Lily. However, he did not want to marry in a hurry especially because he was slandered like that. Likewise, Lily is still not ready to get married. However, the people were angry and would get even more furious if they didn't comply. The options are for them to get married on the spot or be reported to the police and prosecuted according to sharia law.
Varun and Lily are forced to accept the residents' decision. The wedding ceremony will be held soon.
Lily cries beside Varun.
"Sorry," they both said in unison.
*
Lily's tears continued to flow when several women took her to a room in Pak RT's house. A middle-aged woman, none other than Pak Iman's wife, gave Lily a long white scarf.
"Wear this. We'll be out in a minute. Ijab qabul will be implemented soon." The mother looked calm, but there was a hint of displeasure every time she glanced at Lily.
"Please allow me to explain everything. Help me, Mom, Sis," said Lily, holding the hands of Pak Iman's wife and another woman who was several years older than her.
"Yes. Don't argue. You've heard the decision of the village officials. It's better to get married than to be brought to court. I can't bear to imagine you being flogged so many times." The mother led Lily out the door.
Lily's screams grew louder. "But I'm innocent. It's just a misunderstanding."
"Never mind, Dek. Be patient and follow what the gentlemen here say. How the brother and the man were wrong. It's better to avoid slander by getting married," said the older sister who accompanied Lily.
Lily still didn't get it. Patient and obedient? It was that easy for them to tell Lily to do all that? Even though Lily and Varun were completely innocent. Why should you marry like this?
There was an intention in Lily's heart to run away. Not for not loving Varun. She is very interested in Varun. However, marrying suddenly like this Lily never imagined.
"Wipe your tears," said Mr. Iman's wife as she gripped Lily's hand tightly. Like knowing Lily's intention to run away. Even though it seemed impossible. They were surrounded and heavily guarded by almost everyone in the village.
"At least, please let me call Mama first. Mama must be informed," pleaded Lily devastated.
"Later, Miss. After the marriage ceremony, you can call all your family as much as you like." The sister held onto Lily as well. Lily had no hope of escaping.
As soon as Lily was brought into the living room, there were already many villagers there. Meanwhile, Varun was also helplessly sitting on the mat in the room among the men. Varun looked sad and just as devastated as Lily.
When Lily and Varun's gazes met, both were emotional. They feel guilty for each other and want to reach out to each other to escape from the problems in front of them. That wouldn't happen because they were heavily guarded by the villagers.