Salsa Pov
In the room, even though she had been lying on the bed, Salsa still couldn't close her eyes. The girl still remembers her meeting with Azzahra, a girl who was already married to her lover. With intentions, Salsa wanted to provoke the girl so that it would be easier for her to get Gus Azzam back.
"Azzahra is a simple girl, and her life doesn't have the slightest ripple. Should I continue with my intention to separate him from Azzam?" Salsa talked to herself.
His eyes looked up towards the ceiling above his bed. For a moment, the girl felt confused about what she had planned.
"However, what Azzahra has done really hurts my heart. For years I had a relationship with Azzam, and it wasn't easy for me to get that man, suddenly Azzahra appeared and joined the wedding with Azzam. I can't let it happen..." Salsa's breathing suddenly became rapid.The hurt when he heard that his lover had married another girl, came to his heart again tonight.
"And again, Azzam's attitude towards me hasn't changed, it's still the same as Azzahra's absence from his life. I can't give up... I have to be able to beat Azzahra in any way..." the girl said in her heart she was determined to compete with Azzahra.
Even though the girl who made him unable to sleep tonight, probably didn't think about it. However, the innocence and politeness of Azzahra's behavior made Salsa's heart burn even more. Several times Salsa asked Azzam to talk, the man always said that he had never had a close relationship with the girl who had become his wife.
"Starting tomorrow, I have to stalk Azzahra's activities. I shouldn't underestimate this girl, because maybe her residence and polite attitude will attract Azzam to see her. For that reason, I couldn't be careless, especially since I was already recognized by that girl. It's easy for me to get access to information about him..." Salsa smiled evilly. The thought of envy and jealousy towards Azzahra because she managed to get her lover, Azzam, made Salsa unable to think clearly.
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Meanwhile in the city of Surabaya, Gus Azzam seemed unable to stay calm. Even though he had told his brother-in-law that he was busy taking care of work in the city, the man couldn't lie to his feelings. Being raised in a religious environment, shaped Gus Azzam into a man who understands religion and how to behave towards his elders.
"Oh God... forgive me for lying to Brother Izzan. I can't lie to myself, O God, to pretend that I can accept Azzahra as my wife..." the man put both palms in front of his face. Several times Gus Azzam rubbed his face feeling unstable.
"But I also can't continue like this, hurting and depending on the fate of a girl who, according to religion and the government, is my wife. Apart from that, there is still Salsa that I love, who is still waiting to receive my confirmation, O Lord. Give me a way..." Gus Azzam seemed to be speaking softly.
In a stressful situation like this, praying and hoping for God's blessing is the best way out. Several times Gus Azzam wanted to expel Azzahra's face from his imagination, but when the man wanted to imagine Salsa's face, Azzahra always appeared.
"Azzahra... why did you accept this match? "Why don't you refuse it, making it easier for me to continue to make Salsa my wife in front of Abi and Umi?" The man continued to pronounce the name Azzahra softly.
The man seemed unaware of what he was experiencing. Azzam asked Azzahra to reject the wishes of his parents, meanwhile he as a man did not dare to deny the wishes of his parents.
"I was helpless in front of Umi and Abi... And I couldn't refuse what they were trying to do for me. The thought of being ostracized or thrown out of the Islamic boarding school, and having my parents sick made me helpless..." the man lamented what had happened to him.
On the other hand, the man's love for the girl named Salsa is deep, because they were close and did not happen for a short time. But they have been together for many years. Doubt enveloped Gus Azzam again, but everything still made him helpless.
"Tomorrow I have to prepare to go to Yogyakarta. My main goal is to find Salsa, and at the same time meet Umi and Abi-in-law as well as brother Zizan. "Because while Azzahra and I are still husband and wife, it is my obligation to obey Azzahra's family..." the man finally made up his mind, after upheaval occurred in his heart.
Cooperating with the circumstances, seems to be a profitable solution for all parties.
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Apartment
Azzahra, her brother, and her parents looked happy. They gathered in a small room in front of the girl's room. Azzahra had become a spoiled child again and seemed to have forgotten that she now had a husband.
"Zahra... isn't it a good idea for you to accompany your husband wherever you go...? So, you put your studies aside for now..." suddenly, Kiyai Ameer opened the conversation.
Azzahra, who was being pampered, put her head on Umi Camelia's lap and was shocked.
The girl looked nervous for a moment, and this did not escape the attention of her older brother, Zizan.
"It's true what your aunt Zahra said... So Umma will soon be cradling her grandchild..." Umi Camelia replied with a smile. For a moment, Azzahra couldn't react; she was still confused about how to respond.
"How come, according to Zizan, it's different, Umi... Abi. According to Zizan, while no baby will take up Zahra's time, Azzahra should finish her studies first. We will never know what life will be like in the future. Although, the good life that everyone always hopes and dreams of. "So it is important for Zahra to complete her academic qualifications with a Bachelor's diploma, even if it is possible to also have a Master's diploma." As if he knew what his younger sister felt, Gus Zizan intervened at length.
Kiyai Ameer and Nyai Camelia were silent momentarily as if digesting their son's words.
"ButĀ producing offspring who will continue the bloodline is no less important, Zizan. That is the purpose of marriage... The next generation will be born who understands religion, as the successor to the older generation..." Kiyai Ameer finally continued his words.
Nyai Camelia was still silent, still digesting the words spoken by her husband and her son.
"Umi, abi, is Zahra not allowed to have an opinion?" Suddenly, Azzahra's soft voice interrupted their conversation.
The three adults' gazes focused on Azzahra, who had gotten up from sleeping on her Umi's lap.
"Speak Zahra... Convey your feelings to Umi and Abi... you don't need to keep it to yourself." Knowing more or less about his younger sister's condition, Gus Zizan answered the conversation,
"Okay, brother... It's like this, Abi... Umi. Azzahra can understand Umi and Abi's advice. However... Zahra asked for a little more time. Zahra's studies are in the early seventh semester; coincidentally, Azzahra has also completed her final thesis assignment this semester. "Regarding this, please allow Abi..., Umi..., so that Zahra can get a Bachelor's degree first, then continue her lineage later." Nervously, Azzahra finally managed to voice what was in her heart.
The girl thought she had sacrificed to marry a man she didn't know yet. Now, it's time for him to realize a small part of his dream.
"Hemppphh... fine Zahra, if our wishes burden you. Finish your studies first, and postpone what Umi and Abi want..." After sighing, Kiyai Ameer finally agreed to his daughter's wishes.
Sitting beside the middle-aged man, Nyai Camelia smiled and nodded her head.
"Thank you, Abi... Umi. "And Abi and Umi's wishes don't burden Zahra at all... they're just postponed for now." Azzahra tried to straighten Abi's words, and a smile appeared on the girl's lips.
"Yes, Zahra, Abi's spoiled daughter. "Abi and Umi understand children... including understanding Zizan... You two are Abi's proud children." The middle-aged man answered his daughter's words.
Everyone in the room smiled happily, and it was clear that one family member and another supported each other.
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