Mother's Request

This time Zulfa did not go home immediately. She prefers to stop by a jewelry store, intending to buy something for her mother.

After all, giving a gift to the mother is the sweetest thing in the world, isn't it?

Maybe a necklace or a ring, yes it is the best jewelry as a gift for a woman who has taken Zulfa very seriously and raised her until now. She was devastated that she didn't even tell her honestly about her marriage with Farel to her mother, thinking that if she explained everything, it would weigh on her mind.

"Hi, Ms. Zulfa." who is someone.

Zulfa smiled at the figure of a girl who was approaching her, with a very sweet smile.

She is Rere, one of the employees who work in this jewelry shop. Her polite appearance with shoulder-length short hair, supporting her very cute face became even more attractive. And yes, the girl already has a boyfriend and will soon enter a more serious level. It seemed that she was a little jealous of other people's love stories that went smoothly, unlike her own.

Ah yes, why should you be jealous of other people's lives? After all, she and all the things that perch in every second of life must have been perfectly designed by God. And she deserves to be grateful, don't be jealous of other people's lives.

Oh, why is she like this? Yes, maybe only because of the mental pressure that arose from Farel's treatment of her. If only she could control her mood, she definitely wouldn't think that way.

"Hi, Re. How are you?" Zulfa asked while approaching Rere while returning the girl's smile which was no less sweet. For her, sharing a smile is the smallest worship but has a very big impact on others and gives warmth.

Rere's smile since seeing Zulfa's presence didn't go away in the slightest, it still looks cute on her face. For your information, Rere considers Zulfa's presence as her sister. She is very inspired by Zulfa who always advises her to be even better, until now she feels grateful for her life. A brief motivation that managed to land and lodge in her brain from Zulfa.

"Oh, I'm so good, Zulfa. Did you know that I'm going out with my boyfriend after work? It's so much fun." said Rere very cheerfully while holding Zulfa's hand to shake it gently.

Zulfa smiled sweetly at Rere's still childish nature. "Good then. You just have to approach yourself to get used to it when you enter the household world. Be a devoted wife to your husband. Don't be unruly, try to be obedient." She said as she grabbed both of Rere's hands and stroked the back of the girl's hand sincerely. Then let go of Rere's hand to shift to correct the location of her hijab which was slightly blown by the wind.

Rere smiled happily and nodded her head briefly. "What kind of jewelry would you like to buy? It must be for you, right?" She asked, guessing what the woman in front of her wanted. You see, she knows very well that a Zulfa rarely wears jewelry. According to Zulfa, wearing jewelry is tantamount to inviting criminals to come to her, inviting pickpockets and other criminals.

Zulfa nodded, confirming Rere's question about her purpose in coming here. "Yes, can you show me some jewelry models?" She said making the girl nodded her head and immediately asked herself to come to see some jewelry on display in the glass cabinet, very beautiful. She imagined that if the middle-aged woman whom she called the sun in her life --the mother--, wearing jewelry would look many times the same as an angel. Yes, that's just a description according to her alone.

Zulfa researched one by one, looking for jewelry models that were suitable for women of her mother's age to wear. Which looks simple but charming, yes like that. Ah, she hasn't seen her mother in a long time since marrying a cold man like Farel. She has now surrendered everything to God, she believes that one day Farel will feel how painful it is to struggle alone.

Zulfa's gaze fell on a diamond necklace that was already equipped with a pair of earrings. Beautiful, surely her mother will like it. A design that doesn't look like conglomerate mothers, but is still appropriate for women of her mother's age to wear.

"I chose this one, Re," Zulfa said as she raised her hand, pointing at the jewelry that had caught her attention more deeply.

Rere followed Zulfa's direction, then nodded her head, acknowledging that the taste of a woman with the status of a wife was perfect. "Good choice, ma'am." She said as she walked to the jewelry location and took it for the customer to own.

Zulfa followed Rere who was already walking towards the cashier with her chosen jewelry. She took out her ATM card, which she purposely saved from the money Farel gave her every day, she kept money from Farel for some things, so she used it to please her mother. Think of it as a thank you for the past few years.

"Here, ma'am," said Rere, who had finished swiping the ATM and put the jewelry in a packaging box which was lined again with a paper bag to make it easier to carry.

Zulfa received a shopping bag containing her jewelry box. "I said goodbye, afraid that Farel had gone home, I will go, Assalamualaikum." She said, waving her hand politely.

"Yes, waalaikumsalam, be careful, ma'am," said Rere while nodding her head while waving her hand towards Zulfa as well.

After greeting and waving to Rere, Zulfa left the shop and stood looking up at the already dark sky. She smiled bitterly, is it true that Farel has gone home? Even she wasn't sure of her own words as a form of the reason she said goodbye to Rere.

But the pain goes away remembering the small gift she bought for her mother. A middle-aged figure who had made herself a strong and responsible girl. Only a diamond necklace which of course has not been able to pay for all of her mother's services.

A mother's love is immense, it cannot be measured in any way.

Stopping right outside the jewelry shop, she moved away from a little so as not to be a hindrance to passersby.

Zulfa took her cellphone which was in the sling bag that Farel had bought for her yesterday. Look for the contact 'mother' and is contacted immediately to inform her of her arrival.

"Assalamualaikum, mother?" Zulfa said while saying a very polite greeting.

"Waalaikumsalam, how are you?" heard a middle-aged woman's voice on the other end with a very warm tone. Ah, Zulfa wants to live under the same roof with her mother again considering she has not provided enough service and dedication to making her parents happy.

"I'm good, ma'am, tomorrow I want to play at your house. I have a present for you." She said with a smile. She really couldn't wait to see the happy faces full of emotions because for the first time she could buy something at such a high price.

Previously, Zulfa could only give small gifts because her savings were always not enough to meet her own needs.

But now, God willing, things are different.

"No need to bother, Zulfa." said her mother on the other side. For her, Zulfa's presence is the most beautiful thing in her life, the most beautiful gift sent by God.

Zulfa smiled, she knew very well that her mother was very uncomfortable with her because she was bought a present. It's even worse when parents have given everything in life, but they can't repay that 'everything'. "It's okay mom, I'll come tomorrow." She said, still sticking to her stance.

After all, she has nothing to do, wastes energy at home which only ends in a fight with her husband, which makes her feel tired and she thinks it is better to meet someone who is always comforting, mother.

"Take Farel with you, I want to meet him. Likewise with our other relatives and family. I just want to talk with my ideal son-in-law," said her mother in a tone that was indeed weak.

Ideal son-in-law? Seriously. So the status of the son-in-law alone has been grateful for without having the status of frills with 'ideal'. Farel, of course, is far from ideal, only giving new wounds for which unfortunately there is no cure.

Zulfa froze. Gosh, what hope did mom throw?

"Y-yes, ma'am. I'll tell Farel later. He seems busy." She said a little nervously, she didn't have a good reason. Because she was very confused about how to invite Farel. Of course, men are very difficult to carry around, they must first be persuaded to agree. And yes, that alone is not necessarily acceptable.

"Try it, Zulfa. I didn't have time to talk to him yesterday." her mother said.

Yes, expecting something that is not certain will only lead to disappointment, not only disappointment that finds the word sorry but a prolonged disappointment even though it has been forgiven must be lodged in the brain.

Forced marriage? More precisely, according to reality. So they only know that she and Farel live in harmony in a sakinah mawaddah warahmah household. But not. Indeed, sometimes reality is not as beautiful as expectations, for Zulfa hides the facts so as not to get hurt. Let her feel it, not someone else.

/For your information; In the view of the Qur'an, one of the goals in marriage is to create a sakinah family, mawaddah warahmah between husband, wife and children./

Because she was already very confused about what kind of answer her mother should give, even with a small sigh Zulfa intended to end their conversation. "Yes, ma'am. I'm already on my way home. Then I hang up the phone. Assalamualaikum." She said with a still smiling face.

"Waalaikumsalam, Zulfa."

After hearing the greeting from the other side, Zulfa turned off the phone and put it back in her bag. She sighed harshly, confused, and did not understand how to persuade a Farel.

Looks like something bad is about to happen. She had to prepare her heart. Whether it's a scathing sentence that is sent back to her or any behavior that always refuses her presence.

Yes, she always gets the treatment that is very far from her imagination. If the nature of all wives in this world is lucky to get love from their husbands, but that certainly doesn't apply to Zulfa.

...

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