Will you marry me?
Dirga couldn't believe what Amel had said, and he didn't believe it any more when he saw that the writing on the white paper Amel had given her was a statement saying that she would not sue the man if Dirga remarried.
Dirga crumpled up the letter and threw it in every direction. He ruffled his hair, and his face turned red with anger. He also tried to hold back a strong desire.
He didn't like being in this situation, and he thought about going to a brothel to find a woman he could hire for the night to satisfy his unfulfilled need.
Dirga started to take off his shirts one by one. This time, he was going to a disco, where he wanted to find a different vibe.
As Dirga was taking clothes out of the closet, he heard the call to prayer coming from the mosque complex. His hand moved to look for a t-shirt, but he pulled out a folded koko shirt instead.
When he heard the call to prayer, it made him feel sad. He had never been to a nightclub before, and I don't know what kind of demon made him want to go.
He quickly got dressed and ran to the mosque because he wanted to say sorry right away for what he was about to do.
After praying, Dirga prayed for forgiveness and then prayed istikhara to ask for guidance for his family. He sat and prayed for so long that he didn't even realize it was time for Isha.
Dirga greeted everyone when he came home from the mosque, but no one answered because there were only two of them at home. Aunt Jum, who helped out around the house, got a house behind it. She only stayed there during the day or when she was called.
Dirga took off the skullcap he was wearing, then took off his shirt and hung it behind the door. He then went straight to the table for dinner. Dirga can't eat late because he has a stomach disease.
Dirga ate alone in the dining room as usual. Usually, he ate a lot, but this time he only ate two spoonfuls of food, drank some water and milk, and then went back to his room.
Dirga's heart is still hurting because of how his wife treated him. The man got into bed with the plan of going to sleep early to get rid of the still strong desire.
Dirga was about to close his eyes when he saw that his cell phone was blinking, which meant that he had a message.
He thought, "Perhaps from Amel." He closed his eyes and went to sleep. When he woke up, he took out his phone and opened the message from Furqan.
[When we go to Kiyai Ridwan's house,]
Dirga threw his phone on the bed because he didn't understand why Furqan wouldn't stop asking him to marry him like Amel did.
Dirga's eyes went to the pile of crumpled and thrown-away paper when he thought about Amel.
He got up and grabbed the paper. As he read the letter again, his feelings grew stronger.
Dirga said with a look full of hate, "Okay, you who ask, I'll do what you want."
He went back to bed, got out his phone, and called Furqan. After a few seconds, the call went through.
Dirga spoke right after Furqan said hello to him.
"Get ready, we're going to Kiyai Ridwan's house now!"
Without waiting for an answer from Furqan, the man turned off the phone, went to the bathroom, washed his hands, and then went back to praying the istikharah prayer, just like when he was about to ask Amel to marry him. After fifteen minutes, he finished praying, but nothing had changed; he still wanted to go to Kyai Ridwan's house.
He put on a white shirt and black cloth pants instead of his nightgown, and he didn't forget his wallet or ID card.
He was leaving the room when he turned around and grabbed something from the cupboard. He then left the house.
Dirga drove his car to his neighbor's house, Furqab's. When he got to the fence, he honked the horn. Not long after, Furqan pressed out in his formal clothes, including a pamiring skullcap from Makassar, where the man was born.
Before they left, Dirga told Furqan not to ask or talk to him; all he had to do was show them the way to Kiyai Ridwan's house. So, they didn't talk about anything important in the car.
Furqan gave in to his best friend's request, and after 15 minutes of driving, they passed a park where Dirga and Amel used to spend Sunday nights when they were still dating.
Dirga drove his car to his neighbor Furqab's house. When he got to the fence, he honked the horn. Not long after, Furqan pressed out in his formal clothes, including a pamiring skullcap from Makassar, where the man was born.
Before they left, Dirga told Furqan not to ask or talk to him; all he had to do was show them the way to Kiyai Ridwan's house. So, they didn't talk much in the car.
Furqan gave in to his best friend's request, and after 15 minutes of driving, they passed a park where Dirga and Amel used to hang out on Sunday nights when they were still dating.
Dirga saw two people in love sitting together on a park bench.
Bruk.
When Dirga suddenly stopped, Furqan's head hit the dashboard. Luckily, the road was clear, so there wasn't an accident.
Dirga turned the car around and started it up again. When Furqan saw this, he looked confused.
Hey, you said you were going to Kiyai Ridwan's house, so Furqan asked, "Why did you go back?"
Dirga didn't answer, he focused on driving, Furqan jerked Dirga's arm.
"Hey! Where do you want to go? "asked Furqan in a voice that was a little bit high.
Dirga turned to look at Furqan, then looked back at the front, pulled the car to the side, and stopped it.
This time, the man's eyebrows went up when Furqan asked, "Where are you going?"
Dirga didn't answer, he focused on driving, Furqan jerked Dirga's arm.
"Hey! Furqan asked, "Where are you going?" "I want to go home," "told Dirga the truth.
"So, you didn't go to Kiyai Ridwan's house, did you?"
Dirga didn't answer Furqan's question. His heart still wanted to go, but his mind told him not to. He felt bad for his wife, and he knew that if Furqan found out Dirga was married, his heart would break and he would cry. This is something Dirga can't see from Amel.
"Hello, anyone?" asked Furqan when Dirga didn't answer after a few minutes.
Dirga breathed out in despair as he said, "I'm confused."
voice with a very high pitch.
Dirga turned to look at Furqan, then looked back at the front, pulled the car to the side, and stopped it.
This time, the man's eyebrows went up when Furqan asked, "Where are you going?"
"Ok, I don't want to force you, so it's up to you. If you want to spend your whole life hugging pillows, eating dinner alone, and going to important events alone, then let's go home. But if you want a change of pace, let's go to Kiyai Ridwan's place."
When Dirga looked at his friend Furqan, he saw that he was serious.
"One more thing, I just want to say, if it's in our village and you want to go home, especially if you're in the middle of the road, don't!" yelled Furqan. His tone seemed to encourage the soldiers who were about to go to war.
Dirga said, "Bismillah!" and looked at Furqan again. When he did, Furqan gave him a confident nod.
The car went back to where it was supposed to go, and now Furqan was driving. The man asked to take turns because he was afraid Dirga would change his mind again.
***
Dirga wiped his forehead, which had been sweating for a long time. Kiyai Ridwan, Mr. Imran, and Mr. Imran's wife, Mrs. Hafidzah, were now sitting in front of him.
Furqan was talking and explaining why they were there. All three of them paid attention.
After listening to Furqan's story, the three of them turned to look at Dirga. Pak Imran gave Dirga a careful look.
Kiyai Ridwan asked Son Dirga, "Is it true what Furqan said?"
When Kiyai Ridwan asked Dirga a question, Dirga nodded and said.
"Yes, Kyai, that's right."
"Hey, if I may ask, based on your age, you should be married. Why aren't you? Or, why do you have a divorce?" The wife of Mr. Imran asked Dirga a question out of the blue.
The man gasped and was shocked. The question about his status was the one he was most afraid of, but now he doesn't know if he should tell the truth or lie.
The answer will, of course, decide whether or not the presentation is accepted. Furqan put his foot on Dirga's foot to tell him to answer right away.
Dirga looked at all three of them, stuttered, and then answered.
"ii— am, ii— aam, no— ."