CUTS
Mae's Story...

“Abu, how is this? Why does Umi's heart feel heavy?” the two elderly husbands were talking about their daughter in the room.

Little smiling ash, “Every parent must have felt hard to let his daughter go. So did the feelings of the late grandmother Cut used to feel when releasing their daughter to Abu. Their hearts and minds will be filled with questions. Will their daughter be happy there? Will he eat well? Will they treat him well? That's how we feel now, isn't it?” the tickling question from Abu was able to make Umi blush in embarrassment.

“Umi, we just pray that Cut gets the best priest. As God promised, a good woman will get a good man. And vice versa.” Umi nods a little and then lays her head on the pillow.

“Umi really hope this time she can be happy, Abu. There has been a lot of pain and sadness that he has felt so far. But, Abu. There is another one that stuck in Umi.”'s heart Abu looked at his wife warmly.

“Is it not a problem for them if their son who is a doctor is married to our child whose school just did not pass? Doesn't Abu feel weird? During his stay in the city, Umi heard a lot of things like this from the mouths of mothers. They tend to choose the same daughter-in-law at school or work level. Has Abu never heard of such a thing?”

“Maybe their families are different, Umi. The proof, they received Amir who was just a regular merchant as Siti's husband. That means, they are not picky daughters-in-law. It's night, let's go to sleep! We leave it to God. Only Allah is All-Knowing.”

The two parents ended the discussion the night before closing their eyes. Meanwhile, in the other room Cut is still awake. He saw a photo of Faisal left by Mak Cek Siti yesterday.

A pretty handsome face with white skin and a sweet smile with shaggy teeth make Faisal look more handsome and sweet. Her gentle and involuntary gaze made Cut smile small until both eyes were perfectly closed. Cut fell asleep while holding a photo of Faisal.

“Kak Cut, Mae's task has been reduced by one huh?” mae asked as they were preparing food for tomorrow morning.

“Less how?” ask Cut back.

“Kak Cut is getting married. So Mae no longer needs to receive love letters or greetings from brothers out there.”

“You've told people? Oh my, Mae. Don't tell people! Everything is uncertain. Everything can happen before Ijab kabul. Cut didn't want to expect more. You know for yourself what dangers can threaten us.”

“Yes, Mae understands. Mae didn't say anything to people either. More precisely not said. Good thing Kak Cut forbid, even though Mae had planned to tell the chatty Pida let him stop talking about Kak Cut.”

“Already, Mae. Si Pida so much so that many are sitting in his stall. If the stall is crowded, fried food runs out and he also benefits. If you talk about people better while eating, right?” tanya Cut made Mae laugh.

“Indeed the devil is smart to choose a place and time huh Kak Cut?”

“That's you know. So do not like to sit there let alone bring Rendra.”

“Only there, Mae can get information as accurate as news on TV. Sorry Brother Cut! Mae lived here. Mae never took Rendra there. Not good boys sitting in the women's stall long-time.”

“That's you know. So?”

“So what's Brother Cut?”

“How many bakwan have been charred?”

“Abang it handsome. Just like Bang Rendra just bang his dermatologist whiter than Mae. Mae agrees that Kak Cut married bang doctor.”

“Name Faisal is not bang doctor.” Cut said.

“After marriage, Brother Cut does not live here anymore. So Mae's official five-foot stall huh?” mae jokes but her face implies sadness.

Mae already considers Cut as her brother. Cut's wedding later made him sad not because he did not like it but the fear of loss. All this time either in the village or in the city. Cut's family already thought of him as a child themselves. Mae who was orphaned by the conflict never felt a lack of affection.

“Don't be sad! Brother didn't go far. We can still meet and share stories again.” Cut smiled small. He realized the change in Mae's attitude after Mak Cek Siti conveyed the issue of betrothed.

“Mae heard that married women are not the same as women who do not have a husband. Pida's friends always complain about their husbands while sitting in the stall of the Pida.”

“Nah..this is what is forbidden in religion. You are also a boy why are you sitting there? You better take Rendra to play ball on the field than to listen to the disgrace of the household.

“Iya..iya...hmmm...”.

There was always a story every morning before dawn on the second floor of the shophouse. Time passed so quickly that the appointed time finally arrived. Pak Cek Amir's family came with their children to Abu's shophouse after Isya.

The arrival of their families to determine whether the Cut family received the matchmaking proposal from Mak Cek Siti that had been submitted earlier.

“So how, Bang, Akak?” ask Mr. Cheque Amir.

“As you have said before. All decisions we leave to Cut. He will be the one to run the house later. Brother does not want to force him because you yourself already know how he is before.” Abu said as he looked at Cut.

All eyes were there on Cut. “How, Nak?” tanya Mak Cek Siti is hopeful.

Cut looked down and nodded his head slowly.

“Alhamdulillah.” says Mak Cek Siti full of happiness.

Her hopes of marrying Cut to one of her nieces materialized already. Abu and Umi were also happy. Intan hugged Cut full of happiness.

“Welcome to our family, Kak.” said Intan.

The real purpose of this marriage is to further strengthen existing family relationships.

Discussions on both sides continue regarding the pinangan event and others. The kids chose to go from there. Cut and Intan choose to go into the room while Faris has gone with Mae and Rendra to the shop in front of the shop.

“I'm glad Kak Cut finally received Bang Fais?”

“Fais?” tanya Cut was confused.

“We call him Fais. Easier...hehhehe.”.

“Kakakak calm down, Bang Fais good really. If I wasn't a cousin, I'd like him too. Later, if you meet my brother. I sure fell in love right away. Especially if you see her smile. Guaranteed Brother can not sleep.”

Cut was stunned staring at Intan who dissolved in his imagination when describing Faisal's figure.

“If she's that handsome there must be a lot of girls who like her out there. Just like the late Razi. Why would she marry a sister who is just a country girl?”

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