Trapped in a Sacred Prison
CHAPTER 31

The melodious sounds of the readers of the Qur'an fill the mosque so soothing.

But out there, the mood of two girls looking at each other seemed so agitated with pent-up anger.

Sarah, the girl who was known so well and wisely, apparently that night showed the other side in front of Uldi.

"I'm sorry Sarah, I never meant to lie to you. True, this is indeed the key to our Ustadz Ammar home we're married for a reason. All ustadz and ustadzah know, only to the santri we keep it a secret because my status is still santri," explained Ulli, while Sarah only flinch.

With her head bowed, Sarah clenched her hands tightly, she really did not expect to get a big fact tonight.

"Since when?" sarah asked with a trembling voice.

"Since approximately two months ago, right after my second escape attempt from this pesantren," explained Ulli.

"That's before I'm honest with you about how I feel about ustadz Ammar?"

"L-yes, sorry," he replied listlessly.

"If you were married then, you should have married me dong. Crazy well, your acting was good at that time until I really did not realize it all," Sarah said with a bitter smile.

"It is fitting that ustadz Ammar has always been faithful to take care of you while in the hospital, and.." Sarah then grabbed the hand of Ulli and saw a ring of the same color as the ustadz ring was also coiled on her ring finger. "And this, you're wearing a couple's ring right," she continued, holding back emotions.

"Sorry Sarah." That's the only word that Ulli can say.

Without saying anything, Sarah immediately left her alone who was now silent while bowed.

"I realize this marriage started from an arranged marriage without my consent, but if I was told to choose I didn't want to sacrifice my marriage, nor did I want to fight with my friend, then what should I do?" inner Ulli was so frustrated.

Adhan Isya reverberated disperse the daydreams of Ulli, he then stepped into the mosque with his other friends. Without him noticing, there was a pair of ears that had heard their conversation since earlier.

After completing the series of prayers and dhikr and absenteeism, all students return home to their respective dormitories and prepare for dinner.

Somehow, after Uelfi revealed the fact of his marriage to Sarah, he felt that all his roommates were avoiding him, evidently when Uelfi wanted to come to dinner together, they blatantly stayed away from the girl, no one even wants to talk to him.

Until now, they were all busy telling stories while eating snacks together, but no one at all invited him to join even if just a small talk.

The girl chose to lie on her bed while crying in silence.

Being hostile by an unknown person is not a problem, but being hostile by your own friends is very painful.

But what can Ulfi do? It all happened. However secretive, sooner or later it will eventually be revealed as well.

Unfortunately, the timing of the revelation was not right, with the husband not on his side when he needed support. His tears flowed more and more when he remembered Ammar's face and how Ammar treated him all along.

The night has now changed in the morning, where the activities of the Arabic village began again.

A sense of loneliness and emptiness in the crowd, that is what Ulli felt. Although in the activity Ulli one group with six friends, but the girl felt alone.

Even more painful, when Uelfi tried to invite them to speak, but his presence and even his voice were considered the wind then, they did not turn their heads and did not respond.

Because of so hurt and uncomfortable, Uelfi decided to leave the family and go home to her husband.

There he shed all the tears that had been held back. The tightness in his chest was now trying to let go so that his heart could be a little calm and relieved.

People say that when you are happy and remember someone, you love them, and when you are sad and you remember someone, that person loves you.

"I never knew whether Ustadz Ammar loved me or not, but from his treatment, I knew he cared for me" his monola fell asleep with a face soaked in tears.

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The day passed so quickly. The period of Arabic settlement is over, and now is the time to return to school as usual.

Since I was ostracized from his roommate, Uelfi decided to stay at Ammar's house, although he himself felt it was better than staying in a crowded room but still felt foreign and lonely.

Today marks the turn of the semester, where Uelfi and his friends are already in the second semester of 2nd grade High School.

Uldi leaves for school from Ammar's house, but as usual, he will come out of the front door of Hasan's grandfather's house.

On the way, he met his six friends, but they still acted as if they did not know Ulli.

Uncomfortable, Ulli chose to slow down so that he was behind them.

Although the distance was not close, but he could still hear the voices of those who were talking about him.

"I didn't expect him to lie to us."

"It is only fitting that when he passed out, ustadz Ammar did not hesitate to hold him."

"If he had been honest from the beginning, maybe we could have understood him."

That's their conversation.

Now Ulfi has entered the classroom, where when he stepped in, he has got the look of intimidation from everyone. Except for Firdaus and the other male friends who are busy with their respective affairs.

"If I had known by running away I could marry a handsome ustadz, maybe I had run away from it before" said Amel, who also knew the fact while in the toilet next to the ablution. At first he accidentally heard it but the longer, he further sharpened his hearing when he heard the name of Ustadz Ammar.

"But I'm surprised, isn't it if breaking it gets a punishment huh? How come he even got a windfall," said a friend beside Amel.

"Maybe it's like being the granddaughter of the foundation's owner."

"Huss, don't call the chairman of the foundation, we'll get him out of here."

"Enough!" ulfi said in a high voice."If you only insinuate me I will accept it, but if you bring my grandfather, I will not remain silent" Ulli threatened Amel and his friends.

"Dare you too, you are now alone, even your friends are far away from you," the circus of Amel smiled cunningly

Ulfi turned to his friends who were just watching the debate, they did not refute nor did they chimed in.

"Who said he was alone?"

The voice of someone made all the eyes of the people in the room were fixed on him, not least Ulli.

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