9. WEDDING PROPOSAL

After waking up and feeling better, Anya rushed out of her room so she could tell her mom and dad something important.

"Mom, Dad!" called Anya.

"Yes, daughter."

"What do you want to talk about, An?" asked her father.

Pak Adi saw that his youngest daughter seemed to be holding something back and found it difficult to say, so he automatically grasped her hand, giving it his warmth.

"Tell me, An, don't be afraid, mom and dad will always be willing to listen to what our daughter has to say, is your daughter in trouble?"

"No Dad, Anya just wants to tell Mom and Dad that there is a family coming here tomorrow."

"Who, An? What do they want to do?" asked Mrs. Ani curiously.

"They want to propose to Anya, Mom."

"WHAT?" Mrs. Ani raised her voice, reflexively hearing Anya's statement.

"Mom, keep your voice down."

"Sorry, Ma'am, I was reflexive."

"Who is that guy, Anya? The man who is going to propose to you? Have you known each other before?"

"We know each other, Dad, he's Anya's boyfriend."

"What the hell, An, if you have a boyfriend why haven't you told mom and dad? Do you not think of us anymore?"

"Mom, calm down first, let's listen to Anya's explanation."

"Mom, Dad, before Anya apologizes if she has disappointed you for the fact that Anya said earlier. It's not that Anya wants to hide all of this, but because our conditions are not possible, so we agreed to keep our relationship a secret."

"Who is he, An? Why do you have to hide your relationship? You're not taking someone's lover or husband, are you?"

"Mom, don't talk carelessly like that," admonished Pak Adi.

"Thank God, Anya is not like that mom, Anya's boyfriend is Arya, he's a lecturer at Anya's college. Because he's a lecturer and Anya is a student, many people would be suspicious of Anya's grades if they knew Anya had a special relationship with Mr. Arya, that's why we agreed to date secretly."

"How come you're going out with your own lecturer, An, it's like there are no other men, you have many friends."

"Mom, if it's a matter of the heart, who can manage it, including Anya, she's not wrong if she falls in love with her lecturer, after all, Anya will graduate soon." 

"At first Anya only admired Arya, but when Arya said that she was also interested in Anya, Anya decided to start a relationship with Arya. Anya hopes Mom and Dad can accept our relationship."

"You see, Mom, they love each other, so there's no need to blame Anya anymore. I'm sure Anya can decide what's best for her, we as parents can only support and pray for her."

"Dad, you spoil Anya too much."

"So, tomorrow Arya and her family will be here, An? What time, how many people are coming?" Mr. Adi asked Anya several questions at once.

"I think it's after the evening prayer, Dad, but Arya's core will probably come, about six people with Arya."

"Oohh, then today I won't go selling, I want to clean up our yard, later I will also call the neighborhood head as a witness, so that there will be no slander. You must prepare yourself mentally, An, rest, don't be tired so that tomorrow you look fresh. Then you Ani, here's some money, go shopping for tomorrow's needs, we have to welcome them as best we can." Mr. Adi divided the tasks, he looked very excited, because his youngest daughter would be proposed to.

"Dad, keep your money, let mom go shopping using this money." Anya handed over five pieces of money, each with a nominal value of one hundred thousand rupiah.

"Where is this money from, An, why so much?"

"It's Arya's money, Mom, she said she didn't want to bother Mom and Dad, so Arya gave me money to cook and here's some money for Mom and Dad to buy new clothes."

"Why is she so generous, An, is Arya a wealthy person?"

"Yes, Mom, Arya is not only a lecturer, she also opened a psychologist practice, Mom. Her family are also famous people, her father is Mr. Aditya the businessman, her mother is Mrs. Adel the owner of A&A boutique."

"Are you for real, An? I'm so curious about Arya's face, let me see a picture of the two of you."

Anya was surprised to hear her mother's request, fortunately last night she had taken a picture of the two of them with Arya, there were even some photos of Arya alone and photos of the two of them that had been edited by the man.

"Here, Mom."

Not only did Mrs. Ani look at the photos, but Mr. Adi also looked at them, because he was curious about the figure of his future son-in-law.

"Wow, he's handsome, Anya is really lucky to get a future husband like this, already established, handsome again." Mrs. Ani, who had been grumbling about Anya dating her own lecturer, now said that her daughter was very lucky.

"Earlier you were angry with Anya, now you're praising my future son-in-law," said Pak Adi.

Anya felt a little relieved to see her parents' response, which ended up accepting the relationship between her and Arya, even though the relationship was just a sham. Anya could only hope that her parents wouldn't find out what was really going on between her and Arya.

~~~

True to what was said, Arya and her family really came to Anya's house right after the maghrib prayer.

After talking for a while, witnessed by the neighborhood head and the local cleric, the conversation about Arya's family proposal began.

"Maybe Mr. Adi and his family have heard about our intention to come here from Anya, but I will explain directly about our intention to come here," said Mr. Aditya, answered with a nod by Mr. Adi. "My family and I came here with the intention of proposing Anya to be the wife of my son, Arya. Does Mr. Adi and his family accept our proposal?"

"We leave the decision to Anya, as she will be the one to carry it out," replied Mr. Adi wisely. "So, Anya, do you accept Arya's proposal or not?"

Everyone there was curious about Anya's answer, while Arya's feelings were already chaotic, he was afraid that Anya would suddenly change her mind and not want to marry him, everything would be messed up.

*****