Chapter 9.1 Seeking the Truth
Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK)
Students bustled around campus, moving from one class to another. Dian and Heri, a young couple who were both studying at the university, were also caught up in their daily academic routines.
But today, something was different. During break time, the campus was buzzing with gossip.
"Hey, have you heard the news about Rizky?" a female student whispered to her friends.
"Yeah, they say he married an old woman!" another one replied, giggling.
"What? Seriously? How did that even happen?"
At first, the gossip seemed like just another piece of entertainment in the midst of a busy campus life.
But for Dian, the story slowly began to bother her. As a communication major, her curiosity was immediately piqued.
She didn't want to just hear rumors from one person to another. She needed to find out the truth herself.
Dian's Search
After finishing her classes, Dian decided to investigate the rumor herself.
She tried to gather information about the old woman that had become the talk of the campus. However, it wasn't as easy as she had expected.
She asked several people around the area, but the answers were vague.
"I don't know, Miss. Maybe you should ask at the shop up front," a street vendor suggested.
Dian walked over to the shop the vendor had pointed out.
"Excuse me, Ma'am. I'd like to ask you something. Do you know where an elderly woman lives around here? The one that people have been talking about?" she asked politely.
The shop owner furrowed her brows. "An elderly woman? There are many of them, dear. Which one?"
"They said she lives near Rizky's family home," Dian added.
The woman thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Hmm… I'm not sure about that."
Dian let out a sigh. "Alright then, thank you, Ma'am."
Feeling a bit exhausted, Dian paused under a tree, trying to recall something.
Then suddenly, she gasped.
"Oh! That's right! Rizky's house!" she exclaimed. Maybe she could find some answers there.
AtRizky's House
After a while, Dian finally arrived in front of Rizky's house. It looked quiet.
"Assalamu'alaikum?" she called out, knocking on the gate.
No answer.
She knocked again, this time louder. "Assalamu'alaikum?"
The sound of her knocking echoed in the silent surroundings. After waiting for a moment, Dian realized that no one was home.
"Huh… looks like it's empty," she muttered, a bit disappointed.
She stood there for a moment, trying to see if anyone was inside. But after a few more minutes, she decided to leave and return the next day.
PakIsmail Returns Home
Shortly after Dian left, Pak Ismail arrived at the house.
He looked around, scanning his surroundings.
"So quiet… I guess Ibu Annisa went out again," he murmured.
As he approached the door, he noticed the spare key was still in its usual hiding spot.
"Ah, that means no one's home yet."
He unlocked the door and stepped inside, completely unaware that someone had just come looking for him.
At Heri's House
When Dian arrived home, Heri greeted her, fresh from the shower.
"Hey, where have you been, Sayang?" he asked, drying his hair with a towel.
"I went to Rizky's house," Dian answered briefly, setting down her bag.
Heri looked at her curiously. "Why? Did he leave a message for you?"
Dian sighed. "No. I just got tired of hearing all the gossip at campus. Everywhere I go, people are talking about Rizky and that old woman. Whether in class or at the cafeteria, it's all the same!"
Heri chuckled. "So, you got curious and went straight to his house?"
"Exactly!" Dian shot him a look. "What's wrong with wanting to find out the truth? Maybe there's a real reason behind all of this. It wouldn't be fair if we just listened to rumors without knowing the full story."
Heri nodded slowly. "So? What did you find out?"
"I got to his house, but no one was there. So, I just came back," Dian said as she plopped down onto the couch, feeling drained.
"Try again tomorrow," Heri suggested, pouring a glass of water and handing it to her.
Dian took the glass and nodded. "Yeah, that's my plan."
Heri sat beside her and smiled. "The most important thing is that you don't get caught up in the gossip. If you want to know the truth, find it the right way."
Dian met his gaze and let out a small smile. "Yeah, yeah. I won't jump to conclusions before knowing the truth."
Heri patted her shoulder gently. "That's the spirit. Now go take a shower and rest. We'll think about it again tomorrow."
Dian nodded. Even though her curiosity was still unsatisfied, she believed that her efforts would eventually lead her to the truth.
Chapter 9.2 Passing Away
Pak Ismail's House
Ibu Annisa entered the house with slow, heavy steps. Her eyes were swollen, and traces of tears were still visible on her cheeks.
In the living room, Pak Ismail, who had been reading the newspaper, immediately set it down on the table and turned to his wife.
"Hey, why are you crying as soon as you come home? Who made you sad, Bu?" he asked, his forehead creased with concern.
Ibu Annisa didn't answer right away. She simply shook her head slowly and sat down on a chair, her expression sorrowful as she tried to calm herself.
Seeing this, Pak Ismail became even more curious. He leaned forward, studying his wife's face carefully.
"Where did you go?" he asked, this time with a softer tone.
Ibu Annisa took a deep breath before finally answering.
"I just came back from the grave of that old woman…" she murmured, her voice heavy with emotion.
Pak Ismail frowned even more.
"What old woman?" he asked, trying to recall.
"The one Rizky mistakenly got involved with at that wedding…," Ibu Annisa replied, her eyes welling up again.
The moment he heard that, Pak Ismail's face lit up in recognition. He let out a small chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.
"Oh! Well, at least she's finally passed away. It'd be a problem if she hadn't—how would the honeymoon go? Hahaha…"
His laughter, however, came to an abrupt stop when he saw his wife's stern gaze.
"Hush! Don't say things like that, Pak!" Ibu Annisa scolded him in a firm tone.
Pak Ismail immediately adjusted his posture. He was beginning to realize that this wasn't something to joke about.
"What happened, Bu? Tell me. Why are you so upset?" he asked, this time with genuine concern.
Ibu Annisa exhaled deeply, gathering her emotions before she spoke.
"That old woman, Pak… She spent her entire life waiting for the man who promised to marry her. But time kept passing, and they were never united. And yet, he never left her side… even until the very end."
Pak Ismail fell silent. His wife's words pierced straight into his heart.
"Then… what happened?" he asked quietly.
"Just a few days before their supposed wedding, her condition deteriorated. She was taken to the hospital, and her fiancé stayed by her side until she breathed her last… They were never married, Pak. But their love remained until the end."
The atmosphere In the living room turned eerily silent.
Only the sound of Ibu Annisa's breathing filled the space, heavy with emotion.
Pak Ismail, who had initially listened without much thought, now felt a deep weight pressing against his chest.
"And today…" Ibu Annisa's voice grew softer. "I saw him at her grave, Pak. He was praying and crying… mourning the woman he had loved all his life."
A tear slipped down Pak Ismail's cheek.
He recalled his earlier jokes, and a crushing guilt washed over him.
"Bu… why didn't you tell me earlier?" his voice broke with regret.
"I… Astaghfirullah… I… I laughed about it… ah!"
He covered his face with both hands, tears falling uncontrollably.
Regret always came too late.
Pak Ismail wept bitterly.
Ibu Annisa didn't say a word.
She simply placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, letting him release the emotions that had overwhelmed him.
"I'm sorry, Bu… I didn't know… I didn't know…" Pak Ismail whispered over and over again.
For the first time, he truly understood the depth of loss.