Chapter 11.1 Lifting the Veil
At Dian's House
Dian was getting ready to leave when Heri approached her.
"I'm heading out for a bit, going to Ibu Annisa's house," Dian said as she grabbed her bag.
"Oh, I can't go with you. I have something to take care of," Heri replied with a hint of regret.
"It's okay, I can go by myself," Dian said with a small smile. "Assalamu'alaikum," she added as she walked toward her car.
"Wa'alaikumsalam," Heri responded from inside the house.
At Ibu Annisa's House
"Assalamu'alaikum," Dian greeted as she stood in front of Ibu Annisa's house.
"Wa'alaikumsalam," a gentle voice replied from inside. Moments later, Ibu Annisa appeared at the door with a warm smile.
"Oh, Nak Dian is here. Come in, come in," she welcomed her warmly.
Dian returned the smile and stepped inside. The house felt cozy and inviting.
"Have a seat first, Nak," Ibu Annisa said before heading to the kitchen. A few moments later, she returned carrying a tray with drinks and a plate of snacks, placing them on the table.
"Please, try some, Nak. These snacks are delicious," she said kindly.
"Oh, thank you, Bu. You really didn't have to go through all this trouble," Dian replied, feeling slightly shy.
"Oh, don't mention it. How could this be trouble? We've known each other for so long," Ibu Annisa chuckled.
Dian just nodded, smiling in slight embarrassment.
"Oh, by the way, I haven't seen Bapak. Where is he, Bu?" Dian asked while glancing around the house.
"He went out for a bit, he had something to take care of," Ibu Annisa replied casually.
"So, what brings you here so early, Nak Dian?" she asked gently, curiosity in her eyes.
"Oh, actually, Bu, I wanted to ask… where does the elderly woman who recently got married live?" Dian asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
The warmth in Ibu Annisa's face slowly faded. She fell silent for a moment, her expression changing as her eyes glistened.
"I'm sorry, Nak. Why are you looking for Nenek Halimah?" she asked, her voice slightly trembling.
( "Nenek" means "Grandmother" in Indonesian and is often used as a respectful title for elderly women.)
"Oh, so her name is Nenek Halimah? The one who went viral before?" Dian confirmed.
Ibu Annisa only nodded slowly.
"She has passed away, Nak," she finally said, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un," Dian whispered, stunned.
( "Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un" is an Islamic phrase meaning "Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return," commonly said upon hearing news of someone's passing.)
She fell into silence, absorbing the sorrowful news. She had never expected that the story, which had become a subject of humor among many, would turn out to be so heartbreaking.
"At the wedding reception, the story about her spread across our campus, Bu. At first, I laughed along with my friends. But as time went on, I became curious and wanted to know more. I actually planned to interview her," Dian admitted, her voice tinged with regret.
Hearing that Nenek Halimah had only been the subject of jokes, Ibu Annisa's sadness deepened. Before she could respond, the sound of the front door opening interrupted them.
"Assalamu'alaikum," Pak Ismail's voice filled the room.
"Wa'alaikumsalam," Dian answered as she turned to see him.
"Oh, Nak Dian is here. Please, continue your conversation," Pak Ismail said before heading to the family sofa.
"I'm sorry, Bu, if I've made you sad," Dian said apologetically.
"It's alright, Nak," Ibu Annisa said, shaking her head. "People out there don't know the real story of Nenek Halimah."
"What story, Bu? Would you be willing to share it with me?" Dian asked, her curiosity deepening.
Pak Ismail, who had been sitting quietly, listened intently. His expression showed a profound sense of guilt.
"Actually, I've only told this to my husband. But I believe it would be best for Nak Dian to hear it directly from Nenek Halimah's fiancé. That way, you will get the most accurate information," Ibu Annisa explained firmly.
"Nenek Halimah's fiancé? Oh, alright, Bu. I'd love to hear it. But I don't know where he lives," Dian responded.
"Don't worry, Nak. I'll accompany you there, as I don't know all the details either," Ibu Annisa reassured her with a soft smile.
Pak Ismail, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke up.
Something had been weighing on him.
He had once laughed at Rizky's mistaken wedding as a joke, but now—after learning more about it—his feelings had begun to change.
"I realize now that I've laughed at something that should never have been a joke," he thought to himself.
With a more serious tone, he finally said, "I'll drive us there later."
Ibu Annisa looked at her husband with quiet gratitude, as if thanking him without words.
Meanwhile, Dian watched the couple with growing anticipation and endless questions in her mind.
Chapter 11.2 The Journey to the Truth
On the Road
"That's the alley, Pak. Turn left there," said Ibu Annisa, pointing at the road ahead.
"Huh? Isn't that the alley leading to Nabila's father's house?" Pak Ismail asked in confusion.
Pak Ismail's puzzled expression made Ibu Annisa shake her head slightly, holding back her frustration.
"Pak, where have you been? I told you yesterday—don't let Rizky take the wrong alley! I saw a wedding decoration there," she said with a slightly irritated tone.
Pak Ismail just smiled sheepishly, while Dian, sitting in the backseat, couldn't help but chuckle at the conversation. As she smiled, a realization suddenly hit her.
"Oh, so Rizky was actually supposed to marry Nabila?" Dian murmured, her face shifting into surprise. Then, something clicked in her mind.
"Wait… Bu, do you mean Nabila? The one studying at Unsyiah? The lead instructor of the Ranup Lampuan dance team?" she asked, her curiosity growing.
( "Unsyiah" refers to Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.)
Ibu Annisa nodded casually. "Yes, yes, that's the Nabila."
Dian's eyes widened in shock. She covered her mouth with her hand as she processed the information.
"Oh my God, so it was really Nabila?!" she whispered in disbelief.
Pak Ismail glanced at her through the rearview mirror, intrigued. "You know Nabila, Nak Dian?"
"Of course, Pak! She's like the campus queen! Beautiful, smart, a talented dancer—everyone at our university knows Nabila," Dian answered enthusiastically.
Pak Ismail shook his head with a deep sigh.
"Well, that's just the stupidity of my son. Instead of asking for clarification, he ran away in a panic," he said, shaking his head in frustration.
Hearing that, Ibu Annisa immediately turned to her husband with a sharp glare, making Pak Ismail freeze.
"Well, of course, Pak! Our son is still young, and this was his first time facing a situation like that. It's only natural for him to be shocked! What kind of logic are you using?" she scolded him.
Dian, observing from the backseat, added, "That's true, Pak. And imagine if he was already nervous on the way there. By the time he reached the wedding ceremony, it must've been overwhelming. His reaction was completely understandable."
Pak Ismail sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Oh, you're right. Why didn't I think of that?" he admitted, feeling a bit guilty. In his mind, he was now outnumbered—attacked by two women at once.
He stole a glance at his wife, who still looked slightly annoyed.
Ibu Annisa let out a small huff. "Heh." She turned her face away, still showing a hint of irritation.
Wanting to lighten the mood, Pak Ismail playfully said, "Come on, Bunda, don't be mad. The world feels dark when you're upset."
(Children use "Bunda" to lovingly address their mother, similar to "Mom" or "Mama" in English.)
"What darkness?" she shot back, still sulking.
"Well, like a night without the moon. Because you… you are my moon," Pak Ismail said with a mischievous grin.
At first, Ibu Annisa still looked annoyed, but suddenly, her cheeks flushed.
"Enough, enough! Aren't we supposed to get out of the car? How long are we staying here?" she huffed, but a small laugh escaped her lips.
Pak Ismail looked outside. "Oh, we're already here?" he asked in slight surprise.
The car came to a stop, and they prepared to step out. Dian, who had been absorbing everything, now felt even more eager to discover what would happen next.