Rainbow Blanketed Clouds
Rainbow9?

Zidan stood facing the qibla and read the intention of ablution in a quiet voice but was quite affordable by the hearing of the Clouds. He repeated reading it three times before starting ablution. His movements were very slow and unhurried. 

The 19-year-old then read the prayer after the ablution in a soft voice and he repeated it three times as well as the intention of the ablution earlier. When he finished, he walked away from the clouds. 

While the clouds immediately turned the water faucet. Zidan who read the ablution intent three times earlier was enough for the Clouds to record in his memory. So also with the sequence and movement, and prayer after ablution. 

The clouds rushed to the mosque after. It seems that everyone is ready. 

“Let's Have a Cloud. This time let Nak Awan be the imam,” said Ahmad's father. 

Clouds jerk. Suddenly his body felt cramped. His gaze was immediately fixed on the rainbow as if asking for help. Where would he put his face in front of his in-laws? 

“Let me alone, Father.” Zidan immediately took the leading shaf position. Make the clouds breathe a sigh of relief. At least, Zidan had saved his pride in the presence of the in-laws. 

This is a good boy too! 

The melodious voice of Zidan reciting verse by verse created a sense that the Cloud could not understand. How tonight Zidan, who was ten years younger than him, gave her many precious things without even pursuing her. 

After the prayer, Rainbow kissed the back of his hand, and for all the times, the Cloud felt a tremor in his heart.

...........

A few hours passed by the clouds in the house of the in-laws. Every minute that passes feels meaningful. A relationship he almost never found in the home of his parents. Even dinner passed so well. 

Now, they are sitting together in the living room. Some snacks on the table.

“Nak Clouds tonight. This will be the first time Nak Awan to this house,” said Ahmad's father.

The clouds are filled with smiles. “Good, Father.” 

Zidan glanced at the Rainbow and the Clouds. Then an idea came to his mind. “Dad, can you ask something?”

“What's up, Dan?” 

“What does ijab kabul mean, Dad?” The question escaped just like that, making Rainbow stare at his sister. He could already guess the purpose of his sister asking that question. 

“The meaning of kabul is not just a man to justify women as wives. After the kabul process is carried out, there is a great responsibility on the shoulder of a husband. That is all the sins of the woman who should be the responsibility of her father to switch shoulders to her husband. Including giving a living, guiding religion, pampering, guarding and being a protector for the woman.” 

“But what if a husband does not carry out his responsibilities and obligations?” A striking question made the clouds bow.  

“Then she belongs to the group of husband zalim.” 

“What is the law of a wrongful husband?” 

The clouds glanced at the Rainbow sitting by his side. Ahmad's father's answer was so heart-pounding. The rainbow never wept before the Cloud, but when she complained to her Lord because of the pain her husband gave her.

“One more question, Dad. Why are women called created from male ribs?”  

“If God wanted women to have power over men, He would have created them from Adam's head. If He created women as slave men, He would create from his feet. But God created it from the ribs of men. To be equal to him. So as well as the ribs, then marwah wife is to protect her husband's heart.” 

"Why did you ask me about husband and wife?" mother asked Humairah accompanied by a small laugh. 

“Add knowledge, Mom. Let later marriage not be husband wrong.” 

Both father and mother laughed at Zidan's words. Without them realizing the true purpose of each question.

Not long after, there was the sound of the door being knocked. Zidan came out to see who was visiting their house.

..........

The clouds stared at a man roughly his age, who had just arrived. The handsome man with the face of Indonesian-Middle Eastern blaster is an old neighbor in-laws who now live abroad.

Almost five years without meeting make Ahmad's father so happy. And the Clouds can see, both Ahmad's father, Zidan and Humairah's mother look very close to him. In contrast to the Rainbow who was very distanced even reluctant to look at the man.

"Son Thunder, how is your mother's father? Long time no hear from them."

"Alhamdulillah, fine. If it is not unfortunate, God willing next month father and mother will visit here to connect the friendship," said the man kindly.

"Alhamdulillah."

One thing that really makes the clouds uncomfortable. Every now and then the emerald-eyed man stole a glance at the Rainbow, and the Clouds could see how uncomfortable the Rainbow was with that gaze. If only he had not been at the house of in-laws, he would have floated a raw bogem onto the smooth face of the man.

"I'm sorry, I went inside first." The rainbow left his seat and chose to return to the room.

The clouds breathe freely. At least the strange man no longer needed to look at his wife.

"Dad, actually my arrival to Indonesia is for something important," continued Guntur.

"What's important, Thunder boy?" ask Ahmad's Father.

"If Father, Mother and Zidan agree, next month my parents will come from Malaysia with the intention of proposing Rainbow to me."

The back of the cloud that was leaning straight. His eyes glared sharply.

...........