Virgin Widow
Eps.2

The atmosphere of our house from yesterday afternoon began to be colored and pitched, some of Abak's younger sister, Mother's younger brother with his wife had come and stayed. As per the agreed plan tomorrow finished Friday prayers will be held tando weighing event. Zaid's family will come to bring negotiations when the right time is implemented marriage and baralek what.

As the host of the family we provide banquets, therefore, my etchings come to help Mother cook and attend the event because all decisions also depend on the bako agreement along with some Ninik Mamak people on both sides. They are the ones who will later make deals on subsequent events until the time of marriage and baralek Gadang.

After dawn I chanted Surah Al Kahfi, hoping that Allah will shine light on this day with His grace so that the tando balance process does not suffer obstacles. May Allah also grant the greatest forgiveness so that I may be taught from the temptations of the devil that shake the heart and faith.

There were clear drops accompanying the whispering prayer, “Set my heart, O Rabb. If he is the soul mate that You have chosen for me, grant me sincerity, I give all my life and death to You, O Allah.”

The smell of coconut milk with Minang native spices smelled to my room, maybe after dawn my aunts were already struggling in the kitchen, preparing dishes to wait for the arrival of the Zaid family. Banquet is usually done before the beretong because in Minang custom there is a saying jikok batanyo lapeh arak, barundiang jikok already eat. So indeed every barundiang activity is done after eating together.

Fold the prayer rug that is still stretched, replace the mucena with a veil, then I set foot into the kitchen, to the source of the aroma of cooking that is very tempting to taste immediately. From last night I did not eat, so it makes me lusting after tasting the gulai of the chicken village that still puffs the smoke.

“Cannot.” Aunt Yanti, Abak's sister, forbade with a glare.

“But, Hungry Hafsah, Bi,” spoiled whine.

“Wait cold first, not good would-be daro tasting cuisine directly from the cauldron, can be lost beautiful you when basandiang .”

I just according to him when Bi Yanti told me to take a small plate to fill a few pieces of chicken gulai, so it cools quickly he said.

In the living room some of my uncles and aunts held a carpet where the paretongan was carried out. They look very excited and happy, it is seen from the radiance of their faces who sincerely do anything to smooth the event later. Despite their tired energy and thoughts of laughter still sounded.

My marriage was highly anticipated, because I was Abak's youngest child and only daughter. They want a big baralek event in releasing my bachelor time. Actually I do not want an excessive event but because Abak's position in the village including the bagal people it is impossible for my baralek event to be carried out simply. This is Minangkabau, all the community order is set in the custom that basandi Syara’, Syara’ basandi kububbullah.

The tando weighing event was held ba’da zuhur, all banquets have been held just waiting for the Zaid family group. The expanse of dishes contains a variety of foods and side dishes neatly arranged on the red carpet that has been stretched. Dining plates and glasses are deliberately barking for some people who are placed a little distance away, next to the plate there is a hand washing mug as an accompaniment, do not forget a glass of napkin to decorate every bend.

Almost two o'clock in the afternoon, some of the Ninik Mamak people from the Mother's side began to come and sit near the door facing the room, while sitting sumando facing out, all that already has rules in the customary order Minangkabau. Intentionally Ninik Mamak from the tree family who was first present to wait for paratongan to be brought up by the prospective family Marapulai.

The roar of the car engine was heard in front of the gate, three minibuses stopped and immediately parked their vehicles next to the airy fence. Several middle-aged men in black and white walked into the gate, one of the Mamak who had been sitting in the house immediately stood up to welcome their arrival at the door. Customary speech sounds to answer each other, between the waiting and waiting.

Finished suave with a traditional welcome, the Zaid family walked into the house with a fluffy smile. They are welcome to sit and occupy the place that has been provided, which is parallel to my room facing out. All of that according to custom so that guests do not look directly into our homes, fearing something dirty or scattered.

Before eating with a Mamak who served as a spokesman returned to give a speech, mutual answers were heard until finally the two sides ate together in a meaningful banquet.

Some time family communication takes place warmly without a partition, timpal chimpanzees about reception that they think is a little excessive, let alone dishes that are provided so much and taste good on the tongue. Not just a small talk but that's how in Minang bring two families closer together in a kinship relationship after child marriage or their niece is implemented.

Carano which already contains betel, betel, and its completeness is placed in the middle just in front of the spokesman of the Zaid family, the carano is presented as a symbol of the start of deliberations. Mamak Saidi as a spokesman asked Mamak Zaid side to eat betel as well as open the procession of negotiations.

Negotiations go smoothly although sometimes there are some refutations from both parties if the processions to the marriage contract clash or do not comply with the plan of one party. The difference does not make them blame each other, but rather a form of how to find the right way out, so that all the events can run as expected.

Some of the processes that will be passed before the baralek gadang stay three steps away, the night of the bainai, the marriage contract, and finally the baralek gadang

In the negotiations it was agreed that the marriage contract will be held on the fourteenth day of the month of Safar, exactly another month after today. All faces were satisfied with the joint decision. Etek-etekku began to talk about the procession of the night bainai, and preparation to baralek gadang.

At the baralek gadang event, there are stages of the event to pick up marapulai and paraded bako, the motorcade usually carries rice jujung , there is a wedding cake, there is a wedding cake, and a variety of defaults that deliberately provided bako for a banana . As per Minang custom I will be paraded from the house of Etek Yanti, there I will wear clothes daro children provided Abak family.

The tando weighing process has been customarily completed, the deal has been approved. Zaid's family pampits with a maurak selo speech . Today makes me a gamang because my wedding date has been set, while I only get to know Zaid through Mom's photos and stories. Want to ask more about Zaid but to whom? The ones who come in the tando weigh show are mostly men. The desire to meet Zaid in person before marriage I had to bury him deeply.