CHAPTER 12
After making such sudden and troublesome preparations, the long-awaited day finally arrived.
 Friday was chosen to hold the wedding ceremony. July 1 2022 is the best date for both of them.
 Because they couldn't rent a building located near Gedung Sate for some reason, Niken and Ardi finally agreed to hold their reception at Bumi Samami.
 Bumi Samami is one of the venues for weddings that is currently on the rise. Here, you can hold a large outdoor wedding event with various facilities.
 Bumi Samami is located at Jl. Cigadung Canal No.15, Sekeloa, Coblong District, Bandung City.
 This place was chosen because it suited the wedding concept that Niken wanted, and also didn't take too long to prepare.
 The guests who attended were very diverse. Starting from high-ranking officials in Bandung and Jakarta, collagens who have long collaborated with the AP Group company, the rest came from Niken's friends.
 Niken was still in her room, while Ardi was in a separate room. The two were deliberately separated so that their love would grow stronger.
 Without further ado, once everything is ready. Niken was immediately taken to the place where their sacred promise would be made.
 Mita, who accompanied Niken directly, was unable to hold back her tears. After thirty years of caring for and raising Niken, finally today Niken will leave home and live with her husband.
 His responsibility to look after Niken has been completed, after this Ardi is responsible for looking after Niken.
 All the invited guests present looked enthusiastic when Niken started to show herself. Even though Niken was born in Jakarta, she wanted to use Sundanese customs when she married and everything has come true now.
 Niken walked slowly. She was so beautiful and charming in a typical Sundanese wedding dress. He walked past the invited guests. Ardi there was waiting for him with mixed feelings.
 He gasped for breath from time to time. Sweat continued to drip down her face, causing her makeup to fade.
 What made Ardi even more nervous was that this wedding was being covered live by several television stations. That way, his face will be easily recognized by the village where Ardi lives. There's a possibility, too, that his parents see him on television now. I don't know, Ardi can't be sure.
 Niken continued to smile at the invited guests, "Thank you. Thank you." Occasionally he greets them, even just to say thank you.
 Niken finally arrived at the small stage that had been prepared for her contract ceremony. The principal was also present there. Now we just have to wait for Niken to arrive.
 Niken finally sat down, deliberately sitting separately from Ardi. Later, after it is legal, Niken can be side by side with Ardi.
 "Can it start yet?" the Penghulu asked Bambang Adi Atmaja, as the marriage guardian for Niken and Ardi, who was none other than Niken's future husband.
 Both of them nodded at almost the same time. "Then by saying Bismillah. Let's start the event," asked the Penghulu.
 All the invited guests were silent, no one was looking at the stage. They immortalized the moment using cellphone cameras and other things.
 The photography team hired by Niken is starting to get ready to take pictures, starting with the invited guests and of course the bride and groom.
 "Please Mr Bambang," asked the Penghulu. After the process before the Kabul wedding was completed, now was the time for Ardi to say his sacred wedding vows.
 Everyone's eyes held their breath because this was a moment that would only come once in a lifetime. So there can be no messing around.
 Bambang stretched out his hand and Ardi immediately shook his father-in-law's hand firmly.
After saying Bismillah, Bambang began to say his Kabul consent. "Ananda Muhammad Ardi Bagaskara bin Agus Bagaskara. I marry and marry you to our daughter, Niken Angelista Atmaja bint Bambang Adi Atmaja, with a cash dowry of 22 thousand 500 rupiah and a set of prayer tools paid in cash!"
 "I accept and marry Niken Angelista Atmaja bint Bambang Adi Atmaja with a cash dowry of 22 thousand 500 rupiah and a set of prayer tools paid in cash!"
 "How about the witnesses? Legal?" asked the Chief.
 "Legal..." The witnesses also stated that the Kabul marriage was valid. "Alhamdulillah..." Next, the Penghulu led a group prayer and the invited guests also prayed.
 The prayer is finished. Ardi said his Kabul consent in one breath, this amazed all pairs of eyes. They held their breath when Ardi made his sacred promise.
 After that, they breathed a sigh of relief, and so did Niken and Ardi. The two people, who had only known each other for a few days, had finally officially become husband and wife legally and religiously.
 Mita, who was accompanying Niken, could no longer contain her emotion because finally Niken had officially become the wife of a man named Ardi.
 Mita shed tears and tried to wipe them with a tissue. "Congratulations dear. Now you have officially become Ardi's wife."
 Mita kissed Niken's forehead. He had mixed feelings now, but he was relieved that the event went smoothly.
 Ardi is also signing the marriage certificate. Niken was brought closer. She first kissed the back of Ardi's hand, as a sign of her devotion to Ardi, who was now legally her husband.
 The headman also asked Niken to sign his marriage certificate. Bambang, who was sitting opposite, stared closely with emotion. After arguing almost every day, Niken finally married her choice.
 He can only pray that the household that Niken and Ardi have built will last until death do them part. Of course, he and Mita will have lots of grandchildren.
 After the signature process was complete, Niken and Ardi put each other's wedding rings on their fingers.
 The moment that Ardi previously hoped to have with Melati, in fact he had with Niken. The woman he met a week ago.
 No one really knows about soul mate. Ardi has been in a relationship with Melati for three years. However, this relationship foundered when one step away from the Kabul agreement being pronounced. Different from Niken. Just got to know him, but everything happened as if it had been arranged by Him. Proving that the scenario that God has is more beautiful than the scenario created by humans.
 After putting on the wedding ring, the next event began. Namely a wedding reception. It wasn't just the invited guests who were waiting, but Ardi and Niken both couldn't wait to receive gifts from the guests.
 One by one, the invited guests congratulated the happy couple.
 Some of them whispered naughtily to Niken, "Be careful. Don't be too aggressive with your husband, especially on the first night."
 When the words 'First Night' were mentioned, Niken's hair suddenly stood up. Of course, that first night was there and Niken really forgot about it.
 He glanced at Ardi and so did Ardi. Niken thought, who knows what Ardi is thinking now? Maybe he was thinking about the first night, which they would definitely have to do later.
 Imagining the first night made Niken shudder. Ardi chuckled when he saw his wife blushing.
 Actually, it wasn't only Niken who felt that way, but Ardi also felt amused when he imagined the first night he had to spend with Niken.
 Not just the first night, but there were subsequent nights that he had to spend with Niken.
 ***
 How will Ardi and Niken's first night be? So, what life will happen next?