A DEEP WOUND

Suspicious

Three days passed. Thank God my feet have healed from the pain. The swelling has also started to decrease.

I can take lessons as usual. Since Ustaz Aris took me to the hospital. The pain in my head was gone too.

Ustaz Aris's attention to me grew even more when I got sick yesterday.

In the afternoon with the atmosphere of a clean cottage makes me think to walk around the cottage santriwati. Understandably, lying down for three days in bed makes me so saturated.

In the end, I wanted to lighten my legs.

 

And tumben\-tumbenan I'm not with Salsa. I am often accompanied by my best friend. But somewhere, this afternoon I didn't see the stem of his nose at all.

I passed the matbah which was the kitchen. I saw from the outside there were some santriwati in the kitchen. And the aunt who often cooked for us also gathered with friends\-friends others.

I am also interested in entering and joining them. I set foot to enter.

I don't know what I heard. Bibik and other santriwati named Ustaz Aris and Ustazah Nisa. I was shocked when I heard the name of the man who would promise to marry me was called.

I just stood up to hear their conversation. And broke my intention to enter the kitchen.

My heart ached when I heard the aunt tell me that Ustaz Aris and Ustazah Nisa will be betrothed by homecoming.

My chest felt rumbling for a moment. My cheeks suddenly got wet like there was water flowing slowly.

Sometimes I don't believe what I hear myself. But this is the truth.

For the first time I felt like for a man\-man. Is it possible that I heard this is real or the bibik just make a story.

 

"Babies don't lie. Cook yes Ustaz Aris want to be betrothed to Ustazah Nisa?" ask Ica who is inside. I also heard my friend's question.

"Yes. Bibik and see for yourself, Ustaz Aris, Zah Nisa were summoned in the living room. But ... Ustaz Aris does not seem to want to be betrothed," replied the aunt again while cutting long beans.

 

So curious I was. So worried I heard the man\-loving man will be betrothed.

 

And alhamdulillah. The pain in my chest disappeared when I heard that Ustaz Aris did not want to be betrothed.

I can only pray. I hope what I hear will never happen. I don't want Ustaz Aris to be married to another woman.

He has promised me. I'm sure he won't forget his promise.

*******

There are so many stars up there. Decorate the sky and light up a night so cold.

Santriwati and including me do speech exercises or lectures that are done three times a week. Tonight is precisely the night of jum’at. It's my turn to give a speech.

The jury is mudhabiroh. Even though they were judges, they also continued to do speech exercises like us. After all, they are still learning just like me.

“Manda Ramdhani,” call mudhabiroh Puji. I went forward and went up to the simple stage that was already prepared.

“Bismillahhi rohmanirrohim, Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarokatuh. Alhamdulillah alhamdulillahirobbil alamin, wassalatuwassala mu’ala asrophil anbiya iwal mursalin. Sayyidina muhammadin wa’ala alii wasohbihi ajma’in am ba’du. Earlier, I was grateful to have been given the opportunity to deliver this short speech. On this evening I will deliver a short talk entitled Serving to both parents. Being devoted to both parents is not a foreign thing for us to hear. God commands us to do good to our fellow men, as well as to our parents. We who at least repay the kindness of him who raised us until it can grow as it is today.”

 

Now it turned into a nervous state and the heart started to beat loudly.

 

I paused for a moment, sweat running down my back. It is clear Ustaz Aris smiled to see me while giving spirit to raise one hand to encourage.

 

I took a deep breath and began to continue my speech

 

“However, in this day and age much we see children cannot appreciate their parents. To the extent that many children fight even make their parents like servants. This is real, we can see all around us. If you are already a successful person. There are so many who make their parents like servants, like babu. Na’uzu billahhimin. Even if we know, parents used to protect us when we were children, he who was afraid if we were exposed to heat, he who was afraid if we were hurt, he said, he is sad if we why-why when he was a child first. By Allah, we cannot repay them, even though it is clear in the Qur’an we are prohibited from saying abusive words to parents. But somehow, many of us can not say softly in front of the two parents who have loved us wholeheartedly. Let my brothers and sisters, repair our relationship with our parents. Remember how great a sacrifice he raised us in this world.” That's a piece of talk from me.

Finished delivering the lecture. I got off the stage, and my friends applauded me. Likewise with Ustaz Aris who is still standing to applaud me with a big smile.

I made her blush shyly lowered her head, then sat back with the other santriwati.

Another santriwati turn was called. I also watched the other santriwati making a speech.

 

My preoccupation was also disturbed by Ustaz Aris as he called me. It's not just me who's being called. Except my best friend Salsa was also called.

 

Moreover, he called me with an inappropriate atmosphere like this.

“Manda. Manda!” call Ustaz Aris from behind.

“Ukhti Manda called tuh tuh sama, Ustaz.” I was told by one of the underclassmen that was right behind me.

I turned around, raised an eyebrow looking at Ustaz Aris. I hesitantly approached the tall man.

“Ustaz, what's up?” I asked Ustaz Aris.

“Anti help Ana make an invitation, invite Salsa too. Just Antum with Salsa, huh? Later meet ana at library.”

“Oouhh ... Na’am, Ustaz. Later Ana to go there, now also, Ustaz?” ask again.

“Iya, now. Request permission first same mudhabiroh.” Ustaz Aris went to the library first.

I approached Salsa, whispering to take her to the library.

“Ngapain to library?” ask Salsa.

“Ask helpin Ustaz Aris make invitation.” I whispered Salsa again.

“Oouhh, now?” ask Salsa again.

“Iya, now.” I clearly.

“Ya, already, ask permission first same Praise in front.” Get Salsa.

I also went with Salsa to ask permission to mudhabiroh Puji. Once allowed, we headed to the library.