Animal Sacrifice For Mother
3. 27 To 1
Fifty kilometers from the roar of cheers and applause of hundreds of students at the school. Here, brain intelligence is back to getting the test. All heads bowed, focused on staring at the sheet of paper on each table. Silent. Just a slow whisper and slow motion became an indoor sight.
That morning, a cloud of cloud crept over the sky of the provincial city. The main energy source on the face of the earth successfully helps the evaporation process perfectly. Water vapors are sent to the high sky, and tucked between clouds.
The wind blows, flying the cloud clumps vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and meet with other cloud clumps. It then forms a large cloud cloud that holds thousands of m3 evaporation victims. Eventually the clouds give up because the amount of water collected exceeds the maximum capacity. In order to lighten the load, hundreds of m3 of water were sent to the earth. It rained.
“Back to your seat!”
Simultaneously all the faces looked up without having to be commanded. They're shocked. The loud voice of the thick-moustached man drove away the silence. He rises. Half standing. His left hand rested on the table, while his right hand was raised, pointing to the seat of a young man who was now fixated before him. Things like this would not have happened had the young man been Arif. He will finish his work first. Then out.
It was completely different from that slightly stocky young man. Rahman. Brother sister Arif. Look, when all the faces put on a tense face, Rahman actually looks calm even though in his heart tucked in disbelief over the rejection of a lecturer.
Rahman is currently undergoing a semester-level examination at his college, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at one of the best Universities in the provincial city. Indonesian Language Department.
Rahman always aspired to be a teacher. He said teachers are the noblest profession. Without a teacher, we would never be able to read, write, and count. Remember the historical bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan? Wasn't the Emperor's first question about how many teachers survived?
“This, sir. Two unanswered numbers.”
Rahman handed over his answer sheet politely. He had indeed returned to his seat to pick up his answer sheet to collect. He would rather go out than have to complete the rest of the ten number test questions. Since childhood, he has been used to hurry.
“Solve first, just out!”
The thick-moustached lecturer again exclaimed fiercely. His treatment made Rahman swallow. Actually, the time to solve two unanswered problem numbers is still a lot left. Thirty-five minutes. For Rahman, that amount of time was more than enough. He's a smart kid, but he'd rather get out. The reason is obvious, there is someone who does not want to be disappointed. Because the message is stuck in the head. Every second, it flows with blood.
“What do you see? Finish your exams!”
The whole room was silent. The faces returned. Continue to answer about the exam. All the students know, the lecturer was a famous killer. Scared for their discipline and discipline. Throw away the desire to fight.
“Once again sorry, sir.”
Rahman put the answer sheet on the table. Then move out. He did not want other student friends to become victims of the frustration of the killer lecturer. If what is done must take its toll, let it be alone.
Adhan dzuhur has been proclaimed. Momentarily over. Rahman still went down dozens of steps by speeding up his steps. The message of a mother seventeen years ago is completely mossy in the head.
***
“I go to surau first. Soon dawn.”
Amaq. Inaq still binds fresh kale before it is sold. Both of their children fell asleep on the floor. The rural road is still deserted. The wind blows softly. Rumbling in the sky once two rang out accompanying Amaq's steps towards Surau.
From out there, the sound of lightning suddenly sounded thunderous. Lights out. Darkness covered the entire village. Slowly, Inaq approached his two children to cover them. The wooden window then opened, briefly glaring into the sky. It hasn't rained yet.
“Inaq, Inaq.”
In the darkness, Rahman awoke. He lifted his body slowly from the floor. Arif is still asleep. Without light, the eyes can see nothing. Without cause, there can be no effect.
Inaq approaching. The oil lamp had just been lit and placed on the table. Now that the eyes have caught the light, Rahman is not afraid anymore. Unseen, Rahman questions Amaq's whereabouts. Then Inaq answered that Amaq had gone to Surau, and he would soon follow.
It is very natural that Rahman or brother Arif do not know the habits of their parents to perform congregational dawn prayers in surau. They are always left in their sleep.
“Duaaaarr!” The sound of lightning returned. Rahman's surprised. Then he buried his face in Inaq's arms.
“Inaq can't go. It's so dark out there, it's raining soon. Rahman scared herself at home.”
The four-year-old boy tightened the circumference of his tiny hand on Inaq's body. Rahman is only two years adrift of Arif's brother who three months ago was even six years old.
Indeed, the situation outside the house is very dark, especially when the lights are out like this. Only the moonlight becomes illumination. That's also if the moon isn't hiding. Unlike the current state, the moon is invisible. The sky was overcast, once two lightning strikes were seen lighting up the country road. Disappeared briefly. Dark again.
“You know. Prayers are far more numerous than prayers alone, 27 to 1. Hence, we are encouraged to pray together. So that the reward we get more.”
Rahman nodded. So-so understand. Then took off his embrace and rushed over to Arif's brother who was still asleep.
The chanting of holy verses of the Quran began to be heard from the loudspeakers of mosques and surau-surau in all corners of the small village. The morning is still blind, the moon is invisible, the stars are scattered with clouds, and today the sun is rumored to be stuck in traffic on its way to illuminate the middle of the earth.
Alhamdulillahot. The lights are back on. Rahman is seen moving both of his tiny hands to wake Arif. Keep going, don't stop. But brother Arif did not pay attention to Rahman. He wrapped his whole body in a blanket.
Rahman has not given up. This time his tiny hand gesture was accompanied by a whisper repeating the word Inaq: the reward of congregational prayer is far more than the prayer itself.27 to 1. Inaq just smiled watching the natural play of his two children.
Nope. It's not noise pollution. Nor is it the cause of the disruption of sleep most humans. The voice was the voice of the Muaddzin who was carrying out his duties of chanting the dawn Adhan.
“Wait!”
Rahman. Brother Arif was seen flipping his blanket, then got up. He felt slapped by Rahman's words. Then together followed Amaq to Surau to perform the morning prayers in congregation.
***
“Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah's. Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah.”
Prayer dzuhur congregation in mushalla campus ends. Rahman and several other students, as well as lecturers, shook hands with each other. It sends forth hope through prayers offered to God.
“Rahman. Rahman!”
A scream sounded from the distance. Rahman who was tying his shoelaces turned his head. He saw a hurried approach. Five seconds. Ten seconds. They look at each other.
“You should see him now!”
***
