Between Maghrib and Isya

A Visit to the Cottage

7 YEARS LATER

I have completed my education in Turkey. 5 years of learning and plus 1 year to focus on learning Turkish. And 1 year I work.

During my time in Turkey I became an independent woman. I went to college working part-time. I want to find experience in Turkey.

Until now, my time is over. I have graduated. I have had a lot of experience in Turkey. 7 Years is not a short time. I started to miss my mom and I also missed coming to my dad's grave.

Tomorrow I will return to Indonesia. I told my mom.

"Assalamu'alaikum. Ma'am Nara's home tomorrow"

"Wa'alaikumsalam darling. What time is it leaving tomorrow?"

"Siang ma's. Maybe until Surabaya it could be afternoon or not the day after tomorrow. Later Nara call mama if it has left and has arrived in Jakarta"

"Ok darling. Don't forget your stuff in the box, baby. Watch out for something left behind. Yehudah, rest first. Byeh baby. Assalamu'alaikum"

"Ready ma. Wa'alaikumsalam ma"

***

Today as I said last night, that today I will return to Indonesia. My flight schedule starts during the day.

The flight from Turkey to Indonesia takes approximately 20 hours. Very boring thing for me. You have to sit on the passenger seat for that long. Huufffs...

Eating, sleeping, reading books, and so on became my activities while on the plane. Very very boring.

Finally I arrived at Soekarno-Hatta airport. Eits is not finished. Because I will fly to Surabaya by plane again about 1 hour and a half. For 1 day and a half I spent my time on the plane. Waaahh so feel at home hahahah.

"Mama... Assalamu'alaikum ma", greet me when I meet my mama at Juanda airport Surabaya.

"Wa'alaikumsalam darling. How are you?", asked my mother while hugging and kissing my forehead

"Alhamdulillah good ma"

My mom and I left the airport to go to my house. This time I was picked up by mom, oma, and om Zay.

It didn't take long to get to the house from Juanda airport.

Shhsttt...

The car stopped right in front of the house.

I got out of the car and dropped off my stuff.

Huuffff was tired as well. But I am satisfied, I returned to Indonesia with a different identity. There is a title in my name. The knowledge I gained during my time in Turkey hopefully can be useful for me, and I can apply it in my life.

***

Today I plan to go to the boarding school in Yogyakarta because my grandfather invited me to gather there. I still want to rest at home.

As usual, I was in Zay's car and his family. Our journey began after the Zuhur prayer.

I don't know why Grandpa asked to gather at the pesantren. Not wrong, but good. I love this kind of family gathering. Making friends is better.

As usual, the Henny Umi family warmly welcomed our arrival. At this time Pesantren is again on holiday. There were only a few santri who still lived in the cottage. So all of us as his guests grandfather also occupied an empty room. Because the Umi house does not fit if you have to accommodate the entire grandfather's family.

I miss being a santri. Really misses. School, njai, congregational prayer in the mosque, and the most I miss is the time between Maghrib and Isya which was my favorite time in the past during the mondok.

Tonight our activity is to gather at Umi's house, just to chat and prepare food for tomorrow.

"Umi, what the hell is this. Tomorrow what does it look like?", asked me who was so curious.

"Tomorrow there will be more guests dear. But grandpa told us not to tell you and the others. You just wait for tomorrow" Umi explained

"Why umi?"

"Let's be a surprise to everyone, especially you"

"I'm getting curious" I murmured in my heart.

Yes without asking again, I also helped Umi to prepare cooking for tomorrow.

I also met all my cousins. Joking, sharing stories and much more we did that night.

I also miss them, because for 7 years I did not meet them.

***

Morning has arrived. As told by Umi that today there will be special guests. We all prepared everything.

"What time is the guest coming?", I asked

"I think it's 10, baby" replied Umi

I replied with a nod.

"Who is the guest. I'm really curious. Then why especially for me said Umi?", murmured me in the heart

At 10 o'clock it arrived, but there was still no sight of anyone coming. Maybe on the road.

Tiin tiin ...

The sound horn of a white car arrived in front of Umi's house.

"Well that's the guest" said Umi who was next to me

I went out to see who the special guest was.

"Who the hell?", asked me

Degs...

My eyes glared at the special guest who was said to be umi last night.

who are the special guests that Umi says? and what's grandpa's plan?

*NEXT*