Canticles

7. Sentence Determination

The process of delivering Landung's spirit to where it should have been held in a closed manner as David requested. That's because David did not want the people to further corner Tini and Septia who still could not accept the departure of Landung until now.

Tini and Septia do consider Landung still alive. They felt that Landung was still around them. Maybe that's what makes Landung's spirit restrained and can not go.

Landung's age at death was four years. Still young and in a high level of curiosity. Landung often asked a lot of things to the brother to make Septia overwhelmed. However, Septia will try to answer Landung's question.

Every day Landung would release Septia to school by standing in the doorway of the house while waving his hand. And on returning home from school Septia would find her sister standing in the same place while carrying a toy or snack in her hand.

The memory was the most imprinted in Septia's memory to make the little girl cry every time she left and went home from school.

Tini as a mother is no less sad. Instead of comforting Septia and advising her son, Tini often talked to herself as if she was talking to Landung. Things that are routinely done by Tini when caring for Landung at home first.

Tini also sang and laughed for no reason. Residents who saw his strange behavior also reported their findings to David.

David did not believe the citizen reports. But when he saw it all with his own eyes, David was forced to believe it.

It happened when David came home early after helping to harvest the neighboring rice fields. David saw Septia crying on her way home from school. Septia stood on the porch sobbing as David walked over to her.

David's steps came to a halt as he heard Tini's voice speaking. David thought Tini was reprimanding the neighbor's son who had made Septia cry. But David was wrong. He was actually surprised when he saw Tini talking to himself while wiping the small chair owned by Landung.

" Sister is crying. That's why you don't like ngagetin Brother ya..," said Tini while rubbing Landung's chair.

" ... "

" Yes yes. Let me tell Brother later to not cry again. But Landung promised not to go far anymore huh. I'm sad, I can't live if Landung leaves..," said Tini lirih.

It was at this moment that David felt his joints weaken. He did not expect that Tini was so devastated by the departure of their son. Slowly David approached Septia and carried her. Septia who initially lowered her head was even harder crying in her father's arms.

" Don't get rich, son. Kasian Your sister if you still continue to cry..," whispered David as he rubbed Septia's back gently.

" I miss Landung Yah. He usually waits for me to come home at the door. But now no one is waiting for me rich Landung..," said Septia in between her tears.

" There will be a mother waiting for Septia." David persuaded.

" It's not Yah. My mother was busy talking to herself. Dad was horrified if I also continue to mention the name Landung..," said Septia.

David was just silent. He walked away from home and went to his parents' house. David left Septia there for a few days because he did not want Septia's soul disturbed to see his mother who was a little 'insane.

Well, Tini does look crazy when it comes to the late Landung. But for other things Tini is fairly normal like a healthy person. There is nothing strange because Tini can do all the homework well and completely. And that confused David.

As long as Septia was entrusted to her parents, David tried to remind Tini. Unfortunately, it did not last long. Tini will accept Landung's departure for a while. Two hours later Tini will again forget and act like Landung is still alive.

David almost gave up on Tini. David was also more vulnerable when some residents said if they saw the appearance of Landung in the rice fields. David was angry because he thought the people were trying to drive him out of the village by constantly spreading news that cornered him. Until the arrival of Rusminah with his grandson awakened David.

And the next morning David and Ustadz Adil were preparing to help the spirit of Landung. Earlier they asked Rusminah for permission to hold a simple 'salvation' at her house. Rusminah also gladly let them do the salvation.

" I am happy because this celebration can all pray for my house..," Rusminah said.

" Mak Rus is right. We will also pray for this house and all the families of Mak Rus including the late Landung.

" Thank you, Nak Ustadz. So when will the show be made...?" ask Rusminah.

" God willing this afternoon bada Ashar Mak..," said Ustadz Adil steady.

" Do I need to provide something...?" ask Rusminah.

" It doesn't matter Mak. At most We just a little inconvenient Mak Rus by providing drinking water..," said ustadz Adil fast.

A moment later Ustadz Adil resigned because he had to immediately teach at the boarding house in the village. David chose to stay to fix the fence next to the mango orchard.

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In the afternoon, Ustadz Adil came with five students from the boarding school where he taught. David, Rex and Gama welcomed their arrival with enthusiasm. Rusminah and Lilian deliberately waited in the room because that was the request of Ustadz Adil this morning.

" I apologize in advance. Insya Allah santri whom I invited here is the candidate of Hafizh Qur'an Mak. So they did learn to stay away from worldly affairs including women. Even though Mak Rus is considered old, Mak Rus is still a woman. So please understand Mak Rus to not show up later..," pinta ustadz Just be careful.

" Oh, no problem. I understand Nak Ustadz..," said Rusminah with a smile.

" I'm sorry Mr. Ustadz. Why are the candidates for the Hafizh Qur'an not able to squirm women ?. Not that yes, as long as the woman closes the aurat and they do not touch each other...?" rex didn't understand.

" It was an unwritten rule applied by the Kyai in the Kami Mas boarding school. The Kyai and teachers are worried that seeing women, let alone admiring them, will disturb the concentration of Hafizh candidates. Are women not one of the causes of slander for men ?. Exactly as is often mentioned by teachers about three things that are a test for men, namely the throne, property and women..," said Ustadz Adil explained.

Rex and Gama nodded in a sign of understanding. Then Ustadz Adil began to lead the salvation event. The chants of Surah Al-Qur'an that the santri read echoed in the room. It felt solemn and touching to make the feathers of Rex, Gama and David bristled.

While in the room Rusminah and Lilian appear to read the Surah of the Qur'an as read by the santri.

After the recitation of the holy verse of the Qur'an is completed, it is continued with dhikr. And soon enough, we heard something falling.

Rex, Gama and David reflexively turned to the source of the voice and frowned in confusion. They saw some of the displays placed in the closet scattering out like someone accidentally took them out of the closet.

" Look Rex, the display in the closet itself came out without anyone touching...!" said Gama.

" Yes Gam, I also see kok..," said Rex quickly.

" This.., this incident is exactly the same as when Landung was angry because his request was not obeyed..," murmured David while wiping his forehead wet with sweat.

Even though it was spoken softly but Ustadz Adil heard all the words of David earlier.

" It was indeed the late Landung Mas Daud. He was showing his existence to Kita and reminded his father of his old habits.", said Ustadz Adil.

David looked overwhelmed and almost cried. His eyes glazed over as he recalled his son's unique habits.

" Say something David...!" pinta ustadz Fair.

" Tell me what Ustadz...?" david asked not to understand.

" Everything we've agreed on is...!" sahut ustadz Fair.

David also nodded. He let out a long sigh before saying the decisive sentence that would make Landung apart from the bond that had bound him all this time.

" Landung Darling.., this is Daddy Nak. Here I just want to say that Landung can go now. Don't worry anymore about anything including Mom and Sister. Let me tell you the same Mom and Sister if you go first and wait for us somewhere beautiful. Now Landung see there's light, right, go there son. Wait for Father, Mother and Brother there, yes," said David with a voice trembling to make Rex and Gama moved.

A moment later a cold wind greeted David. He seemed to close his eyes to absorb his last interaction with the child. David felt his heart empty as if something was missing. David was crying because he realized that Landung had left.

The chanting of dhikr continued to echo the sobs of David. Ustadz Adil patted David on the back and whispered a soothing sentence.

" Landung has gone Mas Daud. He went where he should have been. Follow him and pray for him because he is your savings that will take you and your wife to heaven later." whispered ustadz Adil.

David nodded with a happy smile to hear the words of Ustadz Adil.

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