Dusk At the End Please

Pangirutan Garut

Pangirutan Garut

Thus people pin the nickname for Garut long ago, pangirutan which means to show a sense of kangen or longing for those who have set foot in Garut.

Alam Garut always makes kangen.

Rows of mountains, shady hills and green, making people who see it fall in love. Even the air is cool, able to calm anyone who has ever stopped in Garut.

It is located in the East Priangan or southern West Java. Garut is indeed the entrance of the western region, for other districts along the line.

Having an area that is mostly conservation land, making Garut beautiful and risky.

In fact, when the first district-level cleanliness competition was held by President Soekarno in 1962, Garut immediately became the first champion of the cleanest city in Indonesia.

The name of the city of Pangirutan is inseparable from the beauty of the Garut region, so anyone who has stopped, harbored a sense of returning to visit.

Likewise with Akhtar, after asking permission diplomatically to the father he was allowed to go to Garut.

With the same reason kangen his grandmother and grandfather from the mother's side, he went to split the streets of the city of bunga ba’da dawn.

Intentionally he departed from the ba’da dawn prayer Foundation, hoping to get to Garut when the sun began to show its light, in the morning the atmosphere in his mother's hometown was very soothing.

Two and a half hours drive he took, and he arrived now in the courtyard of a simple house that has not changed since long ago, whitewashed house with large windows and a large courtyard overgrown with several trees.

Next to the house looks a garden with all kinds of medicinal plants and vegetables where grandmother and grandfather spend time if dusk is approaching.

Akhtar felt de javu, feeling back the taste that once existed when he first entered the yard of this house a few years ago.

Tok tok…

“Assalamu’alaikum,” Akhtar says hello while knocking on the door.

“Assalamu’alaikum,” back Akhtar repeated his greeting.

After the second greeting, a girl in a white headscarf opened the door.

“Wa’alaikumussalam warahmatullah,” replied the girl while opening the door.

He was surprised, quite surprised by the guests who came. A tall young man, with a field chest, looked athletic was smiling kindly before him.

Aini moment seemed to be bewitched with the smile of the young man. Aini only realized when the young man waved his hand in front of his face.

“ Hey... Assalamu’alaikum, Grandpa Ahmad and Grandma Aminah are?” , asked Akhtar to wake Aini from her daydream.

“Hah.. wa’alaikumussalam, there is,” replied Aini surprised.

“Akang who?’, ask again.

“ I'm Akhtar, his grandson Grandpa Ahmad and Grandma Aminah, son of Mother Fatimah and Father Furqan.” Akhtar replied in detail.

Hearing the voices of people chatting in front of his house, Grandma Aminah came out of the kitchen towards the living room.

For a moment he stopped his steps, watching closely who the person who was visiting was early in the morning.

“Aini, whose guests?” ask grandma Aminah.

“Assalamu’alaikum, Grandma. I'm Akhtar.” Akhtar answered because Aini was still engrossed in her daydreams.

“Akhtar?,” reset grandma half in disbelief.

“ Yes, Grandma. I'm Akhtar's granddaughter son of Fatimah's mother and Furqan's father.” Answer Akhtar.

Akhtar smiled widely...

“Masyaa Allah.. Akhtar, Alhamdulillah you finally came home, Son. Grandma kangen.” Grandma hugged her granddaughter tightly and seemed to cry. Akhtar also returned his grandmother's embrace, his grandmother's body now felt more frail because it was old.

After a long time they hugged, Grandma was dissolved in tears of longing for the grandchild, slowly the grandmother took off her embrace. He led Akhtar into the house.

The living room that still looks the same as a few years ago, for a moment Akhtar observed that around him there was no significant change in this house, there are only a few additional photos of girls on the wall of the living room.

Akhtar looked back, still standing the girl who had opened the door.

“Aini, quickly follow the Aki ka Masigit (Masjid)!”, grandmother orders the girl.

The girl looked shocked and rushed outside while confirming her veil.

While the grandmother was still spoiled in Akhtar's right hand and led her to sit in the guest chair.

“Grandma, who is she?” tanya Akhtar was curious about the girl.

“You forgot? He's your cousin Aini. Aunt Zainab's son. He was the one who had been accompanying grandma and grandpa in this house. You do not remember first that aunt Zainab and her family visited here you often make Aini cry because you always tease her by piercing her dimples,” explained grandma at length.

Akhtar rewinded his memory, he remembered that he often made the cry of SD children who were always veiled.

Yes, Akhtar remembered she was Aini, Nurul Aini Rahmah her full name was daughter of aunt Zenab the sister of her mother.

Grandpa and grandmother had two daughters and one son, Akhtar Fatimah's mother was the first child, and, His mother has a younger sister, aunt Zainab, who lives in Jakarta and a younger brother, uncle Azzam, who lives in Serang, Banten.

Akhtar smiled to himself, did not feel the time seemed to pass so quickly, Aini has now grown into a beautiful girl, Akhtar was until pangling made.

“Assalamu’alaikum,” someone with a familiar voice in Akhtar's ear said hello.

Akhtar looked towards the source of the voice while answering his greetings, he saw grandfather smiling towards him.

Immediately Akhtar stood up and approached the grandfather, greeted him with great reverence and then hugged him.

“ Akhtar, you're big,” said grandfather while stroking Akhtar's back.

“Kakek, Akhtar kangen, forgive Akhtar.” welcome Akhtar with tears that suddenly escaped the corner of his eye.

His mind drifted into a new past, recalling all the memories he went through with his grandfather during his stay in Garut.

Grandfather is my role model, from whom I learn a lot. From him I also learned rigor, as a man does not want to appear weak, a man must be strong, strong faith, strong knowledge, strong charity. That is the advice of my grandfather that I always remember to this day.

Grandpa once said that I as a man will someday account for 4 women in the afterlife, I initially avoided it, I did not accept if I grew up later I had to have four wives.

Grandfather only chuckled with my understanding, until he explained that the four women who would be my responsibility were my wife, my daughter, my mother and my sister.

These four women will hold me accountable, whether I succeed in guiding them down the path of Allah or not.

Grandfather always reminded me that my faith, science and behavior must be truly qualified, able to bring myself and my family in the path that God is ridhoi.

“ Grandpa, healthy?,” slowly Akhtar unraveled her embrace.

“Alhamdulillah, Grandpa and grandmother healthy, still given the opportunity by God to meet you”, replied grandfather slightly tickled Akhtar's heart.

Because since Akhtar moved to Yogya and continued studying abroad only this time he returned to Garut.

During this time Akhtar only communicate with his mother by phone, even then it can be counted with fingers.

During these years his father was not too open access for Mother and her family to contact Akhtar, his father always reasoned that Akhtar not disturbed his learning. I don't know…

They were worried that Akhtar was exhausted from driving since dawn from Bandung, when he was not. Tired Akhtar evaporated as the cool air he breathed as he entered the city of Garut with a million expectations.

Akhtar said to his grandparents to meet his friends while in the Dormitory, Akhtar also intended to invite them to visit the dormitory that has carved a beautiful story in the inside of his heart.

Akhtar was very curious, how is Shanumnya now, the idol girl who always reigns in his heart and memory, unfettered by the same time of love he offered to the idol.

Where did he continue his schooling first, what is his activity now?

Does he like to organize?

And most importantly Akhtar wanted to make sure that one thing that always stuck in my mind, was the girl of his heart still faithfully waiting for him?

They have reached the age of twenty-five years, the age for women is very mature even some people understand too mature if not married.

Especially in a rural area like this, many girls are married under the age they should be, if there are unmarried women at a very mature age according to them not infrequently become a neighbor's chatter.

But really, honestly Akhtar really hope Shanum is not married, until the opportunity for him to leave the feeling wide open, complete the old love that has not been stretched out. Hhe…

Desa that was delayed.

When Akhtar arrived at Andi's house, his best friend while in the dorm, Andi lived in the village next door.

Akhtar used to play at home several times when he came home from the dormitory. Akhtar still remembered his home, and here it is now.

When he was about to open the fence, Akhtar was suddenly startled by the sound of someone behind him.

“Punten, his kasaha bade? (sorry, who are you going to?)”, asked someone to surprise Akhtar. He looked back immediately, for a moment they looked at each other, and not for long…

“ Farzan”, he said

“Andi”, timpal Akhtar…

They laughed while hugging, letting go of longing happily. Until after being satisfied enough they take off each other's hugs, then laugh happily because they can meet again.

Andi invites Akhtar into his house. They tell each other a lot about each other's lives so far, about their school was also about the dormitory which is now increasingly advanced.

Andi is married to Laila, a girl who since Junior High has been targeted, from her marriage she has been blessed with a daughter who is currently only 1 year old.

Akhtar did not expect Andi to be the village head in this village. It was very funny, Andi who used to be the most bland among their 4 friends, Akhtar, Andi, Azwar and Rayhan.

You are often punished when in the dorm for breaking the rules, often sleeping while studying, hiding photos of women, running away when learning da'wah rhetoric and many more delinquents made Andi.

Although Akhtar only lived briefly in this village, but enough to give him good memories, Garut with all his stories.

The story is short, the memories are great, the eating is very difficult.

After talking about it for almost an hour, Akhtar finally revealed the taste that had been holding his heart and mind.

“In, do you know how Shanum is now?”, asked Akhtar carefully.

Honestly there was fear in his heart to hear the news about Shanum.

“Beuh...geuning come kadieu teh kadiana mah, (apparently, come here anyway to there),” answered andi while chuckling.

“Serius Di, since my departure to Yogya I have never met him again, I also do not know the news. But honestly in my heart and mind Shanum's shadow never disappeared"

"Even I wish I could now complete this old love, I really want to put my heart on her, I want to propose her to be my life partner, I miss her, Di.” Akhtar said at length.

Either the courage from where suddenly Akhtar was so straightforward to express his feelings to Andi, whereas in the past Akhtar was a person who did not like to chat especially about his personal problems.

Maybe because Akhtar had always felt comfortable with Andi even Andi who used to be his love letter courier for Shanum.

Andi took a long breath. Before answering Akhtar's question, Andi stared fixedly at Akhtar, as if there were doubts in his eyes.

“Zan”, Andi calls Akhtar with a special call at school and at the Dormitory, Farzan.

“You sure as long as you go from here not interested in other women?” ask Andi full of search.

“I don't think that you can't find beautiful girls in Yogya, especially when abroad, there must be a lot of women in line who want to be your girlfriend.” Connect again.

“Yes, the women who pursue me are many, even many of my teachers who want to match their children with me.

But really I am not interested, every time someone invites me berta’aruf honestly I think of Shanum.

Now please tell me where Shanum is and how he is?”, pinta Akhtar.

“Still I have hope to be with him?” ask Akhtar.

Back Andi inhaled a long breath and threw it away quickly.

“Sorry Zan, who I know Shanum attended college in Bandung, he got a scholarship there, and not long after his family moved, he said, because he said Shanum's grandmother on his mother's side died and they moved to Bogor to accompany his grandfather.

I don't know exactly where, and the last word I heard from my sister Shanum was proposed by a government official in Bogor.

If you remember our age now it looks like Shanum is married. You still remember Husna and Nia Shanum's friends right?

Husna now has two children, Nia even cooler she has 3 children, both twins.” Andi said at length.

Jlebbb.

Akhtar smiled when he heard it, pain enveloping his heart.

Knowing the harsh reality that was far from his expectations.

It doesn't bleed, maybe that's what Akhtar is going through. Akhtar tried to neutralize his mood again, not wanting to ruin a happy meeting with his best friend.

They continue to chat with a variety of topics from the past to the present.

It does not feel time has shown the arrival of prayer dzuhur.

After the prayer and lunch prepared by his wife Andi, Akhtar said he would return to his grandmother's house and would return to Bandung because there was a schedule in the employee class, the reason was a lie.

Because today Akhtar deliberately emptied his schedule for the next two days to be in Garut, looking for information about his beloved girl and reminiscing about good memories during his stay in Garut.

But the plan was to stay the plan, His spirit seemed to melt into pain, disappointment clearly visible on his face.

Akhtar took his foot straight to the car and went straight to his grandparents' house to return to Bandung right now.

Akhtar was like losing half his soul, hope was happy with his heart gone.

All the fun to return to complete his old love that has not been stretched is just wishful thinking.

Shanum, the simple girl who managed to win his heart until now in fact now really will not be able to reach because it has become the property of others.

The fact that Akhtar received today, has really destroyed his heart and feelings.

“Shanum, can I be selfish?”, he whispered softly.

"I am still your home, if you remember the way home then come back" he murmured.