DUSK PAINTING

Chapter 3. Grief

The atmosphere of silence enveloped the breakfast event with Ustad Ahmad and his wife Umi Hani and his first child named Fahri. Mizyan did not dare to open a conversation so cruel to two simple people who had considered him as an adopted child. Abah, his call to ustad Ahmad, was most pleased to eat while sitting down. Based on a soft carpet, looks sunda-style dishes served in the middle. Tutug oncom, fried nilem fish, mendoan, plus lalab sambal and crackers into a delicious dish after the study event .

"How's the job, son Mizyan?" Abah shrank the surface of her lips with a tissue after sipping warm tea with a plate that had been slippery with no residue.

"Alhamdulillah, Bah. Smoothly." Mizyan also ended the meal with a hamdalah. For a long time he did not meet with a simple but very delicious menu. During the 6 months of nomads he always ate in restaurants and was entertained more by his clients.

"So how smooth is it too? Never been a hole?"

"Never a hole, Bah. But sometimes the prayers end hehe..." Mizyan laughed off as she felt. While working with clients, he was still delaying the obligatory worship.

"Salat is the first thing that will be held accountable later, so do not make prayer the last thing you think of."

"I'm sorry, Bah." Mizyan lowered her head. Shame to get a fine reprimand from Abah.

"Study and continue to learn to dig for prayers. Could ask your brother." ustad Ahmad pointed at Fahri with his chin sitting next to Mizyan.

"Don't assume prayer is just an obligation, because we'll rush to do it."

"If we consider prayer to be only an obligation, then we will not enjoy the presence of God when we do it."

"Do prayer properly and sincerely, it will make the heart happy, the soul peaceful, and remove the anxiety of life."

Actually Mizyan was still at home listening to the advice of Ahmad who was delivered in a family atmosphere. But the assistant of the old man came to bring news if it was time to go to the airport. Ustad Ahmad had to go to Pekanbaru for a week-long dawah safari there.

Mizyan drove Abah and Umi who left accompanied by 2 assistants to the front of the car.

"I'm sorry, son, we have to go. Even though you just came, umi is still missing." Umi patted Mizyan's arm with the look of a mother's affectionate eyes. "You want to stay a long time, right in Bandung?"

Mizyan nodded. "God willing Umi. I also want to stay here (pesantren) want to continue njai."

"Alhamdulillah." Umi smiled happily. "Don't hesitate. Consider your own home. If you need any help, you can ask santri."

"But remember santriwan. Not santriwati!"

Mizyan laughed at Umi's index point that seemed to threaten her. He waved his hand as the car started to go.

"A Iyan, mayu!"

Mizyan turned to the origin of the voice that called out to her. Apparently Dado from earlier was faithfully waiting on the terrace. His frown shriveled at Dado with a hand gesture pointing towards the pavilion.

"Kang, I live first huh." Mizyan said goodbye to Fahri who was talking to one of the foundation administrators. Which was then answered by Fahri.

With the spirit of 45, Dado opened the door of the pavilion room. Mizyan witnessed the large pile of gifts of various sizes stored filled one of the chairs.

Kayak birthday present.

Mizyan shook her head. During his year in the pesantren, his presence had stolen the attention of the girls. Both santriwati and lecturers from outside the pesantren. Even taaruf's proposal piled up in the corner of his desk. Only read at a glance even some have not been opened. I don't know, since the rejection of the proposal by Rade, he felt not ready to have a special relationship with women let alone plan to get married. Still far.

****

Mizyan parked her car in the yard of a 2-story house right next to a black SUV. With him out of the car, a couple also came out of the house dressed all in black.

"Assalamualaik." Mizyan exclaimed cheerfully because she could meet again the people she missed.

"Getishalight."

Mizyan and Satya embrace each other and laugh because they feel good to see each other again. During this time they only communicate by phone in discussing work.

"Where's my niece, De? Kangen this is." Mizyan turned to look at Rade who was smiling watching her interaction with Satya.

"In my brother, same mother. We're huddling out. If you know you want to come along." Rade turned to look at the closed door.

"Oh, you guys want to go?" Mizyan only realized that the couple in front of her was wearing the same color of clothes as Rade was attaching a bag on the shoulder.

Satya nodded. "We want to punish. He was going to his house but now he was ready for the funeral. So go straight to the TPU."

"Who died?"

The three of them boarded the same car to the TPU (Public Funeral). Mizyan chose to join because she knew Nico as Satya's partner in the property business.

The car still drove slowly down the streets of the housing complex with the limited edition unit. Mizyan turned to look at Nico's house, which looked lonely without any vehicles parked outside.

"Died of what, Sat?" Mizyan who chose to participate takziah who sat alone in the second row began to ask out of curiosity. He did not know his friend Nico who died. I only know Nico.

"sickness. Nasopharyngeal cancer."

"The girl is one, a man of Nana's age. Poor to be an orphan..."

Mizyan nodded at Satya's explanation. Suddenly the atmosphere in the car was shrouded in grief. All three are silent with each mind wandering to imagine if death does not know the age limit. Imagine the grief of the abandoned wife.

The morning atmosphere at the cemetery was filled with people who drove and released the late Johan Al Malik to the final resting place. Rows of eating look neatly arranged, green grassy uniform with headstone decoration on the head. Mizyan, Satya and Rade stood mingled in the line of people watching the earthlings that filled the burrows.

Maybe it was his wife.

Mizyan's gaze was fixed on the back of a woman dressed in all white who was crouching in front of the navel while sprinkling roses. Two women on her left and right rubbed her back as if transferring support to be patient and steadfast.

Mizyan took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. The atmosphere of grief was so thick felt and he was swept away by the atmosphere. Especially when the sound of a small sobbing from the owner of the back of a woman wearing all white clothes that now decays sitting on the ground when ustad lead the prayer. His heart sank.

"The girl is one, a man of Nana's age. Poor to be an orphan..."

Satya's words ring back when Mizyan rubbed his face after confirming the prayer of the ustad.

"I'm so sorry. May the deceased have the best place on God's side."

"Patient and strong, bro." Mizyan greeted and gave a hug to Nico who looked a deep look of sadness even though her eyes were covered in sunglasses.

"Aamiinu. Thanks for coming."

Satya also did the same thing to say condolences. It also appears that Rade approached a group of women and greeted them all.

People gradually left the cemetery and left behind several people who were the closest relatives of the late Malik.

"We're home!" Colekan on his shoulder made Mizyan look over. He saw Satya and Rade walking first leaving himself who was still standing watching the family scenery that surrounded the navel, heard starting to chant prayers.

"Yes!"

Satya's call made Mizyan aware of his attitude. He turned his back, walking quickly to release the grief that had enveloped the heart. Before coming out of the archway, he gazed one last time at the mound of red earth with a group of people still chanting prayers.