I Can Without You

I Can Without You
16. Requesting Instructions



"Mas didn't stop by first?" ask Shofi who is currently stopping his motorcycle in front of his yard.


"Other times, I want the Maghrib. Greetings to my mother, Hamzah, and Keinan as well" replied Awan.


"Yes, Mas. Yes, that is it. Thanks for being taken."


"Yes, equally. I'm going straight back, ma'am. Assalamu'alaikum," said the Clouds.


"Wa'alaikumsalam's chat. Be careful, Mas," replied Shofi at once.


The clouds nodded their heads with a smile and then started running the bike back. Shortly after the Awan left, Shofi went into his yard.


"Assalamu'alaikum," said Shofi as soon as he entered his house.


"Wa'alaikumsalam, sister," replied Aminah who was folding clothes on the living room sofa.


Shofi then approached the mother and kissed the back of her right hand.


"No clouds stopped by?" ask Aminah.


"Eh, e-no ma'am. He wants the Maghrib too, he said. Oh yes, I got the greeting from Mas Awan," replied Shofi a little nervously.


"Wa'alaikumsalam," said Aminah replied to the greetings from the clouds delivered by Shofi earlier.


"Where's the wind, Mom?"


"Go get ready with Hamzah. He went to the mosque, he said."


"Oh. Yes, if that's the case, then you go in first, ma'am."


"Yes, Brother."


Shofi leaves his mother, steps into his room.


☘️☘️☘️


Shofi, Keinan, Aminah, and Hamzah are having dinner together.


"Om handsome ain't here, Bun?" ask Keinan after finishing his dinner.


Shofi was slightly surprised to hear the question from his son.


"Ehem. Why did Om Ganteng have to come here?" shofi asked after deheming softly to normalize his expression.


"Can Om Ganteng said he wanted to make sure Mommy spoke. Means Mother home must be ushered dong same Om Ganteng. But how come Om Ganteng does not find Keinan anyway?"


Shofi misbehaved. His son was often too mature, unlike other children his age. Shofi looked towards Aminah. He saw his mother nod her head slowly. Shofi then sighed.


"Om Ganteng was not able to stop by, because it already wants Maghrib. That's why Om Ganteng went straight home" Shofi explained.


"Well, even though Kei wants to meet Om Ganteng," complained Keinan with a frown.


Shofi and Aminah looked at each other.


"What if Keinan calls Om Ganteng aja," proposed Aminah.


"Well, yeah. Keinan asked Om Hamzah for his Om Ganteng phone, ", continued Shofi.


"Don't you go, brother. What time is it, Hamza is leaving for work. If not Hamzah can be late later," said Hamzah quickly.


"Why not use your own HP anyway? Hamzah wants to get ready first," continued Hamzah who then passed to enter his room.


"Yes, Bun. Please call Om Ganteng dong, Bun. Keinan wants to chat with Om Ganteng," pinta Keinan with a clear face.


Shofi was in a dilemma to make a decision. But finally Shofi did not have the heart to see his son's face.


"Hmh, yeah. Telepin. But Keinan said it himself, Om Gantengnya," said Shofi.


"Yes, Bun," Keinan replied excitedly as he smiled and nodded his head. "Video call yes, Bun. Keinan wants to see his face Om Ganteng."


"A regular phone call, Kei, yes" Shofi said.


"No way, he wanted a video call," whined Keinan.


"Hmh, yes yes," Shofi finally relented.


Shofi then took his phone and called the new Cloud number he had saved this afternoon. As soon as the tone sounded, Shofi then handed the phone to Keinan.


"Nih, Keinan wait until Om Ganteng picks up his phone, yes," Shofi said as he reached out his phone.


Not long after the call was finally connected as well, revealing the face of the cloud in Shofi's phone.


"Winning? Assalamu'alaikum, dear," said the Cloud from across there sounded so excited after seeing Keinan's face.


"Wa'alaikumsalam's chat. Om Ganteng," cried Keinan no less excited. "Mother's HP Keinan bring to the room, yes," Keinan's permission to Shofi.


Shofi replied, nodding his head with a smile.


"What else is it?"


"Win' out of dinner. Om Ganteng has not eaten yet?"


Vaguely Shofi could still hear the conversation between Keinan and the Clouds, making him give a small smile. Only this time did he see his son excited like that with everyone else.


Not long after that Hamzah came out of his room and said goodbye to Aminah and Shofi, about to go to odd jobs in the cafe of his lecturer, Bu Yolanda.


Shortly after Hamzah departed, Aminah approached Shofi who was now done washing dishes.


"Sister" call Aminah.


"Yes, ma'am" Shofi replied, drying his hands with a washcloth.


"Son Cloud must have expressed his intentions to big brother, right?" ask Aminah carefully.


Shofi paused his activities for a moment, surprised to hear the mother's question. Because it was finished drying his hands, Shofi then hung the washcloth back to its original place.


"Here you go, ma'am" answered Shofi, who had turned back to face Aminah.


"What does brother answer?"


"Sister don't give me an answer yet, ma'am. I can't give you an answer right away. Keep saying Mas Awan, he also gave time to make brother to consider everything carefully before finally brother gave an answer to him," replied Shofi by lowering his face.


Aminah smiled gently. He patted the shoulder of his eldest daughter.


"Later prayers istikharah yes, Brother. Ask for guidance to Allah SWT," Aminah's message.


"Yes, Mom. Sure," replied Shofi.


☘️☘️☘️


Shofi opened the door to his room. Stepping inside, can Shofi see Keinan who turned out to be soundly asleep by facing the phone he sent on the pillow next to him to stay standing.


"Eh, it's sleeping apparently," Shofi said with a smile.


Shofi then approached Keinan. Keinan kissed his forehead full of affection then covered it up to the shoulder. Shofi then took his phone from the pillow. And so surprised Shofi once saw the face of the Clouds on his phone screen at this time who was smiling.


"God willing," shocked Shofi. "Ma-sorry, Mom. I didn't know that the video call wasn't finished yet" Shofi stuttered.


"No pa-pa really, Ma'am, just relax" replied the Clouds. "So Keinan asked to be cemented by the story until he collapsed he said. That's why the video call isn't dead yet."


"Oh, that's it, Mas. I'm sorry, Mas, so ngerepotin."


"Nerepotin at all, Ma'am. Just relax."


"Mmm, yes, if that's what I close first, yes, Mas," said Shofi saying goodbye.


"Yes, Mother. Good evening. Happy resting. Assalamu'alaikum."


"Yes, Mas. Wa'alaikumsalam."


Tut's.


The phone connection was also cut off. Shofi held onto his chest which suddenly felt palpitating.


"Astaghfirullah hal adziim," said Shofi beristighfar, did not want to think of a variety of things.


Putting his phone on a small table next to the bed, Shofi then laid his body next to Keinan.


☘️☘️☘️


As his mother had said last night, Shofi woke up from his sleep. After taking ablution and then performing tahajud prayer, Shofi continued by performing Istikharah prayer.


Finished the privilege and devotion of Shofi then raised both hands, pleading with Allah SWT, the Most Willing of All things.


"O Allah, O Rahman, O Rahim, I ask for guidance on choosing the good in Your knowledge, I beg you to be well-ordained with Your nature, I hope for Your great gift. You are the Almighty, and I am Your best servant."