I'm Santri?

Become Santri

"Alhamdulillah, the spirit is amazing. How about I just take you to Santri's room? Considering it's five o'clock in the afternoon. Soon adzan maghrib reverberated. It should have been closed by four o'clock this afternoon. It's just, I was mandated Abah to wait for Mother's arrival. So it had to open up until this late. Let's take you to Santri's room."

Mom immediately stood up and stopped crying, her delicate hands rubbed her cheeks, and her breathing faltered.

"So sir, we'll get the stuff in the car first. Let's all get settled right away." Answer Mom in a hoarse voice. Maybe because of her excessive crying. Or indeed his sadness has reached the highest level.

"Oh please Mom, I'll wait in front of TU ya Ma'am."

"Yes sir."

Almost all the clothes I had, were stuffed in this big suitcase. Maybe, there will be one outfit that I will not wear for now. My one-year-old high school shirt accompanied my trip with Sasha. From now on, I'm no longer a high school boy. I'm back in the first grade at Junior High. May with this choice, all my dreams be achieved.

"Aleya is ready?" Ask Mom to me.

"God willing Ma'am, may Aleya be at home Ma'am."

"Mother, will pray for Aleya whenever it is. I hope that Aleya will be a sholihah woman who can make her fellow man happy."

"Aamiin's."

"Well, we're there."

That big suitcase I brought. Slowly towards the TU room. The atmosphere of the cottage is getting quieter. There is no santri traffic like a few hours ago.

"Mom, how is it now deserted? Where are they on?"

"Oh santri-santri?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Now we are going to pray Maghrib. That means they are now gathering at the mosque to perform congregational prayers."

"Being a santri is how does it feel anyway, ma'am?"

"Mmm, how about it, Aleya will know for herself."

Not the answer I got from my mouth. Only her sweet smile complemented my curiosity about how it feels to be a santri.

"How are you ready? Try checking again when someone's missing." The TU guard said it welcomed our arrival.

"It seems like it's been taken by all sir." My answer.

"Then let me take you to the room."

On the way, I looked around the magnificent building of this cottage. His room line is neatly lined. In front of the rooms were not a few clothes that were being dried, next to the door was a special rack for shoes and sandals, and in between one room with another room many books are stored neatly arranged.

Sure enough, my room is on the third floor at the very end. Said the TU guard, the last room was devoted to new students. And most of them have backgrounds that are not as far away as I am. Alias they came here because they were influenced by the evil association out there. What it will be like, in one room gathered santri who have a dark record in their lives.

"Sorry sir, one room is usually how many people?" Askaqua.

"There are usually six people, but for the ade room there are now only four people, five with ade."

"They're all new, sir?"

"Yes all new. And his age is different."

"Do they have such a bad past record, sir?"

"Later acquaintance alone yes. He said he didn't know it, then no dear." Laughs slowly.

After a long journey. Finally we arrived in front of the room of the cottage I was going to occupy.

"Relix!" When the door was opened, there were three multi-storey baskets, six large pink cabinets, and bookshelves. The basket was very organized. One near the left wall, one near the right wall, and the other in the middle. One basket may be for two people. One above and one below.

The room window also looks very good, in between the right and left rooms there is a medium-sized window. If we look outside, then we will be presented with a beautiful view of rice fields and mountains. The bathroom is also prepared here.

I tried to get out of the room. The front room is also very beautiful. The view of the vastness of the cottage and the magnificent mosque makes the eyes not bored to stare. There are a lot of books on the right. Is this a pesantren? Is this a pesantren?

"Please put your stuff in the middle cupboard. Then take a shower and change clothes. Later after the isya ade will be guided ustadzah and there will be an introduction with a roommate."

"Oiya sir, thank you for your attention yes." My answer.

"From now on, just call me Ustadz Fahmi." He looks at his face smiling.

"Oh, good ustadz."

"For Mom, next week I'm asking for Mother's child files." Ustadz Fahmi.

"God willing, next week I am here again tadz while visiting Aleya." Answer Mother.

"Then, I say to bring first yes Mom, because adzan maghrib has been reverberating. Oiya, Mother of the same child do not forget to pray yes. It's okay to pray in the room first for now, but tomorrow the child must pray in the mosque, unless it is idle. Yaudah Ma'am, I say good to bring ya. Assalamu'alaikum."

"Yes tadz, I want to say a big thank you. And Wa'alaikumussalam." Answer Mother.

Today I was in the boarding house. I don't know what will happen after. I'll meet four more people in this room. And they have the same past records as me.

Hopefully here I find what I'm looking for. I want to know God, I want to stop being lonely, I want to no longer be sad, I want to be a woman like Mom and Dad expected, I want to be in this place I find everything.

Is my hope too much? I am now a santri. But I don't know, how does it feel to be a santri, and what exactly is santri?