It's up to God

A Mother's Premonition

In Nadira and Ammar's room, there was a serious debate.

"Hafiz don't feel right, stay here?" ask Nadira.

"Nadira. Just the first day, I asked him what he was doing. At least, one week, just felt how to be a santri child," said Ammar.

"Yes, what's wrong, honey, ask. Don't make Hafiz uncomfortable living here. As parents, don't be selfish. Children also have the right to make their choices" said Nadira.

"I'm sure, really. God willing, our children will be used to living in this pesantren. Moreover, this pesantren does not belong to others, but to his own grandfather. After all, Hafiz was also still lucky, still able to meet his parents. While the other students, far from the parents there are even orphans, and orphans." Ammar breathed for a moment.

"Oh yes, you also don't spoil Hafiz too much. Let Hafiz mingle with other students. You brought breakfast for Hafiz to his room, right?" Ammar spoke cautiously, worried Nadira was offended.

"Yes. It was the first day Hafiz stayed at this boarding school, so I thought, please give Hafiz his favorite food. Let him not get sick. You see, Hafiz is not usually late to eat," said Nadira with a facial expression that is very worried.

"I know you gave birth to Hafiz. You feel the struggle of a mother. How do you not want Hafiz why-why. I understand how you feel. Hafiz is also my son, I want him to become independent and grow into a child who knows his limits. Now Hafiz is a santri Al Fathonah, Nad. You know what, the rules are here?" Ammar took a long breath.

On the one hand, Nadira's speech is very wise. However, on the other hand, Nadira sometimes like children who whine for something. Especially when it comes to children, the worry is really sometimes uncontrollable. Reasonable, anyway. All parents will always worry about their children and always make sure that their children are okay, but there are some things that parents should not over-treat children so that they grow up to be independent, resilient, able to adjust the environment, and some other things.

Nadira.

"Yes, sorry. I'm mistaken. I'm just worried, Hafiz is sick" he said.

Ammar held Nadira's left and right shoulders with both hands while looking at the mother of the children.

"Nad. From the beginning we have told Hafiz about the rules in this pesantren. Hafiz loudly, agreed. So, what should we worry about?" abugn.

"But ...." Not finished Nadira refuted the words of her husband, Ammar spoke again.

"Once you may give special treatment to Hafiz, but do not let the other students think that we are not fair to them. About Hafiz our children, grandchildren who have boarding schools, are treated special" said Ammar.

"Yes, I hope Hafiz stays, stays here. Can adapt to friends and the rules that have been applied by his grandfather.

"I'm sure, Hafiz will always stay at home in this pesantren," said Ammar. Hugged Nadira.

Nadira agreed with her husband's opinion, although his heart and mind still quarreled. Worrying about a lot of things about her son.

...***...

In the courtyard around Pondok Pesantren Al Fathonah, Hafiz was running a picket. Hafiz looked eagerly cleaning the courtyard which was laden with leaves and twigs. For junk food or other, this pesantren almost never found the garbage because the students and teachers (ustad and ustazah) who live here, always keep clean by throwing garbage in its place. Some places, always provided trash cans.

While walking around, breathing fresh air and wanting to find inspiration for writing, Nadira saw Hafiz with his friends were working on cleaning pesantren. Nadira smiled when his son could laugh and quickly familiar with other santri-santri. This makes Nadira a little less worried. At least, Hafiz does not complain about all the activities that must be done every day. Remembering at home, Hafiz never participated to clean the house. During this time, Hafiz only studied, played, watched tv, jogged with his papa, and walk when his papa was on holiday and when Nadira was not scheduled to fill writing training or attend literacy events.

Not felt, Nadira's tears flowed because touched.

"God, Son. I didn't know you could be a teenager so soon. Now you have also learned to be independent and more responsible for your tasks. May God always protect you, yes!" Nadira prayed in his heart while removing the clear liquid that soaked his cheeks.

Nadira also re-explored the neighborhood Pondok Pesantren Al Fathonah. A few minutes later, Nadira's leg was stopped because it was approached by a santriwati who walked in front of him.

"Where's Nadira going?" ask santriwati.

"I want to look around the pesantren aja," replied Nadira, not forgetting to display his sweetest smile.

"Do you want me to go, Ma'am?" Santriwati, who is known as Heni, volunteered.

"Emm, how, yeah. Could be, anyway. But ...," said Nadira who could not refuse and deliberately cut his sentence.

Nadira smiled and pulled Heni's hand like a brother. Nadira treated Heni as if he had known him for a long time. Heni surprised. His heart beats. One side, he was happy because in fact, he admired Nadira so much that he could inspire others through writing. But on the other hand, Heni was afraid of being scolded by the founder of the pesantren, Nadira's father-in-law.

"Why do you look so nervous?" nadira asked, astonished.

"It's okay, Ma'am. I was just a moment, Madam Nadira held my hand like this," said Heni. Sweaty pouring.

"Well, why feel awkward? Is it because my in-laws are the founders of this pesantren?" nadira asked, guessing Heni's mind.

Heni's tongue suddenly turned upside down.

"By the way, Heni. Don't point that way. Consider me your sister" Nadira said, embracing Heni.

"First, Nadira's guess about Pak Kiai was right. Second, actually I have long followed in the footsteps of Sister Nadira since launching the first book entitled "Your Best Destiny". I have the book, Mother. Not sure if it could be this close to meet an inspirational figure." Heni was at a loss for words, no longer knowing what to say to express his admiration for Nadira.

Nadira never missed with his smile. It is cheap smile and friendly to anyone, except to Ammar when he first met because her husband was very annoying even after marriage, it is still the same if again tempting with Nadira.

"Masyaa Allah. God's destiny is the best, yes. Every meeting, there must be a certain purpose that we never expected before" said Nadira, stopping his steps.

Heni is very grateful to be reunited with Nadira. She unceasingly thanked him and expressed her admiration for the very humble Nadira. They also tell a lot about Nadira's novels and give spoilers if he will write a new novel with the theme of pesantren.

Not long after, Nadira was approached by two santriwati who said that Hafiz was injured. Nadira rushed to the UKS.

From several sources it has been summarized that the School Health Business or abbreviated as UKS is a government program to improve health services, health education, and fostering a healthy school environment or the ability to live healthy for school residents. Well, Pondok Pesantren Al Fathonah is one of the institutions that participate in instilling clean and healthy living behavior in each individual santri.

Arriving at the UKS, Nadira panicked and immediately checked every part of Hafiz's limbs. Then, hug and kiss her child.

Hafiz screamed in pain.

"sorry. Excuse me. Mama panicked, son," said Nadira, letting go of her embrace.

"Mama don't have to worry too much like this, Hafiz is just a small wound on the right elbow. Just slipped. Maybe because Hafiz is not focused or too excited about cleaning time," said Hafiz who tried to eliminate the worry of his beloved mother.

"It's just that mom's worried, son. You are my only mother's child. Mama is afraid of you why-why," said Nadira.

"The only? Mom doesn't want any more kids, what? I would like to have a sister, Ma," said Hafiz who underlined his mother's sentence 'the only child'.

Nadira blushed in shame. Coincidentally when Hafiz asked to have a sister, Ammar came.

"Tuh, Ma. The green light was the same Hafiz," said Ammar, nudging Nadira's body.

Nadira's cheeks are getting red.

"Iih ..., Papa whatever, anyway! Yeah, I want to have another kid, but don't talk about it in front of anyone else. Shame, know. There's Abi and Umi again here" said Nadira, timidly. His eyes occasionally glanced at his smiling father-in-law. There was hope behind Lutfi and Aisyah's smile. It seems that they are saying the words of Hafiz and Ammar.

Nadira and Ammar when they were dealing with their children, they called mama-papa to get their children used to the call. Because there are their neighbors where the child calls his parents by name. So, Nadira and Ammar did not want their children to call their names because they felt disrespectful.

When everyone was teasing Nadira, suddenly a voice sounded from outside the UKS. When checked, there was no one.

"Who, Mar?" ask Lutfi.

"It looks like there was a cat passing by, Bi," said Ammar. He suspected that someone had eavesdropped on their conversation, but Ammar had no idea who it was. He only had time to see the shadow of that person when he ran away.

...****...