Life is a Fight

When Ramadhan Arrives

Syafira is a great pride for Umi and Abizar, the older brother. His achievements did not decline even though his heart was injured.

"If Abi knew how great this beautiful princess is," Umi said while kissing Syafira and Syakilla's forehead alternately in her arms.

"Umi ... have not mentioned Abi again," said Syakilla staring at Uminya.

"Son, after all he is your parent. Mas and Adik's Abi," Umi explained so gently.

"Umi's still in love with Abi?" syafira asked who had been silent since then to hear Umi and her sister arguing.

"Love? Umi's child is already big, yes, already talking about love," ledek Umi while laughing.

"Nr ..." Syafira stared at Uminya.

"Eh Fira, Umi snapped" said Izar who just came out of the bathroom.

"No Mas, Fira was just joking with Umi" Umi said softly to her son.

"Oh, Kirain Fira snapped at Umi. No Dek, "pinta Izar.

"No way my Mas Izar, we are very dear to Umi,"

In a quiet atmosphere, Fira and Killa fall back in Umi's arms while Izar drops his head on Syakilla's lap.

"Mas" called Umi suddenly.

"Falem Umi,"

"Tomorrow morning has entered the month of Ramadan yes Mas, Dek," said Umi has now changed expression.

"Lo Umi is so sad," Izar immediately woke up and looked at Uminya.

"Usually in this month of fasting, Umi always cook whatever you ask, but .." he said hanging his words.

"Yes Mi, this year we just ask Umi not to be sad anymore," said Izar reaching for Uminya's hand.

"Umi's not sad, son, Umi's happy to have you guys,"

"We're also lucky to have Umi" Fira said.

"And entering this holy month, it would be better if you cleanse your heart of self-purification by throwing away all the hatred in your heart. Forgive Abi ya Nak, even though Umi knows it is heavy, Umi also feels what you feel," he said as he rubbed the heads of his three daughters' sons.

"What is Umi made of? Killa's childhood Umi can not supeeer as well as Umi," said Killa.

"No. Dek Killa, Mas Izar same Sister Fira all good,"

"Well we can pray like Umi yes," Izar again kissed Uminya's hand.

"Definitely Nak, Umi's prayer is best for Umi's children" Umi said ending their conversation before going to bed.

***

"Mas, get up yuk sahur first," said Umi gently as she stroked the head of her son.

Syafira was still soundly beside her brother while Syakilla had already woken up and helped Umi prepare the first sahur today.

"Mbak Fira darling, wake up sahur Nak," Umi continues to wake her daughter's son who never woke up too.

"What time is Mi," Izar said as he rubbed his eyes.

"Jam 3, let's get up first Mas,"

Izar immediately got up and headed to the bathroom for ablution and then he performed the two rakaat prayers while waiting for Umi and Syakilla to finish preparing sahur dishes, Syafira also followed what the brother did.

"Take what Ummiku loves," Izar approached Umi who was making a warm tea.

"I'm sorry, son, the sahur is just the same instant noodles as fried tempeh aja," said Umi slowly while staring at the three children who had sat lined up on the floor of his rented house.

"No Papa Mi, how it is," replied Syafira.

Izar just smiled, but deep down he was so slashed to see his two younger siblings. Wanting to feel he gave the best for Umi and his sisters but what power, his salary is only enough to buy makeshift food after being cut to pay for rent, school and others.

"Mi, the money that Fira loved from the race was used if Umi needed," said Fira now while taking rice alternately with the sister.

"Don't Mi, it's for the education of the sisters. Umi if you need anything else say Izar huh?" the answer looks so firm.

"No Papa Mas," said Fira.

"Son, it's dear to discuss later. Now we eat first, it is not good to argue when eating like this," Pinta Umi.

They followed Umi's orders and continued eating.

Early in the morning, after the dawn prayer Umi and her three children took turns to read the Qur'an. What a soothing atmosphere, they know how to comfort the wound in your own heart.

"Umi, Fira took a bath first yes want to get ready for school," he said After the tadarus together.

"Lo the school goes to the beginning of this fast? Killa's deck is coming in?" ask Umi.

"Come on Mi, because next week is PAS," said Fira while entering the bathroom.

"DORSE? What is Mama? Ever read on the banner deket vegetable stall kayaknya," said Umi while remembering.

"What a joke, Umi, is confused,"

"What the hell is your Deck making Umi dizzy," Izar followed the comments while folding the sarong.

There was the sound of water coming from the faucets and water. Fira's not answering anymore, maybe not listening.

Killa who was busy with her duties finally spoke up.

"Umi, Mas Izar .. so PAS it means Final Semester Assessment, it's a new term in the world of education. The term that used to be called UAS or the End of Semester. When Mas Izar used to be called UTS-UAS, it is now changed to PTS-PAS" Killa said with a smile.

"Oh, Umi thought that on the banner," said Umi still with a smile rubbing Syakilla's cheek.

"Kalo on the banner was a former campaign kemaren Mi," said Izar.

"Now also still frenetic kok Mas, each team is pastlon on the claim of victory. That's how Killa read in the paper right at school."

"And so is the Deck, the name is also the winning team must favor the supported." Umi was also interested in small talk with her two children.

"Everyone is the president if we do not follow God's command and violate HIS prohibition will not go to Heaven" Izar said, playing with his phone.

"Yaiyalah Mas, that's the president of his job to take care of the country instead of guarding the door of heaven," replied Fira as she exited the bathroom.

Umi seems happy, slowly but surely her three children have started to accept her current condition. Even this morning they have joked laughter about politics that is still crowded in the real world and cyberspace.

Morning activities run as usual until Izar and his two sisters move outside the house.

Izar seemed restless, his body leaned against a shady tree trunk beside the school. His vision was empty, on the sidelines of the work break he re-thought of his family problems. Ramadan needs more and more while the salary is only enough for the cost of daily meals.

Izar stared at his phone, he opened whatsapp account with notifications until the 500s because it had never been opened by him so far. This time he misses the activities on his campus. Abizar misses himself as a student. His hand touched the phone screen until the class group was open.

He began to read one by one messages written by his classmates.

"Sir Han came in at 2,"

"Thursday's deadline is gaes,"

"Woiii has been waiting for the lecturer,"

Such sentences that he found in his class group, his heart was increasingly homesick with the lecture atmosphere but what circumstances did not allow him to return to the campus. He could not read the jokes of his friends in the group, did not feel his tears dripping. That longing completely cut his feelings.

"Abizar listened," said one of his college friends.

"Izar how are you? Where have you never been?"

"Assalamualaikum Abizar,"

"Izar, are you busy there?"

A series of incoming messages almost simultaneously in the class group welcomed Abizar who accidentally opened his class whatsapp group. Friends still welcome him.

He took a deep breath before composing a word to reply to the greetings of his friends in the group. For a moment his hand began to touch the keyboard keys on his phone.

"Waalaikumsalam, all my friends. Alhamdulilah good news, hopefully smooth college yes sorry Izar can not join again with you guys. Greetings to you guys, "he replied making a series of questions asked by his friends but he chose to silence and not explain to them what really happened.

"Ah .." his sigh while turning off his internet data package.

Izar immediately stood up before dissolving into his mood. He again grabbed the broom that was placed near his feet. While sweeping the yard he re-thought of the additional costs to provide for his family. Soon Eid al-Fitr, for him new clothes are not a priority but for his two younger brothers are very important. There was no way Izar wouldn't have worked for Syafira and Syakilla especially if he could have bought it for Umi, but in what way could he have it?

"Zar, I'm daydreaming anyway" protested his co-worker.

"Hhhh .. no really,"

"What's wrong? The story, anyway" asked his friend.

"There are additional job openings not to make Lebaran preparations," he replied seriously.

"Emang you are not tired of looking for work again, I'd if you've come home from here all the bodies pegel-pegel," said his co-worker.

"No important papa needs are met," Izar replied to his friend.

"Subhanallah, this woman's ideal husband," she said.

"Husss .. What a husband husband, still far away. How is there not?"

"Ntar I tell you if there is, usually at work my sister needs packing power ahead of Lebaran gini because the order is too much. The contract is only a month until the Lebaran holiday,"

"That may be, but the one who did not leave this job is lo ya,"

"Yaiyalah, if you get out of here what my body is working alone in a school of this magnitude,"

"Lebay, but there are still 4 other employees here,"

"Each of them already has their own area" said his friend as he passed away from Izar with a glass cleaner.

From the conversation with his co-worker, there was a speck of hope in Izar's mind, although his body would feel so tired but he desperately needed this extra job.

Now, he works while thinking about how to talk and ask permission from the mother.

"Umi certainly forbid," her inner self while continuing to sweep the courtyard under the scorching sun this afternoon.