LOVE THE EXPATRIATE

36. Faris and Furqan (2)

Ustadj Faruk smiled at Rais who was like a confused person. He immediately turned to his right side and called out a name.

"Furqan!”

Jleeb!!!

Like one who was shocked by the sudden flash of lightning, Rais stammered upon hearing a name called by Ustadj Faruk.

And like a person who has not exhausted his surprise because of the lightning flash earlier and must come back surprised because of the thunder that boomed, he said, Rais was again startled by a man who came out of the marbot room with a smile and walked up to him.

The constant shock.

“Ustadj Furqan!?” Rais still does not believe.

“Ya Tengku Rais, it's Me.” The man hugged Rais while crying.

Rais welcomed Furqan's embrace while patting the man's back. Ustad Faruk also smiled when he saw the two best friends who were hugging it.

“Subhanallah! Allahu Akbar!” Rais glazed on the sidelines of his cries.

“Has been granted my prayers ten years ago. In the past in prayer I always prayed that the rope of brotherhood between my family and the Tengku family can be connected.” whispered Rais in Furqan's ear. The Acehnese man nodded.

It used to be an intention in Rais' heart to introduce his best friend with Laila, his biological sister who was still in the first year of aliyah. But that intention never materialized because he broke off communication with Furqan once he returned from boarding school. And now, though not with Laila, Furqan came alone to preach his other sister.

Rais once promised Sarah that he would introduce his friend who had good morals and good faith. And Furqan not only has a commendable character and a solid faith, but the man has a high religious knowledge. Not only was he able to be a good priest for Sarah, but he was also worthy of the faith of the people of the entire country. Rais did not hesitate to report the news to his uncle and said that Furqan is very worthy to be Sarah's companion.

But suddenly his heart was worried. On one hand his heart was happy to be able to unite the fraternal rope with Furqan through Sarah. But on the other hand, how did he say this to Sarah who was dating someone named Edward? What if the foreign man who was studying Islam became a devout Muslim and was worthy of being an imam for Sarah?

They've let each other out hugs.

Rais turned his head towards Sarah who was still with the man earlier. Now they were no longer chatting, but were looking at him. It seemed that their attention was also caught with the blue raking drama earlier. Rais looked at the smiling man and nodded at him.

Furqan, who was sitting in front of Rais, turned to Sarah. He frowned knowing that someone who was with the girl was the man who was sitting not far from where he and Faruk ustadj were chatting. His bule appearance makes him a point of attention in the mosque.

Now the two men are thinking the same thing. Who exactly is that man?

... ------------------------------------------------...

A moment ago.

“Assallamu’alaikum.”

Sarah was struck by the voice of a man behind her.

“Wa’allaikumsalam.” he said turned his head and was aghast to know who the owner of the voice was.

“Does you mind if I sit here?”

But Sarah didn't have to answer Edward's question, because the man was sitting in front of her. He just scrunched his forehead with a smile. The girl seemed happy to see Edward wearing a pakistani robe and a gift from her.

“Who is that guy?” Edward turned his head towards Rais who was talking to Ustadj Furqan.

“I saw earlier he was talking to you?” The man looked forward again.

“That's my cousin's brother, sir. My cousins brother.”

“So you went with him? Can I meet him?”

“There will be time for you to meet him, Mr.”

Edward smiled.

“Oh yes, why did you refuse this afternoon when I brought lunch? There will be other women as well.” asked the man less happy.

“Today I fasted sunah, Mr.”

“Ouh sorry!” Edward flabbergasted. “I didn't know you were fasting, Sarah. So I ordered the food.”

“Thank you for the gift of Mr. The food was not wasted, but I gave it to the lining service that cleans the outlet. I say it's alms from Mr. Faris. And he was so happy that he no longer needed to buy lunch.”

“Alhamdulilah.”

You are indeed kind to your fellow Sarah, he said inwardly looking at the girl.

“I also want to do that worship someday. Learn to resist hunger and thirst. We should be thankful for food and drink, right? While in other places there are still many people who are not as lucky as us.”

“God willing Mr. Faris can. But fasting is not just about holding back hunger and thirst, sir. More than that. Withholding all lust. Including self-lust to be angry with employees.”

Edward was surprised by Sarah's last words.

“Am I a cruel boss, Sarah? ”. asked Edward while squinting.

“Of course not.”

Sarah smile. Edward laughed with relief.

Sarah and Edward's conversation was sidetracked by the quagmire from the corner of the mosque's terrace.

“It looks like the three of them are talking about happy things.” Edward muttered when he saw Rais and Furqan embrace.

“Yes. Looks like, Mr. Faris.” Sarah chimed in on the man's words while looking at the corner of the terrace.

“Do you know the man who hugged your cousin's brother?” Edward asked as his gaze still led to them.

“I only knew he was my brother's friend when I studied Islamic science in Aceh first. His name is Tengku Furqan.”

Edward nodded at the girl's story.

“Hmmm. But I don't like the man's behavior.”

Edward's words made Sarah scrunch her forehead,

“Why with him?”

“Do not look for faults in others. Didn't Mr Faris also do the same thing earlier?” Sarah looked at him with a sharp look.

Edward just grimaced at the girl's words. He no longer dared to look at his eyes as clear and pure as the dew. He turned his eyes towards the three of them. Inadvertently his gaze was rubbing with Rais. Edward smiled as he nodded at the man.

... -----------------------------------------------...

The two people were still thinking the same thing about the man.

“God has shown His greatness. The two of you who have been friends for a long time will be moaned again with this.”

Ustadj Faruk's words spread their daydreams.

“I as his guardian, strongly agree with Tengku Furqan plan to preach Sarah.” Rais turned his head in turn to the two people before him.

“But sorry, I can't answer it now. I have to ask Sarah. Does he have his own candidate or not? Whether he accepted this proposal or not. As soon as Ustadj, Tengku.” was clearly the man while turning to Sarah.

Furqan nods his self sign mafhum.

“Ya should be discussed slowly with Sarah.” replied Ustadj Faruk.

“Find the right moment so that he is not surprised and can make the right decision.”

The man nodded.

“Thank you Ustadj and Tengku. We quickly give you an answer.”

“Oh yes, did Ustadj know the man who spoke with Sarah? Is he also a lecturer here?”

Rais asked as he looked towards Edward and Sarah. Ustadj turned in the direction the man pointed. He scrunched his forehead to sharpen his gaze. And a moment later he smiled.

“That's Brother Salman. He is not a worshiper here, but his supervisor at work Sarah who three months ago had just converted. I think he's been home since.”

“Subhanallah” Furqan exclaims hearing Ustadj Faruk's explanation. Rais was flabbergasted once he knew that man was what Sarah had been telling him all along.

“Ucok!” exclaim Ustadj Faruk on a teenage boy who was passing by in the yard. In order to hear his call, the teenager approached.

“You said to both of them, asked to join Ustadj here.” he said.

The teenager nodded and walked to the place where Edward and Sarah were.

Sarah and Edward joined them. With a smile the man said his greetings and greeted Furqan, Rais, and Ustadj Faruk. The four of them sat around in a circle. Sarah sat behind Rais.

“So Brother Salman, he is both a worshiper here. He is Tengku Furqan from Aceh, and he is Brother Rais, his brother Sarah.” said Ustadj Faruk introduced the two people.

"I feel privileged to be acquainted with Bang Rais and Tengku Furqan."

“Include, I am Muhammad Salman Alfarisy. Alhamdulillah has been converted for three months and is currently studying Islam at Pesantren Al-Waqilah, Pluit.”

“Subhanallah. May you bestow His grace in learning and living as a Muslim. Oh yes, brother names like the name of this mosque.” asked Furqan who was intrigued by his heart.

Edward looked at Sarah with a smile.

“On Sarah's recommendation, I make a pledge with the guidance of Ustadj Faruk at this mosque. And he who renounced the name." he said, nodding to Ustadj Faruk.

"My real name is Edward Anderson. I am from England.”

Furqan. While Rais who was listening to Edward's explanation carefully seemed to turn to Sarah who gave the code to immediately go home if the business with Ustadj Faruk was completed.

“Sorry Ustad and all, if there is nothing else to talk about, we both want to beg pamit.” Rais said.

“Maaf” Edward interrupts quickly while turning to Rais.

“How about we sit down to eat first. Actually after the magrib prayer I wanted to invite Ustadj to eat, but I saw ustadj was receiving guests.”

Edward turned to Furqan just to emphasize if the guest he was referring to was the man. Then he looked at the others and saw the watch in his hand.

“Still at 22 o'clock, I think not too late.”

“By also proposal brother. I agree.” Furqan.

Rais had not made up his mind, he seemed hesitant and turned to Sarah as if asking for an opinion. But the girl handed the decision to the man.

“How is Bang Rais and Sarah?” edward asked again as if he knew the doubts of the two of them.

“Yes we consider this to celebrate our introduction. To be more familiar.”

“That's it.” Rais finally made his decision. Edward smiled as he glanced at Sarah.

Ustadj Faruk did not go along with the excuse of maintaining a diet. For men his age is indeed susceptible to health problems associated with improper diet such as cholesterol and diabetes.

Because Edward did not bring a vehicle, it was agreed that he was driven by a motorcycle by Furqan, while Sarah was piggybacked by Rais.

"Where do we want to eat?” ask Furqan after they're in the parking lot.

“I don't know where to eat here, so I leave it to Bang Rais and Tengku to decide. I used to eat with a friend in Kesawan. But I think the area is too far from here.”

Suddenly Furqan's face turned bright. Looks like there's something he's gonna say.

“How about in our coffee shop only? Not too far from here and provide typical Aceh.” menus Furqan looked at the three of them in turn.

“Can then!” edward said passionately. Rais and Sarah also agree.

The four of them immediately glided on the still crowded streets.

......--------------------------------......

Greetings Author

Thank you Author said to friends who still follow the story until this episode. Who do you think Sarah should be with? Edward or Furqan?