Mahabbah Love Khalisa

105

Tents were erected in the evacuation area of residents affected by the Merapi eruption. They had to occupy that area for an indefinable time as Merapi still showed an increase in activity.

The conditions of some districts closest to the epicenter were completely chaotic. Within seconds, many buildings collapsed and trees fell. It did not take long for God to show his power reminding men that they were nothing then why they walked under the heavens with his pride.

Many students who volunteer help residents meet their needs ranging from clean water, food, clothing to medicine. The rain of volcanic ash made many residents attacked by coughs, eye diseases and skin diseases.

Volunteers from UII set up tents for those who originally slept crowded because of the lack of space. Three cars carrying a clean water supply also came with second-hand clothes.

"Why hands?" Khalisa approached a 4-year-old girl who had somehow noticed his arm. Khalisa pulled the boy's arm, appearing to have some of his skin blistered and peeling.

The boy pointed towards Merapi who was still spouting hot clouds into the air. This is the third day since the volcanic earthquake. Dozens of earthquakes occur in a day, only on a small scale that can not be felt by the community.

"Whose name are you?" Khalisa squatted at equal height with the boy.

"Alma, whose name is Ma'am?"

"Name of Khalisa's mother." Khalisa said his name slowly. "let's go along to let Mbak cure his wounds." Khalisa takes Alma to a medical tent to treat a burn on Alma's arm.

"Why Sa?" Tegur Clarin who was arranging drugs on the shelf with two other friends.

"Because of the hot ash." Khalisa lifts Alma and sits her in a chair while she cleans Alma's wounds with a wet towel.

"It's got the ointment." Clarin gave Khalisa a special ointment of burns.

"Love Rin." Khalisa applied the ointment to Alma's arm carefully.

"Mbak Khalisa is pregnant?" Alma asked with her innocent face, she saw Khalisa's distended stomach.

"Yes dear." Khalisa blew the wound, he was amazed because Alma did not complain of pain even though the wound was quite severe.

"Alma can't hold?"

"Can."

Alma touches Khalisa's stomach hesitantly, fearing that he will hurt the baby inside when he doesn't.

"His sister a girl or a boy?"

"Mak doesn't know yet." Actually Khalisa did not want to know the sex of his son first but Azfan was always curious and impatient to see him when USG.

"Mbak Khalisa wants what?" Alma looked up at Khalisa. His brownish eyeballs look sparkling.

"Mmc ... " Khalisa seemed to think when he did not question any gender of his son later. He just wanted to make his conversation with Alma more interesting. "Like a girl, let's be strong like you." He touched the tip of Alma's nose.

"If your dad wants a girl or a boy?"

Khalisa's hand which was at the tip of Alma's nose slowly came down, he looked down deeply. Such a simple question made him suddenly miss Azfan so much. Azfan should be here but Khalisa also does not know when the husband can return because the airport is closed.

Suddenly Khalisa's tears melted to form a creek on his cheek, he has tried hard but it is hypocritical if he says he does not miss Azfan because they have not been separated for more than 2 days. After a big fight the next day they met again.

"Cowok maybe?"

"When Mom was pregnant sister, I wanted a guy to keep out the real boy Ma'am."

"Oh yeah? will your child be a boy too?" Khalisa took the hair strap out of his suit pocket to pigtail Alma's hair. Unfortunately Khalisa did not bring a comb so that Alma's hair pigtails are not too neat. "Oh yeah, Alma's sister, where are you and Mom? they're also in hot ash?"

Alma answered Khalisa's question with a nod. Finally Khalisa put some drugs into a box that can be taken everywhere. Khalisa went to the residents' tent to treat them with Alma.

The students who volunteered wore a heart-red suit to distinguish from the residents so that their presence was easy to find if anyone needed help.

They shared the task of preparing food, treating citizens and distributing blankets and clothes. They will also spend the night in the evacuation area.

"Do you want noodles?" Ikha thrust instant cup noodles at Khalisa which he has brewed.

"You, thank you." Khalisa took over the noodles. Especially what to eat when things are like this. They cooked chicken soup and fried tofu for the residents. While the volunteers must be ready to eat instant noodles because the cuisine is up.

"Conglomerate children's chains don't want to eat instant noodles."

Khalisa laughed, "you always did, Kha, the conglomerate Martin Hartono, if I was just a dust drop of instant noodles and a million people's food."

"First yes, if you crumbs of dust keep me what and secondly if instant noodles food a million people—you the one millionth people."

Khalisa laughs again, just laugh at Ikha. Khalisa so miss Huma and Geza who like to joke. It feels like Khalisa's life is completely different without them.

"Kok not eaten later swollen loh his noodles." Ikha saw Khalisa put down his noodles, "don't you really be the one millionth person."

"Wait a little cold, it's okay swelling, it's still good." Maybe Khalisa is a strange person because for him instant noodles remain delicious even though they are swollen.

"Oh hot food can't be blown, right?"

"Take a fan." Khalisa handed the portable fan to Ikha to cool her noodles.

"Thank you." Ikha turned the fan on her noodle cup. "Your sister." He elbowed Khalisa to see Kafa half running towards them.

Kafa was busy setting up tents and inspecting residents in the evacuation area and giving medicine.

"It's a shame your sister didn't join HAWASI."

"Why indeed?"

"Yes, let someone roll in the eye." Ikha raised her shoulders and smiled. "At first, Kak Levin continued Azfan but Azfan will have you so we are condoning."

"Astaghfiullah!" Khalisa hit Ikha's arm slowly, so all this time they were watching Azfan.

Ikha was about to reply to Khalisa's words but Kafa first so he was forced to swallow his sentence again.

"Make Cece." Kafa sat next to Khalisa and gave him a box of fruit salad.

"Where is the tapet?"

"I brought it from the apartment, she said Cece was constipated so I brought it with her some yogurt."

Khalisa smothered Kafa's mouth with his hands. Kafa can talk about such things while they are eating. If only the two of you might not matter but there is Ikha and some other friends behind.

"Her hand Cece stinks of ethanol." Kafa removed Khalisa's hand from his mouth.

"Xie-xie salad." Khalisa opened the lid of the fruit salad box and offered it to the others.

Kafa mendelik, he brought the salad to Khalisa but Khalisa instead gave it to others.

"I'll sleep in the car."

"The tent is not enough?'

"Enough but I don't want Ce, later bitten by a mosquito is difficult to say the scars." Kafa enjoys one other box of fruit salad. It was a salad stock that was in his refrigerator before the earthquake.

After eating they prepare for sleep. Today was very long because being in an evacuation center was not a pleasant thing. They have to sleep crowded with strangers in a place that is also not as comfortable as home.

What will happen next is that the supply of staples is hard to come by because the main roads have not been repaired. Farming also suffered damage. This will hinder the community's economy.

While the others were sleeping, Khalisa went to the bathroom made impromptu this morning to abudu. The atmosphere of the evacuation area was quiet, there were only a few people who were still awake including Khalisa.

Khalisa had seen Kafa in his car making sure his cousin's sister was fine because Kafa was fussy about the bed. Maybe tomorrow Kafa will complain his body aches due to sleeping in the car.

Khalisa spent his evening with dignity to the creator begging that they all be given a strong heart to face this disaster.

Night is the favorite time Khalisa expressed all his complaints to the owner of the heart. He could hide his pain from anyone, put on a cheerful face in front of many people. But Khalisa is fragile. Khalisa expressed his longing for Azfan and hoped that his husband would return soon.

If Khalisa said he missed Azfan directly, he was worried that he would burden Azfan's heart because he knew that her husband also wanted to go home. Better Khalisa expressed it through the prayer he made tonight.

Khalisa's phone vibrates short to distract the owner who is thinking of using a digital prayer beads application on the phone. Khalisa saw 2 incoming messages from Azfan.

Hopefully this message does not disturb Haura's sleep. How about this, I couldn't sleep so I decided to tahajjud. Nothing hurts more than being away from my wife.

I miss you, Haura.

Khalisa's lips spontaneously smiled, it was unfair if he did not dare to say long but Azfan actually wrote it easily. Khalisa dialed Azfan's phone number and looking around, he lowered his voice so as not to disturb their sleep.

"Sorry Haura, I woke you up."

"I haven't slept yet."

"Why haven't you slept, is it so busy when it's midnight."

"No, the others are asleep, I'm not sleepy." Khalisa again saw his friends who were asleep. Although they have to crammed but they sleep soundly maybe because of fatigue.

"Weight huh?"

Khalisa fell silent, lowered his head and began to sob. Why being away from your husband feels so sick. Khalisa had never imagined this before.

"People say distance is created to make longing appear."

Khalisa rubbed his tears rough, "But Mas, the distance of our class is not too far away I can miss wanting to rush to finish the class."

"Why do we date again, usually the people who are dating talk on the phone for hours, haven't we done that before?"

"Well, where did you know?"

"Bimo told me a lot, Idris did too."

Khalisa laughed and brushed his wet nose. Azfan's words comforted him. This is a new experience for them because they rarely talk on the phone or exchange messages because they always spend time together. Call or SMS only when something is important but now every time it feels like calling.

******

Khalisa and three friends were helping children wash their faces and hands before breakfast. He asked them to line up in an orderly manner waiting their turn.

Today the sun is shining brightly, black smoke is still soaring high from the summit of Merapi even though it is not as thick as yesterday. Residents hope the eruption will end soon so they can return to their homes.

"Can you brush your teeth?" Khalisa took out a toothpaste put it on the surface of a toothbrush the size of a corn seed.

"Can." The 5-year-old boy received a toothbrush from Khalisa.

"Pinter is." Khalisa rubbed the top of the boy's head.

After washing their faces, they also piggybacked the girls' hair to make it neater while waiting for food to cook. Because the food is made in large portions, the time it takes is also long even though they have started it early in the morning.

"Khalisa." Syifa came to Khalisa.

"Yes?" Khalisa who was combing Alma's hair saw Syifa.

"Your sister knew you were from earlier."

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know." Syifa raised her shoulders. "Samperin gih, he's like a chick lost its mother."

"Just in a minute, take responsibility." Khalisa still has to pigeonhole three other children who are waiting their turn.

"It's okay to let me shave." Syifa took over the comb in Khalisa's hands.

"Thank you, I used to be Kafa's samperin."

Actually, Khalisa and Syifa relationship is fine even though Syifa initially silenced Khalisa. But slowly the relationship between the two like a friend as usual. It's just that some people who don't like Khalisa actually say bad as if pitting them. Including the events in front of the class at that time. But Khalisa will not be easily affected, he will still maintain a good relationship with anyone.

"You're nyariin Cece?" Khalisa saw Kafa making a paper plane with some boys.

"Yes, yeah." Kafa moved, "you made your own first."

"What's wrong?"

"Cece's eyes are compressed using a cold spoon, very swollen."

"What a look?" Khalisa touched his cheek, it must be because last night he was crying and sleep-deprived. Khalisa's eyes are easily swollen.

"Banget, keep black like a panda."

Khalisa mendelik, he did not see the mirror from yesterday because it was not here. But he did not expect that his appearance was that bad. If a panda animal that has dark circles looks cute then it is not with humans.

The surrounding trees were swaying along with the sound of the roar of helicopters flying ever lower. People's attention was shifted to the helicopter including Khalisa and Kafa. For a moment Khalisa forgot the problem of his swollen eyes seeing the writing on the helicopter body.

"Alindra isn't your last name?" Ikha patted Khalisa's shoulder from behind.

"Hm?" Khalisa could not digest Ikha's question when he saw someone coming down from the helicopter. "Mas!" Khalisa jumped past whatever was blocking his way.

Azfan smiled widely, a feeling of relief instantly enveloping him saw Khalisa running towards him. His feet did not feel like he was taking him any faster. It was as if a distance of 10 meters was very far for them.

"Papa's number two now." Daniel who walked not far behind Azfan muttered to Ica.

"Of course, Khalisa is married Mas then the husband will be number one."

Daniel smiled as Khalisa jumped into Azfan's arms.

"But Papa will always be number one for me." Ica rubbed Daniel's back to comfort a father who envied seeing his son prioritizing the husband.

"Haura is fine, right?" Azfan looked at Khalisa clingy from head to toe. Khalisa's face pale and looks so exhausted especially last night he lacked rest.

"That's a damn thing." Khalisa hugged Azfan again, "i don't want to leave Mas Azfan again."

"Can I take Haura anywhere?"

Khalisa nodded, he would go wherever Azfan went. Khalisa will always stick to Azfan like a postage stamp.

In addition to escorting Azfan and seeing the state of Khalisa, the arrival of Daniel and Ica also intends to provide assistance in the form of food, medicine and blankets to residents in the evacuation area. Daniel heard that they were short of blankets and groceries.

"Why not hugged?" Daniel folded his hands in front of his chest pretending to put an angry face on Khalisa.

"Hug dong too." Khalisa hugged Daniel and Ica alternately. "Khalisa is okay, Alhamdulillah everything is fine here but why don't you guys know if you want to come here, Mas Azfan also did not say when we call until 1."

"Haura, I actually want to tell you, but Papa forbid it."

"Papa?" Now it's Khalisa's turn to put on an upset face.

"It's intentional, who's wrong you didn't pick up Papa's phone at the time."

"Have you done, why fight?" Ica tried to mediate the debate between Daniel and Khalisa.

They drop off the help from Daniel and Ica moves him to a special tent storing stock of groceries.

They also had breakfast together. The menu this morning is rice and capcay gravy with white crackers. Only two menus made them all eat voraciously.

"Hopefully do not criticize Chinese food in front of his chindo people directly." Clarin Chirps.

Ica smiled, "these homemade capcays are much tastier than my cooking."

They laughed at Ica's words that sounded like a joke when Ica said what they were.

"Don't say it like that." Daniel touched Ica's thigh.

"I'm talking reality, Pa."

Daniel shook his head, he did not like if Ica humbled himself like that even though he always finished Ica cuisine even though he said it was not delicious.