Mahabbah Love Khalisa

177

Mount Merapi stands firmly strong in front there. The active mountain that had erupted 3 years ago became the main view of the UII campus which stood on 35 hectares of land. Lush trees spread throughout the campus area keep the air cool even though the sun is shining.

UII campus is filled with alumni who are holding a reunion event to 100 since UII was founded. They consist of a force of 96 to 100.

After more than a year of graduation they can finally breathe the missed campus air again. Time to think back to the times of struggle during college. Jokes of laughter, complaints and happy cries reappear in the head like video playback.

To support small businesses around the campus, they deliberately invited street vendors who were along the Kaliurang road to the campus. They are sellers of traditional Central Javanese food such as gudeg, satay klatak, nengkleng to snacks.

They get together no longer as students, they come back with a variety of jobs.

Khalisa's face seemed radiant when he just got out of the car. I can't wait to meet my friends in college. Khalisa misses them a lot.

"Let me carry Khadijah." Azfan put up a hipseat and took over Khadijah in Khalisa's sling. Just like his Umma, Khadijah was also excited since they departed from home.

"Umma, a lot of people are here." Azka spread her gaze throughout.

There were many other alumni passing by around the parking lot. The committee was busy directing alumni to gather in the hall. They planned the reunion since last year but only today can be done because gathering everyone who has a busy life is not something easy.

Many of the alumni are also abroad but thanks to their compactness they can finally all gather in the event.

"Azka don't let go of Umma's hand." Khalisa warned Azka.

Khalisa greeted several people he knew in the parking lot. They asked each other the news after a long time did not meet.

Just like Khalisa, many alumni also bring their spouses and children.

They were reunited under different circumstances. Some are engaged, married, pregnant and have children. But not a few are still alone— prioritizes careers or continuing S2 education such as Levin and Kafa who continue their specialist education. This is Levin's last year of internal medicine specialist education.

"Umma, it's Ravina!" Azka pointed at Ravina who also just got off the car not far from them.

Khalisa waved at Rindang who was holding Raline—putri both. He half ran to Rindang. This was their first meeting after giving birth three months ago. Khadijah and Raline were only one day apart which is why Khalisa and Rindang could not visit each other. They can only make video calls. Rindang asked Khalisa a lot more experienced about babies. Although Rindang used to take care of Ravina but it turns out that every baby is not the same. I felt like I had to learn from the beginning.

"I'm glad to see you're all right." Khalisa embraced Rindang, he was very worried about Rindang's condition because his health had deteriorated a few days after giving birth to Raline. Now Khalisa relieved after seeing Rindang back healthy as usual.

"I'm gonna be a stronger mother." Rindang patted Khalisa's back.

"You're the world's most powerful mother." Khalisa's eyes glazed over as he said that. All the mothers in the world are amazing. Khalisa looked at Raline's sleeping face despite the sunlight. "I think it looks like Ko Levin."

"Oh yeah? many say Raline looks like me."

"Raline's a fusion between me and Rindang." Timpal Levin's.

"Khadija too, at first glance looks like Azfan but a narrowed-eyed version." Rindang wants to hold Khadijah later after Raline wakes up. During this time he could only see the little Khadijah through the laptop screen.

"Some say Khadijah looks like me." Azfan smiled broadly.

"I also say Khadijah looks like Abi." Khalisa comforted Azfan, "let's keep trying until we look like you."

"Try on what does that mean?" Rindang narrowed his eyes looking at Khalisa.

"Bikin' sister to Azka." Khalisa's reply casually made Azfan and Levin laugh while Rindang was just a buzz. Khadijah is only three months old but Khalisa is already thinking about getting pregnant again.

"Halo Ravina, you are beautiful in this dress." Khalisa praised Ravina. Ravina's beautiful eyes made everyone unable to bear to disrespect her.

"Mama sewed her clothes." Ravina looked up at her mama, she was happy because she could always wear the clothes that her mama had sewed herself for her.

"My clothes are also Umma's sewing." Azka raises her arms showing Ravina that the clothes were also sewn by her Umma.

"Kan Mama and Umma are both good at making clothes." Rindang Sahut.

"Eh let's go to the hall, Huma also seems to have been waiting there." Take Khalisa. "Ko Azka, Ravina's sister was led yes, we both went to the hall." He told Azka.

Azka and Ravina hold hands in front of their parents. Azka plays like Koko who always protects her little sister even though their height is almost the same.

"Khalisa!" Clarin called from a distance.

Khalisa turned his head towards the source of the voice, he saw Clarin and Jason waving at him. They stepped over to Khalisa, both of them looking matching wearing clothes with matching colors.

"How are you?" Khalisa hugged Clarin after shaking her hand. "You're getting prettier after marriage." The whisper in Clarin's ear.

"Maybe because the vacation is invited to continue." Canda Clarin, "thanks to the storage bag from you, it's a great cake for traveling."

"I'm glad it's useful to you guys."

"You're a shady one?" Clarin pointed to Rindang, he had met Rindang first before the appearance of women changed as it is now. But Clarin can still recognize him, he had discussed the matter of Rindang several times with Jason.

"Yes, you're Jason's wife?" Rindang shook Clarin's hand first.

"Yes, Jason told me about you."

"Well, sorry if any of my behavior made Jason hurt." Rindang apologized to Clarin, maybe Jason also told about their problems first.

"Thank you for rejecting Jason, it turns out he's for me." Canda Clarin's.

"Don't thank you, Jason has got to have the best woman like you."

Rindang smiled broadly behind his veil. Rindang agreed with the words of Clarin, a soul mate already determines. Only God knows who is the best partner for them. Rindang also did not want Jason to force himself to embrace Islam just because of him. It must be purely due to the intention of the heart.

They went together towards the hall to gather with the alumni. Dafa as the chairman of the reunion committee gave his welcome first. Thank you to everyone who took the time to gather here.

"Nearly 90% of alumni of the class of 97,98,99 and 100 attended here."

The entire alumni clapping boisterously echoed throughout the hall that afternoon.

"Because there are some who are married and even have children then the number of us all doubled, thanks also to friends from outside the region who sacrificed their time to come here."

Next, the screen in front of them displays a photo of memories during college first. Ta'aruf's Enchantment Moment was the beginning of their joining as UII students. Praying moments in the mosque Ulil Albab, eating in the canteen at rest and learning activities in class and practice in the laboratory. It used to be possible that the activity felt ordinary but after watching it now, the moment became precious.

"Pig!" Azka pointed at the screen which showed a video of Azfan entering the gate, there was a necklace of flowers coiled around her neck. That was when Azfan returned from Turkey after getting the title of international MTQ race champion.

"That's Abi just got the MTQ championship." Khalisa said to Azfan.

"Abi is great, Umma."

Azfan smiled at Azka's praise. It was one of the unforgettable moments for Azfan and Khalisa. After the race Azfan became a little more courageous to appear in public.

"Abi gave pashmina to me at that time." Khalisa see Azfan.

"Yes, and Umma is still used today."

Khalisa always appreciated the gifts of others including pashmina who Khalisa did not like because of his motives.

"But I'm more amazed with Abi because I have never changed hp since Rindang's love."

Azfan chuckled, he just remembered that he had never bought a new phone since Khalisa gave him a cellphone owned by Rindang. Because the phone can still be used, Azfan has not thought to buy a new one. Azfan also uses laptops more often than cell phones.

Azfan is a person who is durable in using goods. Khalisa has bought three new phones even now he has two phones at once and one tablet for his work needs.

"Thank you for being together to this day." Azfan holds Khalisa.

Khalisa nodded faintly, Azfan thanked him almost every day. In addition to saying Khalisa more beautiful, thank you is a word that Azfan must say every day.

"Now I'm going to show you a photo of some alumni on the screen, you guys have to guess." Hasan was part of the reunion committee.

"When you guess what?" Askthem.

Hasan pointed to boxes of various sizes on the table. Inside is a reward for those who managed to guess correctly.

"If I show you a photo, please show your hands and mention the name of the person in the photo, if you can mention the faculty or field of study then I will give you the main prize here." Hasan held up a medium-sized box. "This is the latest phone."

They grew excited to hear of the gift Hasan mentioned.

The photos shown are low resolution and so different to them today that it is difficult to recognize them. At first they thought the game would be easy. But for a mobile phone, it will not be that easy.

Some in the middle row showed their hands.

"Please." Hasan pointed at one of the people.

"Lutfi."

"Wrongly, he doesn't look like Lutfi at all."

They cheered because the answer was wrong. The game gets even more exciting when some people answer wrongly.

"Gih!" Huma elbowed Khalisa, believing that Khalisa knew the name of the person whose picture was displayed on the screen right now.

Finally Khalisa raised his hand, he is an expert in memorizing people's names. He was silent because he wanted to give others a chance to answer.

"Please Khalisa." Hasan.

"Rizal Faculty of Medicine 100th class." Khalisa mentioned loudly making everyone dumbfounded including Rizal.

"Wah Khalisa, do you know Rizal?"

"No, but I know because she's Kafa my cousin's sister."

"Gee!" Kafa clapped his hands, even he who was in class with Rizal could not recognize the photo.

"Khalisa, you can grab the main prize later after getting out of the hall." Hasan.

"You know his name when you don't know." Although it has long been friendly with Khalisa but Huma is still astonished at the ability of Khalisa to remember the name of the person.

"Don't be surprised, Azka is also like that but the difference is that he memorizes the name of the Prophet's friend."

"Oh yeah?" Huma was even more surprised if Azka could memorize those names. "I wish my son could be like Azka."

"Zayn's gonna grow up to be an amazing kid, Papa and Mama are great people." Khalisa rubbed Zayn's head that was asleep in Huma's sling. Zayn was born two instead of after the birth of Khadija and Raline, the three of them would become contemporaries.

The prizes arranged on the table had been exhausted after they had performed various games. Not only the alumni, their children also participated in adding to the excitement of the event.

Lunch time has arrived, they are free to choose any food along the Boulevard.

"Khalisa, for you." Syifa came over to Khalisa carrying a cup of vanilla gelato, "it felt almost the same as Mangan Gelato."

"Thank you so much Syifa, you remember." Khalisa received gelato from Syifa.

"I can't possibly forget, you're always pesen gelato vanilla."

"You alone?" Khalisa looked around Syifa, as if Syifa had come alone.

"Yes, my husband can't come." Syifa is married to a cruise ship Lifeguard who is currently sailing abroad. Syifa has been living with LDR since her marriage but she has no objections at all.

They occupied a table scattered around. They have chosen the main food in the form of gudeg, tengkleng, satay klatak and soto beef served in a cranium container.

For dessert they have ordered ice cream. Pieces of fruit with brown sugar sauce and ice cream on it. It is suitable to be enjoyed during hot weather like today.

"Let's eat first let me carry Khadijah." Khalisa took over Khadijah, he could take the little guy for a walk around here so as not to get bored while Azfan ate. Since there was Azka, Khalisa and Azfan have been used to eating replacements. Sometimes Azfan also feeds Khalisa and vice versa.

"Cocco can eat by itself?" Khalisa brought the soto bowl closer to Azka.

"Can." Azka nodded.

"Pelan-pelan ya eat let's not spill."

"Yes Umma."

"Let me bribe Umma." Azfan could not eat comfortably if Khalisa had not eaten.

"This is Khadijah just like me." Mahira approached Khalisa, he had spent a soto serving of beef and rice and ice cream.

"It's okay Mahira, you're eating."

"I'm done eating Mommy." Mahira patted her stomach which felt full. He took over Khadijah and took him away from there.

"What is your specialist education Vin?" Jason asked Levin, while occasionally exchanging messages he knew Levin was undergoing a specialist education.

"This is my last year."

"I'm amazed by you, so general practitioners are hard-pressed to ask for mercy."

Levin smiled, he did not say that it was easy. But with Rindang and Ravina, Levin can not give up just like that especially after Raline's presence.

"Ko Levin is my role model." Kafa Sahut. After Jaya thought nothing of giving up her general doctorate but for the sake of Kafasa hospital, she got back up and continued her education.

"May you succeed." Typal Azfan was thanked by Kafa and Levin.

"I'll take my wife first." Kafa leaves Zulaikha, who plays with Ravina, unaware that her father is gone.

"Based on the Kafa's going out, his son was left behind." Shady bells were astonished at Kafa's behavior.

"You're all amazing, apart from being a wife, Khalisa runs Alindra Beauty, Rindang has a boutique, Huma and Clarin work at the hospital while I'm just at home." Syifa spread her eyes to her friends.

"It's not easy being a housewife." Khalisa rubbed Syifa's arm to raise her heart.

"Sweet and can't pay, that's what makes it hard." Clarin grinned, he didn't lie about it. Being a housewife is the hardest job in the world.

"So career women and housewives, women are still amazing." Levin said wisely.

******

The sun began to shift to the west side in a sign that the fun reunion was coming to an end. It was not enough to meet for a few hours to tell their new lives and let go of longing. But that brief encounter must come to an end, it's time to return to the ordinary life of knitting for a better future.

All alumni gathered to document the moment in the form of photos and videos. They laughed happily in front of the camera heart felt hard to part.

The reunion event that used to be synonymous with wealth and success has long been abandoned. The real reunion is to meet to let go of longing, given the fun college days.

Lastly they went to the Mosque of Ulil Albab for congregational prayer. Azfan was chosen to proclaim the Adhan, he was famous throughout the army with his melodious voice. The shy guy who used to be the idol of HAWASI children. Her voice never changed, always melodious except when pardoning her baby.

"Friends, just information that the calligraphy on the upper wall and ceiling is the work of Azfan and the people who are members of Griya Ameezan."

Not only melodious voice, Azfan also has an extraordinary hand.

Khalisa looked up at the ceiling of the mosque, finally after almost 7 months the calligraphy project of the Ulil Albab mosque could be completed. Calligraphy with a warm color composition that hypnotizes everyone. The verses of Allah are very beautiful and Azfan makes them pleasing to the old eye.

"Umma pray first." Khalisa leaned in to kiss Khadija who was lying on her sajad.

Khadijah kicked with his hands moving actively watching Khalisa who was praying. He laughed thinking that Khalisa was joking with him.

One by one the alumni came out of the mosque after the organizers said their closing greetings. They hope to get together again on another occasion.

They all enjoyed the show. Remembering college is a fun thing because their lives are now much different.

"It's sad to have to separate now." Huma hugged Khalisa, he still wanted to chat with Khalisa and Rindang.

"We'll see you again after the kids can walk." Khalisa patted Huma on the back.

"You can always comfort others when you yourself are sad." Huma noticed Khalisa's eyes were also glazed over.

"Take care of yourself." Rindang also hugged Huma, "you guys will travel far."

"You also take care of your health, don't get sick." Reply Huma.

Before leaving, they re-enacted the moment in front of the mosque. Opportunities like this will not happen often, as much as possible they take photos as much as possible.

Khalisa and Huma were first met when Ta'aruf Charm. They became classmates with the same field of study, namely pharmacy. Khalisa remembered Huma always brought Harry Potter novels, whenever there was a chance he would read them. Now Huma is married to Hamiz and has a handsome son whom they name Zayn.

As he got closer, Khalisa introduced Huma to Rindang. The three became close friends until now after they had a partner and children.

"See you soon Ravina." Azka waved at Ravina.

"Hail Ravina dong's sister." Huma exclaimed, he was happy to see the interaction between Ravina and Azka.

Azka and Ravina hugged each other for a while making Huma exclaim and their parents smile. Azka takes care of Ravina like a real sister. After growing up, Azka will also take good care of Khadijah.

Rindang and Levin pamit first followed by Huma and Hamiz, they went to the parking lot to their respective cars.

Khalisa and Azfan looked at each other, each separated from his two best friends, Khalisa always felt sad because he did not know when he would meet them again. They live in a faraway city. But his third prayer always reverberated in the sky, their relationship would always be glued together by those prayers.

"The world is in balance with the destiny of God, He is Most Just over all things including meetings and partings, and will not your friendship grow stronger?" Azfan embraces Khalisa's shoulder.

Khalisa nodded, how lucky he was to have a husband like Azfan who could always comfort him at a time like this. Azfan also always says Khalisa when feeling down.

"But there is one in this world that is not balanced."

"What's that?" Khalisa.

"I fell in love with my wife, Umma the kids and never got up again, I fell forever."

Khalisa couldn't help but smile even now his cheeks are red. Learn where Azfan says such sweet things.

.

.

Khalisa during pregnancy Khadija