Mahabbah Love Khalisa

57

Khalisa car stops in front of a house not too big with a minimalist style that looks comfortable to live in. It was Azfan's boarding place now, located behind Khalisa's apartment building. If you walk to the left about 1 kilometer then Khalisa will find the boarding place Huma.

Khalisa grabbed a cloth bag in the passenger seat containing several apples and pears before getting out of the car. His arrival was welcomed by Safa and Marwah who looked taller when it felt like only yesterday Khalisa met them. Just like when Khalisa came home and met Zunaira and Azmal. They grew so fast that they amazed Khalisa.

Khalisa said his greetings when Marwah took over the cloth bag in his hand swiftly. Kirana pulled from behind.

"Oh my goodness, we invited you to break your fast together but instead you brought a lot of fruit." Kirana was surprised to see the fruits that Khalisa brought.

"It's okay, ma'am, if it doesn't run out it can be put in the refrigerator." Khalisa followed Kirana into the kitchen while Safa and Marwah took out the fruits and washed them partially.

"Khalisa's usually in the iftar apartment alone?" Kirana was stirring spinach mixed with corn in the pot. He added a little salt and flavoring to it.

"Yesterday Rindang nemenin I break my fast." Khalisa washed tomatoes, chili and garlic under the faucet, he suspected Azfan's mother would make chili.

"Rindang is busy again so don't come here?"

"She wanted to eat at the barren market." Although not participating in fasting but Rindang is no less eager to welcome the holy month of Ramadan because many foods are only in this month.

"Assalamualaik." Azfan heard greeting from the front of the house which was immediately answered by 4 women who were busy in the kitchen.

Azfan did not think that Khalisa would come this fast when he saw the girl's car parked in front of his boarding house. He stepped into the kitchen to find Safa and Marwah peeling apples and pears. Azfan also saw the backs of his mother and Khalisa near the stove. Khalisa wore Azfan pashmina yesterday which he combined with a milky coffee-colored robe.

Azfan put 5 glasses of fruit ice he bought in the market on the table and moved the dates from the box to the serving plate.

The iftar time is only a few minutes away, all the food has been presented on the table in the form of going in the dining room that is not too broad even arguably narrow because it blends with the kitchen.

"As for Azfan, Ms. Kirana, Safa and Marwah have invited me to break my fast here." Khalisa said as soon as they sat in their respective seats waiting for the adhan.

"It is precisely we who thank you because you want to break the fast together here, with potluck food." Reply Kirana.

"My iftar meal in the apartment is nothing more than this, ma'am." Khalisa saw 5 types of cuisine on the table and that was much more than his food in the apartment. Yesterday Khalisa only made chicken soup and sambal terasi because cooking is tiring. Khalisa was amazed at the mothers out there who cooked every day for the family.

"Alhamdulillah!" They called out at the same time to hear the chanting of the Adhan from the mosque.

They chant the prayer of breaking the fast and then sip water and eat some dates that have a sweet taste legit.

Safa had prepared prayer rugs and mukenas for them to pray magrib before eating the main meal.

Azfan as the only man there acted as a prayer priest. He stood in front of the line of women, before starting, he first looked back to see his mother and two sisters who were ready to wear the face as well as Khalisa. Azfan did not want to see Khalisa for more than two seconds because it was very dangerous.

Khalisa dared to raise his face when Azfan looked forward again. Khalisa noticed the white cocoa clothes that Azfan was wearing, what it was like later when he stood behind Azfan not only as a prayer makmum but also makmum throughout their lives.

Could it happen someday? When that happens Khalisa will be the luckiest woman because Azfan is a man who loves the Qur'an.

The reading of Al-Fatihah's letter sounded melodious, echoing throughout the house. The tongue of Azfan also eloquently recites the verses of Allah.

Khalisa's hair bristled when Azfan read al-Qadr's letter on the first rakaat. He wanted to hear that voice at all times.

Food that had been smoking is now no longer too hot so they easily eat all Kirana cuisine.

"Mbak Khalisa likes thighs or chest?" Marwah asked as she was about to take some fried chicken.

"Like all." Khalisa replied, he likes all parts of chicken.

"It's for Mama." Marwah put chicken thighs on Khalisa's plate.

"What's this really for me?" Khalisa seduces Marwah.

"Special for Mbak Khalisa because it has brought a lot of apples." Marwah grin wide.

"Thank you, yeah." Khalisa wanted to rub the top of Marwah's head but his hand did not reach so he only held back the anxiety of the 12-year-old boy.

Marwah noticed her mother, Khalisa, Safa, unwittingly wearing a hijab with almost the same motif. It was the hijab that Azfan brought from Turkey for souvenirs and the day they simultaneously wore it.

"Mbak Khalisa from a small hijab wear?" Marwah asked, he was still arguing with himself when Azfan told him not to take off the hijab because he had puberty.

"Yes wear it but Istiqomah started veiling since graduating elementary school."

"She's looking for an excuse to take off the hijab, Ma'am." Safa whispered again, she was like a source who knew everything in the house.

"Marwah knows Sayyidatuna Fatimah Az-Zahra?" Azfan who from that silence finally spoke, he knew it was difficult for Marwah if directly Istiqomah veiled then as a brother he had to give understanding slowly to Marwah.

"Know, Fatimah the daughter of the Prophet who is also one of my favorite figures Mas."

"Oh yeah? it is good if you idolize the figure of Sayyidatuna Fatimah, one time in the Mahsyar Field the angel Jibril told all men to lower their eyes because Fatimah Az-Zahra the daughter of the Prophet's wife Ali ibn Abi Talib would pass through the sirath on a camel, the angel Gabriel was on the right side, Michael was on the left, Ali ibn Abi Talib was in the front while Hasan and Husayn in the back with Allah were his guardians along with 70,000 angels."

"All lovers of Fatimah Az-Zahra who modeled it and modeled his behavior by the power of God will be with Fatimah Az-Zahra through sirath as fast as lightning."

Without feeling the tears Khalisa melted hearing Azfan's story even though this is not the first time he knew the story. But when reading or hearing it again must be his tears melted without his permission. What a noble Fatimah Az-Zahra who became a ruler for women.

"Then Marwah should follow him by always wearing a hijab." Azfan continued his sentence.

Marwah clenched her lips tightly, it was not a sad story but somehow it felt like she wanted to cry. Marwah so no appetite, why also Azfan must tell the story while they are eating. Marwah wants to cry loudly because all this time she is still looking for a thousand reasons to remove the hijab when it is mandatory for her.

"Yesterday I heard Azfan Qiro'ah in the mosque before the ashar adhan." After the meal, Khalisa wanted to help Kirana clean the table but Azfan's two younger brothers forbade him and told him not to get out of the chair.

"Yes, replace Kak Hasan, Kak Fawas and three people from Jamaah Al-Faraby."

"You guys are amazing." Praise Khalisa, holding thirst all day does not make them lazy even more productive. "You are also becoming more and more known as the other friends."

Azfan smiled faintly, if he could choose then he did not want many people to know him. Azfan used to be alone from the past, now when many passersby greeted him, Azfan was not comfortable with such an atmosphere. But it has become his destiny, Azfan must get used to it even though it is not easy. Azfan was ashamed when they praised him because he was not as good as they said he was.

The thing that made Azfan endure this situation was that he always whispered that everything he did was purely because of God. Azfan broadcast the verse of Allah, he did not know there might be one person whose heart was touched because of the reading. Azfan never knew.

Khalisa said goodbye because tarawih time is getting closer. Only this month will Khalisa pray regularly in the mosque.

******

After tarawih Khalisa spent all night to honor Allah as the previous nights. Khalisa begged to be given the strength and confidence to express his feelings for Azfan. Although now he was quite sure that Azfan was indeed a man who could become his priest, the priest of his life. A simple man who is born to be humble.

"Bismillah, O God, this Servant with her to gain Your love, worship in Your way, perform the longest service of marriage, ease my path, O God."

It is still vividly remembered in Khalisa's memory when Azfan came in his dream as he hesitated to accept or reject Fawas' proposal. At that time Azfan dressed in white cocoa smiled towards Khalisa and said that he would always be there for Khalisa, accompany him, comfort his grief and love him wholeheartedly.

Now Khalisa only realized that it was the same clothes that Azfan used earlier. Khalisa knew it was not expensive clothes but he was always fascinated because Azfan was very suitable to wear white clothes.

If marrying Azfan makes Khalisa closer to God like Daniel's relationship with God which is getting closer after he married Ida then Khalisa wants to do that immediately.