Rocker Guys Enter the Pesantren

Episodes.13

A smile emanated at the corner of Iqal's lips. Finally he was able to set foot in the boarding school that he had left for a few days. Iqbal looks new down the car. Iqbal went to Kiyai Ahmad's room. Iqbal had already made an appointment. Iqbal himself came to teach on Saturday and Sunday in the morning.

"Assalamu'alaikum" said Iqbal, knocking at the door. It had been a few minutes waiting, but there was no telling from within. The door is also tightly closed.

Ustadz Malik approached Iqbal. It so happened that Ustadz Malik finished teaching after the dawn prayer.

"Iqbal, have you come?" ask Ustadz Malik.

Iqbal looked back, smiling at Ustadz Malik. "Yes, Ustadz. But how is Kiyai Ahmad's room closed, or is teaching?"

"Kiyai Ahmad was going to Cairo to see his son. He said his son had an accident a few days ago" answered Ustadz Malik.

"Inalillahi'wainailaihi. I'm so sad to hear that, Ustadz."

"We pray that Azmi will recover quickly. Oh yes, you taught me. We teach in the mosque only" said Ustadz Malik.

"Well, Ustadz."

After finishing teaching, Iqbal did not go home immediately. He approached his friends. Iqbal went to the room he used to occupy, but there was only one santri who was cleaning the room. Iqbal asked another friend and said the other had just been to the field for a jog.

Iqbal smiled looking at his friends who were running around in the field. Honestly, he missed those days. Iqbal is approached by Fahmi who is running.

"Hey, the more slim the face," said Fahmi while paying attention to Iqbal.

"What the hell are you, I used to. When are you looking for a job?"

"I'm not going anywhere. Alhamdulillah Kiyai Ahmad offered me to be assistant ustadz here and get a monthly salary."

"Alhamdulliah, I'm glad to hear that, Fa. May you also mate with one of the santriwati here."

"Amen. But it looks like you need a companion first."

"I haven't thought about it, Fa. It will come alone."

"Oh yes, have you heard that his son Kiyai Ahmad is now being critical?"

"I don't know, Ustadz Malik just said that his son Kiyai Ahmad had been in an accident" Iqbal said.

"Aisha was also hit hard. He didn't teach this morning."

"Aisha is a Ustadzah?"

"Yes that's it. He's just like me, being Ustadzah's assistant."

...

...

Aisha was no less sad. Her husband's candidate died. They had planned the wedding and it was two weeks away. Azmi happened to be hurt when she wanted to go home. He deliberately gave everything to his family to hold a wedding party. He was going home a few days before the wedding. However, fate befell him.

After finishing tahlilan, Fahmi was asked to come to the room of Kiyai Ahmad. Arriving there, it turns out there is Aisha and some people who she herself does not know who it is. Fahmi sits right next to Ustadz Malik.

"I'm sorry if we disturb you who are going to rest, Fa" said Kiyai Ahmad.

"No, Yai. But what's going on?"

"Look .. happened to be a few days away from Aisha's wedding day, but you know for yourself that my son Azmi is gone. Their wedding invitations are already out. Do you want to replace Azmi to marry Aisha. I think you are a suitable figure to be a replacement for my son," said Kiyai Ahmad.

Fahmi is shocked to hear the request to marry Aisha. Likewise with Aisha, who never thought if she had to find a replacement husband. All of this was on the agreement of his family who did not want to see Aisha get married. Of course Kiyai Ahmad did not mind it.

Fahmy hesitated to answer. If he refuses, he feels bad for Kiyai Ahmad who has been helping to finance his school. Since childhood, Fahmi was an orphan who was helped by him. But here the problem is Fahmi can not marry the woman his best friend loves. She knows that Iqbal still loves Aisha. It's just that Iqbal won't admit it.

"Sorry, Kiyai. It's not that I refuse a mate, it's just that I don't want to hurt my friend if I marry Aisha" Fahmi said.

"Whose friend are you?" Kiyai Ahmad was curious about the figure Fahmi meant.

"Iqbal, he loves Aisha very much. I remember her sacrifice. How he looks after Aisha. Even until now, he hired a messenger to watch Aisha if she was out of boarding school. Although he knew Aisha had rejected him because he was engaged, Iqbal still kept her in his watch. I think he is more suitable to be Aisha's life partner," said Fahmi.

"But Iqbal is not as smart as you, Fa. You're here as an assistant to the Ustadz. While Iqbal is still learning to teach," said Ustadz Ahmad.

Fahmi smiled at Ustadz Ahmad. "Nobody is perfect in this world. And I don't distinguish between people who have knowledge and are still learning. We are all equal before Allah SWT."

"Who is that guy named Iqbal? I want to meet" said Ms. Fatimah who is Aisha's mother.

"Iqbal doesn't live here anymore, ma'am. Only two years he studied and settled here" replied Ustadz Malik.

"But Iqbal still comes here often to teach, Mom. Even if it's a week twice. He is indeed a young man who is still a learning spirit" said Kiyai Ahmad.

Fatimah's mother whispered in Aisha's ear." Shouldn't you just marry Fahmi. Maybe he deserves you more."

Aisha smiled at her mother. Then he turned to look at everything in the room.

"I still love Mas Azmi. It might be hard to open my heart to others. However, if my marriage still has to be done, I want a man who sincerely loves me. Faithful, responsible, and patiently waiting for me to return his love" said Aisha.

"I think the best fit for Aisha is Iqbal. Moreover, his work is clear. Sorry in advance if you're offended, Ice. It is not my intention to interfere in your affairs" Fahmi said.

"I know that Iqbal is sincere. So, I would if he was alone" said Aisha.

"Alhamdulillah, then I will contact Iqbal's parents to tell you all this. It just so happened that Iqbal's parents were my friends when I was in school" said Kiyai Ahmad.

The conversation between them is over. Aisha had resigned herself to marry anyone, as long as the man had the criteria he mentioned earlier. The important thing is to wait to return the love.