Santri Famiglia's

Flashback Muktar 2

The semester break will end in three days. Many people go home to each other. No more than ten were settled in the dormitory of either son or daughter.

That morning, Muktar had no work. He decided to go to Kyai's house after sending a WFH cover letter. On the way, he met a santriwati who walked from the forest towards the kyai house. Muktar.

"Assalamualaik."

"Waalaikum salam."

The girl answered him while looking down, then just passed by. Muktar thought the girl might have been a santriwati who became a courtier, then continued the journey.

"Assalamualaikum, Mr. Kyai!" he said when he saw the man as beautiful as his father.

The man stood on his back, arranging the flower pots on the storied board. He answered his greetings, then turned his head and said, "Oh, ustaz Muktar, what's wrong?"

Muktar was embarrassed. In fact, he had just been accepted yesterday, but had already gotten the call from the kyai.

"I am not yet a ustaz. It doesn't seem worth calling it that."

"You're officially a teacher. Want to be called ustaz now or tomorrow the same, right?"

Kyaai Samad smiled wryly. He said it was very soft, reminding Muktar of Kyai Samad—'s late father, the founder of the boarding school.

"Anu, Mr. Kyai, I came here actually to serve. Maybe there's something I can help you with in between free time?"

Instantly after Muktar finished speaking, a pot of clay struck Muktar's temple. He spontaneously shouted. Heads twitching. While his eyes flickered until watery.

The pot broke into pieces. Ambyar land, some dirt on Muktar's shoulders.

Kyai Samad immediately glared. He rebuked loudly, "Irsyad, you can't do that!"

Kyai Samad then drags Irsyad. Kyai Samad's eldest son thrashed. However, Kyai Samad held back while continuing to tell him to walk.

"Can't! Can't! Can't! Go!"

Irsyad kept repeating it. He's fumbling. Even inside the house his screams were still heard from outside. Until finally, the screams began to swallow.

Muktar felt bad. He had witnessed a scene that should not be seen. In the past, Irsyad was not like that. Muktar vaguely remembered when they became playmates despite being five years apart.

His heart was ready to know about Irsyad's condition. Muktar cleans the ground from clothes and neck. He drained tap water to get into the eyes. That's quite a relief.

Standing alone in the courtyard, he did not know what to do. He was worried, should he leave or stay there. Muktar felt wrong.

Shortly after, Kyai Samad came out again. He's approaching Muktar. "Sorry, are you okay?"

"Alhamdulillah."

"Thank God. Aini must have forgotten to lock the door after delivering breakfast earlier, so Irsyad can come out like that."

Kyai Samad's description raises a question in Muktar's mind. Many things have changed during his absence from his hometown. Something seems to have happened to the Kyai family that Muktar once saw as the perfect family of everyone's dreams.

"If you may know, why did Mas Irsyad have to be locked up? Sorry if I was presumptuous," said Muktar awkwardly.

Kyai Samad remained in his composure. He crouched down, moving pots that were in the shade to a place exposed to sunlight.

"I help you, Mr. Kyai!" added Muktar sigapp.

"Thank you."

They both moved together. While working, Kyai Samad told me.

"Since his wife's divorce, he's been like that. If left wandering around, I'm afraid he'll hurt people like he did to you earlier. I don't know the reason for their divorce. Irsyad never told me. Every time I ask, he's always mumbling."

It sounds slow in the middle of the story. Kyai Samad looked away. He returned to busying himself with plants.

"Later, help me deliver food to Irsyad every day, yeah!"

"All right, Mr. Kyai." Muktar nodded while raising another small pot.

"I don't know why, but Irsyad never wants to touch food if I deliver. Usually Fahri who delivers. Since he was returning home, Aini replaced him. Actually, pity him. But, I don't know who else to ask."

"If you're the same Miss Nyai, what won't you do?"

Kyai Samad paused for a moment before replying, "We've separated. He doesn't live here anymore."

Muktar felt more sad. He didn't ask anymore. The next day, after the prayers of Israel, Muktar went again to Kyai Samad's house. True to his estimation, the girl who had passed him the day before was in the kitchen. The woman is cooking.

"Assalamualaikum, Ukhti!" greet Muktar.

"Waalaikum salam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh," he turned his head for a moment, then turned his eyes back to the pan. His hands are sauteing the seasoning.

"I Muktar. I will carry out Mr. Kyai's mandate to bring food to Mas Iersyad."

"Oh, it must have been the one who delivered the dinner last night Masnya, huh? When I came to bring food to Mas Irsyad's room, it turned out that he was eating. I was surprised."

"Yes, I hurriedly came out afterwards because Mr. Kyai called."

"I'm Aini. Just call a name! No need to use mbak, ukhti, or other embeds!"

"alright. So, which one should I take?" Muktar gave a glance. There is tempeh that is still marinated with spices, papaya leaves are drained, then a pot with a bubbling sound.

"Well, it's not ripe yet, Mas. Just a minute, yeah!"

"Then, I drain the fish pond first. When you're ready, call me, yes!"

"Sip!" Aini gave a thumbs up.

Muktar came out of the kitchen after saying his greetings. Fish pond in front of the kitchen. So, he is easy to find whenever needed. Muktar rolled up her pants, then took off her watch. He put the watch on the table near the pool. Then, he started moving the fish.

"You are very understanding, Ustaz Muhtar."

Hearing that, Muktar looked up. Kyai Samad had been sitting on a chair from a teak log. He's holding Muktar's watch.

"Sir Kyai!"

"I did intend to clean the pool, but a lot of other work must be prioritized. So, haven't had a chance. But, Thank God for getting help from you this morning even without me asking."

"It just so happened that, as I passed, I saw the pool was dirty. My mind just moved to clean it up." Muktar laughing.

"Lucky who has a diligent son like you, Ustaz Muktar."

"Ah, no. I have not been able to serve my parents well. All this time, I was far away from them. The new job can now. I can't give anything to them."

"The service can be done in many forms. If you can't give money, then do it with physical treatment! And vice versa. If you can't do both, then do it with prayer! Praying for parents is the best form of filial piety that is easy to do at any time."

That advice was given by Muktar. He stopped brushing the floor.

"By the way, is this watch yours?"

"Yes, Mr. Kyai."

"It shouldn't be something as expensive as this to be placed carelessly."

"Sir Kyai knows?"

"My friend is an antique and rare watch collector. Lately, he has been talking about watches like this. So, I could immediately recognize when I saw him lying here earlier."