The Faithful Heart

The Kyai

That afternoon Hana, God and Joseph walked down the narrow path between the well-lined pusara. Their move stopped near a tombstone that read ASIH IRAWATI. The tomb looks clean and looks well preserved.

For eight years Hana regularly visited the tomb. He always took the time to make a pilgrimage, praying for Ira's late grandmother and sowing flowers on it, so that the tomb always looks well maintained and clean. In addition, the mother of God paid a tomb guard to specifically care for and clean the grave of Ira's grandmother.

The mother of the Gods also built a musholla in the name of Ira's grandmother, with the name Ar Rahman which means Most Compassionate according to the name and nature of Ira's grandmother. It was as one form of thanks to Ira's grandmother who had been willing to help and considered herself as a family. It was even Ira's grandmother who cared for and educated the Gods from small to large.

" Mr, the gods are coming. God hope grandma happy in nature there. Don't worry about the gods, everything's fine. The relationship of God with Mother is also good. Soon God will marry Hana. Suppose Grandma is still alive, surely grandma will be very happy." lirih God while hugging tightly the tombstone.

His voice sounded raucous. He tried hard to hold a puddle of water in his eyes so as not to escape from the fertilizer. But it did not work, the water droplets continued to slide down his cheeks.

The god remembered how Grandma Ira used to raise him affectionately. Always faithfully accompany and accompany him from childhood. The god felt very sad when he remembered his attitude that had disappointed his grandmother. He hasn't been able to repay all of Ira's kindness.

" Granny sorry God, sorry God Nek.." sobs God without taking off his arms. It's like Ira's grandmother that she hugged.

Hana and Joseph came late to see the God's stuffing. Unknowingly, the two shed tears.

" Of course, Ira's grandmother is happy in nature. He must be very proud to see you live well and grow into a successful person. Stop crying, better now we pray for him to be placed in the most beautiful place." persuaded Joseph while wiping his eyes.

"God, let's pray for Grandma Ira. Grandma must be very sad if you cry like this." Hana held onto the shoulder of the God trying to calm down.

" But I haven't had time to repay all of Grandma's kindness."

" Hey, come on. Don't cry. You promised not to make Hana sad, right? You want to break that promise? You want me to take Hana from your side?" whispered Joseph in the ears of the God.

The God's cry subsided instantly. He looked at the face of his future wife, and yes he saw the girl's eyes watering.

I promised to make Hana happy, but why now even make her sad to cry like this? I can't make Hana shed tears, except happy tears. Thank you Joseph for reminding me of my promise.

The god rose to take off his embrace. She wiped the tears on Hana's cheek.

" I'm sorry for making you sad to cry." God said.

The three of them prayed and sowed flowers on the navel of Ira's grandmother solemnly.

" Dear you wait in the car first yes, me and Yusuf want to make a pilgrimage to the Great tomb" said Hana softly.

Agung died while he was still sitting in 3rd grade, exactly one week before the end of school exams. And it became a deep sorrow for Hana and her best friend. They did not expect that Agung would leave them that soon because of blood cancer. During his life Agung hid his illness tightly, so that none of his friends knew that he was sick. Even when the disease relapsed he was forced not to go to school on the grounds there was family business. Until one day Hana and her best friend got the sad news that Agung had breathed his last. And it was the saddest day for them. The Great Life is over, but his name will be remembered by his friends. And their friendship will remain, even though it is only through a thread of prayer.

" Well I'll wait in the car, hearts out."

" Suf please take care of Hana." The god passed towards the car park.

Hannah and Joseph set foot on the tomb of their friend. Near the tomb there was a man wearing a cocoa shirt and a holster equipped with a peci on his head. The man looked solemnly chanting prayer near the tombstone that read BACHTIAR AGUNG. Actually, Hana was curious about the identity of the man, but for fear of disturbing he chose to remain silent and stand nearby with Joseph.

Hannah and Joseph answered the man's prayer. After the prayer was finished, the man turned to look at Hannah and Joseph in turn. The stark look in his eyes tried to make a look, and suddenly his lips smiled widely.

Hana and Joseph looked at each other and looked at the man closely. But neither Hana nor Joseph managed to recognize the figure.

The man was brown, his hair was shoulder-length curls. His face was overgrown with mustache and beard, it was obvious that he was a religious expert.

" I'm sorry, Mr. Kyai who knows our names?" ask Hana politely.

" Subhanna...... It's me, Rizal. Your best friend."

" Rizal...?!" peeking Hana and Joseph in unison. Even Hana to look at Rizal's body from top to bottom repeatedly to make sure. Hana still does not believe that the figure he considers as kyai is Rizal's best friend while in High School.

" Are you really my best friend Rizal? Very different, can wangsit from where you can change like this?"

"Oh sorry, I mean how are you doing and how is the story you can become a kyai like this?" Joseph became a little confused as to what to talk about.

" Thank you my good news as you see. What about you guys? Everything's fine, right?"

" Huh, yeah. All good. By the way, where have you been all this time? After graduating High School you disappeared like swallowed by the earth no news at all. I didn't think you could turn out like this." Hana looks happy to meet Rizal.

The three of them got late in the conversation. They exchange stories about their life journey while they do not meet.

Joseph told me about his experience studying abroad. Hana recounts her grief at being a math teacher. And Rizal tells the story of his life that could end up being a kyai like today.

After graduating High School, Rizal decided to go to one of the boarding schools in East Java to deepen religious knowledge. Great Death has influenced his mindset that death can come to anyone regardless of age.

Long story short, the owner of the boarding school was amazed by the spirit and earnestness of Rizal in learning the teachings of religion. Kyai asked Rizal to marry his son and take care of the boarding school. Not one but two children at once.

" Whatttt..???? Are you married to two women at once? Crazy you're Zal." Hana was surprised by Rizal's words.

" I'm not crazy Han. In our religious teachings men can have more than one wife, even up to four legitimate wives. And Allah promises heaven to women who are willing to be polygamy." said Rizal.

" Huh...?" Hana looked at Rizal's face with a pushy look. Not because he had never heard of the teachings on polygamy, but knowing that his best friend had practiced polygamy at the age of 24 and worse, he married directly to two women and made Hana feel shocked.

" Well you are great Zal, you have preceded us all even directly with two women." Joseph gave two thumbs up to Rizal.

" I have no girlfriend yet, Zal, you have two wives." Joseph snorted, which Rizal and Hana could still hear.

" I'm sorry I failed Suf, my current wife is not two but three. Two months ago I just got married again."

" THREE....??!!!" hana and Joseph's eyes glared at the same time.

Rizal's great, I just haven't got one yet, he's got three wives. His fate is lucky.