The Love of the Widow

Chapters 37. Pesantren

I now live with aunt Rahmi's family in the 30-juz Thafiz Qur'an boarding school.

There were about 35 Santriawan/santriwati children who lived with us in the cottage.

This boarding house was founded by the late Father Om Indra, father-in-law of aunt Rahmi.

He during his life was a kyai and a professor at one of the boarding schools in Java.

After marriage, he moved to Pekanbaru and then opened the Thafiz qu'ran pesantren.

This boarding school only accommodates santri who are ready to be educated into hafiz and hafizah memorization of 30 juzz Qur'an.

They are all provided a place to stay and eat for free in this cottage.

The average santri who became a thafiz in the cottage were students/i who studied at an Islamic university.

There are also some who are still in school in MAN or MTsN pins.

Every morning they are given a chance to go to school.

While beginning ba'da ashar until his evening they are obliged to carry out their duties as santri thafiz.

Starting from memorization, up to learning Arabic and English.

All activities are carried out every night.

For the deposit of memorization itself is carried out at night and dawn after dawn prayers.

After teaching English at 21.35 wib, I went out of the room on the 2nd floor opposite the mosque room.

While passing through the living room, I caught a glimpse of Om indra and Ustad Arafah talking to a young man.

Ustad Arafah is her brother-in-law Om Indra, Husband of Aunt Pure's eldest brother Om Indra. Ustad Arafah is a lecturer at one of the Islamic universities in Pekanbaru and is also the imam of the mosque in the grand mosque of An-nur Pekanbaru.

Ustad Arafah was one of the leaders responsible for the pesantren along with Om Indra.

"Tante..is Om Indra and Ustad Arafah's guest who is it? how does it seem to be a stranger?" I asked Aunt Rahmi who was reading the book Fiqih Wanita.

"Oh.it's Gege.. Thafiz alumni. You forgot huh? More handsome, right? Four months in Pekanbaru. He is now a teacher at Kyai Ma'ruf's Darussalam Pondok Pesantren. Turkish Alumni. The S1 just finished 3 months ago. Turkish Alumni. And inshaa ALLAH will be one of our santri children's guides as well. He wants to serve here reportedly" Aunt Rahmi explained to me.

"God ALIKE.. It's amazing that kid. Clever, handsome, sholeh, thafiz qur'an anyway!" I told aunt Rahmi.

***

I lay on my bed while opening my HP looking at the social media lazily.

"Ping.." HP's voice sounded.

Masangger message seen on hpku.

"Assalamualaikum beautiful sister. How are you?" I read slowly the message that the lecturer on the screen hpku. Gege's face was seen there.

I was shocked and did not expect to get a message from him.

We have not communicated for a long time.

Last I remember, I saw her when she came to my first marriage with my first ex-husband.

"Vaalaikumsalam.. Fine Ge.. Ge healthy? Sorry about that.. Brother actually did not think that it was Gege. Then he's not called. I haven't seen you in a long time, kind of pangling. More handsome aja. hehe" Godaku reply to his message.

" Alhamdulillah.so happy to praise the beautiful sister. hehe. Gege also wanted to say hello to Brother. But I'm just as disinclined as ustad. hehe" she said again replying to my message.

"Haha... Welcome to Indonesia, Ge. Smoga knowledge obtained there is useful for many people" said agi.

"Aamiya.. Thanks brother. Inshaa ALLAH we will be working partners Brother. Please guide him. Brother is more experience to be a teacher in pesantren" he said.

"Inshaa ALLAH.." I closed the conversation.