The Soulmate Must Meet

Episode 13 - The Face that Shares the Eyes

Pesantren gate of hut Jambu feels cool. The mountain breeze hit my body, the dry leaves fell, the birds jumped from one branch to another. The laughter of the little children, they were running around barefoot herding goats. Approximately eight hours I arrived here, a boarding house in the mountainous area located in Cirebon. Slowly my feet stepped, entering the santri area.

These eyes swept across the entire corner of the space I was passing through. Some of the female students were discussing under the tree, and others were working on something, such as cleaning the garden, some were sweeping the courtyard of the beautiful house that stood firmly in the middle of the hut. I noticed, there were also those who were weaving, making equipment from bamboo. I smiled at him, as one of them nodded his head. The atmosphere is very calm and friendly, different from in Jakarta which is hot and very individualist.

“Assalamu’alaikum,” greet a female santri.

“Wa’alaikumussalam,” I replied.

“Who are you meeting with?”

“With Ms Masriyah, is there?”

“There. Come with me..”

I followed the steps of the woman. She was dressed very simply that was loose-fitting, resembling a robe, of course wearing a hijab. His stature was as tall as ever, his face was glowing white, as if there was no trace of pain in his daily life.

We stopped in a simple building, but it seemed elegant. In the yard a lot of ornamental plants, fish ponds, clean, and cool. After saying his greetings, a middle-aged woman came out of the house. His face was very bright, when his age in my opinion was no longer young, a face of implied kink. His eyes were sharp but his speech was friendly and full of smiles.

“Excuse me, there's a guest, Mom.”.

Hm, it is appropriate that he is so respected by his students, very refined in character to his teacher. With slightly lowered shoulders and a slow voice. I remembered a neighbor in Jakarta who had been in boarding school and he ran away because he considered pesantren like a prison that binds all freedom and only limited to slavery. Ah no, now I know after a few steps this entered the santri neighborhood here, it was not as cruel as my neighbors tell me about the picture of pesantren. Even as I looked at the people I saw, they were very soothing and my heart felt so touched. Suddenly the deep longing for God became more and more evident in this arid heart of mine.

The woman whom Mother Masriyah called by the santri kept looking at me, perhaps she could already guess that I came from far away, from the tangles of my face, from the shabbyness of my clothes, and the bulging bag of rangsel. Duh, shame me with my condition is not fresh. But I don't know what I really want so I have to be in this place. My heart and mind are uncertain. The shadows of my loved ones flew the realization that I was now standing at the door of the master of the santri.

“Mari in..”.

Suddenly, my daydreams broke, Masriyah invited me in. I followed him into the house, it turned out that in it was even cooler. Natural paintings decorate the living room, all the furniture is made of rattan and teak carvings. So it creates a classic impression that really impresses anyone who sees.

Then I was welcome to sit down, and the woman went, somewhere. The owner of the house sat facing me. I'm sure she's Masriyah's mother, who I'm looking for.

“Welcome to Pondok Jambu, Mother's name is Masriyah.”

“Thank you Mom, I'm Graceful.”

“Anggun?”

Masriyah's mother examined my face. I looked down in shame, unable to look at the sharp look in his eyes.

“Oh yes, Anggun from Jakarta?”

“Iya Mother..”.

“Bu Umay has been telling a lot of stories with Mom on the phone. If you don't mind, please study in this very simple cottage.”

I'm still down. Umay's teacher did give me some advice about entering the boarding school here. When I gave up on my pain, she came home. Really, I just realized that the teacher was very attentive to me. My mom's gone forever, Roman's been a victim of brawl, I don't know where to go and what to do. With the advice of Umay's teacher, I finally decided to sell the house, to stock in this boarding school.

“I no longer have anyone, Mom..” I said.

Instantly my pain felt chest tight. I don't feel tears coming. I never understood what had happened to me, why it was so heartbreaking for my life. Abandoned the people I so desperately needed to be the spirit of my days.

“Never say that. In this world, there are still many good people, every good person, is our friend, our family, then we should never regret something that is not our fault.”

“But... I am not a good person. I was born into a sinful family.”

The tears are getting bigger. Ms. Masriyah sighed, she got up from her seat, then sat down beside me.

I could not help but cry. I hug Masriyah's mother, I feel like I found her again, she is present in another form. In this heart is determined to study in this pesantren, and will never step on the capital again.

“Last let it be the past. The most important thing now is how you can achieve a better future.”

That voice, that word, reminds me of Roman. I'm crying more and more. I found Roman in the spirit of Masriyah's mother. This is the fate that I must live, or this is just the beginning of my journey.

“Mother, please guide me..”.

Masriyah's mother rubbed my head.

“We learn together here.. because in reality, every human being always learns to be better.”.

I couldn't speak anymore, only tears. Very quickly, like the flood that ravaged the city, this pain I can not endure anymore. I want to let go of the burden here, in the arms of Masriyah's mother. I am a weak woman, I don't know why God gave me such a hard test. Or is this torture? It can't be, can it? God never tortured his servant. Is not the Lord loving, also loving.

“Cry.. release all the burdens that have been stuck in your heart.”.

Masriyah's mother's voice was very calm, making me feel a matchless coolness. He never forbade anyone to cry, nor was he afraid to see tears. She's a wise mother, I've only met for the first time, I've felt a match, I've felt life again, I've felt beauty in my sadness all this time.

“Nothing is easy to live in this world. Everything requires sacrifice, and good sacrifice, is done with sincerity. Your mother has willingly sacrificed herself for you, and you will do the same for your children. Cry... if it makes you calm.”.

“Mother... I..”.

“Sst... don't talk anymore. Just feel your pain, because only then can you get rid of the pain. When you feel that the pain is very painful, then the pain should disappear immediately.”

So powerful were those words, it made me realize that my pain was really just a way to shape my mind. All this time, I was too crybaby, I could only shut up and cry, whereas, I could do more useful things, dispose of sadness in a way that didn't have to hurt myself. Yes, letting myself droop without a living spirit, it was the same as letting me die alone.

“There is more important in this life than thinking about sin and sorrow, which is turning sin into prayer, creating happiness from sadness.”

I slowly raised my head, then wiped these tears with my fingers. Her words made me not to cry, to be strong as a woman, because women basically have a kink from birth. He has borne the heaviest burden, for the man and his children.

Masriyah's mother looked me in the eye, then smiled. A sincere smile from someone who has more life experience, maybe he has also felt the same way, or maybe he lost a child? I don't know, what I feel is that she has warmth, like the morning sun drying leaves from the cold mist.

Suddenly the woman appeared, she brought a glass of warm tea, her face was always bright and cheerful, without smiling, she was already like a smile. I'm lucky to be here, in the right place.

“Well...please drink it first, let the throat not dry.”

This hand moves by itself, perhaps thirst moves it. Then I drank the warm tea slowly.

“This is Hilmah, the manager of santri here. If any questions about this boarding school deeper, you can ask him.”

Hilma smiled at me. I also return her smile, this beautiful girl will definitely be the target of men if they live in the city, maybe even could be a victim of crime, rape or kidnapping. But, here there is no worry or fear, everything is normal and safe.

“Spent drinking...,” says Hilmah.

Actually, I'm ashamed to drink again. However, what can be done, the thirst has indeed attacked, plus I cried, shed tears so that the thirst is more pronounced. I gulped down the tea, so my esophagus was relieved. I feel like I'm free from dehydration, I can be calmer after drinking it.

“Hilmah.. This is Graceful. His student Bu Umay's teacher from Jakarta. He wants to study here, you please help yes.” said Ms. Masriyah.

“Good Bu...”

“Well... Then, now Anggun can rest first. Hilmah please show me her room, and take me around for a while to look around.”

Without further ado, Hilmah led me to the room to put things down, and rested. Along the way, Hilmah actively gave an explanation of the spaces we passed, including the overall number of santri in the Jambu cottage. Today, I have prepared to step up, to achieve a glorious future. Bismillah…