The Soulmate Must Meet

Episode 24 - Slander is Crueler than Killing

Not satisfied with feeling happiness as the second champion of the da'wah race, suddenly Aisyah entered the room with a chaotic face, her gaze was strange when she saw me. I had wanted to ask what had happened, but seeing that scene, I had better not ask, then get scorned. That is his nature, if he is upset, he does not want to be asked questions, but is left alone until his emotional level drops.

Khodijah has not been seen, even though it has entered the time of Ashar prayer, usually the three of us gather in the room to perform congregational ashar prayer, while resting after a day of tired learning.

“Honest to me, what happened between you and Subhan?” ask Aisyah.

The sound surprised me, what's going on? Why did Aisyah suddenly snort like a bull?

“What do you mean?”

“Don't pretend, you guys have been perverted aren't you?” attack Aisyah.

“Astagfirstlah... I don't understand what you mean?”

“Alah... You have humiliated me, sok alim, sok never get along, but the proof...” Aisha stopped her speech.

The door opens, Khodijah enters. Her face was red, I don't know what happened to her. However, his attitude still did not look strange, like Aisyah. Just his eyes cold. This must have been Fatimah, I expected it.

“Kak Khodijah knows no, if the gossip humiliates us!” Aisha immediately gave an opinion to Khodijah.

Khodijah.

“What is Graceful?” tanyakanya.

“I don't know what you guys are talking about?”

“Do not pretend not to know!”

“Sabar... Ayesha. Patience.., however Graceful is our friend, should be heard what he will say,” prevent Khodijah.

Aisyah sat on the chair, her face still irritated.

“We have just been attacked by the Fatimah group, and they make fun of you, that..” Khodijah stopped his speech. He glanced at Aisyah, who was glimpsed just silently not flinching from her seat.

“Say you are the son of a prostitute,” continued Khodijah.

Like having just been stabbed by this chest needle, it feels painful and stifling. How could Fatimah have done this to me, when I never bothered her at all. Is this the kind of jealousy? No heart, no logic, no desire to be achieved.

“I don't know...,” I replied looking down.

“How do you not know? You're his son?” ask Aisyah.

Tears slowly soaked my cheeks, if I had to remember it all would have been very painful, especially I never knew my mother's work. He always goes out at night, and comes home early in the morning. A hardworking mother must then leave this world at the cost of her life for the honor of a child. Is that mother a whore?

“If you don't believe me, I'm fine. I'm born and bathed, I'm also willing to get out of this room if you're disgusted at me,” I said sobbing.

I never knew the facial expressions of Aisha and Khodijah, for these eyes could not see them. Let me be exiled from this pesantren, but do not prevent me from studying here.

“We just need the truth Anggun,” Khodijah said. The sound was low, not like that.

I still cry, powerless against this sorrow. Just about to get up, already getting a very outstanding test. Is God choosing me to make me his obedient servant?

“I never knew if my mother was a whore or not. Even if it is, I still acknowledge her as Mother, as an honorable woman who has fought desperately to keep me alive,” I said firmly.

Aisha and Khodijah looked at each other. Suddenly there was courage in me to blaspheme these two friends of mine.

“You may have been born into a capable family, a whole family, and your life will be fulfilled. Kalin is accustomed to spoiled life, so that what is considered dirty and disgusting forever in your eyes is unclean! but, my mother is not unclean, she has heaven at her feet. And I as his son, will never hurt him, disobey him even though he is gone.”

“But why should we know from others?” sahut Aisha.

“What's the difference? From my mouth or from someone else, you still think that my mother is a whore, and that you also think, that the fruit will not fall from the tree. That means I'm a whore too!” my courage is emerging. Khodijah remained silent.

“But, Fatimah saw you coming down from the minaret with Subhan at midnight, does that mean nothing?” said Aisyah.

“I didn't do anything with Subhan, never at all!” my snapping.

I tried very diligently not to fall for the slander of Fatimah, and my heart tried not to hate her, even though this quarrel with my best friend was not ordinary. I've never had a fight like this before, never at all.

“But you like each other don't you?” Aisyah is still trying to pressure me.

Khodijah was still silent, apparently he was also involved in emotions in his chest, only he was trying to hold back. Not want to be rash in doing something, even though he has entered into the slander of Fatimah.

“I don't know,” I replied.

“From earlier always didn't know. Then all that's true, why do you have to cover it up all of us? If it can not be a true Muslim, why enter the pesantren!” chirps Aisyah.

Of course I was offended by his words.

“Does a true Muslim have to be in the pesantren?”

“Clearly!”

“Then, you consider everyone outside this boarding school is not Muslim? Astarghfirullah..”.

Aisyah was desperate, I'm sure she didn't mean it either, just that Aisyah was too quick to draw conclusions, she didn't dieg. This girl would be very dangerous if she got out of the boarding school in such a state of view.

“Better, you tell me from the beginning what really happened!” khodijah Order.

Maybe he was also lazy to hear the commotion, especially when the time was approaching magrib, I'm sure he did not want all the female students to come here due to hearing the commotion.

“Not should I tell or explain here. Even if I was a child prostitute, I would feel proud, let alone my mother willing to die for me.”

Khodijah was silent, eyes looking at my eyes that still held anger. The melted tears slowly disappeared, replaced by stubbornness and patience, it was time I did not cry, it was time I rose to reach for the future. I must not lose to a slander.

“I'm sure you have a harder life than me, and maybe even with Aisyah. And you know what just happened? I hit Fatimah, shouldn't she treat you like that,” Khodijah said.

Aisha got up from her seat, as if to say that why should Khodijah do that? Have we not been humiliated? However, I saw the ray of friendship from Khodijah. Maybe he just needs an explanation.

“I didn't ask you to defend me,” I said.

“Indeed no. But I feel you are my best friend, already a friend should help each other.”

“But is it worth a friend suspecting that I am the son of a prostitute?” my many.

“Not worth it or not. If we know your problem, of course, we can also straighten it out. Me and Aisyah were surprised by the news, we did not know what truth you were hiding!”

“Nothing is hidden?”

“But..”.

“You better ask them, especially Fatimah. Am I the son of a prostitute? Or I have been perverted with Subhan as they say!”

I got up from my seat. When Maghrib had arrived, the sound of the Adzan reverberated from the mosque, just as I drew the face up on the mattress and went out of the room to the mosque. I don't want to argue with them anymore. For me, this humiliation is enough to get here, there is nothing more to discuss.

While Khodijah and Aisyah were still silent, they were definitely not satisfied with everything I said. They need an explanation, but I don't have an explanation. My life is like this, I have no choice. Only, I still have a fire that can burn anything. The fire is spirit in the heart.

In this step, I try to stay calm. At the mosque, I will definitely meet Fatimah. I have to pretend I don't know what's going on even if it hurts to pretend. No choice, rather than me looking pitiful, would make them laugh even more. Now, I realized that Fatimah was indeed making enmity with me. He was jealous of me, because Subhan was paying attention to me.

“Assalamu’alaikum Anggun.”.

“Wa’alaikumussalam.”.

I was surprised, Subhan was already beside me. These eyes are looking for Fatimah, Khodijah and Aisha. I'm afraid they'll see it, so I'd better get away, get away from Subhan. Without saying anything, I immediately ran away from Subhan, heading to the mosque. Subhan was just dumbfounded to see me running. O Allah, protect your servant. Aami…