Tidying Up Asa, Inviting Hidayah
32. The Matchmaker Must Meet.
...🌹Alloh is the master of the plan, He gives the best according to Him.🌹...
String.
The following days we rarely met on campus, but Ghufron was never absent from sending me news. Every night we make video calls, chat from him every morning comes to give me spirit. In other words, Ghufron tried to always accompany, even though our bodies could not meet.
I passed my days as usual, coming to college to study, meeting friends and trivia such as enjoying a break with a meal in the cafeteria or lingering in the campus mosque. Nothing has changed even though I did not meet the face of Ghufron in the campus because the intensity of coming to campus is indeed rare after the completion of the encryption trial.
this afternoon I ended the class with more enthusiasm because Ghufron said he would come to see me on campus. A few minutes ago he sent a chat when he was in the administration room to take care of his co-asst file. After his business is done he will come to me.
My smile flared when I found the body wrapped in a blue tosca short-sleeved shirt, leaning back on the front pillar of my class. The cap-covered mandarin hair complete with a backpack hung on one side of her shoulder, caught the attention of every passing girl. But he was indifferent, immersed in the pages of the book he was reading.
I stumbled, trying to walk without a sound. As soon as I got nearby, I brought my head closer right beside his arm, “Assalamu’alaikum mas ganteng?”
Ghufron was shocked, almost dropping the book he was holding. He took a rough breath, but still gave me a smile, “wa’alaikum greetings nduk sweet that almost make the heart mas dislodged!”
I covered my mouth with one hand so that my laughter would not explode. Standing tall in front of Ghufron, as he stuffed the book into his backpack.
“It's done?”
I nodded, “Mas is done with the file?”
Replace the nodding Ghufron mas, “udah! Stay submitted to the hospital, continue to start co-asst, deh.”
“Alhamdulillah .. mas DM very spirit, nih." (DM\= young doctor.)
“Hust, dong. Yuk!”
We walked together, down a slightly crowded strip. Sometimes we have to pull over, when passing by other students. Once I heard a screaming voice from behind my back that I returned with just a wave of the hand.
“By, dong, be friendly!”
“Jen! Don't forget to picket with tight rope!”
“Holding hands akang, mumpung can still meet!”
Aina, Ratri, and Addis, they're always excited when Ghufron picks me up for class. Understandably, our faculty is in a different building and a bit far away. So it's only natural that they overestimated the attention Ghufron gave me. She used to come to me, but she wouldn't let me come to her class.
“Your friends are crowded, yes?”
“Whispering, yes, Mas?”
“Iya, noisy. Indeed women are synonymous with noise, right?”
“But I don't, you know, Mas!”
“Not wrong, right?”
“Ih! Mas really like when I say,” I pinched the upper arm of Ghufron because it felt anxious. Until he complained in the laughter while rubbing my scars.
“Have said Dito today mas anter you to Magelang?”
“Already, Mas.”
“Alhamdulillah ..”
“We go to the bookstore first, yes, Mas. Regular monthly allotments from Brother Neesha.”
“Good, where are you anter. Today is special for you anyway.”
“Indeed another day is not for me, huh?”
“But, Nduk. Later if it is halal, every day for you.”
“Insyaalloh, yes, Mas.”
“Aamiin.”
That day we both enjoyed our time. Spending the monthly money that Aneesha's sister sends her specifically to buy books. Any book that I can use to study, as well as books needed for the public library at Magelang house.
It was fun shopping for books with Ghufron mas, probably because our hobbies and love of books are the same. We can linger in bookstores, choosing which books to buy while having a small talk.
“Seneng, yes, so you. Her monthly ration from everywhere.”
“Free from the same father sister Nessha, Mas.”
“Alhamdulillah, dong, there is a love. Mas same Nalini must find additional money himself to buy books supporting learning.”
I smiled listening to Ghufron telling me. He wasn't complaining, just wanted to show me that the favors I received were so great. So that I can be more grateful, not even complain a lot.
“Try if you are not rationed with your brother, you must be confused every time you want to buy a book, right? You should be grateful, Nduk.”
“Iya, Mas. Alhamdulillah..”.
The basket carried by Ghufron was full of books and stationery, but my desire to buy books was not complete. I took Ghufron to the children's book display, there are books that can be used as reading for children in Magelang.
“It's good, huh, Mas? Medium discount again.” I showed you a book called 'golden apple' by my favorite famous author.
“It's also good, Nduk!” at the same time Ghufron showed me a book with a green cover, “kids can easily memorize the hadith with this book.”
I picked up the book that Ghufron was holding, it turned out to be a picture book with the title 'hadist comics'. I turned the book around, read the synopsis on the back, “it looks interesting, Mas. I'll take this one.”
“That's not so?” Ghufron pointed at the book in my left hand.
“So, dong.”
I put two books in a basket. Glancing at Ghufron because the basket he carried must be heavy. The face of Ghufron looks tired, surely because since then patiently accompanied me shopping.
I was just about to look through another book, when Ghufron suddenly walked to the end of the hall. I followed him, but Ghufron came up to a little boy who was jumping with his hands raised up. Like he was about to pick up a book, but his hand could not reach, because it was located on a shelf higher than his body.
“Om! Kuwi book reviewer, Om!” (You want the book, Om!)
I looked to the left-right, no one seemed to be poking at the murmur of the little boy. Everyone was immersed in the busyness of each choosing a book.
“Ajeng mendet sing pundi book, Dik?” Ghufron asked the handsome-looking little boy. (Which book would you like, brother?)
“Niku, Mom! Sing brother.” (That, Mas! The red.)
Mas Ghufron pointed to the red-coated book with the image of wayang, “niki?” (this?)
The boy nodded. Then Ghufron picked up the book. As soon as the book was given by Ghufron, the little boy soared in excitement. Making me and Ghufron look at each other and throw a smile. A funny little boy.
“What do you know is a book about, Dik?” Tanyaku. Because I think there are rarely children who choose a picture book of puppets. As far as I know, young children definitely prefer cartoon comic books, or fairy tale books with pictures of animals.
“Janoko, Puntodewo, Werkudoro, Nakulo, Sadewo,” me and Ghufron mas looked at each other again as the little boy pointed one by one at a picture of the puppet and mentioned his name correctly. Then I bent my knees, crouched down to align myself with the height of the little boy.
“Pendowo limo,” (Pandawa five) the little boy stared at the book with sparkling eyes that intrigued me. Just this time I met a little boy who could name the puppet character correctly. He was only about four years old.
“Wah! Looks like you guys are sealing, nih.” Said Ghufron.”
“You like puppets, yes, Dik?” I asked the little boy who was still enthusiastic about staring at the picture of the puppet on the cover of the book.
He nodded, “mbah kakung seneng ngimoto wayang.” (Bah kakung likes to draw puppets.)
I became interested in chatting with this little boy, while showing some wayang-themed books. Mas ghufron shook his head while muttering, “can be invited home, nih, son.”
I don't care about Ghufron's muttering, because my conversation with this little boy I don't know his name is getting interesting. I was amazed because he could tell about the characteristics of the Pandawa and kurawa figures.
“Kurodo ki naughty, Ma'am. Jare mbah kakung, sifate elek, ora by imitated.” (Laughter is evil, Ma'am. The word Mbah kakung, its nature is ugly, can not be imitated.)
“Nek Pendowo? Sopo sing the most famous?” (if pandawa? Who is most liked?)
“Jare Mbah kakung puntodewo I am patient, fair, wise, but I ora seneng,” (Kata Mbah kakung puntadewa is patient, fair, wise there, but I do not like).
“Terus, seneng ro sopo?” (Who does it like?)
“Lha, really, Bagong?” (why Bagong?)
“Soale suarane funny, Ma'am. Nek watch wayang ro mbah kakung, sok guyu pas Bagong metu.” (Because the sound is funny, ma'am. If watching the same way Mbah kakung, like to laugh when Bagong appears.)
I and Ghufron laughed. This little boy is innocent and innocent, but different from the others. Other children his age may only know cartoon characters that aired on television, but he already knows puppet characters.
We were chatting when we heard a voice calling from behind my back, “Naufal!”
“Om!” The little boy in front of me looked up, throwing a look over my shoulder.
“Om find you everywhere apparently here.”
I stood up as the little boy ran over to a man I knew very well. I stared at Ghufron who automatically shrugged.
“Pak Hara?”
The man took his eyes off the little boy who was showing him a book, “aku by iki book, Om!” (I got this book, Mom!)
“You?” His forehead was furrowed deeply as soon as he realized the whereabouts of me and Ghufron.
“It just so happens, it looks like we are destined to be a match.” Seloroh mas Ghufron saw me and Mr. Hara alternately. Then reached out to shake hands with Mr. Hara, “how are you doing Mr. Hara?”
“Good.” Pak Hara welcomed Ghufron's hand, “you've been from earlier?”
“Lumayan, Mr. Hara. Quite a long time I mean, women if they have been shopping like to forget time. Mr. Hara would know, right?”
I pinched Ghufron's arm, and he could have mocked me like that. I let my fiance wipe his arm while complaining, because I want to know who the cute little boy with Mr. Hara is.
“Pak Hara can be here with him?” I pointed at the little boy whose hand was held by Mr. Hara.
“Find the book,” replied Mr. Hara while showing a stack of books in his hand, then showing the hand braided with the little boy, “dia my niece.”
“Oh ...,” I only answered with one short word, because Mr. Hara explained also without expression. Although I know Mr. Hara's face is always flat.
“Ya, already. You guys please continue shopping, we have to go home.” pamit pak Hara.
“Hurry, Sir?” Ask the Ghufron.
“It's late afternoon, later Naufal left late for his salary.”
“Oh! Okay then. Be careful, Hara.”
I did not get to know the cute little boy, because Mr. Hara hastily invited him away. However, I caught the name mentioned by my brother-in-law's personal assistant, Naufal it must be the name of the adorable cute little boy who memorized the name of the puppet character earlier.
“Pak Hara is studying religion, huh?” I frowned, hearing Ghufron's question. Then he explained about the meaning of the sentence, “tadi I accidentally saw the title of the book that Mr. Hara.” bought
“What is the title of the book Mr Hara bought?”
Instead of answering, Ghufron walked into another hallway. It turned out that he took me to the hallway that displayed books about the religion of Islam. He circulated his gaze throughout the shelf of the display while frowning his chin. Ghufron picked up two different books.
“If I don't see wrong, sir Hara took this book.”
I extended my neck, reading the title of the book that my fiancee had pointed out. I read slowly, “they asked, Islam replied.” I changed to see the face of Ghufron and then read another book title, “The miracles of Al-qur’an and sunah.”
“Mas wrong view, times. How could Mr. Hara buy a book like that. He's, right, nasrani.”
“Yes, it's possible that he's studying Islam, right?”
I just shrugged my shoulders, no matter what. Then Ghufron made me realize that I had to end this book shopping session.
“It's afternoon, darling. When are we gonna get here?”
“He he's. Two more books, huh, Mom? Moment ...”
Although he breathed an upset, but Ghufron let me choose another book. He was always patient with me, which I sometimes wanted to face. He never protested, as long as we left without leaving our duty as Muslims.
Actually I want to buy time to linger with Ghufron mas. But seeing his tired and limp face, I did not have the heart. We haven't eaten since we got home from college.
After selecting the last two books I wanted to buy, I immediately ended my shopping. Not to forget I asked Ghufron to have a afternoon lunch, after we had the Ashar prayer.
This was the first time we traveled from Jogja to Magelang just the two of us. Luckily there was a friend of Ghufron's who willingly lent us a car, so our trip was comfortable.
Traveling for about an hour, we took while chatting about anything. Mas Ghufron deliberately did not turn on the car audio, because he said my voice was like a radio broadcaster, my story is also more interesting than the songs played by radio stations.
I could see the serious face of Ghufron driving. For the first time I dared to stare at that handsome face that was pacifying for more than three seconds. What I felt when I looked at him was a racing heartbeat, my face was heating up, my eyes were almost watery. How could I not fall in love with this figure beside me, huh Alloh?
“Can I hope I don't see it? So groggy, nih.”
I immediately turned to the road, surprised that Ghufron knew I was admiring his face.
“Other times don't look at me like that, huh?”
“Whatever why, Mas?”
“If you are silent, but your eyes are hinting at everything.”
“Means?”
“I could hardly resist the temptation if you looked at me like that, so pep stopped, you know, anyway?”
“Kok stop? Kan, we're not there yet, Mas?”
“Iya, peeper stop keep open directions. About the nearest religious affairs office via mana.”
"Yes Alloh ...."
I pinched Ghufron's arm until he was in complete pain.
"Bring this, for sure."
"No way, Mom. Pinch it slowly, really."
"Slow down but many times, bruises must be this."
"No, Mom." I opened my Ghufron's sleeve slightly to see my pinch.I wanted to prove that there was no way my pinched marks were slowly bruising.
"Bag, right?"
I rubbed Ghufron's arm, because he was right. There's bruises on my scars.
"Cock can bruise, huh, Mas? Not hard, I pinched it."
"Udah was said to be slow but many times, definitely bruised, Nduk."
"illness?" I wiped another bruise from my pinch.
"No, that's when it hurts."
I feel guilty, "sorry, yes, Mom."
"Nothing, it can even make a memento."
We laughed together. Ghufron can always replace heartfelt expressions with jokes. Makes me always comfortable being frank with her. In my heart, I pray that this sweet nature does not change today, tomorrow and so on until we are halal to be together.
.
.
.
Seriate....
