Women of Choice
A Tale Behind the Gates of Pesantren 1
***
"Sal, get up, Sal!"
The girl named Salma was stunned and spontaneously woke up from her nap.
His consciousness had not been perfectly gathered when his roommate returned to talk.
"So I heard your name called the reception by speaker. Quickly go there who knows there are parents or family who come," Sarah said enthusiastically.
Though Salma's little heart doubted Sarah's words. But, the girl who was sitting in the 1st class Aliyah also immediately got up from sitting and then grabbed the instant veil that was draped in the closet door and wore it while walking in a hurry to the exit of the dormitory.
Not a year Salma lived in the dormitory that he considered luxurious. Being able to study and continue school to the Aliyah madrasah level while living in a boarding school has been aspired Salma since he was still in elementary school. Although coming from a family that is not able, Salma's spirit to gain knowledge never subsided.
Salma's feet walk up the stairs with enthusiasm to the ground floor because the room he occupied was located on the 3rd floor. After passing through the field in front of the building of a special dormitory santri princess Salma is now in the reception area.
Salma looked in all directions. The fifteen-year-old woman hopes to find her parents who will visit as Sarah said earlier in the room. Sunday like this is a special day for all students who are there because they can be visited and gathered with their beloved family to let go of longing.
It has been almost ten minutes Salma stood pecking while looking at everyone who was passing by crowded the area where the reception guests to the field and terrace dormitory. But the man Salma was looking for was nowhere to be seen. So that the woman took the initiative to ask directly to the reception who was on duty in front of the gate.
"I'm sorry, Dik, it seems that from then on we never called Dik Salma's name, because there was no family Dik Salma who came." The explanation from his upperclassman was enough to slice the heart of the poor girl. Makes his chest suddenly feel tight.
Salma only realized that she was currently only being lied to and colonized by Sarah, her roommate who had been cynical and often mocked Salma because only Salmalah was seen rarely visited and brought food delicious for his family.
With lethargic steps Salma returned to the room. Just as her feet entered the door Sarah had already greeted her with a mocking laughter.
"Such a kasian who would like to see his family. Ha ... Ha .... "
Salma didn't rub Sarah's lead. He turned his back and stepped onto the stairs of the balcony where the clothesline to avoid Sarah who always continued to test her patience both through her oral and cynical attitude.
"Sal, you cry? Why?" The gentle pat on the shoulder made Salma a little surprised. He saw Emillia, his close friend who came from Lampung was already standing behind. Because Salma was too late with her own sadness that she did not realize the presence of Emillia who had already noticed it.
"We are equally lucky, Sal, I am also rarely visited by family," said Emillia as if to guess with what is now being felt by Salma.
"Instead of grieving we repeat the muthola'ah memorization commissioned yesterday by the ustazah of Maryamah and the rote of the imriti that must be deposited tomorrow to the ustaz of Akmal, yuk!" invite Emillia who answered with a nod and a smile by Salma.
***
At around 20:00 pm all the santri were preparing to go to their respective classes to study the night after previously undergoing Isya congregation prayers at the musala around the cottage as well as learning to read the Qur'an with her guidance brother.
"My money is gone ... Money missing. Duh, how's this my money gone!" The hysterical shout of one of the residents of the dorm room for a moment was able to divert the busy other students. Some are changing clothes, some are preparing books, and some are looking at themselves in front of a mirror while putting on a hijab.
In an instant without command they swarmed closer to Sarah who was rummaging through her closet contents to the ground.
"My money's gone, guys. Who else would take if not our friend who rarely mudipahin (dijengukin), yes, right?" Sarah exclaimed in a loud voice accompanied by a cynical glance right at Salma who was standing. Now all pairs of eyes were turned toward Salma as if asking for an answer to what Sarah had just accused Salma.
"Get to class now yuk, Sal!" invite Emillia while pulling Salma's wrist quickly to get out of the room so that her best friend is not constantly the object of bullying and accusations without actual evidence just to corner Salma.
"I can no longer afford to stay here Mil, I want to stop school and find another cottage," Salma said to Emillia. When the two of them sat down in class.
"You remember the advice of Ustaz Akmaluddin during the dawn service yesterday? He said if people who are studying it will be given good in the world and in the hereafter if we want to continue to be patient. As stated in the Qur'an, it means:
“O you who believe when it is said to you: “Lighten up in the assembly, then loosen up Allah will give you a spaciousness. And when it says, stand up! Then stand. Allah will exalt those who believe among you and those who are given knowledge of some degree. And Allah is All-Knowing of what ye do.” (QS. Surat Al-Muj is verse: 11).
"In addition, people who are studying will be facilitated the path to heaven later. Because in a hadith about the primacy of people who claim knowledge in Islam, the Prophet said:
"Whosoever pursues the path to seek knowledge, Allah will make easy for him the way to heaven." (CHR. Muslims, no. 2699)
After hearing the narration from Emillia who is already qualified in memorization of both the verse quotes or hadith is now the feeling of Salma was much more improved than before.
***
Time passes so quickly. Now Salma has sat in the final class or 3rd class Aliyah who will soon pass the level of graduation requirements commonly called amaliatuttadris, which will soon pass the level of graduation requirements, that is the practice of teaching in the classroom using 2 choices of Arabic or English from first entering the class to completion.
At first Salma felt heavy and felt she was unable to carry out the final task. But, after training a few months before Salma also felt as if everything was going lightly and easily.
Now the slender-looking woman is in front of class 3 Mts which will be a place of teaching practice monitored directly by the ustaz of her supervisor, which will be a place of teaching practice, namely ustaz Yazied Wardi as a mudaris shorof lessons which will now be directed by Salma himself.
After saying his greetings and answered in unison by his classmates. Salma also started the opening in front of the class by using Arabic which is quite fluent.
"Rotibna julusakuna, wadho'na aiydiakuna 'alalmakatib. Al'an ajibna su'alii ... Madza darsukunal'an?"
"Darsunal'an ashorfhu." All the students of class 3 Mts answered Salma's questions compactly.
In a matter of 45 minutes, Salma was finally able to complete his task of delivering the subject matter to his underclassmen without any mistakes.
After a few months, I look forward to graduation day. It is time for a farewell event that is held quite lively and joyful by all the final class students.
***
Not one month Salma stayed at home after graduating from the boarding school for 3 years he studied there. Suddenly one morning the girl had the arrival of a guest who was none other than the father of the headmaster of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah school Salma 6 years ago.
Mr. Mahfuddin, the principal asked Salma to be willing to teach at the madrasah.
"It just so happens that the Arabic teacher at our school has been fully devoted a few weeks ago and no one has been sniffing. I hope Nak Salma will help us who are currently lacking educators." So said Mr. Mahfuddin to Salma and the mother who happened to accompany the conversation in the living room.
At first Salma was hesitant and wanted to reject the offer, But, the mother wholeheartedly continued to support and encourage her daughter to be willing to accept the good offer.
After convincing his own heart Salma finally accepted and willing. The girl suddenly remembered the Arabic proverb or mahfudzot which said, "Thou who does not practice like a tree does not bear fruit."
Salma's hand shook when she first received a paycheck envelope from a month of hard work teaching her students. He called for deep gratitude to the Supreme Regent of Everything who so easily gave the spaciousness of the way of life that he is now living.
A shadow of bitterness and pain during his studies in the boarding school fluttering filled the memory room of the girl who is now nineteen years old. Used ... He almost gave up and gave up on exams and trials came and went from lack of fees and supplies and rarely visited by family and exams from roommates which was enough to make his mental slump.
However, now the woman has been able to pass through and live picking the results of her efforts.
End.
