ADJOINING REALM
FIRST ASSIGNMENT

One year passed. Since that night, Darto has often confined himself to his home. Only go out when praying in the mosque, buy food in front of the pesantren before the magrib, or do a social activity.

"Gus Darto how's Din doing?" said Surip who was sitting together with Bidin on the terrace of the mosque.

"Yes yes Sur, we rarely see now, last two weeks ago we went to his house but he did not go out of the room" replied Bidin who was lying beside Surip.

"We tried to stop by yuk again. All take Harti" Take a bidin, then they go to Harti's house next to Pak Kyai's house.

"Assynnya!" shouted Bidin in front of the door of the house that lived in the Harti family.

"Greetings waalaikum!" mrs Sumi replied as she opened the door.

"What's Le?"

"Then at home, Mom?" Ask Surip

"Oh Harti, he went to Pak Kyai's house again, he said he wanted to scoff at Darto. Mr. Kyai says Darto is already hafiz,"

"Really Ma?! we're going there now"

"Rumiyin's Pareng njih Buk, Assalamualaikum!" (excuse me to go home in fine Javanese)

"Damn," (Yes) replied Bu Sumi then closed the door of her house.

Surip and Bidin rushed towards the house next door. Surely there was a woman's sandal at the door of his house.

"Well, these are Harti Din sandals, we just go in" Invite Surip while removing flip-flops next to Harti sandals.

"Assynolod.!" Shouted Bidin after opening the door of Mr. Kyai's house, However, Mr. Kyai's house is his own friend's house, so they do not need to wait at the open door, it is common for them to open their own.

"Waalaikumsalam" answered three people from inside the house, which was none other than Harti, Kakung, and also Darto who was sitting in the front room.

Just like last year, the five of them sat in one room. The difference is, now the three friends are watching the final test of Pak Kyai for Darto, occasionally Pak Kyai mentions lift a verse from a letter, and Darto answered by chanting the verse mentioned Kakung without reading the book.

Darto's target to memorize in two years, succeeding him shortened to a year. Surip and Bidin who continued to be glued to the chant from Darto's lips immediately understood. How hard his friend tried to memorize, to shut himself in the house for a full year.

"How'd you guys? How much less juz?"

Tanya harti put on a smile to compensate the pride because her future husband has been declared graduated by Pak Kyai.

"I followed Gus Darto soon, only five more juz," replied Bidin.

"I'm four and a half away. Means I'm Din's better than you hahaha!" Surip.

"I pray you guys quickly follow Darto, and I am proud because you are friends of Darto" said Kakung with soft eyes.

"Amin Pak Kyai" said simultaneously Surip and Bidin.

It is true, a proverb that says, if you are friends with a perfumed oilman, then we will also be perfumed. Friends are a reflection of ourselves.

"Dara.. Kakung has taught everything Kakung has. Next stay how you polish it, because now you're off fasting, Waste your love duty!" Said Kakung stopping the chat of four exemplary disciples in the room.

"Kung's nopo assignment?" (What task) answered Darto who immediately made the atmosphere become silent, his friends put ears with curiosity in his chest.

"Now you go back to the lake, and bring the creature here. That was your first assignment Dar"

Hearing the kakung's words, Darto's three friends shuddered at once. Their feathers bristled, given the exact events of a year ago that they experienced.

Darto replied with a stern look, there was not the slightest doubt in his eyes.

"You have to go with Darto?" Kakung turned his head and made sure one by one the faces of Darto's frightened friends.

"But mr. Kyai.." Bidin hopes to create an excuse. But he could not quibble at all.

"Already! Darto can be relied on, your job is just to see him, if for example there is anything, you can report, let Sewah follow there!"

"Yes, I want to!" Answer Harti.

"Well, how come you lose because of wedok!"

(cook kok lose to girls) Kakung laughs while stroking his long beard under his chin.

Hearing the taunts of Mr. Kyai, Surip and Bidin were forced to respond to Mr. Kyai's request to return to the lake, after exactly one year never been there.

"I want to eat fish again, you will lure yes, just as I again carry out the task," said Darto.

"But if you get another head how's Gus?" Tanya Bidin was terrified.

"Safe! you guys calm down, let me take care of that head. Take the bait in the back, the same fuel is also there," said Darto relaxed.

"I'll take Gus, you wait here!" bidin hurried to the kitchen of Darto's house.

After the equipment was ready, they hurriedly walked towards the lake back. The forest separates the pesantren and the lake. Every now and then Bidin and Surip stopped every time they found a banana tree, scavenging the ground beneath it for worms. And now the four of them have reached the shores of the lake again. Although there was no sighting of anything. Besides Darto still occasionally shudder in horror, given what they experienced a year ago.

"Gus.. How do you take that head to the pesantren? cook to the tote?" ask Surip with a pale face.

"Hahahaha you are Sur, he can walk alone!" darto answered.

"Emang has Gus's legs? not just the head?" Tanya Bidin also put on a pale face.

"Duh! you're this! it's hard to talk to someone else!" tejek Darto who was lazy explained, greeted by laughter Harti who had been silent.

"Have you there fishing, later if you can fish let Harti cook. I went to the rock first" said Darto then left his three friends on the lake.

It was seen that Darto looked at the lake for a moment, then sat cross-legged, his eyes closed, his hands continued to play the prayer beads, and his body was faced towards the lake while continuing to recite prayers. The three friends could only watch Darto from the side of the rock while waiting for the bait in the meal.

Didn't last long the bait that Surip threw got a kick. Instead of being happy, Surip and Bidin exchanged looks, and did not forget to take a sip of saliva.

"It's a fish isn't it Din?" Said Surip who was holding a string that kept moving in his hand. And only got the answer to the head bobble from Bidin.

"Have, just trust Mas Darto!" Harti opened his voice from behind the two of them.

Harti's remarks made the two men spontaneously turn their eyes toward Harti. continued back to exchange face to face, and ventured to pull the strings that Surip was holding, after Bidin signaled a nod of the head.

"Bismillah." said Surip in further pulling the object that has been tangled hook at the end of the string that he holds it.

Seriate,.

...Don't forget the support 😁...

...And don't forget happy 😅...