Almahyras
Section 7

...7 : The cry of Alma....

"Do you remember Auntie, Alma?"

Father's Sister. Auntie Flower. After Alma completely forgot that she still had relatives from her Father and Mother, suddenly without invitation also news of Aunt Bunga visiting the orphanage she lived in.

Remember.

How could I forget Auntie?

The one who can heartily reject the request of a fourteen-year-old child who only asks to stay at your home one night.

"Alma dear ...," said Aunt Bunga, again.

This time Auntie Bunga stood up and gave the baby in the cradle to her husband-Om Adam. Aunty Bunga's footsteps sluggish when approaching Alma, then when he arrived in front of the nephew who was so missed. At the pull of Alma slowly, then hugged so tightly.

"You're okay, aren't you, honey?" whisky Aunt Flower.

Alma's netra is heating up. For years he was left alone. And now should he feel fine? He even had to live with strangers. There is no blood flowing, but there is a good man. Aunt Mary was one of them.

"As Auntie saw," replied Alma.

Sounded Aunty Bunga sighed then followed by the sound of sobs. Aunt Bunga pushed Alma slowly to take off this longing hug, and looked carefully at her nephew's look.

"Please forgive Aunt, Alma," said Aunt Bunga.

Alma. He had strengthened himself not to cry. A few seconds later, her and Aunt Flower met, and a single tear fell on her cheek. "There's nothing to forgive from Auntie. Because Aunt is not wrong," replied Alma.

"Eight years ago. Little Aunt doesn't intend to expel you, Aunt just-"

Alma raised her hand. A sign that he did not want to hear the reason that made him sicker considering the rejection at that time. "I said Auntie wasn't wrong. So Auntie doesn't have to explain anything."

Then Netra Alma turned to Umm Sarah and she said, "If Umm Sarah calls me just to welcome this guest. Sorry Umma, Alma refused."

"You ... hate Auntie?"

Failed Alma's intention to say hello. The question Aunty Bunga really has him know the answer himself. How should he act? This hatred did not dominate, yet the feeling of disappointment was very clearly imprinted.

"I'm sorry Auntie, Alma," said Aunt Bunga, again.

Alma cares about hearing. No apologies for now, many years have passed so why does Aunt Bunga remember it again? Thats enough. The orphanage is where he lives. Alma does not need a brother from his father or mother. "Umma, Alma excuse me, assalamualaikum."

Alma hurriedly left the orphanage office, not heeding the voice of Aunt Bunga who kept calling out to her. When he was about to turn through the dim road Alma felt he had hit someone. He just focused his head down and rubbed his fucking tears continuously out. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it" Alma said.

There's no response. Feeling that it was possible for the person he hit did not mind. Alma decided to leave, but only one step he walked Alma's arm reached by the person who accidentally in his collision.

"Lo cry?" lutfan.

Spontaneous Alma looked up to convince him that the one he hit was Lutfan. "I'm sorry Lutfan didn't mean it. Please take your hands off" said Alma.

"Lo from Umma's office, right? Why are you crying?" ask Lutfan, again.

Feeling that Lutfan did not release his hand from the arm wrapped in this robe. Spontaneous alone Alma jerked the arm, until the grip was released. Then Alma said, "I ask you to take your hand off, not ask you to ask this and that."

"Sorry." That was the remark that Alma heard before actually going away from the reach of Lutfan. These footsteps remained hurried and he remained down with his right left hand wiping away the tears. How could a moment like this Alma feel that her orphanage dormitory was so far away. Even already running was not up to the destination.

Brak!

Sloppy. He hit someone again when he was about to turn. This time it made a pretty loud noise. The man had a few books in his hand. Spontan Alma immediately looked down to clean up some books that had fallen on the ground and his net was wide when he saw one of the books wet because it was hit by a puddle of rain this afternoon. "I'm sorry, I'll change that book .. legit---"

Jafars?

Drawn the book that Alma took from the puddle by Jafar. The left and right hands were busy picking up books and shaking their heads. A possible sign that Alma does not need to replace the book.

"I'm sorry again" said Alma.

Jafar did not want to look at Alma. But his hands are good at writing something that Alma believes might be rude and annoying. So it was good that Alma left before the piece of paper was given to him. "The book will be I---"

Alma's words stopped. When his arm was pulled by Jafar to stop this new walking footsteps. How could he have met two men who loved to hold him by touching this arm? Not polite at all.

"If you want to arrest me. It's good not to touch my arm Jafar, it's very disrespectful. Don't you understand? There is a boundary between adult men and women. I've apologized and want to change--"

A piece of paper was given to Alma. But Alma reluctantly accepted so Jafar put the paper on the ground just under Alma's feet that were not hit by a puddle. Then Jafar left Alma without staring.

Alma breathed a heavy sigh. Maybe what Jafar will write is loud and rough. But the man must have had a hard time writing standing up and Alma saw that it seemed long. With a heavy heart Alma lowered her head, picking up the piece of paper.

"It is only natural that humans make mistakes. I can forgive you. Then why is it so hard for you to forgive the wrongs of people who have the same blood as you?" write Jafar.

Alma frowned. How did Jafar know? The man was nowhere near the office as Auntie Flower shouted calling his name. Lutfan alone who he hit while passing through a dim turn still asked the reason why he was crying.

And Jafar?

Alma really doesn't understand.

"Why is it so hard for you to forgive the faults of those who have the same blood as you?" Alma repeated the sentence a second time by walking slowly towards the dormitory.

I am guilty of insulting you, Jafar.

But it is not your will to force me to forgive the mistakes of others.

Even if that same blood runs through my body and Auntie Flower.

Alma had arrived in the dormitory. When he was in his room, he quickly opened the door lock and immediately went inside. It was really hard to control these tears when meeting other people in the orphanage. He had to smile even though his heart was sad.

Alma took the device that she lived on on the nightstand. Then open the contact looking for Aunt Maryam's name and click on the call button.

"Allalamaicum, Alma. What's up, son?" The welcome that Alma received was the greeting and asked from the soft voice of Aunt Maryam.

"Bi-bi," said Alma.

"What's up, kid? Have you seen Umma Sarah and Umm Salamah?"

"You crying? Why, Son? What ... because Aunt told Umma Sarah and-"

Alma refuted, "Not. Not that, Bi. After all, Umma Sarah and Umm Salamah knew about Alma's situation now. Ta-pi ..."

Pause three seconds after adjusting the breath so as not to sting Alma continued to say, "Tan-te Flowers come, Bi."

"flower? Your father's sister?"

"Yes, Bi."

After answering that. Alma lay down on the bed and the device remained in his left ear. Alma sighed for a moment then said, "I don't want to see him again, Bi. So, I-I asked for help to be transferred from this orphanage."

"Alma ... Why does it have to be like this, son?"

"Even if eight years pass, Bi. I can never forget, with the action of Auntie Flower at that time."

"Auntie understands, son. But he is your family. Do you have to act like this?"

Alma.

Keep the ear off from the ear. Then press the speaker button and put the device next to it. His right and left hands wiped away the tears on his cheeks, and the originally wistful nerta turned flat staring at the door of his dorm room. Then he firmly said, "Must, Bi."

"Auntie has spoken to Umm Sarah that Auntie does not want you to be moved continuously. So you have to stay in that orphanage, son."

When he voluntarily wanted to move. Suddenly the ban stopped all his desires, this was absolutely sickening. "Then, I'll move out on my own, Bi. I'll work again and find a place to shelter myself" Alma said.

"Don't, Alma! Auntie won't let you work and go home alone again!" Aunt Maryam paused for a moment and said again, "Okay ... Aunty's gonna talk to Umm Sarah."

Only for this reason. Aunt Maryam would immediately grant her wish and that was clear without a rebuttal. Recalling that when she was nineteen years old she first went to work and came home late at eleven in the evening, Aunt Maryam was very worried. Until there is no work permit for Alma. Unless, if he's willing to work at Aunt Maryam's-owned store to continue his small business.

"I hope Bibi is really working on what I want" Alma said, ending the call.

...🌺...

Azan isya. There was a noise from outside, where the children of dormitories one and two will soon move to the mosque. While Alma remained languishing in the room, her right hand crept on this cold wall to turn off the lights of her room.

Dimmed.

There was only a yellow flower lamp that he used. At times Alma's left hand combed her long black mane, and her right hand was busy she used for zikr. This body remains stretched out in bed and for a few minutes he focuses to think suddenly his neutrality heats up. Tears had flowed again, falling past the side of his face and hitting the soft pillow.

O God, how can You prepare happiness for Your servant?

Do I have to wait so long to be happy?

Forgive your servant who is too presumptuous to ask for a little happiness.

Because I continue to feel that this life is always surrounded by sadness.

Is this the destiny that You have laid out for Your servants?

If, yes.

Please forgive your servant. For having complained so much over the test that it was less painful than any other.

Alma took a long breath. He was so sure that his eyes had swelled because he had been crying since the magrib, and stopped for only a few moments. Even to this day, he is still crying.

It's so sad about him.

Alma was about to close her eyes. But stopped because of the sound of knocking on the door, he tried to ignore. It's good that it's not open, maybe it's Inayah, Kirana or even Mardiyah. Alma's choice was to close her eyes and listen. Because he was so tired, wanted to rest himself for a moment.

"elma ... Son, please open the door." Hearing the soft voice so clearly Alma recognized. Spontaneously, he opened his eyes.

Salamah Ummi?

Alma. "No. No way Umm Salamah."

There was a sound of knocking again and followed by a soft voice that turned out to be from Umma Salamah. "Ummi can talk to you for a second, son?"

Alma stood up straight. And in haste he took the veil that was in bed, and put it on as soon as possible. His right hand pressed the light button for the room to brighten again. After that her tiny legs walked towards the door and opened slowly.

"W-is there Ummi Salamah all the way here?" asked Alma with a look down. Indeed he felt disrespectful, without allowing entry had questioned the arrival.

"Ummi wants to talk to you. Can you?"

Alma nodded. "By, Ummi. Please sign. And I'm sorry that Alma's room is a little messy."

Umm Salamah's view was fixed on Alma's bed. "Can Ummi sit here?"

"By, Ummi."

Alma chose to sit on the floor. Although Umm Salamah forced him to join her next to the bed, he refused. "No pa-pa Ummi, Alma is sitting here. What's Ummi talking about?"

"Aunt Maryam said, you want to move out of this orphanage" said Ummi Salamah.

Alma nodded. "Yes, Ummi."

As many seconds Umm Samalah silence suddenly reached Alma's hand. Then Umm Salamah said, "Marry Jafar, Son. Then stay in the pesantren with Ummi and Jafar."

Note:

• this Story uses POV 3 (i.e., the name of the person, he, he, etc.) but in Alma's point of view. So when Alma met a new older character I didn't just use names. But also mentions: Umma, Ummi, Aunt, Aunt, Om, etc.

• The Genre of this story ': Slice of life, Spiritual, and Romance.

• what Orphanage Pesantren? So many dormitories. The orphanage. Appreciable. In many words not too much. There are six dormitories. Each dormitory is divided into four rooms and sometimes four rooms in two people. And distinguished men and women. After all, it is natural that the orphanage is large, because it is one foundation with pesantren.

• so, this is Alma's plan to run and hit Lutfan and Jafar. The one I circled red was the place where they precisely collided.