BROMOCORAS
Old Friend of Dullah

An incoming call made Ajimukti's phone ring tonight.

Ajimukti soon woke up from his sleep. With Dullah.

"Assalamu'alaikum, ma'am."

"Va'alaikumsalam, Le. How did it get to you?" A woman's voice from far away.

"Already, Mom. Thank goodness."

"Thank God, Le. Mom's relieved. You're fine there. Remember all of Mom's messages."

"Yes, Mom. Aji will remember all the welingan mom. Mom just calm down. Trust all the same Aji, ma'am.'

"You are, Le. If it's like your father."

Here Ajimukti just smiles.

The one who called Ajimukti tonight was his mother. Kartika. He was about sixty years old.

"Yes, Le. I just want to know if you've arrived yet. I closed my phone first. You don't stay up late. Take care of your health there."

"Yes, Mom."

After that Kartika immediately closed her phone. Ajimukti was still sitting on his bed. Dullah wriggling.

"Mother yes, Mum?"

"Yes, Lek."

"What's up, Mom?"

"Just ask us if we've arrived yet, Lek."

Dullah looked like a head gnarled.

"Mother has always been, Lek. Always assume I am still like me who still likes to be carried first even though now I have two more heads."

Dullah just laughed a little.

"That's a mother, Mom. Mas Aji should be grateful for being cared for by his mother. While I am Mas, from the age of thirteen my mother had abandoned even until now I never knew how and where my mother was. Is alive is dead. All I can do is pray for him, Mom."

Ajimukti smile.

"Patiently, Lek. As sampeyan said, Lek. Do'a is the most powerful weapon for people like us."

Dullah just nodded. Justifying Ajimukti speech and remember the words he once said to Ajimukti when Ajimukti was a teenager. Now the word came back to him.

"Go back to sleep, Lek. Remember the Mas Mas Masnya pesen. If you do not join the morning worship will get ta'zir from the senior santri."

Dullah was again open to hear Ajimukti's words.

"If you sleep even fear my ease later, Mas."

Ajimukti held up his index finger while laughing.

The night passed so quickly. Highlights of the morning sunshine have slightly licked some side of the wall of Pondok Hidayah when some santri scattered out of the mosque.

Ajimukti followed Dullah walking behind Budi the young man who was also echoing adhan also iqomah.

"Maybe this Budi muezzin in the mosque Pondok Hidayah." Batin Dullah this morning when entering the mosque for morning prayers.

"Can you read the Qur'an?" Ask suddenly.

"Can't yet, Mom. Why?"

"It's okay. Just ask. It is no wonder, after all, that you cannot read the Qur'an. In my village there are many models like you. It's like it's not clear."

Ajimukti just fell silent. For the umpteenth time Dullah could only swallow his saliva to hear the ravings of Budi which since the first meeting had given a mocking impression.

"Different from me who since childhood educated parents with a strong religion. So it is no wonder that I am the best in reading the Qur'an in this cottage. You see I'm being a muezzin here. That's because what? You know what not?"

Ajimukti and Dullah compactly shook their heads.

"Yes that's because my reading is good and my voice is the best among other students. You just don't understand."

"Truly arrogant." Again, Dullah can only.

"I'm actually not feeling well, but since Kyai told me to teach you guys, I've sorted it out. I don't want Kyai's good view of me to change if I reject his word."

The deg! Dullah took a deep breath and again exhaled it strongly.

In a room that is not too large.

Some students are busy teaching. His interlocking voice was almost like a beehive.

Sit cross-legged leaning against the wall at the end of the room. After being invited to sit, Ajimukti and Dullah also sat facing Budi. Now Ajimukti and Dullah are sitting face to face with Budi as their teacher.

Before sitting Ajimukti had a glance at the corner of the other room. His eyes were fixed on the Imam and Khalil who also seemed to be teaching.

"Where do you want to start?" Ask Budi to Ajimukti and Dullah.

"Da..."

"From the beginning, Mom." Ajimukti cuts Dullah's speech.

"From the beginning, Lek. We have long learned that. I'm afraid it's wrong."

Dullah just nodded as if he understood Ajimukti's intentions.

Just a head shake.

"Actually I was at least impatient if I had to teach from the beginning. Yes again because of Kyai's orders. What can I do. I don't want to beat around the bush. I hope you pay close attention because I don't have time to repeat. You understand?"

Ajimukti and Dullah just nodded.

Budi began to open the first volume of Iqro. It was shown letter by letter. Recited it. Then told Ajimukti also Dullah to repeat it.

A few hours have passed. On the other hand Imam Khalil seems to have closed their studies. For a moment the atmosphere of the room was silent without a buzzing like the sound of a bee seething.

"All right, we've done it here today. You memorize yourself in the room. Tomorrow I hope you have memorized and can go to the next chapter. You gotit?"

Ajimukti and Dullah compactly nodded.

The Imam and Khalil were seen walking closer to them.

"Where, Bud? Smoothly?"

Dullah was actually furious. But again his hand was held by the hand of Ajimukti. A little Ajimukti eye movement has been very understandable Dullah what max.

"We're back in the room." Invite the Imam to Budi and Khalil.

The three of them left Ajimukti and Dullah.

"Over time I gedeg myself Mas the same them. I want to beat them."

"Quiet, Lek. Our goal here is not them. About them it's a small business."

"But long ago they passed, Mommy."

"Yes, Lek. Maybe this is part of our test. Think of it that way."

Dullah just kept quiet. This time he was tested for patience.

Ajimukti got up from his seat in following Dullah. Walk casually out of the room.

"I'm buying cigarettes for coffee for a while, Lek."

"Where, Mas. Does Mas Aji know any stalls near here? I've just accompanied you."

Ajimukti just smiles. He actually did not know this area. Different from Dullah. So when Dullah offered to accompany him, Ajimukti only agreed with a mimic gesture of his face.

Without having to search here and there, Ajimukti is now standing in front of a small shop. Ajimukti went into the stall ordering two packs of cigarettes as well as some instant coffee sachets.

"Dullah?"

Suddenly a voice shocked Dullah. Likewise with Ajimukti who immediately turned to the source of the voice.

He looked at the owner of the voice. A man is somewhat stocky with black skin as it may be sunburnt often. Dullah tried to explore the memories of his past.

"You're Dullah, right? Kang Salim's men?" Ask the guy.

Instantly Dullah pulled the man's hand and made the man almost fall down. Then Dullah shut the man's mouth.

"Ssttts. Quiet." Dullah then took off the hand that covered the man's mouth.

"Yes, I'm Dullah. You're Prastowo, right?"

The man named Prastowo immediately hugged Dullah to the point that Dullah was overwhelmed to break away.

"Dullah. Dullah."

"Already Pras. You are this." Dullah tried to take off Prastowo's embrace. Although finally Prastowo immediately took off his embrace.

"How are you, Dul?"

"Alhamdulillah good. You yourself how are you?"

"As you can see, Dul. It was like twenty-five years ago. You yourself have been following Kang Salim and assigned to look after Kartika never again seen here. Why is this suddenly here, Dul. It was precisely after Kang Salim died."

Dullah looked at the left. His eyes were unceasingly wandering around here and there. Ajimukti is currently silent.

"It's a story later, Pras. Where do you live now?"

"My house is not far, Dul. It looks from here." His hands pointed at a house not far from the stall where they were standing at the moment.

"We talked at your house. Do you mind?" Ask Dullah then.

Prastowo. His voice was the same as when Dullah knew him first.

"It just so happens that my wife is cooking water. It seems like enough for us to have coffee like we used to. Moreover, this morning my wife made fried bananas impossible for me to spend alone."

Dullah laughing. "We've continued the chat at your house, Pras."

Prastowo walked followed by Dullah and Ajimukti.

It only takes a few small steps to get to Prastowo's house. When Prastowo suddenly brought foreign guests, Prastowo's wife was only a little astonished because Prastowo did not usually have foreign guests.

"Not to be surprised, Mom. This is Dullah, old friend of the father. This was the same as my father before he met Kang Salim."

Prastowo's wife just nodded and threw a smile at Dullah and Ajimukti.

"Sit down, Dul." Prastowo invited Dullah and Ajimukti to sit on a wooden chair in Prastowo's guest room. Then he gave his wife a cue to make coffee.

"Well, is this your son, Dul?" Prastowo glanced at Ajimukti.

Dullah just smiled then slightly approached and whispered into Prastowo's ear. Instantly Prastowo's countenance changed and hurriedly greeted Ajimukti.

"Call me Mr. Lek, Mas. Just like the sampeyan called Dullah."

"Yes, Lek."

Prastowo's wife came out carrying a tray containing three cups of coffee and also a plate of warm fried bananas. Prastowo immediately invited his guests to try his alakadar treat.

"Take a coffee, Dul. Try to explain what needs until you also Mas Aji far away to visit Pondok Hidayah?"

Dullah took a deep breath. "It's better to let Mas Aji explain, Pras."

Ajimukti smiled thinly and changed his sitting position, then started the story. Throughout the story Prastowo's face changes. Sometimes they look very angry. Sometimes it looks surprised. Not infrequently even a deep look of sadness emanated on his face.

"That's it, Lek. I beg for his help. If Mr. Lek Prastowo can help me."

Prastowo took a deep breath. Then stand up from his seat. Light a kretek cigarette that is inserted in a long pipe made of jasmine wood.

"I've been praying all night. I pray that the one who died at that time was not Kang Salim. But I realize God's destiny cannot be denied. Kang Salim is gone. Then I replaced my lafadz do'a. I hope that someone like Kang Salim will be born again. At least agree with him. And thank God, maybe this is the answer to my do'a do'a all along."

"Dul, do you remember decades ago when I came before Kang Salim? Do you remember what I said at the time?"

Dullah nodded with a faint smile.

"And you see, Dul. I am still alive today. I am still strong until now, although not as strong as I used to be. I'm still healthy today even though I'm not as fit as I used to be. But for sure, Dul. My promise has never changed in the past. A promise I made as part of my life. A promise that will only end with my death. And now I'm alive, Dul. That promise will continue. And you know what that means, Dul?"

Prastowo sat back down with both hands resting on his knees. Make both her arms wide open.

Dullah once again nodded with a smile of satisfaction.

"I and all my do'a do'a will be with Mas Aji. Hold these words of mine as I once promised Kang Salim."

Ajimukti smiled and then grabbed Prastowo's hand when Ajimukti was about to kiss his hand, Prastowo as fast as lightning drew his hand.

Seriate...