Islam Learning Fasting
35. Go home

Abah Habib fixed his sitting position while Sarifuddin who was fanning the sweaty face of Abah Habib. Islam averted his gaze as he was stared fixedly by Akbar.

Is it possible that Akbar considers himself again the cause of Abah Habib's stupor?

"Now you want to antum all what?" asked Abah Habib while looking at Islam, Christianity, Abirama and Ali who are now neatly lined up.

The bowed Ali now raised his chin to look at Abah Habib.

"My girlfriend's pregnant and she wants me to go home. I have to marry my girlfriend" replied Ali.

Abah Habib took a deep breath from his mouth and nodded. He rubbed his white beard silently, as if he was thinking.

"Mr haji kiyai!" kristian said as she raised her right hand.

Islam, Abirama and Ali turned to look at the sad looking Christian looking at Abah Habib.

"What's wrong?"

"Dady wants to go back to Indonesia. Kristian should be at home before Dady's servant until he's angry, otherwise" Kristian explained.

"Yes, yes Abah understands this situation and this also we can not let alone Ali's girlfriend is pregnant and Abi Kristian-"

"Dady! Not Abi!" christian Reprimand.

"Hust! Abi means Dady! Just the same," whispered Abirama.

"Oh yes, sorry to mean that Dady well Dady Kristian wants to go home to Indonesia and Kristian has to go home before Dady until then Ali and Kristian are returned."

Islam who heard that smiling happily made them cheer and embrace.

"Remember! The only ones who came home were Ali and Kristian!" abah Habib.

Islam stopped his leap and looked at Abah Habib who was smiling.

"You mean? So how am I?" ask Islam.

"The antum doesn't come home."

"Well but I-"

"What's? Antum family is in the pesantren not out there keep antum reason home for what?"

Islam poked his lips with annoyance, he did not accept this.

"Gue there is Umi" said Islam.

"Lah well Umi antum also wants antum in the pesantren," replied Abah Habib then laughed.

Islam snorted angrily and then stepped out of the room leaving Ali and Kristian who were now seen jumping up and down in excitement.

"Origin, Kristian!"

"Yes haji kiyai sir" said Kristian.

"The wind can both be ready at two in the afternoon with Ustad Hasim to the city" Abah Habib said in a nod by Ali and Kristian.

Now the atmosphere of Abah Habib's room became quiet after the departure of Ali, Kristian, Sarifuddin and Akbar. Abah Habib who put the Qur'an on the table turned his head after feeling that someone was behind him.

"Abriamah?" Look at Abah Habib who looked at one of the friends of Islam who had not come out of Abah Habib's room.

"What's wrong?" ask Abah Habib.

"Sir Haji kiyai, I also want to go home" he replied.

"Why does antum want to go home?"

Abirama took a deep breath, bowed for a moment and looked back at Abah Habib.

"This is where I feel I'm starting to approach the God of Muslims. I learned a lot about religion in this pesantren and I began to feel comfortable but I could not forget my religion that my parents had inherited."

"I learned to fast, pray and be patient here. There are many good people I met including Haji kiyai and Sarifuddin."

"If I don't go home then my heart may turn away from my religion."

"I secretly read Sarifuddin's translation of the Qur'an and I did it secretly while everyone was asleep and I found a sentence that touched my heart."

Now the atmosphere became quiet between Abah Habib and Abirama.

"What is that sentence?" ask Abah Habib.

Abirama who lowered his head slowly looked at the two eyes of Abah Habib.

Abah Habib was silent, he did not know what to say this time. This Hindu man managed to keep him quiet.

"Go home, boy! Abah can't keep you from coming home."

...***...

Kristian put the bag into the trunk of the car followed by Ali who also put his bag. Now they're really going back to town, if there wasn't a phone then this homecoming would never have existed.

"Wait!!!" shouted Abirama who ran over.

"Why are you?" ask Ali.

"I want to go home too."

"Loh but right" Kristian looked at Abah Habib who was smiling.

"Change told him to."

Islam who heard this immediately panicked not playing. How can his three best friends go home while he doesn't.

"Lo very favoritism anyway, my friends go home and I do not," he protested.

"Antum can go home if antum already understands religion," he replied making Islam snort annoyed.

"Patiently, yeah!" ali said, laughing while getting into the car.

Islam threw rough air from his nose while keeping his eyes away from his three friends who were already in the car that began to drive slowly.

"Islam! Abdi first yah!!!" shouted Kristian who pulled out half her body in the car window with a happy face.

"Care!!!" shouted Ali who waved his hand.

"There you are!" it is Islam that he cannot stand.

"Assalamu'aikum!!!" shouted Abirama.

"Waalaikum'salam" replied Abah Habib who then waved with a laugh.

The car drove away and vanished from the view of Islam, this is the last time Islam saw his three companions. Islam is not sure that he can see them again as long as he is in the pesantren. Islam is not sure if he studies religion during this month of fasting.

Islam bit his lips with a heated face, it felt like he wanted to cry because of the departure of Christianity, Abirama and Ali.

Both eyebrows of Islam linked when he felt someone was watching him made him immediately turn to look at Abah Habib who was staring at him.

"Lo gapain?"

Abah Habib laughed, "If you want to cry, cry! Don't hold on."

Islam smiled cynically and then shook his head.

"Sotoy lu," said Islam then stepped away leaving Abah Habib who was seen smiling knots.

Sarifuddin ran after Islam who walked so hurriedly towards the room.

"Islam! Don't be sad! There will be me!"

"Gue is not sad!!!" the crackling of Islam made Sarifuddin gasped in shock with his steps that suddenly came to a halt. Sarifudddin was silent for a few seconds and ran back to Islam.

...****...

"Oh if antum is a Christian religion."

"Yes," answered Kristian.

"If it's Hindu antum?"

"Yes" replied Abirama.

Ustad Hasim nodded as he continued to drive the car he was driving.

Ali who was bored was now smiling after seeing two dogs behind the buffalo herding man.

"Heh brother!!! I'll go back, yeah!!!" yelled Ali who pulled half of his body out to the window while waving his hand.

The two dogs barked and ran after the car making Ali and Kristian laugh in a giggle, in contrast to the Abirama...

"Heh dog!!! Sarifuddin Salikin!!!" yelling Abirama with a half-crying face made Ali and Kristian laugh even more.

Abirama's business with the dog doesn't seem to be okay.