Let Me Fall in Love
60. Mekkkah Love Story

Ami just read the guidebook of the umrah worship series that the travel agent scheduled while on the plane. Turns out the purpose of the flight directly to Medina instead of landing in Jeddah. I don't know about the travel agent that Akbar is following tomorrow. Same or different. The series of activities from the first day to the twelfth day has been arranged. The difference in the day of departure with Akbar, is it possible to meet at the Nabawi Mosque. Or will it be in Mecca?

Arriving in Medina, the Umrah congregation went straight to the hotel to check in and rest. The worship service will begin tomorrow morning. It's the first experience for Ami to go umrah. But the second experience for Ibu Sekar because it used to be together with Puput and Rama.

From the window of the room, Ami stared at the bright lights of the Prophet's Mosque which looked beautiful in the darkness of the night. Haru and grateful, of course. Because given the ease of being able to go to the holy land when some people want to come but do not have the ability.

Mother approached Ami who was still at home standing in front of the window glass. "Mi, tomorrow at the Raudhah Mosque of Nabawi do not miss to pray yes. Take advantage of mustajab places to pray fervently. Pray for yourself, pray for your father, pray for our brothers out there who are still fighting against injustice."

"Ready, Mom. What would Mom want?" Ami looked at her mother's face.

"much. Among them hope that children are always in the protection of God wherever they are."

"No special prayer, ma'am?"

Mom looked at Ami with one eyebrow raised. "All the prayers I say are important."

"There is a prayer, O God, if Mr. Happy is my soul mate, then bring it closer. If it is not my soul mate then let the friendship be established as a friend. Hihih."

"MY! You yeah..." Mother squeezed Ami's nose giggling with anxiety. The youngest made him try to normalize the sudden nervousness. Being reminded of the contents of Mr. Bagja's message last night.

Mr. Bagja: [Titip prayer while in Raudhah and while in front of Ka'bah yes, Sekar. "O Allah, allow me and him to spend dusk in a lawful bond until death"]

Ibu Sekar: [Don't want ah. I am the one who seduces God, not me]

Bagja sir: [Always, Sekar. Don't doubt my efforts. Wait for me to come back later]

"Mom, sleep is night."

Ibu Sekar blinked his eyes. The straight gaze pierced through the glass, not enjoying the night panorama. Instead of daydreaming the content of a meaningful message.

Finally, began to set foot in the Nabawi Mosque to perform dawn prayers. Where to pray in the Nabawi Mosque the reward is 1000 times more than other mosques. Except in the Grand Mosque.

Ami and Padma captured the moment of Nabawi Mosque’s Umbrella Attraction with her phone camera accompanied by a look of amazement. The large umbrella series used to shelter worshipers of the Nabawi Mosque was usually opened at dawn and closed again in the afternoon before the adzan magrib.

"Padma, Ami, if you want another menu order it." Bunda Ratih looked at the two girls sitting close together while chatting in a soft voice. After the dawn prayer, all groups return first to the hotel for breakfast that has been prepared by the travel agent.

"If I'm enough, Mother. It's full." Ami's answer is the same as Padma's.

After breakfast, return to Masjid Nabawi. Performing sunnah prayers and teaching. This day explores around the Nabawi Mosque including visiting Raudhah and eating Prophet Muhammad SAW and his two companions side by side. Abu Bakr Ash shiddiq r.a. and Umar bin Khatab r.a. in the area of the Nabawi Mosque.

The night when going to dinner at the hotel, became a nervousness for Ami. Deg degan will meet Akbar and his parents who just arrived this afternoon, stay at the same hotel and will soon follow to the restaurant.

"That's Mila and Mas Darwis." Mother Ratih stood up and waved to the three people who were circulating their gazes.

Relax, Mi, tenaaang..camer nice guy and already ngerestuin.

Ami sucks herself in the heart. Between deg degan and also happy to meet Akbar in Medina after a few months of not meeting face to face. Just looking at each other virtually with mobile phone communication.

"Assalamu'alaikum...." Mama Mila approached with a cramped face. Then cuddle and cipika cipiki with Bunda Ratih and Bu Sekar. Ami became the last person he greeted after Padma.

"Amiiii, kangen. Last time I saw Iko's wedding. Now thank God to see you again in Medina."

Ami smiled shyly because Mama Mila held both of her shoulders while staring fixedly at her face.

"Aunty how are you?"

"Alhamdulillah, Mama is very kind and very happy. Even happier since you know." Mama Mila's words swallowed in the last sentence so that only Ami heard. He also coded by raising his eyebrows.

Ami smiled with a sense of error. Especially when the view turned to Akbar who was clearly staring at him accompanied by a knotty smile. "Hais, Brother Akbar can be that calm. I'm a groggy gini, "he lamented in his heart.

Akbar kissed Sekar's mother's hand with reverence. A short talk recounts the journey of his entourage that landed in Jeddah. Be three family dinners in one long table. There was no chance of Akbar and Ami talking together. Each of them participated in a public chat until the time to return to their respective rooms.

Ami checks her phone when she goes to sleep. Shining so get a message from Akbar.

[Have you been to Raudhah, Cutie?"]

Ami: [Today. This day was the exploration of the Nabawi Mosque complex. Tomorrow lanju city tour Medina]

Akbar: [I'm going to the Nabawi Mosque tomorrow. Btw, what was that prayer?]

Ami: [There are 🙃]

Akbar: [Ih, look out yes I kidnap to KUA home umrah]

Ami: [Mauuuu eh error, atuuutttt 🏃🏃]

Barb: [😂😂]

Akbar: [Btw, we'll have a schedule for the miqat. So we'll have more time in Mecca]

Ami: [Alhamdulillah 🤲]

Pack: [🫶]

***

The time to perform Umrah arrived after three days in Medina by visiting various historical places and souvenir markets. The fourth day began to check out the hotel dressed ihram towards Bir Ali Mosque. That is the mosque where to take the miqat, to drop the intention of Umrah and perform sunnah prayer 2 rakaat. Just head to Mecca and check in at the Mecca hotel.

How good it is to be able to perform five prayers at the Grand Mosque. The largest mosque in the world in which there is a Ka’bah where prayers in it reward 100,000 times compared to other mosques.

"I wanted to touch Aswad's face but I wasn't lucky." Ami said on the way to the hotel after praying in the Grand Mosque.

"Propsy. There's still a second chance. Moga aja the day after umrah the second lucky yes, Cutie." Akbar gives encouragement.

"Aamiin, O God." Sahut Ami is hopeful.

The series of activities in Mecca is no less dense than when in Medina. Besides worship, the sixth and seventh day also explore the area around the Grand Mosque and the city tour of Mecca. After only passing through Padang Arafah where wukufnya pilgrims, the group stopped at Jabal Rahmah. One of the hills in the area of Padang Arafah which is the meeting place of Prophet Adam and Siti Eve after separated hundreds of years when Allah was sent down from heaven to earth.

"Cutie, we pray here yuk. Ask God to smooth our relationship." Bisik Akbar took advantage of the moment of carelessness of the parents who were talking.

Ami replied with a nod and a smile.

Arrive the second umrah by taking the miqat at Ji'ronah Mosque. Umrah rituals are performed starting from Tawaf, Sa'i, Tahallul, and orderly according to the sunnah.

"Okay, not yet the delivery also touch the Aswad Hajar let alone kiss him." Complain Ami while enjoying the afternoon in the neighborhood of the Grand Mosque. Everyone sat back with snacks and drinks. There are also sleeping.

"Padma is the same. But I could touch his kiswah."

"Propsy. There's still a third chance. Must be optimistic." Akbar is encouraging.

"When, Brother?" Ami turned sparkling.

"Wada Tawaf. Farewell to the Ka'bah before returning to Jakarta."

"Bismillah will be!"

"Aamiin's." Padma guarantees tight.

Not felt the time passed performing worship in the Grand Mosque interspersed with tour city to shop souvenirs. Arrived today the eleventh day. Time to part with the Holy Land. After breakfast at the hotel, the Umrah congregation group performed Tawaf Wada as the end of the series of events.

Ami prayed in his heart that in Tawaf this time his hope was realized. He joined hands with Mother to begin walking around the Kaaba while reciting the prayer recommended during Tawaf.

I don't know who they are and where they came from. Suddenly there were three large tall women in Ihram clothes, waving at Ami and Ibu Sekar during the seventh round of Tawaf. They gave way to Hajar Aswad. Behind the shock, this golden opportunity was not wasted. Finally, with hands that suddenly trembled with novelty, Hajar Aswad was able to be touched and even kissed while praying in his heart.

"Yes Allah. If Brother Akbar is the best mate you have sent me, make it easy. Until we reach the halal you are ridhoi. Keep us away from all the obstacles that stand in the way of this relationship. My mother and my brothers' blessing means a lot. Soften their hearts to accept Brother Akbar as my companion forever. Aamiin's."

***

Akbar smiled broadly welcoming the newly finished Tawaf Wada. He and his parents were at the Grand Mosque to perform Duha prayers. Because of Tawaf Wada's schedule tomorrow.

"Thank God I'm just as successful, sister." Report Ami still looks teary eyes. For Mother, she did not know what prayer had been said.

"Alhamdulillah." Akbar rubbed his face full of gratitude. If only Ami knew, he continued to recite as long as the idol did Tawaf Wada. Simply submerged alone how he wanted to seduce God so that Cutie's desire was fulfilled.

"Padma same Mother so can enter also because pulled Ami." Padma also looks cramped.

"Alhamdulillah. I hope we can tomorrow." Mama Mila is happy.

"Mas Akbar, Miss Mila, Mr. Darwis, we'll go home first. We have to split up here." Said Ms. Sekar as the supervisor was heard telling her time to go home to the hotel to check out.

"Yes, Mrs Sekar. I still feel at home together. Smooth and happy to go home to Ciamis huh." Mama Mila took off with a hug. And to Ami hugging very tightly ended with a kiss on the pretty girl's forehead. Prospective ghosts, hopefully.

Ami looked at Akbar. Confused what to say because in a gathering position. Just look at each other with eye sign language as his saying goodbye. And the panda nodded its head.

"Fii Be safe, Mother, Ami, Aunt, and all. Sometimes we have a family gathering at Seruni Tasik. Agree, right, Mam?" Akbar looked at Mama Mila.

"Well, that's a great idea, Bar. Mama agrees to use. How's train? Ratna tea I'll call you."

"Again, Madam Mila. Our friendship must be closer and stronger. And the right time let all get together complete yes Lebaran until H+4 the end of Lebaran leave. Before everything gets busy again with each other's world." Mother Ratih chuckled.

"If the men are not following the same furore of mothers. Stay eating." Papa Dervish's relaxed speech invited everyone's laughter.

Goodbye to Mecca. Leaving behind memories of a love story that is awake. It is time to travel to Jeddah and then fly to Jakarta.

[Sister, thanks for the care during Umrah. I was on the plane. ATK, Panda 🥰]

Ami deactivated her phone when waiting for five minutes there was no reply. Time to close your eyes to enjoy a relaxing flight home after the completion of Umrah worship.

...*****...

From Author:

Thank you Ryanty Jo for inspiring Ami's prayer.

Story BAJC is on temporary holiday. InshaAllah re-updated April 25, 2023.

Welcome to Eid. Who will go home hopefully smoothly and safely to the hometown. The Eid at home like me, happy family gathering. Let us love to welcome victory. May our prayer be accepted. Please forgive all my fears and mistakes so far in terms of wrong writing, unsatisfactory comments replies, or even rarely reply to comments by DM works. That's because of the limited time I have to share for family, work, and the world.

Happy Eid, dear Bestie. Minal aidin wal Faidzin's. Sorry to be born and bathe. 🙏🙏🙏

With Love, though,

Me Nia