Love of the Journalist
12. Mom Always Had A Way....

...12.  Mom Always Had A Way......

Danang

That afternoon he arrived at the Surabaya house with Aksa. After various reasons of refusing he finally followed his mother's advice. Mama always had a way (Mama always had a way).

“Tonight we will go to the house of Gus Ahmad his son Kiai Maksum in Pasuruan.” Mama said when the two brothers just sat themselves a few minutes ago on the sofa of the family room.

He breathed heavily.

“Mama this promise is just a friendship. Hope you guys are a match. Gus Ahmad is Papa's friend and spiritual teacher Papa first. For a long time they have not met because Gus Ahmad has lived in Medina for several years. And this week he returned to Pasuruan.” Mom excitedly bright. There was a clear printed twinkle on his face.

Aksa sitting next to him patted him on the shoulder, “May your soul mate, Mas.” Aksa smiled ignorantly.

“Papa and Mama never maksa or match you, just open the way. If it fits please continue. But if you have your own choice, bring them in front of Papa and Mama,” said papa chimed while sipping honey tea that had just been served by Bi Darmi, a household assistant who has worked for a long time in this house.

“This is not only for Masmu, but also for you, Sa. Your age is also not to mess around anymore!” exclaim mama firmly.

“Anyone of you will match him later. Mama support. Especially you, Nang. Your age is ripe. Until when else do we have to wait to have a grandson from you?” And then there is hope there.

“Tuh, means Mas Danang first married!” aksa spray felt on the wind.

“We better get ready. After Maghrib we will go directly to the house of Gus Ahmad,” said papa while rising up and leaving them.

“Mas, do not think in Sumatra. He was happy. Or is it still the little girl in the park? It belongs to people also times,” kelakar Aksa also left it.

He threw his body back.

“Udah, let's get ready. You take a shower first. Time to meet the girl I like that face? Move on to your past. If a match with him will surely be found again.” Said the mother giving advice. Mama and Aksa know the story of her relationship that ran aground with a woman at the time she served in Sumatra. It also tells the story of his past with a little girl. But a moment later a small smile rose on his lips.

Their car entered the pesantren cottage complex area ‘Darunnajah’ just as the santri scattered out of the mosque.

“We should pray first in the mosque,” papa proposal approved by him, Aksa and mama.

Fifteen minutes later, they waited for the mother who had not yet appeared in the courtyard of the mosque.

“Assalamu’alaikum ..” Sapa one of the santri dressed in white cocoa and wearing a sarong approached towards him, Aksa and papa who were standing near the pillar.

“Wa’alaikumsalam ..” Answer them almost simultaneously.

“Where are you visiting, Sir?” Ask the santri again, “sorry if you can know. You see the hour visit santri has run out until the limit of 6 pm,” continued because Sunday is indeed a schedule made by the santri.

“We want to meet Gus Ahmad,” papa.

“Oh .. sorry. Then I'll take you to his house, sir.” Reply to the santri politely.

The mother who appeared from the door then approached them. Takes from behind. Heading to the residence of Gus Ahmad which is not far from the mosque.

“Assalamu’alaikum,” greetings santri earlier who drove them up to the house of Gus Ahmad while knocking on the door several times.

Shortly sounded legitimately from within, “Wa’alaikumsalam ...”

A middle-aged woman clad in a light blue robe and a large matching instant hijab closed to her waist, opening the door.

“Masya Allah ... Ma'am Anita,” said the woman gasped at mama. Then the two women hugged each other.

“How are you doing Umi?” Ask mama.

“Alhamdulillah, good and healthy news. Uh, same troupe?” Asked the woman called umi by the mama looked at the back of the mama, where she, Aksa and papa stood.

“Umi, if so I say goodbye,” said santri earlier.

“Still, yes, Mail." Reply to Umi with a smile.

“Same-sama, Umi. Assalamu’alaikum.” He said as he left the residence of Gus Ahmad.

“Wa’alaikumsalam,” they reply.

“Mari, login ...” Umi invited his guests to come inside.

Aksa who brought two paper bag souvenirs from Surabaya put it on the table.

“How is Mas Bagas?” Umi said as she cupped her hands together on her chest.

“Good news, Um.”

“It's kids yes,” point umi at him and Aksa.

They both nodded and smiled.

“This must be Danang the cop, right?” guess umi to her, “then this ..“ Point it at Aksa, “ ..., Aksa, who now holds her sister company?”

The two brothers did not answer, again reviewing a smile as a sign of an answer.

“Great-great, yes your son Mbakyu. Though the last time they met was a long time ago, when still in high school if not wrong."

“Iya right. After High School they were busy alone there was no time to gather like now." Mama's voice chimed in on umi's speech.

“Assalamu’alaikum,” said a middle-aged man who might be the same age as papa appeared.

“Wa’alaikumsalam ..” All at the same time.

Papa with a quick stand, “Yo opo kabare, Gus? (How's it going, Gus?)” Papa patted Gus Ahmad's shoulder and hugged him for a while, “how many years we have not met. Kangen pisan,” seloroh papa.

“Good news, thank goodness. How are you doing after retirement? What's busy now?”

“We are all well, yes .. This is how I am now busy. A couple more like newlyweds. The two of them ..“ Appoint papa to Aksa and himself, “busy with their respective affairs until they forget to go home,” he replied with a joke.

They chuckled at the talk of papa and Gus Ahmad.

From behind the curtain-covered door came a woman in a heart-red hijab and wearing a matching floral robe carrying a tray of drinks and snacks.

“This is Zahra,” Appoint Gus Ahmad on his girl. “New graduate of the Islamic University of Madinah."

The girl cupped her hands together on her chest while publishing a small smile on her lips, then lowered her head and sat down next to her umi.

“Past met you were still Junior High, huh? Now more beautiful,” tukas mama with her compliments.

While the girl remained down with both hands clutched together on her lap.

“Betul,” says umi.

“Then, her brother Fikri where to now, Gus?” Ask papa.

“Fikri has been replacing me in Medina. But today there happens to be an invitation to the ponpes (resident lodge) of Jombang. So can't come to gather here. Arek I already have two children, I am a grandfather now.” Reply Gus Ahmad with a smile. Proud of his status now.

“If the youngest?” Ask mama chimed.

“He is taking S1 in Egypt" replied Gus Ahmad.

The chatter just flowed though more dominated by the chat of the parents, until Danang's phone vibrated many times. He felt sad at the end to ask permission to go out for a while.

“Mari, please in drink ...” Say umi, “maaf sober, yes. Mbakyu did not know he wanted to come here, just this afternoon. So I couldn't make a cake. Even bother to bring everything." Umi said. Though on the table already presented two plates containing fried bananas and bolu rolls.

“Umi can! This is more than enough,” reply mom.

I don't think time has shown at half ten in the night. He who had just returned from the outside had sat back in the chair he had been in.

“We said goodbye, yes, Gus. It's night. We'll schedule a meeting sometime. Thank you for your time" said Papa farewell. Then everyone in the room stood up. Leaving the residence of Gus Ahmad.

On the way to Surabaya, “Where was Zahra?” Asked the curious mother the response of her two sons especially her.

Silent moment.

He and Aksa look at each other at a glance, “Cantik” Aksa said after a few seconds he was still in his composure. Aksa was forced to answer the question of the mother.

“Then do you think, Nang?” insist mama is not satisfied if the eldest son has not given any response.

“Which is a woman's name, yes definitely beautiful, Ma.” Answer jokes. “Pa, Ma, I went straight back to Semarang,”.

“Why rush?” Ask the man who sat in the back seat with his mother.

“Iya, Nang. It's already night. Tomorrow morning can still be,” mama's advice.

“Pak Sigit in Hospital again. Metro one told me to temporarily replace Mr. Sigit, Pa.” He explains the reason. Mr. Sigit served as Director of the special criminal Investigation as well as his superiors in Ditreskrimsus.

“What's sick again, she?” Ask Papa.

“Her heart relapsed,” he said.

“Sigit equals Metro one was Papa's younger brother class first.  So Papa knows their lunge. Sigit is indeed a haphazard person, difficult to maintain health.” Papa leaned his back backwards while sighing. Mama patted his arm.

“Tuh, Papa listen. Papa must take care of health. Starting to maintain the lifestyle, eating and habits of Papa who still likes to stay up late. Remember to keep exercising, Mama is ready to accompany at any time. Anyway Mama will always ...“

“Iya, yes, Ma.” Papa answered quickly even though Mama's sentence was not finished.

She smiled broadly at Papa.  Absolutely, Mama always had a way (For sure, mama always had a way). At their current age, both of them still look romantic even with small and simple things. It is undeniable that the age of both are vulnerable to disease.

“Iya, Pa. My mom should always take care of her health. Sports still run that light-lightly adjust the age." Aksa chimed in with occasional glances at the center rearview and refocused on driving.

“Mama same Papa must take care of health. Anyway before you guys get married and we have a grandchild,” please mama.

“Mama ... Mama.” Aksa shook her head in wonder. While he chose to close his eyes. Try to sleep for a while before leaving to return to Semarang.

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Note :

Metro 1 is the designation for the captain in the unitary rank passcode.

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