Loving You Through Do'A
16. Graduations
After carrying out the practice exam as well as the national exam, Akbar was ready to get the results that morning, he was already looking neat and handsome when he came out of his room, even the smile that had once been lost due to Zahra's departure is now back. Akbar is more cheerful than ever, he seems to have prepared himself with what happened to his life.
In addition to Akbar, Khadijah will also receive a graduation announcement at his boarding school on the same day, they pray for each other to get results that satisfy him.
"Bu pray Akbar will yes, hopefully pass with the best results." Akbar said he kissed his mother's hand.
"Yes son, do'a mother never break up for you, later if Khadija has returned from boarding school, we go to eat father ya bar, suddenly miss your father." Said Bu Wati stroking her son's hair.
Akbar nodded, "yes ma'am, then Akbar left first huh, assalamu'alaikum."
"Wa'alaikumsalam."
Because his father's motorcycle was in the workshop, Akbar went to school with Furqon. They look happy, because they will graduate that day, and of course they will start a real life.
Arriving at school, Akbar immediately walked towards the hall, where he had seen many of his friends who had come. They were worried about the results later, they were afraid of unsatisfactory results, another case with Akbar who looked calm that day. As he was about to sit down with his friend, he saw a text from Mr. Heru, and offered to work in his office after the announcement.
Akbar immediately remembered Eve, he felt awkward for Heru and his kindness, even Heru hoped that Akbar and his daughter could work together in building his small company. Akbar thought that Eve had misinterpreted the kindness she gave, Akbar was always attentive to his friends, but instead he could not start a conversation with the person he loved.
"Sir Akbar!" Call Bela.
"What's the bell?" Akbar asked halted his steps towards the hall.
"Zahra says, I hope you graduate with the best grades." Answer Bela.
"Aamiin thank you, say my regards to him." Akbar said a smile then entered the hall.
Bela feels that Akbar has lost his life since Zahra left, but he can't do anything about it. Zahra never sent a message to Akbar, if he had something to talk about then he would ask Bela for help to convey it to Akbar.
On the podium there is a principal who wants to give a short motivation before he will announce the results of the exam to all students. And the headmaster told all his students that they passed all without exception.
They give their deepest thanks to Allah SWT. Then they congratulate their fellow disciples, some even cry happily because 3 years have passed, now is the time they will live a real life.
Akbar refused Mr. Heru's offer very politely, even he came to his company to say the reason why he refused, because after all Mr. Heru was very meritorious all this time for him. Akbar just want to try to find a suitable job on him, he can not continue to rely on others.
The next morning Khadijah returned home with a happy smile on his face, he immediately hugged his mother and Akbar who was sitting on the porch of the house. Akbar and mother look at each other to see Khadijah, when Akbar took off his embrace, he said that he graduated with the best grades, he became one of the santriwati with the highest grades. Bu Wati was unceasingly grateful to Allah SWT, as well as Akbar who was also happy to hear from his sister.
"Assalamu'alaikum." Furqon.
"Wa'alaikumsalam." Reply to Wati, Akbar and Khadijah together.
"Damn! any news on mom?! I think it's a really big sumringah." Ask Furqon.
"Khadijah passed fur." Reply Akbar.
"With the highest grade, hehehe." Khadijah gave a grin to his horse.
"Alhamdulillah." Said mom smiling at her daughter.
"Yes ma'am, thank God." Khadijah.
Furqon and Akbar smiled at Khadijah's behavior. But Khadijah's glance can not be hidden from Furqon, he was happy to see his brother's friend had moved on from Hindun.
"You graduated too, right?" Ask Khadijah.
"Thank God pass." Answer Furqon.
"What do you drink, brother? Khadijah makein." Ask Khadijah to Furqon.
"White water is just that." Answer Furqon.
"You've been talking to me, let me make it." Ms. Wati went to the kitchen to get them some water to drink.
"Khadijah to Aceh?" Ask Furqon.
"Emmm... God willing, brother." Khadijah answered doubtfully.
"I doubt that, why?" Ask Furqon again.
Khadijah's gaze looked at Akbar who was the only listener.
"Let me take you to the boarding school." Furqon glanced at Akbar.
"So, don't talk dong! Don't just shut up!" Khadijah patted Akbar's arm.
"When are you going there? We're at this address." Akbar opened the Ar-Rahman boarding card.
"Where did you get it?" Ask Khadijah.
"It's Zahra's family's boarding school." Reply Akbar.
"So where am I going to go to the boarding school, brother? If you have any doubts, I don't need to go in there, there are many other boarding schools." Said Khadijah looking at his brother, he knew that Akbar had upset because of Zahra.
"I tried to call Zahra first." Akbar went into the room and tried to contact Zahra.
"Assalamu'alaikum" Zahra's voice was heard from the telephone. Akbar was stunned for a moment before he finally came to his senses.
^^^"Wa'alaikumsalam."^^^
"How are you?"
^^^"Alhamdulillah good. You?"^^^
"Thank God be good too, emm... What's the bar?"
^^^"My sister wants to register in your boarding school, how?"^^^
"Oh, you come here! Later I will take care of it, bring Khadija equipment as well. If you can tomorrow or the day after tomorrow you come here."
^^^"At the latest?"^^^
"No, I mean... I'm going to go to Arabia the day after tomorrow to go to school there."
Akbar kept silent, confused as to what to say. He just realized that everything was going to be okay.
^^^"Alright, I'll talk to Khadijah later. Emm... It's Zahra, assalamu'alaikum."^^^
"Wa'alaikumsalam."
Akbar hangs up his phone and puts his phone on his desk. He sat for a while on the bed and took a deep breath hearing that Zahra was going to Arabia. It seems that there is no hope for Akbar to meet with Zahra, let alone the desire to preach it.
He left the room and talked to Khadijah and Furqon, then Khadijah wanted to go to Aceh as soon as possible, he could not wait to go there even though he had just returned home that day. Akbar texted Zahra, telling her that the day after tomorrow he would come with Khadijah and his mother.
When Khadijah entered the house, Akbar was silent again. Furqon knew something was being hidden by his best friend.
"Zahra will go to the Arab fur." Akbar said sounding limp, then lay his body on the terrace floor of his house.
Furqon saw his best friend, "then?"
"Hmmm... I don't know fur, I'm confused to explain." Reply Akbar.
"You really love her bar?" This time Furqon took Akbar seriously.
Akbar hush.
"I'm sorry I got the wrong bar, but I think you've been working hard all this time in addition to your tuition, you're working to get Zahra out of your memory." Furqon.
"Can you forget about the bar?" Ask Furqon.
Akbar shook his head slowly.
"Zahra has become a memory for you, it's hard to forget. Especially the longer you don't realize, the more you love her." Furqon.
"I'm trying to be sincere fur." Akbar.
Eve heard everything they said, without them knowing there was Eve standing not far from there. Eve felt jealous, now that she knew what Akbar was feeling, she knew who was in her heart. When Eve was about to leave, she called him so that Akbar and Furqon were surprised by Eve's arrival. Akbar who had just fallen asleep immediately sat up because there was Eve in his house.
Akbar just glanced at Eve who seemed to be quiet, even he did not say a word unless spoken to by Furqon.
"Sorry I interrupted your conversation, I was just gonna call... Because I'm around here, so I stopped by for a second." Say Eve.
"It's okay, you alone?" Ask Akbar.
Eve nodded.
"Why don't you want to work in my papah's office?" Ask Eve to Akbar.
"Emmm... I ... I'm..."
"Akbar and I will start the business of setting up a restaurant." Cut Furqon helps her nervous-looking best friend.
"Oh, good luck, I'm going home." Eve stood up and left them.
"Why rush?" Ask Akbar.
"I already know the answer." Eve answered and left Akbar's house.
"Did he hear all the bars?" Ask Furqon.
"Not knowing." Reply Akbar.
That night Akbar helped his sister to make preparations before leaving for Aceh, tomorrow morning they will go to take care of the data and administration at the Zahra family boarding school. But before going to Aceh, they took the time to pilgrimage to eat his father.
The next morning, Akbar with his mother, Khadija and Furqon left for Aceh to come to meet Zahra at his boarding school. Akbar sends Zahra a message that they will be there soon. At the airport they had been picked up by a car belonging to the Zahra family, to the point that Khadijah was amazed by Zahra. Because they didn't expect to be picked up like that.
The car has entered the grounds of the Ar-Rahman boarding school, Akbar's heart is beating fast even he has started to misbehave. Furqon knows that her best friend looks nervous, as if Akbar wants to shy away from everything. After arriving they were greeted by security pesantren and invited him to Zahra's room.
"Please enter! In about 10 minutes Zahra's coming. Oh, yes, he told me to love this, "the security gave me a personal data form, "if you want to read books please, sir, ma'am." Reciprocity.
"Yes, thank you sir."
"I'm sorry, assalamu'alaikum."
"Wa'alaikumsalam."
They looked at the room filled with hadiths, Akbar looked at the empty chair where Zahra was sitting to meet the prospective santriwati. Furqon called out to him so that Akbar stopped staring at the chair and forgot what he was thinking.
Before long the door of the room opened, "assalamu'alaikum." Zahra.
"Wa'alaikumsalam." Reply them.
Zahra kissed Wati's hand, and shook Khadijah's hand. Then smiling at them, Akbar looked at Zahra through the bookshelf before they finally saw each other. Zahra asked Bu Wati and Khadijah to sit with him and asked Khadijah's motivation to enter the pesantren.
Finished talking, Akbar approached Zahra and asked for the entrance fee for his sister. Zahra smiled in response.
"Khadija gets a scholarship during school later, because she's the best graduate." Answer Zahra.
"There must be a fee for the practice exam and so on, right?" Ask Akbar again curiously.
"All borne by the pesantren, Khadijah's task is only to learn until graduation later." Answer Zahra.
Akbar still does not believe that Khadijah will get a free scholarship for the next 3 years.
"You still don't believe it? This is abi's business card, as the president of the pesantren, you can ask him." Zahra.
"So I can stay in the ustadzah dormitory?" Ask Khadijah.
Zahra smiled sweetly at Khadija for calling her 'ustadzah'.
"You want to stay now you can, because there's a manager despite the school holidays. After all there are some santriwati who do not go back to their hometown. And I hope you can be good friends with Khadijah." Zahra answered explaining.
"Yes, thank you."
"Together."
"Is there anything else you want to ask the bar?" Ask Zahra.
Mrs Wati, Furqon and Khadijah walked out of the room to escort Khadijah to the girls' dormitory.
"Here, sorry Zahra I can't keep it." Akbar put Zahra's letter on the table.
Zahra looked at the letter and took it.
"It's okay, I'll take back what's not yours." Zahra.
The situation in the room was momentary silence.
"So you're going to Arabia tomorrow?" Ask Akbar.
"God, I'll go to school there." Zahra replied, inserting the letter into her notebook.
"It's a letter from me, sorry I can't tell you directly. I'll excuse you, assalamu'alaikum."
"Wa'alaikumsalam." Zahra looked at the door of her room as Akbar had walked out from inside.
Zahra felt tightness in her chest looking at Akbar's letter, she also felt there was something strange happening to her heart as she was about to go to Adab leaving everything behind. Zahra started a new life in Arabia, while Akbar will always be in Indonesia, he will study in his homeland until he succeeds.
Zahra opened the letter and read it in her heart.
...Assalamu'alaikum,...
"Wa'alaikumsalam."
...I'm too cowardly to tell you in person that I'm happy to know you, I'm happy to share my memories with you. Thanks for everything....
...Zahra, wherever you are may you always be in the protection of Allah SWT. And hopefully we can meet at a later time in good health....
...I don't know what to write about you, because for me, what I'm living with now is about you....
...Assalamu'alaikum's chat......
...Akbar....
Zahra calmed her heart, she put the letter in her bag and then she walked out of the room to meet the Akbar family who were going home to Jakarta. It was the last meeting for Akbar and Zahra, after which they could only pray for each other. There was a heavy feeling in Zahra's heart as she watched the pesantren car come out of the parking lot to drive them to the airport. He could not prevent Akbar from returning home because he was not his mahram.
After the car moved away and disappeared from his sight, Zahra sat on a park bench to remember a few of his memories from school. Without realizing it, Akbar was always there when he needed someone.
"Allah strengthen thy servant, do not hesitate my heart to walk away from him." Zahra said inwardly looking at the flower bed before her.