Loving You Through Do'A
Grief News

It has been one Sunday that Akbar reneged on his promise to Zahra and her family. Even so Zahra knew that there was a reason that made Akbar not come to see him, even until Akbar's phone died. Since High School until now Akbar has not changed, he is very far away from women. That was the reason why Zahra fell for him.

Zahra was sitting in the house reading the book of Fatimah Az-Zahra, in silence Zahra smiled to herself to read it before the smile disappeared when Bela came to accompany her.

"It's been a week, but no news at all! What a busy he is!" Bela Umbat.

"Istigfar bell. Who do you mean?"  Tanya Zahra closed the book.

"Who else is Zahra, who else!"

"Hush! Can't be angry like that ah, Akbar must have his own reason why he canceled here." Zahra.

"He did not abort but disavow, O Zahra! You're not mad at him?" Ask Bela.

"Why am I angry? Everything is God's destiny." Zahra replied calmly.

"You're disappointed because Akbar keeps you waiting so there's a sense of dilemma in your heart. Honestly Zahra!" Pinta Bela looked at Zahra seriously.

"If I wish Akbar I will be disappointed, and I will certainly act the same as you are today. Thank God that I have hanged all my hopes to Allah, let Allah be the One. I take it, because it's a gift from Him, and it's definitely best for me." Zahra.

"I learned a lot from you Zahra, if I'm in a position you hold feelings for more than 3 years, I don't seem to be strong." Said Bela smile.

"Loving someone in silence is the same as telling them, being sincere about what will happen to each other's lives. If it is a soul mate, even though it does not say each other's feelings, it will be united by God." Zahra.

"Because Zahra..." Bela wiped her tears that did not feel falling down her cheeks, she immediately hugged her best friend very tightly.

"It's ah, so cry anyway!" Said Zahra letting go of Bela's embrace.

"Hehehe was moved to know." Bela let go of his embrace.

Abi came to sit with Zahra and Bela. Abi's face so seriously looked at her daughter's face, her hand picked up the book that Zahra was reading.

"Can I have a serious talk?" Ask abi.

Bela became nervous when Abi was about to talk to Zahra like that.

"By abi." Answer Zahra.

"Why are you reading this book?" Tanya Abi showed Fatimah's book to Zahra.

"Because I like it abi, I like books like that." Answer Zahra.

"Is your love the same as Fatimah's to Ali?" Ask abi again.

"Pig.."

"Jawab son, Abi wants to know what abi's daughter is feeling."

"I ... I ... liked that guy from the first day of school change to today. Akbar only knew I would wait for him but he didn't seem to know that I loved him that long. What's abi really about?"

"Then tell Akbar to come here again, as much as he can when he will meet abi." Said abi.

"Didn't you be disappointed in her?" Ask Zahra.

"If abi's son gives him a chance, abi is the same. Because abi is sure Akbar is not a man who likes to break his promise." Answer Abi, then go inside the house.

Zahra just fell silent not knowing if she should say her abu request to Akbar. Bela grasped Zahra's hand and would help her, even if Bela could come to Indonesia to pick up Akbar and make sure that he flew to Arabia.

Bela goes into the room to pick up her cell phone to find out Akbar. But Efendi's uncle called Zahra already 5 times but missed because his phone was in the tv room.

"The phone behind Efendi's uncle Zahra seems like there's something important you want to talk about." Said Bela gave her best friend's cell phone.

Missed call from Uncle Efendi.

Zahra called her uncle.

"Assalamu'alaikum."

"Wa'alaikumsalam, what's the matter uncle?"

Zahra's face was immediately startled, she immediately hung up the phone from her uncle and rushed into the room to pick up her bag. Bela went straight to him and asked what had happened to Efendi's uncle to the point of making Zahra panic like that.

"I have to go to Indonesia now bell." Zahra.

"What the hell is Zahra?" Ask Bela to hold Zahra away.

"Akbar's mother died, I have to go there, you accompany abi same umi ya." Answer Zahra.

"What's up, son?" Tanya Umi who rushed out of the room when she found out her son was going to Indonesia.

"Well, why are you in such a hurry?" Ask abi.

"Umi, abi, Akbar's mother died. I have to go there, maybe this is why Akbar can't come here bi." Zahra answered withstanding her grief.

"Innalilahi wa inailaihi roji'un." Abi and umi.

"Go son! Bela accompany Zahra!" Tell umi.

"Yes umi." Bela.

Zahra hugged her parents, then went to the airport with Bela.

...***...

The atmosphere of Akbar's house was filled with mourners, even the entire extended family of his father and mother was present to pray for his mother's body. Akbar calmed Khadijah who continued to cry over the departure of his mother, even Khadija fell unconscious. Akbar immediately held his sister and she lay on her bed.

"You take care of Khadijah to the bar, let me take care of ya." Surya, the younger brother of his father Akbar.

"Yes, thank you."

Khadijah cried again to see Akbar and hugged him tightly. She feels the loss of her mother and she knows that her brother is the same as her feelings, but Akbar hides her so that Khadijah can calm down from before.

"You're not sad you left mom?" Ask Khadijah while hiccupping.

"Which child is not sad to be left behind by his parents?"

"Why don't you cry?" Ask Khadijah.

"I love my mother because of God, and God loves my mother more than I do, I am sincere because she belongs to God." Reply Akbar.

Khadijah only looked at his brother's face, however he knew that Akbar was hiding his sadness from him.

"Bar, I'm ready to be sholati." Furqon opened the door.

Akbar nodded, asking Khadijah to give up his mother even though he knew it was not as easy as he said.

After finishing his prayers, Akbar along with his brother went to the family funeral to take his mother to her final resting place. The mother was buried right beside her husband because it was his request to Akbar.

All the process has been done Akbar, he just looked at the tombstone bearing his mother's name. Khadijah's crying again broke while hugging his mother's grave, Akbar calmed Khadijah even though Akbar's eyes also looked moist from behind his glasses.

In the evening, Khadijah tidied up the house after tahlilan. Akbar approached him and told his sister to rest, but Khadija refused him because by doing activities he would be able to withstand his sadness. From far away Khadijah saw Furqon talking to Hindun.

"Assalamu'alaikum."

Akbar was stunned to hear the voice, he was silent like a statue without turning his body to see who the guest who gave him the greeting was.

"Was.. Wa'alaikumsalam, brother.. That's Zahra's brother." Said Khadijah who was surprised to see Zahra in the doorway.

Then Akbar turned to look at him, "wa'alaikumsalam warohmatullahi wabarokatu."

Zahra and Bela walked in, standing before Akbar and Khadijah.

"I am so sorry, may the mother be forgiven for her sins, accepted for her charity, and be in the most beautiful place by God's side." Zahra.

"I'm sorry about the bar too." Said Bela.

"Aamiin" Akbar said.

"Aamiinu. Emm.. Please sit down, brother, I'll take a drink." Khadijah walked straight into the kitchen.

Akbar was still standing, then regained his senses as kiyai Efendi went inside and hugged Akbar. Akbar immediately kissed the hand of kiyai Efendi.

"Please sit kiyai sir." Akbar.

"Thank you bar, you're sitting down too." Kiyai Efendi.

Khadijah came to bring him a few glasses of drinking water, he sat with his brother who looked nervous facing Zahra.

"Is there a mandate from Abi for Akbar?" Ask kiyai Efendi.

Zahra was surprised when asked by her uncle.

"Emmm.. There's an uncle." Zahra answered, glancing at Akbar.

"Say boy!" Tell kiyai Efendi.

"Bismillah." Zahra murmured in his heart.

"Do you have any plans to see me back at the bar?" Ask Zahra.

Akbar was silent for a moment, thinking before answering Zahra's question, because he knew that it was a personal question from him.

"I apologize to Zahra for daring to tell you to wait for me. I did plan to go to meet, but God willed otherwise, He made me choose the two women who were in front of my eyes. I did not come to your house because I had to fulfill my duty as a child to serve my mother. And I'm sure you understand more about that Zahra." Akbar.

"If I were you, I would do the same. But at least, you tell the woman who's been waiting for you so she and her family don't expect too much." Zahra.

Akbar walked to his mother's room and brought a bag containing prayer mats for Zahra.

"That's my prayer mat for you, and at that moment I had an accident, as she was about to cross the street. He just wanted me to take him to your house and tell him how he went when he bought it in the market. I've loved you so much, Zahra, since the first time she met you." Akbar said he was holding back his sadness.

Zahra cried while staring at the prayer mat, Bela stroked her best friend's back gently.

"Abi told you to come to the bar house, because she thinks you're not a man who likes to break promises. Whenever you have time come to the bar, meet abi." Zahra wiped away her tears.

"God willing I will come."

"I'll accompany you to the bar." Kiyai Efendi.

"Thank you, kiyai." Akbar.

After Zahra and his uncle returned home, Akbar went into his room to read the Koran. Khadijah listened from behind the door of his brother's room, he knew Akbar's attitude, if he was nervous he would immediately take the Koran.

Khadijah sat down with his aunt who stayed overnight to accompany him and Akbar until the ceremony was over. Recalling his brother's conversation, Khadijah was pleased that Akbar now dared to come to meet the Zahra family, a woman who was very coveted by her late mother to be her son-in-law.

After reading the Koran, Akbar went out to see his sister. He smiled at the beautiful face of Khadijah who was asleep in the guest room with his aunt, Akbar tried to wake him but Khadijah was very slumbering. Akbar returned to his room to rest. But Akbar looked at the photo of his mother smiling towards the camera taken by Furqon. He took a deep breath and put it on his room table. With trembling hands, Akbar opened the letter written by his mother before his departure.

...Son, if you read mom's letter, it means that mom's job is done in this world. Don't dissolve in sadness, you boys must be strong in the face of the trials of God, because there is God with you....

...No matter how busy you are in this world, you must not leave the prayer, and give your life time to always be next to your sister, because you know Khadija likes to keep everything alone, therefore, you should be more sensitive to it....

...Honestly, I'm glad to hear that you love Zahra, she's a fine woman from a good family, and I hope you dare come to her father to ask for his beautiful daughter. ...

...Son, I really want to be present to watch your marriage with the woman of your choice, but if later on the mother is gone before you marry a sincere mother. Remember son, your mother meridhoi from the moment you were in the womb to the last breath of mother. And may it open up God's will to you and your family later. Aami....

Akbar closed his letter and wiped his tears, he did not even know since when his mother wrote him a letter. He put the letter in a drawer with his picture.