Loving You Through Do'A
4. School Holidays

Tomorrow is a school holiday, and it is certainly a good day for Akbar to make some extra money. During the break he went outside the school gate only to buy a newspaper next to his school. He opened the newspaper in the mosque, and circled the job vacancies. Times are increasingly sophisticated, but to know it all he must have a sophisticated cellphone as well. While Akbar only has a phone to call and text his sister. That was enough for him.

Akbar is indeed the smartest student in school so he became one of the students who got a scholarship. In addition, he is also so handsome, but his good looks do not make him want to have a girlfriend. He was so sure that without a date, he could get married.

Without realizing it, Zahra was behind him and saw a lot of newspapers bought by Akbar. Zahra put on her shoes and just kept silent, she did not know how to ask Akbar, she was always nervous whenever she met him.

Akbar looked to the right, then tidied up his newspapers hoping that Zahra would not know what he was doing with them. Since that night, Akbar had indeed moved a little away from Zahra, he felt unworthy to be by her side. Instead of falling deeper in love, she should give up her love for God. Let God control his heart.

Zahra was still silent and glanced at Akbar who left him to perform dhuha prayers, in fact he hesitated to open the newspaper but he also wanted to know what Akbar was doing. Because he felt Akbar stay away from him, but he could not ask why.

One Zahra newspaper opened, he saw a red circle with the reading "job vacancy". Now Zahra understood, but why did Akbar stay away? Thoughts about Akbar's attitude continued to lurk in his head. After opening the newspaper, Zahra tidied it back up and she immediately went to class with questions in her head.

After returning home from school Akbar immediately went to a clothing store not far from his school, he came to him and asked for job vacancies there, but until the afternoon Akbar had not found a job. He decided to go to the mosque to pray Maghrib congregation after that he went home to rest.

When the worshippers are ready for prayer but the kiyai who used to be priests cannot attend. As a result they pointed to each other to become priests, Akbar asked the worshippers that he was willing to become a priest. At first there were some people who were hesitant because Akbar was in high school uniform, but eventually they let him.

Akbar's voice was so soft, that the people around wanted to know who was the imam in his mosque, because they had never heard his voice. After the prayer, Akbar immediately put on his school shoes.

"Looks like you're not a citizen here, son?" Ask a man sitting next to Akbar.

Akbar who was thinking straight home, he postponed because the father asked him to talk. It's not good to finish the drug first.

"I'm not a citizen here sir." Reply Akbar.

"Oh, you just got home from school?" Ask the father again.

"It's 2 o'clock I'm home sir."

"Well, then why don't you go straight home?"

"I'm looking for work because it's school holiday tomorrow." Akbar replied doubtfully. Because he never told anyone that he worked every time the school holidays.

"Then did you get it?"

Akbar shook his head softly with a smile, "rarely willing to accept the work of school children sir."

The father thought and gave me his business card, "you can call me in two days, I hope there's work in my office."

Akbar immediately smiled sumringah, "thank you very much sir, thank you."

"Yes, son, now you go home." Tell the father.

"Yes sir, assalamu'alaikum."

"Wa'alaikumsalam warohmatullahi wabarokatu."

Along the way Akbar saw the business card, the name of the father was Heru Hermansyah a manager. Akbar took his breath and hoped to Allah that he would soon find a job.

...***...

Zahra opens her laptop, tries to write down her feelings and make it into a novel. He began to write little by little, how the first day he knew the name of Akbar, how Akbar's attitude was very respectful to the women. All about Akbar he wrote in his book.

He seemed to smile to himself as he wrote his novel, he felt like he had never felt anything like this before. In this one year he only confided to God about the man he loved. Even Zahra's parents did not know that her only child was in love.

The love that was in his heart he kept tight. Because, both parents Zahra seems to have prepared candidates for his son, only they are both studying. Zahra already knew that and she couldn't possibly refuse it. He is a child who obeys his parents.

The feeling that stuck in his heart, he poured out on the owner of the heart, he asked for the best of Him. Zahra has no power over his heart but God is all-powerful over everything. Every night in his bow, Zahra asked for calm in her heart.

Without feeling it had been a year he felt love for the first man who made himself nervous to be near him. The first man to give her a gift. And now, that's the man she missed.

Zahra sighed and closed her laptop and lay on her bed hoping everything was okay.

Even Sunday night Zahra took the time to attend the assembly that Akbar used to fill with motivation. But three times Zahra went there, he did not meet him, Akbar was not present. Zahra felt Akbar was really busy during the school holidays. That's what his mind is right now.

...***...

"School holidays have no events going anywhere?" Ask Khodijah.

"You know I'm the worst out of the house with no clear purpose." Akbar replied while washing his motorbike.

Khodijah sat on the porch bench of the house while looking at Akbar. He felt proud to have an older brother who was so dear to the family, even he knew that Akbar intended to work for the cost of daily necessities.

"Mom's gone?" Ask Akbar.

"So, you took a shower. I walk with Rt." Answer Khodijah.

Suddenly Akbar's phone rang. He immediately cleaned his hands from the soap and answered the phone from Mr. Heru.

"Assalamu'alaikum." Reply Akbar.

"Wa'alaikumsalam's chat. Sorry son Akbar waited too long for news from me." Said Mr. Heru.

"Oh, it's okay sir. So how about sir?" Ask Akbar again enthusiastically.

"Alhamdulillah bar has a job for you. But..."

"But why sir?"

"But as an office boy in my office. If you don't want it's okay." Said Mr. Heru not happy to convey a job offer for Akbar.

"Alhamdulillah, it's okay sir. When do I start working?"

"Thus you can work. Later my office address sms." Said sir Heru.

"Thank you very much sir." Akbar.

"Yes together, yes already then we meet the day after tomorrow, assalamu'alaikum."

"Wa'alaikumsalam warohmatullahi wabarokatu."

Akbar hung up his phone and hugged Khodijah happily.

"What is this, brother? Phone from who?" Tanya Khodijah.

"Alhamdulillah, I got a job." Akbar replied happily.

Khodijah was happy to hear it but he did not know whether his mother allowed his brother to work or not. Because Akbar is easily sick if he lacks rest, especially he always imporses his energy just to work.

"Emmm... Did mom let you work?" Ask Khodijah.

"God willing mother will allow Khodijah." Reply Akbar.

"I'm just worried that you're sick, you've done too much work for your family. I want to help you with your burden." Khodijah said sadly.

Akbar looked into his sister's eyes, "you are the woman I love, the time to make you happy is a burden for me, well not. Anyway I'm just asking you, make me doain ya."

Khodijah nodded slowly and hugged her brother. But unbeknownst to his brother, Khodijah wrote a short story about Akbar and he sent it to the publisher.

On Sunday night Akbar went to the mosque to fill the motivation of teenage children in his village. But as he was about to enter the mosque, he saw the same car Zahra was riding in. Akbar's heart pounded and walked in without seeing the girls talking.

When Akbar asked them, whether anyone asked or not. Zahra held out her hand.

"Assalamua'laikum ustadz." Zahra gave her greeting softly.

"Wa'alaikumsalam's chat. Wanna ask what?"

"I want to ask... What do ustadz do if we miss someone?"

Of course the young women smiled, because that was Akbar's question last time and answered by Zahra. Now they want to hear what Akbar will answer.

Akbar's heart skipped a beat again hearing Zahra's question, he did not know why Zahra asked him that.

"What's the reason you asked that?" Akbar asked back.

"I mean... That question was already discussed." Connect Akbar.

Zahra smiled from behind her veil, "before I apologized ustadz, maybe at that time I had not participated in this study." Answer Zahra.

"Jawab is my brother!" Tell Khodijah in a whisper that looks strange to her brother.

"I carry his name on a third of the night, hoping that God will give me and him some pleasure. If indeed he is my soul mate for what I am anxious, all of them have their own life lines. It remains how he and I improve each other to get his pleasure. That's my answer. Anything else to ask?" Akbar said with complete confidence.

Zahra shook her head, "no ustadz, thank you."

Akbar's reply was able to make Zahra's heart tremble. He lowered his head as Akbar's eyes looked at him. After the study Akbar told Khodijah to go home first. He wanted to say hello to Zahra who was about to get into his car.

"When have you been studying since?" Ask Akbar.

"There was a man who told me to take this class, but for the last two weeks I didn't see him coming, it seemed like he was too busy with his business." Zahra answered, There is something in his heart. There was something he wanted to talk about with Akbar but his mouth was tightly locked.

"I didn't know it was twice a week." Akbar.

Then Akbar put on a smile, "You're looking for me? Joking. L'm... I'll always come to school." Further.

Zahra returned Akbar's smile. But Akbar did not see it because it was covered by the black veil he was wearing.

"Yes, I went home first. Assalamu'alaikum."

"Wa'alaikusalam."

Zahra sees Akbar from the rearview mirror of his car. Akbar was relieved that Zahra was fine.

The next morning, Akbar got ready to go to Heru's office. With his father's motorbike, Akbar departed early in the morning so as not to get stuck in traffic. Arriving at the office he immediately entered the office of Mr. Heru and heard his explanation about the work system in the office. Akbar is willing to work, especially the salary offered by Mr. Heru is also quite large for a schoolboy.

Akbar's personality is easy to socialize eventually many office employees who like it. Moreover, Akbar is an honest and responsible person with what he does. Even Mr. Heru really likes it and hopes to finish school later Akbar is willing to work with him.

Akbar's break hours go to the mosque to pray dzuhur with other employees. When Akbar finished praying leaning his body against the wall of the musholah, he looked daydreaming only his mind was reminded of Zahra.

He cannot deny being human if he has a love for Zahra, but Akbar has nothing to be proud of Zahra's parents. All he had was God and Rosul in his heart.

"What are you thinking about the bar?" Tanya Doni, a fellow office boy.

"Nothing." Reply Akbar.

"Go to the canteen! We'll talk there, who knows I can help you." Doni.

Akbar complied and walked to the cafeteria. Arriving there Akbar saw almost all employees crowded the canteen, not least their superiors were there talking with other employees.

"What do you want to eat?" Tanya Doni sat down in front of Akbar.

"I'm fasting don." Reply Akbar.

Doni was surprised to hear that, it was fitting that Akbar rested in the prayer room.

"God, I'm sorry I didn't know you were fasting." Doni feels guilty.

"It's okay."

"So, who's the girl that made you daydream like that?" Ask Doni curiously.

Akbar smiled, but he did not answer his friend's question.

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"Not so don, I'm not sure myself how I feel." Reply Akbar.

"Why aren't you sure? Is she so special in your eyes?"

Akbar nodded, "she is different from the general girl, she is so kind, when you hear her voice reading the verses of the Qur'an, it shakes your heart. She's a girl who runs her life sincerely, although I don't know for sure but I feel that way."

Doni was stunned to hear it, he became curious as to what kind of girl Akbar was telling him.

"What makes you unsure of how you feel?" Ask Doni.

"He came from a distinguished family, his parents were very understanding of Islam. Even he belongs to a rich family don, he has a boarding school in Aceh, even he grew up in Egypt. While me? You know what I mean." Reply Akbar.

"And you're just an intern? That's what you mean?" Ask Doni.

Akbar nodded.

"Bar, as far as I am, the more people who understand religion, the more they know what their priorities are. You have God and Rosul in your heart, then why aren't you sure? Does that girl know about your family and yourself?"

Akbar shook his head slowly, "no one knows about my life."

"I think that girl cares a lot about your morals, not where you're from." Doni.

"Maybe I'll tell her how I feel after I succeed I want to propose to her. Now I'm focusing on my family don." Akbar.

Doni understands the situation of his new friend, because there are rarely interns in his office.

"I only support you bar, because the only one who knows your life is you." Doni.

"Thank you don."

After a long day of work, Akbar went home to miss his mother. On the porch of the house from a distance Akbar saw his mother lifting a clothesline. Akbar gave his greetings and helped his mother.

The night after finishing his prayer, Akbar sat at the study table and remembered himself writing a letter to Zahra, he smiled at himself once who was so brave to Zahra. Akbar's courage changed when he found out who Zahra really was, where he came from.

..."O God, if I love him for you, bring him closer....

...But if I love her for my lust, keep her away....

...Give me Your love so that I do not beg for the love of Your creatures....

...And embrace me when I feel alone, for I know only You never leave me."...

...~Akbar~...