Pledge of Love Rumi
the wounds of the past are back open

A few days had passed, Ustadz Irsyad seemed to be quiet.

It was so quiet that Abinya made Rumi decide to approach him, who was sitting daydreaming while observing his pet koi fish. While the box containing fish feed is still in his lap.

At this time Umma was taking a nap, so he could speak with his Abinya four eyes, now.

With doubt Rumi still stepped up, until he sat next to Abi Irsyad.

"It's getting big, huh, Bi?" Ask Rumi.

"Hem." Ustad Irsyad answered briefly.

At that time, Rumi understood. A person's attitude if he gets older will definitely become childish. It made him try to be more patient. And right, it seems like Abi Irsyad is disappointed with his decision.

"Abi's mad, is that Rumi?" Rumi asked frankly, as she could no longer talk anymore.

"angry? Did you make a mistake?" Abi Irsyad asked back, without looking at Rumi.

"Yes, Rumi made a mistake. Because Rumi has rejected Abi's choice," replied Rumi lirih.

Irsyad was silent for a moment. Enjoy the gurgling sound of water coming from the fish pond. He then opened the fish feed, grabbed a pinch of its contents, then threw it towards the pond.

There was a boisterous sound of fish scrambling their feed, making Abi Irsyad's smile thin. Because he thinks it's entertainment for him.

"There used to be a grandfather. Who once saved Abi, while drifting in the river. He raised Abi as his son... It is one of the customs in Abi village. If we have a debt Budi, which is related to life, then he must be considered a parent as well." Abi Irsyad muttered, with a view still staring at the fish in the pond. Rumi was just listening.

"The grandfather, leave a granddaughter of his daughter to Abi, because the grandson lives a kara. And you know what? He said what? If you can, Abi should marry her. It was Grandpa Ruri's last will." Abi Irsyad turned his head, towards Rumi. "But at that time, Abi couldn't marry him. Because of Abi? There was Umma Rahma, whom Abi had married for about two months."

Abi Irsyad, looking back at the pool. "The woman loved Abi actually, but Abi didn't love her. But Abi still considers him a sister... What Abi has to do is cover all his needs. Until finally Abi felt relieved when he was close to a man. The man would especially marry her. He's Mr. Lek Ulum, and that woman is Ms. Lek Aida."

For a moment Abi Irsyad recalled his past, who almost married Aida. And if you remember again, his guilt that once seemed to pinch his heart again. Only he, Aida, and Rahma knew.

Irsyad sighed, grasping the fish feed box with both hands. "So I thought you were married to Shafa. We can strengthen our nasab with the Ulum family. Abi just feels like he still owes Ruri's grandfather. What's more, when I heard that Shafa admired you, even though he didn't tell me who the man he meant, to Abi. But Abi understood, every time he met you, the girl must be immediately nervous and avoid once to talk to you. So feeling pity and heartlessness, how does that kid feel now huh?" Abi Irsyad again grabbed a pinch of fish feed, then threw towards the fish pond again, boisterous sound of fish scrambling was heard again.

Rumi was back to daydreaming. He sighed, raised his head up, looked at the blue sky, as well as the white clouds that were walking in the direction of the wind. With the scorching rays of the sun still shining on the earth, Rumi's eyes narrowed slightly to feel the glare. Abi Irsyad turned his head towards the child, it seemed like her words had already made Rumi feel even more uneasy.

"But yeah... How else would you like? Abi has no right to force you." Patting Rumi's shoulder once, then squeezing her slowly.

"If only, that time? You don't agree. Maybe Shafa won't feel rejected Rumi. Because it feels like, we're playing with their families, we're the tablets who came alone? But we also reject it. That must have hurt." Mumbled him again.

"Astagfirullah al'azim, Rumi was guilty. Sorry Abi... Forgive Rumi." Rumi muttered very softly. Abi Irsyad smiled and wrapped his son's shoulders. And rubbing slowly.

"If Abi must have forgiven, but did not know if it was Shafa. Is it that easy to forgive? Even if he says it's okay in front of you. Who knows? if at that moment she was crying out."

"Astagfirullah al'azim." Rumi bobble head. He felt sorry for hurting Shafa. But he also could not resist the desire of his heart, which was fixed on Deborah.

–––

Meanwhile, somewhere else...

During these few days, Shafa only busied himself to further strengthen his faith.

He even less often came out of his room than if he wanted to eat and do his business in the toilet.

Even out of the house he is now lazy, in addition to teaching activities at the madrasah or just to teach who really has been his routine to add knowledge.

Like today, the girl was glazed over the Qur'an in her room. With her soft and melodious voice, and occasionally husky. He paused his chant, only to sigh in tightness.

Because treating liver wounds is not that easy, is it? But he doesn't blame anyone here. Only, he regretted his own mistake. Which has permeated the feeling of admiration for a Brotherhood that has not been halal, especially his family has a fairly close relationship with the family of the man. And Shafa should be ready for this, right?

Faintly he heard the door of his room open slowly, Shafa immediately wiped his tears. He looked down, averted his eyes. To be invisible to her mother.

Aida entered very carefully, after hearing the explanation from her husband last night. Ta'aruf Shafa and Rumi.

Aida was sitting next to Shafa, and she raised the head of her firstborn. "Don't avoid this anymore. I know how you feel."

Shafa smiled warmly, he was limp from constantly crying. "i'm fine, ma'am."

"Don't lie to yourself. You said it's okay, but I know it hurts." Aida shed her tears. As if he was looking at himself in the past, he immediately hugged the body of Shafa who was still developing a smile while closing his eyes. Until the tiny body of Shafa down changed his position, by laying his head on the lap of the mother. The tears were still flowing, with the eyes closed, and the lips muttered with istighfar. Shafa who was already tired, slowly started to fall asleep there. While Aida just wiped her own tears, then gently rubbed her child's head. With compassion, and feelings of concern.

There is no more painful wound in a woman. In addition to feeling rejected by a man they admire. So thought Aida... Even the pain seemed not only felt by her child, but Aida herself who felt more tightness because of the treatment of the family.

Da... Because for Aida right now is? Ustadz Irsyad, as if he had re-inflicted wounds on her. Through his son. And this time, it was Shafa who had to feel it. But what made him angry, he still could not do anything, he could not kneel Ustadz Irsyad, for the sake of an idol among them. Not to mention with everything he received from Ustadz Irsyad, making him feel regret. Because it is tied to Budi's debt that he has not been able to replace until now.