SANTRI MBELING
THE PESANTREN METEOR GARDEN

"Pennants... Why do you want to go to the pesantren?" jack asked, his eyes glazed over.

"In Surabaya... I'm looking for Bang's police, for theft! Perhaps my mother was very angry with me, and would not accept me anymore. Maybe I'll be in the cell for a few months or even a year. Than I don't go to school... I'd better learn a salary at the pesantren, even though I know from the magazine... Yes I just try, if I can and feel at home living in the pesantren," Panji said.

"So... You want that mesantren because you have to...? You are an honest and brave boy! Than being a thug like me... Better to be a santri, even though santri Naughty," said Jack Lirih.

"Alright Panji, I'm not forcing you to join my group, this is coming with me... I'll take you on the bus to Serang Banten. After that you pass the angkot or mini metro bus... It's late afternoon" Jack said.

"Alright Bang," said Panji.

That afternoon... Jack escorted Panji on a bus to Serang Banten city.

"Pennants... Here's money for the bus fare, and make your snacks at the boarding school. Learn to really - really...! Let's not be like me! Pray that I live long and can repent. If you go to Jakarta... Come over to my place" said Jack.

"Yes Bang, thank you for your kindness. See you later" replied Panji.

The bus drove slowly - land to the city of Serang Banten Regency. Because the bus is slow while looking for passengers... At 7 pm a new bus enters the Serang terminal area. After getting off the bus... Panji looking for public transport to go to pesantren.

After asking here - here... It turns out that public transportation to Kramat Watu sub-district last at 6 pm. With a gontai step... The pennant sat on the terminal bench and was forced to wait until the morning.

Time passed, and the night slowed down. At midnight... When Panji was sitting alone on the terminal bench, there was a young man sitting next to him, asking,

"Where's the sister going? How about under the bag alone in the terminal?"

"I want to go to Arrohman Mas boarding school, in Kramat Watu sub-district. I stayed overnight, there was no public transportation, so I had to wait until morning" Panji replied.

"Where's this little brother from...?" ask the young man.

"From Surabaya Mas," said Panji.

Please drink, here's a cigarette, take it for sister. It's a thousand dollars to take a mini metro bus. The cost of the bus is only 200 rupiah... Just say down Arrohman boarding school, must know the conductor. You just relax here, if anything bothers you... Just say Bang Ipin's nephew," said the young man sitting beside him.

"Alright Bang, thank you," Panji said

Thereafter... Bang Ipin left Panji alone. Out of respect for santri... Bang Ipin also advised some thugs around the Serang terminal, not to disturb Panji.

***

Tiring night, almost all night Panji sat while sleeping on the terminal bench.

"Hmmm... My body feels all sore. The sun is shining on the earth... I better have breakfast first, then go to the pesantren," Panji muttered.

After enjoying breakfast and enjoying a warm tea... Panji walk then take a mini metro bus towards Merak. After sitting in the back... Suddenly the conductor said,

"Where'd you get down A'?" a Sundanese call to a man.

"You go down Arrohman pesantren sir," Panji replied while giving 200 rupiah.

"Mas, go to Arrohman boarding school...?" asked a half-old man sitting next to him.

"Yes sir" replied Panji.

"This is Dik, money for snacks in pesantren," said the father half-old.

"Thank you sir" Panji said while receiving a 1000 rupiah note.

"A's' ... Come on, stand up - ready!" Up ahead is the Arrohman pesantren" the conductor said.

After the metromini bus... Banner out of the bus, then... Without looking and reading the writing on the board or plaque attached in front of the building... The banner of teenagers immediately gawked into the gate of the pesantren.

"Excuse me," Panji said.

"Yes Dik, what's the need..?" tanya Salim is one of the students who is approximately 20 years old.

"I want to learn njai in this pesantren Mas," answered Panji innocently.

"Where's sister from? How alone...? Not between her parents? Please come in, let's sit here" asked Salim.

"I'm from Surabaya Mas, I'm alone... Because my parents are so busy" Panji said.

"Well, whoa, whoa...! This strange santri candidate," muttered Salim.

"Fertile Kang...! Here" cried Salim.

"Who is Kang Salim yelling - yelling!?" word Fertile.

"This is a teenager from Surabaya, he said he wanted to mesantren here... How then?" salim said

"Ooooh... Let's Dik, come with me, to ndalem Kyai," said Kang Subur.

"Assynoltom..."

"Waalaikum... Eeeh Kang Fertile, please come in, ayoo sit here, in the kitchen only. Mm-hmm... What is Kang Fertile," replied Kyai Nuruddin.

"Look Kyai... This boy just came from Surabaya... He said he wanted to learn njai in this pesantren," said Kang lushly while lowering his head, and,

"So... I'm down in front of Kyai. He's all alone Kyai... Said his parents were busy."

"Oh yes" said Kyai Nuruddin,

"This is what's his name...?"

"My name is Panji Kyai" Panji replied casually.

"You mesantren learn to make a living, if alone... What about the daily needs...? Not eating, snacks, buying books and others" asked Kyai Nuruddin.

"I came here unbeknownst to my parents Kyai, I left the house" Panji replied,

"I know this pesantren from the magazine I read... He said the food and fees in this boarding school are free!"

"Ooh... You're leaving home?!!!" kyai Nuruddin said,

"Nothing is free here... Indeed what you read in the magazine is a boarding school where...? His name is pesantren what...?"

"Pondok pesantren Arrohman Kyai," replied Panji.

"Yes, yes," muttered Kyai Nuruddin lirih,

"This is Meteor Garden boarding school. In this village of Pelamunan there are three boarding houses... The one across the street is called Arrohman boarding house..."

"Oooh so ya kyai," said Panji lirih,

"means... I got into the boarding school wrong...! I'm sorry, Kyai, I really did not know that this is the Meteor Garden boarding school. Then... Excuse me Kyai, I beg you to go to Arrohman boarding school... Because I have no cost at all."

"Pennants... You just learn here" said Kyai Nuruddin,

"The matter of day-to-day expenses... Let me endure it. Your intentions are good, you are fiisabilillah, jihad in the way of Allah. Even though your background is also your family... You belong to the class of servants chosen by Allah and Allah has led you here. So then... I have to accept you cheerfully and gladly.

From now... You wash dishes in the kitchen, sweep the yard, clean also mop my house. You eat at my house. If you need money to buy books... You said the same to me yaa

Pennant... Now rest first in the pesantren room, later. after Solat Asar, you are here to help the work of bu nyai yaa...

Kang Fertile... You teach him how to pray, teach him how to pray. Find a room for the pennant."

"Sendiko dawuh Kyai," replied Kang Fertile, then left with Panji.

The pennant is already in the room... Di mainggi santri - santri senior. Panji and his new friends were chatting and joking.

"The banner...! You are very lucky," said Kang Fertile while enjoying a puff of inter cigarette smoke.

"Fortunately how Kang Fertile," Panji said.

"Kyai Nuruddin's... Never have khodam, or santri who serve kyai," said Kang Subur,

"You're the first man to become ndalem's servant."

"Muali tomorrow afternoon, after the sublime prayer... You went to Arrohman boarding school" said Kang Subur,

"Tomorrow I'll drop you off, because you're the new santri."

"Alright Fertile Kang" replied Panji.

The voice of the adzan duhur resounded, the santri hurried to take the holy water. Temporary... Panji is still good - enjoy 12 solar cigarettes.

"Hee Panji's...! Come wudhu, sanctify," said Salim in a somewhat loud voice, saying,

"We pray together."

"I can't pray Kang Salim" Panji said,

"I don't know how to be holy."

"You wash your face first... Then gather in the musollah with me" said Salim,

"If the prayer has begun... Just follow the movements of other friends. Remember...! Follow the movement - move the body of the other santri."

"Alright Kang Salim," Panji replied, then walked over to wash his face.