The Gema Shahadah Aisyah
Embarrassing Occurrences

Umar's garden harvest this time is quite abundant, usually many plants that fail to harvest because of pests. But because he had learned a lot about growing crops, Umar knew what things he had to do to get a good harvest.

Umar was helped by several male students who pulled mustard, potatoes and carrots from the not-so-extensive garden. Sunday is always the time to harvest all the crops because Umar has no teaching or study schedule in the mosque.

A portion of the crop is cooked for lunch and dinner while the rest is kept and distributed to neighbors around the cottage.

Harvesting activities accompanied by the voice of a male santri who was sorogan with Khalid. Coincidentally, the location of a special mushalla santri men not far from the garden.

It was already a familiar voice for Umar as he was born and grew up in a boarding school environment. After graduating MTs he studied at Pondok Pesantren Nurul Jadid, Probolinggo until graduating S2. He did not know much about the outside world because every day was always in the cottage. But after becoming a lecturer, he became a little know about life out there.

Sometimes Umar was surprised by some things he had never seen before. Like dating teenagers, women who show aurat or harsh words from their mouth. Sometimes he feels very regretful such association has been considered commonplace in society. But Umar also could not do much, he only gave a little advice when attending the study.

Umar's daydreams fell out when a mound of soil hit the sheath.

"Sorry Gus." The curly-haired male santri near Umar hastily apologized after accidentally fouling Umar's sarong with the ground as he was plucking the mustard.

Umar just chuckled then pat the shoulder of the santri with a shady look, besides the sheath was already dirty.

It didn't take long for the garden to be empty. Because it is done in a crowd, the work is completed faster.

They move all the vegetables to the kitchen to be washed before cooking.

Although the cottage has a cook but some students who devote themselves to boarding school always help serve cuisine for everyone.

"It's over?" Maryam approached Umar who was resting in the gazebo beside the house.

"Ummi." Umar shifted his seat to make room for Maryam. "Alhamdulilah there is free time on Sundays so you can harvest vegetables."

"There's no problem are you teaching at two campuses at once?"

"Inshaa Allah Umar can set the time, his class schedule also adjusts."

"How's the atmosphere?"

Getting such questions Umar thought back to the first time he set foot on the campus of Banyuwangi University. There were some people who were no strangers to Umar because they often participated in his studies. The atmosphere is not too different from other campuses where Umar teaches.

Umar was quite surprised to learn Atalie was studying at the campus. Their first meeting on campus was not good either. Atalie almost hit Umar's bike. From the beginning, Atalie was indeed a person who left a different impression for Umar.

"Not much different from Ibrahim Ummi." Umar finally.

"Your schedule is always busy, take a little time for yourself." Maryam rubbed the back of Umar's hand.

"I mean Ummi?"

"I mean Ummi you're an adult, marry a girl to perfect your religion."

"Is it because Umar is almost 30, Ummi is worried that no girl will want to be with Umar?"

"It's not so Umar." Maryam touched the back of Umar's hand.

"Is it because Mas Khalid was married at the age of 25?"

"Ummi didn't want to compare you to Mas Khalid but right now you deserve to get married."

"According to Ummi?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Then Ummi helped find a suitable girl, Umar believed in Ummi and Abi." Umar always wanted to please his parents so this is one way to achieve this. Umar always respected both of them and never opposed them.

Maryam's eyes glazed over, Umar was indeed a submissive child since childhood. Even after adulthood, Umar never changed.

Gaining Umar's trust, of course Maryam did not want to disappoint him. Maryam will choose a good girl for her son.

If Umar finds it difficult to find a partner then Maryam and Zaid are always ready to help.

"Umar take a bath first, get ready to pray dhuha." Umar went from there. His body was not sweating and he had to take a shower immediately.

*******

The princesses bowed in reverence as Umar passed through the corridor. Just like them, Umar also lowered his head. Actually, he rarely went to this area but because he had to pick up a book in the library near the princess dormitory then he had to come here.

Umar was not worried about the couple his parents would choose for him. But now he wondered who the woman Maryam and Zaid would choose. Umar's thoughts so bouncing, whether it's one of the santri here or the daughter of his parents' friends or it could be a girl that Umar never knew.

"Astaghfiullah!" The santri shouted as Umar suddenly fell down on the last staircase at the end of the corridor.

Umar closed his eyes, rather than feeling pain in his waist and forehead he thought more about how embarrassed he was to fall in front of the students. Umar did not dare to open his eyes, did he pretend to faint. No way, this huge body of his would not faint so easily. Even when he fell from the rambutan tree when he was a teenager he did not faint even though the tree was quite high.

Umar shouldn't be daydreaming while going down the stairs, he really wants to disappear right now. Unfortunately he was just an ordinary human who did not possess such superpowers.

Santri noisily ran towards Umar who was still unchanged from the prone position along the stairs. Fortunately, the sheath was not revealed, if it happened, Umar would be even more embarrassed.

"Let's Gus." Some of the students approached to extend their hands.

Umar opened his eyes, his face was already red especially after seeing the many santri that surrounded him. Umar's current position makes it very difficult for him to rise. He reached out holding the end of one of the santri's sleeves while his other hand grabbed the ladder's handle. The other Santri held onto Umar's arm, after helping with great difficulty because Umar's body was heavy they finally succeeded. Umar stood dazedly leaning on the edge of the stairs.

"Thank you." Umar said, his gaze traversed the stairs, looking for the sandal that had come off.

"Please Gus." Santri in a pink hijab who helped thrust the detached skullcap of Umar. Previously he rubbed the dust attached to the skull.

Umar accepted and thanked him again. Umar found the only flip-flops he had thrown under the red shoots. What is even worse is that the sandals broke off.

"Wear our slippers, Gus Umar cannot walk barefoot." Bargain them.

Umar noticed the feet of the santri who were around him, their legs were very small, of course, will not be enough for Umar's feet. Even if enough Umar is not possible to wear their sandals. It is better to walk barefoot.

"No, thank you for helping me." Umar nodded his head thanking them. Before going Umar took his sandals, who knows it can still be repaired. Those 10 thousand slippers should hold up on all fronts. But this time Umar had to buy new sandals, of course at a price that is not much different.

After Umar was not seen the santri back noisily recounting the incident just now. Not when Umar fell but when they helped one of the sons of the cabin's nanny.

"If I am told to choose between Gus Umar and Gus Ali, I choose Gus Umar, who is charismatic." Scream one of them.

"The problem is Gus Umar who does not want to be with us." Sahut santri pink hijab.

"Try to kiss your shirt, who knows there is a scent of Gus Umar left behind." They scrambled to kiss the end of the sleeves that Umar had been holding. Their conjecture was correct, the faint scent of musk could be sensed by their sense of smell.

"Don't wash for a week." Teach them.

"Relax, I'll hang it on the walls of the princess's dorm." Candanya.

Meanwhile, Umar walked to the library, age can not be lied to. Once fell his whole body immediately hurt, probably because rarely exercise. From now on Umar will pay more attention to his health.

Arriving at the library Umar immediately took the book by Muhammad al-Khudari about Islamic law. Fortunately the library was quiet so Umar could sit longer to rest his body.

"Why is your forehead?" Khalid approached Umar, just now he saw Umar enter the library so he followed him.

"Fall on the stairs just now." Umar pressed his forehead which felt throbbing and sore.

"Bloody that is." Khalid put away Umar's hand, "look."

Umar saw the blood on his hands, "but not ripped, right?" Ask tried to calm down, he did not want his forehead sewn.

"No but it must be cleaned quickly and given plaster."

"Later on." Umar still wants to sit here longer.

"You should also learn female fiqh to teach your wife later." Khalid sat down to join Umar.

"It is not the duty of women to learn fiqh for themselves."

"After becoming a husband, you will have to guide your wife, there is no harm in learning, you also do not know whether your wife will understand the law of fiqh or not."

Khalid's words were right, Umar did not think until there. He was only sure that Maryam and Zaid would choose a good wife of his religion. If so, of course, the woman understands the laws of Islam.

"Former brother Khawla was also the choice of Abah and Ummi," Umar put down his book, this time he looked at Khalid.

"Really, why?"

"Mbak Khawla understands very well about the science of religion is not just fiqh."

Khalid's smile rose, now he knew the way of Umar's mind.

"So you think, Mas no longer need to guide Mas's wife because he already understands about it then you will also do the same later?"

Umar nodded faintly.

"What is the function of marrying you?"

Umar could not answer that question.

"Learn a little." Khalid patted Umar on the shoulder before moving on from there.

After Khalid disappeared, Umar remained silent for a long time. He lost the desire to read the book in his hand.

"Assalamualaikum Gus, sorry." A man approached Umar.

"Mosur." Reply Umar.

"Gus Khalid asked me to deliver this to Gus Umar." Santri was carrying a pair of flip-flops exactly like Umar's.

Umar thanked the santri. It turned out that Khalid realized that Umar was not wearing footwear and immediately gave a new one. Khalid did not notice Umar's feet.