The Gema Shahadah Aisyah
Weird Girl

After praying dhuha and murojaah while waiting for the sublime time, Umar weed the grass in the garden behind the house that began to flourish between his mustard plants and tomatoes. In addition to mustard and tomatoes, there are carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, celery and chili. The harvest from the garden that is not too broad will usually be processed to eat with the santri.

Umar also planted various fruits and tubers. Bananas, star fruit, crystal guava, cassava and sweet potato that can be harvested today. Umar will pull it out later in the afternoon when the sun is not too stinging.

Monday to Friday Umar was already busy with teaching activities on campus, he only had two days to take care of his garden.

The sun was about to reach overhead, sweat dripping on Umar's temple. The T-shirt Umar was wearing was also soaked in sweat.

"It's noon, take a break." Zaid came from the back door of the house that was directly connected to the garden.

"Bah Stage." Umar uprooted a mustard plant that withered and nearly died. He sowed new mustard seeds so that there was no empty land and then watered them with a little water.

"Why don't you wear a hat, your face can be burnt by the sun." Zaid sat in a saung that was on the edge of the garden.

Umar chuckled, he didn't even notice that. Parents are more attentive than themselves. Umar decided to take a short break in the saung.

Umar gulped down a bottle of water he carried from the house to the toilet. He threw a glance at his garden which was soon to harvest. The most fun thing when gardening is the harvest. Usually Umar will be helped by several male students.

"You know Hilya?"

Umar turned his head to look at Zaid who was sitting beside him. He seemed to think before answering Zaid's question.

"Hilya's daughter Kyai Abizar?"

"True, tomorrow they'll come here, what time are you coming home from college?"

"Maybe it's a bit of a late night because there's also a study in the mosque."

"Can't get home early, maybe they'll be here before magrib."

"But aren't they going to visit Abah?"

"Yes but Kyai Abizar wants to see you too, last time here you were in college a few years ago."

"Then Umar will try to go home before they come."

Their conversation came to a halt when a princess came.

"Assalamualaikum Ustadz."

"Mosur." Umar straightened his body, a santri princess standing near the garden fence seemed hesitant as if she was about to say something. "What's wrong?" Ask.

"At the front there are women looking for Ustadz."

"Women?" Umar frowned, no woman had ever come here to look for him.

"True Ustadz."

"Who?"

"Ah that I forgot to ask her name but—" she scratched her non-itchy nape.

"But what?" Judging from the look on his face, the santri was about to explain something but could not choose the right sentence to say.

"Umar, see for yourself there." Zaid touched Umar's shoulder.

"Now Abah." Umar immediately descended from the saung according to his brother's orders.

Umar went first, wondering who the woman who came looking for him was. Umar believes he has no appointments with anyone, especially women.

Santri Putri looked crowded in front of the gate while santri men also noisily in front of the mosque. Umar further accelerated the curious steps with women who had made the santri noisier.

Umar's steps came to a halt when he saw his Ummi was already among the crowd of female students. Somehow Umar did not feel good to see the sight.

"Everybody go back to their rooms." Say Maryam, "we are ready to pray sublimely."

The santri slowly dispersed while whispering to each other, a whisper that Umar could not hear.

Umar tried to see someone who was in front of him a few meters but was blocked by Maryam.

"Ummi." Call Umar.

Maryam turned her back so Umar could see the figure of the woman who he said came to look for her.

Umar was surprised to see the woman turned out to be Atalie. Umar was struck by lightning in the hot sun. The sweat dripping on his face suddenly froze as well as his brain.

Perhaps Umar would not be too surprised if Atalie came with the appearance as he usually sees in the mosque. But different story if—

"He's looking for you." Tukas Maryam's.

"Umar doesn't know him Ummi." Umar looked down at the ground he was treading in shame.

Atalie's appearance certainly made everyone surprised Maryam was no exception. But Maryam tried to hide her surprise. Atalie was wearing a light blue knit longsleeve and white sepaha pants revealing her pure white legs. The Saturn-shaped tattoo on Atalie's calf also does not escape vision.

"He wants to return the book you lent him."

Umar saw two books in Atalie's hands, one of which was his. Right too, he gave the book to Atalie yesterday. Umar didn't think Atalie would return him here.

Now Umar regretted writing his home address in every book he bought. Initially it was intended that if the book was lost and found by someone, then that person would easily return it to its owner. Umar even put his phone number there.

Atalie develops a smile at Umar, though full of sweat but Umar still looks handsome. Conscious Atalie!

"Give the book to my Ummi and leave immediately." Umar said in a cold tone.

The smile on Atalie's face faded, why did Umar expel him. If he will not linger here and definitely go home without Umar telling him to.

Atalie gave the book to a woman dressed in black and covered clothing whom Umar called Ummi.

"Thank you." Atalie said in a soft voice almost inaudible.

"Don't go, 'cause you've been here let's go in for a while, Nduk."

"No need to be Ummi." Atalie goes to call Ummi.

Mary smiled, "it's okay, come on." He pulls Atalie into the house before more students see Atalie.

Atalie sits on the living room couch while Umar has disappeared not knowing where.

"My name is Maryam, Ummi is Umar."

"Ummi is the same as Mama, if you can know whose name you are?"

"I'm sorry I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Atalie, then I'll just call Auntie." Atalie reached out a hand that was immediately greeted by Maryam.

"It doesn't matter to call Ummi." Maryam doesn't mind if Atalie calls her Ummi like the santri here.

Atalie nodded faintly.

"You're Umar's friend?"

"No, actually I've never spoken to Umar, I just come to his study often." Atalie wanted to be friends with Umar but it seemed that the man had already built a sturdy wall between them.

"Only?"

"With two of my friends."

"You can also come to my study after dawn."

"Body?" Atalie mendelik, he usually woke up at 10 even then if there is no lecture or morning worship. "Body is—"

"About half 5."

"I never actually woke up that early."

Maryam smiled at Atalie's honesty, "awhile ya." He got off the couch leaving Atalie.

Atalie spread her gaze throughout. Although not as big as his house but Atalie feels comfortable here.

"Why did Umar upset me?" Atalie again grimly remembered Umar's words earlier. "He's just a good bookmaker, I can buy my own book too." His grunt.

Maryam found Khawla in the kitchen with some of the students cutting vegetables for lunch.

"Khawla, please make tea for the guests up front." Pinta Maryam's.

"Okay Ummi, I'll be dropping you off in the living room soon."

"Thank you."

"Together Ummi."

Atalie immediately put on a smile to see Maryam again carrying the chopped starfruit.

"It's leatherback from the back garden of the house, please."

Atalie took one starfruit and devoured it. The water from sweet star fruit is very refreshing especially when the weather is hot like now.

"Such sweet to Ummi." Atalie had never eaten star fruit before. It seems to taste really good.

"Umar planted it."

Atalie stopped chewing on Umar's name, and he was upset with him.

"This is Ummi's tea." Khawla put a glass of tea on the table.

"Thank you Khawla." Maryam.

Atalie saw a woman named Khawla, she wondered if she was Umar's wife? Atalie was curious but had no right to ask.

"I'm sorry I've been troubling a lot of people." Atalie so bad because his arrival had made a scene. First he did not know what a boarding school was, second he did not know if everyone in the boarding school was wearing clothes covered like Maryam. If you know, Atalie will change clothes with a more closed one before coming here. Knowledge is generally very little.

Khawla returns to the kitchen after delivering tea to Atalie. He was surprised to see the guest Maryam was talking about, and he hoped the guest would not notice.

"It's our duty to entertain guests even if it's just a glass of tea."

"This is more than enough, Ummi." Atalie took a sip of that jasmine-scented tea. "Ah hot!" He was shocked when the tea liquid touched the surface of his tongue.

Crazy Atalie, you are not sane! Obviously the tea is still smoky.

"Slow Nduk." Maryam wiped the tea that spilled onto Atalie's thigh.

"Ah yes Ummi." Atalie's eyes were watering from the hot tea. He went back to devouring a piece of starfruit to relieve the heat on his tongue.

"You're still in college?"

"I'm the last semester of Ummi's master management program."

"Ummi, soon to be sublime." Umar emerged from another room in the house, he had changed clothes. It was no longer a t-shirt soaked in sweat.

"Ummi knows."

"Then I say good." Atalie wants to go see Umar immediately.

"You haven't had your tea yet."

Atalie sipped the hot tea up the toilet no matter if it would burn her throat. The important thing is that he can get out of here.

Maryam came along as Atalie got up from the sofa.

"Ummi don't have to take me forward, thanks for the tea and the star fruit." Atalie stepped quickly out of the house towards the gate. He also parked his car there.

Maryam saw Atalie's back drifting away and into a white car parked in front of the gate.

"She's Atalie, you call that weird girl?" Maryam looked at Umar who was sitting on the sofa in place of Atalie.

"Sorry Ummi, Umar doesn't know if he's coming here."

"Why apologize, he came because he wanted to return the book you lent."

"Maybe his appearance surprised Ummi, next time Umar will not invite him to talk let alone lend a book."

"Ummi is surprised but we mustn't hate him."

Umar was silent, he just did not like to see the appearance of Atalie who was too sexy and his courage came here. Atalie could have returned the book when they met at the mosque.