The Gema Shahadah Aisyah
Pilgrimage

Aisyah's car stopped at the campus yard that was already deserted, she was about to pick up Umar at the campus which was once a place to study for two years to get a master's degree.

Aisyah got down from the car circulating her gaze around, although there were not many memories but sometimes she missed the lecture atmosphere. Aisyah regrets that she used to limit her interactions with her college friends. They can get a lot of experience from others. Now he felt himself knowing nothing. He was immersed in his own life that had been arranged by his parents.

From a distance Umar saw the figure of Aisyah, he accelerated his spontaneous steps widening a smile even though Aisyah had not seen it. It was the first time Aisyah had picked up Umar at the college. Umar had issued a motorbike but Aisyah forced him to take her to campus. Coincidentally Aisyah was also about to go to her parents' house.

"Assalamualaik." Umar said his regards.

Aisha turned her head to answer the greeting and kissed Umar's hand. Aisha turned to her right and left and kissed Umar on the cheek. Getting such a sudden kiss Umar was surprised, his cheeks flushed while Aisyah could not help but laugh. Aisha once did this suddenly to Umar.

"My wife is so naughty." Umar pulled Aisyah's hand and took her into the car before anyone saw them, although he believed all the students had left the campus. But it is not impossible that there are guards or other lecturers around there.

"You can hug?" Aisyah put on a clear face, because this was the first day they started working so Aisyah felt really missed Umar. Maybe this is how it feels to fall in love, Aisyah can not be far from Umar.

"Can." Umar pulled Aisha into his arms, "today tired huh?"

"Lumayan but I'm happy to meet and talk a lot of things Mama, Mama also nemenin choose the material for the hijab that I want to make."

"Is the money that bad enough?"

"Enough, I don't want to do much first."

"Hopefully your efforts are smooth, dear." Umar kissed the top of Aisha's head and then broke the embrace. They will go to Lumajang to visit the Abizar family as well as a pilgrimage to the tomb of Hilya. Aisha had also bought many gifts for the Abizar family.

"Aamiin, doain me Mas." Aisyah put up the seat belt as well as Umar. "Your prayers must be easier to accept."

"I always pray for you but why say that?" Umar stepped on the gas pedal carrying the car they were riding out slowly from the campus courtyard.

"The level of faith Mas Umar will be higher far above me so—"

"That we judge our faith is only God dear and granted or not is also God's secret, which we must know is that the prayers cannot be in vain."

"Oh yeah?"

"The prayer must be granted and if it is not in our favor, God will either replace it with a much better one or be a mountainous reward in the hereafter."

"Kok Allah is very good, Mas, we have been created and given sustenance and ease that we can not count."

"God is Most Merciful, Most Merciful, when do you realize how good God is to us?"

"When I got to know Islam and prayed every night to be with Mas and then the miracle happened, the man who never even looked at me when I talked said he wanted to marry me."

"If you think about it now it seems like I liked Aisyah from the very beginning we met."

Aisyah sneered in disbelief, "didn't Mas Umar hate me?"

"I told you I never hated Aisha."

"Why did you always get tired?"

"It was to cover up my feelings, when I found out you were non-Muslim I felt hurt, I didn't even realize it was hurt, I don't know, I was confused because I never felt anything like it."

"Let's live together for a long time."

"Of course it's dear."

The boarding house is still crowded by mourners even after seven days since Hilya's death. They came from outside the region who knew Abizar and Aminah well.

"Gus Umar?" Someone rebuked when Umar and Ayesha just got out of the car.

Aisyah is not surprised if Umar has many acquaintances because in addition to kyai's son, Umar also often attended lectures in various cities. Aisyah knew this after marriage because previously the only source of information that she could come from Ayana, even that was not much. Now Aisyah has a lifetime not only to find out about Umar but also to spend the rest of her life with him.

Umar greeted the man in his 50s and asked him how he was doing. Umar chatted briefly with some people he knew there as well as introducing Aisyah.

"So Gus Umar is married when I intend to introduce Gus to my daughter." Crack one of the mothers.

Umar chuckled softly in response to the joke. Aisyah laughed when the joke was not funny at all, whether she also had to get used to such jokes.

"Who was it?"

"Dad." Aisyah replied, one more thing, she also had to get used to Ning's call. Aisyah did not know if she would be called Ning after marrying Umar.

"Your name is as pretty as hers."

Aisyah thanked him for the compliment, "let's go in Mas." His whisper to Umar.

Umar decided to go and meet Abizar and Aminah first.

"Ummi, how's Ummi?" Aisha experienced Aminah and embraced her, now she also has ummi besides Maryam.

"Ummi's fine, what'd you bring this much?"

"This is a typical souvenir of Banyuwangi, I've promised Ning Hilya to take him while visiting."

Aminah's smile suddenly vanished hearing Aisyah's reply, her eyes dimmed but she immediately put on a smile again.

"Sorry Ummi." Aisha noticed the change in Aminah's face.

"Thank you for keeping your promise Aisyah, Ummi is fine." Aminah invited Umar to sit down and took Aisha to another room. Male and female guests are in separate rooms.

Aisyah saw Aminah still wearing her beaded bracelet. Aminah looks so fragile even outside she tries to look tough. Sometimes when alone he wanted to get angry because Hilya so quickly left him. Sometimes he thought if if Hilya married Umar, Hilya was still in his arms. But Aminah soon realized that what happened was the will of God.

"After the many students who are helping to prepare food and wash dishes, can help Ummi to share your gifts with them?"

"Of course Ummi."

"Ummi will leave some."

"I have prepared it for Ummi and Kyai Abizar." Aisyah gave paper bag with a smaller size to Aminah.

Aisyah went to the back to divide the souvenirs for the santri. They welcomed Aisha well. When the adzan magrib is heard they immediately head to the musholla for congregational prayer. Aisha could not find Umar when she came out but she was not worried because Aminah was with her.

Although the sky was dark, Aisha and Umar went to Hilya's tomb and prayed there. Hilya's pusara is filled with piles of colorful flowers from the pilgrims.

Although the figure is no longer there but the kindness of Hilya will always be remembered. Aisyah will also always remember Hilya as the kindest hearted woman she has ever known. Their meeting was very short but full of meaning. Aisyah still remembered every sentence Hilya said back then.