The Gema Shahadah Aisyah
Monthversaries

A glass of warm tea is ready on the tray with fried bananas made by Aisyah that gives off the scent of vanilla. Aisyah often saw her mama making cakes, vanilla powder was never left behind was always added to the cake batter.

"I smell like my wife's fried banana." Umar appeared behind Aisyah, he was proud because now Aisyah could not brew tea but also make fried bananas. As most people say it is a trivial thing but for Umar, nothing is trivial. Every progress that Aisyah showed was always meaningful.

"Have a month of marriage." Aisha put the fried banana into Umar's mouth.

Umar chuckled to welcome the fried banana with pleasure and chewed it.

"Why laugh?"

"Does every day feel so heavy that you always count them?"

Aisyah shook her head, "it is precisely because every day feels precious that I count."

"It's been a month, thank you." Umar rubbed Aisyah's cheeks, inserting the child's hair that poked from her hijab.

"What's it for?"

"For all the time, energy and thought you devote to learning many things."

"I also want to say thank you for Gus Umar being the most patient husband in the world." Aisyah embraces Umar's arm, hopefully no santri suddenly enters the kitchen. This is not their cooking schedule.

"You want to stay together?" Umar had been thinking about it for a long time since he heard Aisyah's conversation with one of the santri in the kitchen. Umar did not want Aisha to be looked at one eye. Aisha was a precious wife to Umar.

"Hm?" Ayesha's eyebrows shot up, why all of a sudden

"Two, in a house where there's only us."

Aisyah wanted to answer yes immediately but she was worried about making Umar offended. It's not that Aisyah doesn't like living here, she enjoys learning things. Aisyah is just a little uncomfortable with some of the santri who often underestimate her.

"If my savings are enough to buy a house, not big but more than enough for us, one of the lecturers recommended a house near the Poliwangi campus, you want to see?"

Aisyah nodded rubbing her suddenly wet eyes, she did not expect that Umar would notice her in such detail. Aisyah never complained about staying here but Umar understood.

"I'll drop tea for Abah first."

"Yes, be careful, baby." Umar saw Aisha leaving the kitchen. Aisyah regularly makes tea for Zaid every afternoon after the Ashar prayer. So far Zaid has been willing to talk longer with Aisyah. It was also good news since Zaid was finally able to accept Ayesha's existence.

"The God of Abah." Aisyah put the tea and fried banana near Zaid sitting cross-legged in the middle room. Zaid's right hand was busy scrolling the prayer beads while his mouth was unceasingly whispering dhikr.

Zaid glanced at Aisyah for a moment then closed his eyes again.

"Dad."

Aisyah stopped her movement, she was about to leave from there. There is usually not much conversation between them. Aisyah just delivered tea and then moved after Zaid said thanks. Even so Aisyah was happy every time she heard Zaid thank you. There was at least one word that Aisha heard from her in-laws.

"How does your Quran recite, have a good time?" Zaid raised his face staring at Aisyah completely. It had been a month since Aisha got married but Zaid had not paid any attention to Aisha at all. In the past Zaid himself said that Aisha needed guidance.

"Mmm about that, I also don't know if it can be called smooth or not."

"Don't Umar teach you?"

"Mas Umar always taught me Bah, but actually Mas Umar was a little fierce." Aisha whispered as she said Umar fiercely. Actually Umar was only firm when teaching Aisha but still Aisyah felt Umar was angry.

"He's fierce with you?"

"I-iya Bah, I'm a little scared." Aisyah suddenly found a way to get closer to Zaid.

"Next Abah rebukes to be more gentle with his wife."

"Eh, no need Bah, how about I study with Abah?"

"Are you sure you want to learn from Abah?"

"Yes, I have long wanted to learn the Qur'an with Abah."

"Then you start tonight you learn from Abah."

"Seriously Bah?" Aisyah.

Zaid nodded, he never lied.

"Thank you Bah, if you'll excuse me." Aisyah left the living room with a blooming smile.

Umar who deliberately waited for Aisyah out of the room was astonished to see the wife smiling widely. Aisyah was there a little longer than usual. Umar suspected that there was good news about Aisha's attempt to approach Abah.

"What's wrong?"

"What's that?"

"Yes I said that Mas Umar is fierce so I want to learn with Abah."

"Dear alas, I have been fierce with you." Umar grabbed Aisyah's hand grasping it.

"You're so fierce."

"I've been softer than you."

"Aisyah is not Sa' but Syin, Ayesha pay attention to my mouth, Aisha I told you held two harakat, Aisha is less long, Aisha is too short." Aisha imitated Umar's style while teaching him to read the Qur'an, which made Umar laugh at him.

"I'm sorry."

"But I'm still murojaah same Mas ya."

"Of course, I won't be rude anymore."

"Mas Umar wait in the gazebo, yes, I take the same fried banana tea first." Aisyah rushed to the kitchen while Umar took the mushaf in the room and waited in the front gazebo. They used to murojaah every afternoon in the gazebo accompanied by fried bananas, boiled sweet potatoes or fried cassava. Aisyah more spirit if in the middle murojaah can chew food. Umar also did not forbid it, the important thing is that the wife is happy.

******

The car Umar was driving stopped in front of a one-story house with a black fence. The large yard can accommodate up to five cars. It was a house recommended by one of Umar's lecturers. At that time Umar was thinking of finding a place to live and his friend recommended a new house abandoned by his old residents to another city.

"Buy on the Bride." Aisyah got out of the car after Umar opened the door for her.

The house is not located in a strategic area, the location of other houses is also quite far apart. Umar confirmed once again the location of the house with the address sent by his friend.

"Yes, that's why it's cheaper."

A man in his 40s approached them, he was the middleman of the homeowner and prospective buyers.

Umar said his greetings and shook the man's hand. They had a conversation on the phone yesterday, Umar said he would look around the house today. So after returning from campus, Umar picked up Aisyah at the boutique and came here.

"Gus Umar Kyai Zaid's son huh?" The man knew the figure of Umar.

"True to me."

"I Budi happened to be his sister who owned a house, I do not suspect if the prospective buyer of this house is Gus Umar."

Umar nodded politely, "this is my wife."

"Let's go in Gus, Ning."

The courtyard of the house was planted with grass that looked well-groomed. If you look to the left side there is a lush mango tree.

First of all they enter the living room which has a sofa and a long table. The interior is white without any painting. In the corner of the room there are artificial flowers and a small table. Separated by wooden partitions, the middle space is wider than the living room.

The main room has a bathroom and is more spacious than the other rooms. At the back is the kitchen as well as the dining room and bathroom are somewhat hidden. The kitchen door leads directly to the backyard which is also spacious. Household buildings only fill a quarter of the total land.

"It's an old house so it might need some renovations in some parts."

"No problem, my wife and I will talk about it again, I will contact Mas Budi as soon as possible."

"Okay Gus, I'm waiting for news from Gus Umar and Ning Aisyah."

Umar thanked Budi for accompanying them to see the house. Umar then left from there.

"What do you think, baby?" Umar stepped on the gas pedal carrying the car through a small road in a not-so-dense housing. The right left of the road began to be installed pennants and red and white flags entered August. "You like her?"

"I kind of like the house, I'm sure you like it too because the yard is wide and you can grow crops there, the garden is wider than the garden in the pesantren."

"You're right, but the house isn't too big."

"No problem Mas, we just need to replace the bathroom ceramic and the roof of the living room that he said leaked."

Umar nodded, one hand reaching Aisha's hand to hold her. Aisyah turned her head to review the smile returning Umar's grasp.

"Are you sure you want to sell that car?"

"Yes, the car is old and often stuck in the middle of the road." Umar will sell his car.

"For renovation costs let me handle it."

"All right."