The Gema Shahadah Aisyah
Birthday Anniversary

Sunday morning the sun shines brightly, unlike the usual holiday—the santri rush to gather in the field to take part in the race. Independence Day celebrations are familiar with competitions such as sack racing, tug of war, eating crackers to climbing pins. The managers have prepared a special race for santri. Making calligraphy, reciting verses, poetry readings, flour relay and other competitions that are no less fun.

They have been waiting for the August race moment where all students can laugh freely without thinking about school lessons. They need that kind of entertainment too.

Aisyah also participated in preparing the race, her days were busy with boutiques, home renovations, sewing, translating comics and learning the Qur'an. Aisyah had almost no free time but she was happy to do so.

The noise of santri has been heard, starting with the sack race. 10 santri people are at the starting line, other students cheering on the sidelines. Men on the left side and women on the right. They held up a red and white flag for encouragement.

"Let's go, the race has started." Aisyah pulled the hand of Umar who was changing his clothes with a T-shirt.

"You're so excited, it's just a regular Augustus race."

Aisyah had never seen the Augustan race before, in school there was never a race held. That's why Aisyah is very excited to watch the race.

"But Daniel." Aisyah was surprised to see Daniel get off the parked car in front of the house. Daniel didn't say he was coming. "Aren't you going to church?"

Instead of answering, Daniel smiled meaningfully which made Aisha confused. Daniel took a cake out of his car.

"Brave birthday!" Daniel stepped closer, he deliberately came early in the morning to surprise Aisyah on her birthday.

Aisyah widened in shock, she even forgot that today was her birthday. The rush made Aisyah forget.

"I really don't remember." Aisha received a small cake in Daniel's hand and hugged her sister. "Xie-xie yes."

"May my brother always be happy and all his wishes come true."

"Aamiin, you too." Aisha kissed Daniel's cheeks. "Let's go in." Bring Aisyah.

Umar had been waiting for Aisha at the door, he was not among the people who celebrated his birthday but that did not mean he did not remember if today was Aisha's birthday.

"I wanted to be first but Daniel was ahead of me." Umar hugged Aisha praying kindness for his wife and then kissed her forehead.

"Should have woken up earlier Mas immediately said happy birthday to Kak Atalie." Daniel went in and took the cake in Aisha's hand to put on the table. Although small but the cake is quite heavy, Daniel ordered it since a week ago specifically Aisyah.

"She forgot." Aisyah said, she went to the kitchen for a while to pick up a small plate.

"Dear, I didn't forget." Umar caught up with Aisyah sitting on the sofa. Aisyah was preparing to cut the cake.

Aisha separated the cake for Maryam and Zaid first then Khalid and Khawla.

"That's why it's so rame, what's wrong?" Ask Daniel.

"Children't in the race, you want to see?"

"Take care."

"First feed to my handsome husband, who has brown skin and a thin beard." Aisha prepared a cake for Umar.

"Why should you mention her features, your husband is only one."

Aisyah only grinned in response to Umar's remarks, believe it or not almost every time Aisyah admired Umar's mature skin.

"And for the one and only my sister who must miss her brother every time."

Daniel did not comment because his mouth was full of cookies.

"Before a minute, I'll call Ali first so you can go to the field." Umar left there and picked up Ali to take Daniel to the field.

"I'll go first." Daniel came out with Ali, he came at the right time because just like Aisyah, he had never seen such a race either.

Applause and shouts of santri filled the field, when someone accidentally fell they laughed. Daniel is also enthusiastic about seeing the race as well as Ali.

"You're starting college?" Ask Daniel.

"Not yet, next month may be just an introduction at the Surabaya campus after enough lecture activities from here, if you?"

"Next month I go to the cottage."

"Isn't this place also a cottage?"

"Emang yes but in this cottage there is no college so I went to the same boarding school as Mas Umar, in Nurul Jadid."

Daniel mangosteen understood. Their conversation is interrupted when Khalid invites Ali and Daniel to a sack race. The two children immediately accepted Khalid's invitation. Daniel has seen how to play sack racing, he is confident.

Umar and Aisyah joined the others watching the race. Aisyah recorded the video as Daniel jumped around in the sack trying to get ahead of Ali. But the agile and experienced Ali managed to get to the finish line at the fastest beat 7 other participants.

Santri women whisper in praise of Ali— Kyai's only unmarried son. It is no secret that their 3 Gus has always been an idol in the pesantren. Not only handsome, they are also hafidz Qur'an, knowledgeable and charismatic except for Ali who is more humorous.

Ali laughed at Daniel who was last. Daniel's face flushed red, his breathing was wheezing and his body was full of sweat.

"Where's my brother?" Ali grabbed Daniel's shoulder.

The other race continues no less exciting until entering the sublime time. They rushed to clean themselves and flocked to the musholla.

*******

Tumpeng rice was in the middle of the room, Maryam was in the kitchen since morning to prepare a celebration to coincide with the birthday of Aisyah. Food boxes are neatly arranged which will be distributed to the students.

Aisyah thanked Maryam for preparing this for her. This was the most memorable birthday for her, the atmosphere was different from previous years. Usually Renata would buy cakes and invite friends from the church community to celebrate the anniversary. This time the people present were much more.

Zaid led the prayer, praying kindness for Aisha and her marriage to Umar. They prayed that Aisha should always be in the way of Allah and be pacified in goodness.

Aisyah cuts tumpeng that has been decorated and equipped with side dishes, dried tempeh, grilled chicken, parchment and fried noodles.

"Let Ummi feed you first." Mary fed Aisha with her hands, rice and dried tempeh which she cooked herself. "Where?"

"As usual Ummi's cooking is always delicious." Aisha also fed Maryam and Zaid, who initially refused but forced her.

"May my wife always be in the protection of Allah." Umar hugged Aisyah for a moment, actually he wanted to linger but there were many santri who watched them. "And always be with me the love of God."

They distributed food to the santri, Daniel who was also still there shared food. After that they ate together.

"Sister, I go home first yes, later Brother and Mas Umar to the house ya." Daniel said goodbye to the others.

"Yes, I promised Mama I'd go there, be careful."

"Don't you rush home anyway?" Ali said, he was happy to have a playmate like Daniel. At least they can talk a lot before leaving to continue their respective lectures.

"You go to church first, my brother." Daniel mimics Ali's style of speech when calling him brother. It sounds funny but familiar at once.

*******

There was no specific agreement on how many times Aisha and Umar would stay at Ayesha's parents' house in one month. Umar frees Aisyah to take her to stay overnight whenever Aisyah misses her parents.

Aisyah helped prepare the evening with the cook and ART, it was something she never did before. But now that Aisyah was used to doing it, she moved the dishes to the dining table and helped as much as she could. After everything was ready, Aisyah called her mother and papa who were in the back garden with Umar. Whereas Daniel without being summoned already had the instinct to go downstairs and eat together.

"This is special for you." Renata brought a plate of noodles closer to Aisyah. Noodle dishes that must be present on birthdays become a symbol of longevity.

"This year and the years after that there will only be halal food on the table every time you come." Jaya.

"Thank you Pa." Aisha and Umar answered simultaneously.

At first it was difficult to adjust but Aisyah believed they would get used to the change.

"So how is your home remodeling?Ask Renata.

"Everything is good Ma, maybe next week can already be occupied."

"Do you like that house?" Jaya also asked, he had seen the house that Umar had just bought. It was an ordinary house that was far from good, the advantages were only in the spacious courtyard.

"Like it, it's enough for both of us and other advantages I will not be tired of cleaning because the house is not too broad."

"Are you sure you don't want to use ART?"

Aisyah shook her head, she did not want any ART in her house. Aisyah can clean the house herself, Umar is also always ready to help her.

Aisyah's purpose was to stay at her parents' house as well because she wanted to sew clothes using Hilya's cloth. Aisha measured Umar's body, she would make clothes for Umar and himself. Aisyah did not know when they would wear the shirt, she had not thought about it.

"Batik is beautiful." Aisyah stretched the cloth, she had made a pattern with newspaper. Aisyah could find a pile of old newspapers in the warehouse because her papa always read the newspaper every morning.

"It'll be more beautiful after my wife sews it."

"You know how wide you are." Aisyah looked at the record of Umar's body size. "I'm afraid I don't get into the fabric."

"I'm not that big."

"Try me again." Aisha approached Umar but he did not carry a measuring instrument in his hand.

"How'd it go?" Umar was confused when Aisha spread her hands.

"Look this." Instead of measuring Umar's body, Aisha embraced him.

"My wife is good at flirting." Umar returned Aisha's embrace tighter. Aisyah's face was drowned in the chest of Umar's field. Before becoming a wife, Aisyah was good at teasing Umar.