The Love of Habib
Chapters 26.9

Behind Grandfather, there was a middle-aged man wrapped in a white turban who was already familiar to many people. He was a great figure, a habib who did proselytizing wherever the foot stepped. Only now, his body began to ache and his vision became unclear, he began to rarely appear in public to preach. Except at home, he rarely appeared anywhere else.

"God, Habib Alamshah! Why is the master teacher here?"

"It's habib Alamsyah, it's been a long time since he's appeared on TV. I thought I'd never see his face again.."

Voices full of shock immediately flooded the court room. Pondok pesantren once again shocked by the arrival of a great figure of Muslims in the country. He was habib Alamsyah, a great teacher who immortalized part of his life to do proselytizing and spreading the teachings of Islam. He is famous for his soothing, peaceful and fearless preaching. His struggle is always remembered in the hearts of many Muslims no matter whether they are old or young. The name of Habib Alamsyah is always alive.

Due to the arrival of habib Alamsyah, the matter today was suddenly forgotten just like that.

"Grandfather!" Aish was happy to see Grandpa finally coming. He knew Grandpa would never let him be bullied.

"Uncle!" Aunt Rumi could not help but hold a smile on her face when she saw Habib Alamsyah coming here. Without waiting for Habib Alamsyah to come to him, he immediately ran to the Habib Alamsyah and hugged him dear. Habib Alamsyah is the uncle and father in his life. Because since Abah and Uma left, the role of parents in the family was replaced by habib Alamsyah.

Grandfather looked at Habib Alamsyah with a smile, then he waved his hand at Aish.

"Get to Grandpa." Whisper the habib while guiding his wife to walk closer to Grandpa.

"Grandfather, I'm so happy to see Grandpa." Then he he glanced at the middle-aged man beside Grandpa who was being embraced by Aunt Rumi.

Since Rumi's aunt has a close relationship with Habib Alamsyah, then Aish should have a relationship with her as well. But he was very embarrassed to recognize Habib Alamsyah first. Fear rejected.

"He's your grandfather too, precisely your Mama's Uncle." Grandpa said in response to Aish's curiosity.

Aish nodded. He suddenly felt very nervous.

"Rumi, where's the kid, son?" Habib Alamsyah asked in a very soft weak voice.

Aunt Rumi's eyes glazed over. He then directed Habib Alamsyah to approach Aish.

"He's here, Uncle."

Habib Alamsyah lowered his head to look at a beautiful girl who was looking at him with eyes of curiosity. There was no fear there, but shame was so inherent in those eyes.

"Arumi, Son... Are you Arumi?" Habib Alamsyah asked as he reached out his old hand touching Aish's red face.

"He's not Arumi's brother, Uncle. She is Aisha Rumaisha, my sister's daughter. Doesn't her face look a lot like my sister's? As long as Uncle knows, not only is his face similar but also his stubborn nature is very similar to my brother. They both seem to come out of the same mold.."

Habib Alamsyah was silent. His old eyes stared at Aish's soft face fixedly as if trying to print this face as deep as possible in his memory.

"True, he looks a lot like your brother. Qodarullah, all these years I have missed Arumi, finally Allah let me see Arumi's face in my grandson. You are so beautiful, son. Even Grandpa feels that you're prettier than your Mom, don't you, Rumi?"

Aunt Rumi nodded her head bitterly.

"She's a lot prettier than my sister. If Arumi's sister is still alive, she'll probably yell at all of us and show off her daughter's beauty to us." His brother is this kind of person.

"It's okay... You're finally back at your house, son. Grandpa won't let you go again." Habib Alamsyah took Aish into his warm embrace.

"Thank you Grandpa.I'm so happy.."

This was the first time they met but it was strange, Aish suddenly felt very longing when embraced by the habib Alamsyah. All his tiredness seemed to get the antidote he was looking for. She eventually meets people who really appreciate and love her.

"Uncle.." Amidst the shock of all about Aish's unexpected identity, Father ventured to speak to Habib Alamsyah.

He was surprised many times today. And what surprised him the most was that his own father, Grandfather, had taken his place as guardian when Aish married the habib.

Habib Alamsyah glanced at Grandfather before lingering on Father's face.

"I was once the guardian of the marriage between you and one of my daughters, Arumi. But you have disappointed me. If I don't see Arumi, I don't want to deal with you anymore because it's because of you my daughter is devastated. A few years ago Arumi sent me a letter, asking me to be a witness if one day Aish and Habib Thalib got married. And as her parents, I accepted her request. Then 5 years ago, I was invited by your father to attend the wedding of Aish and Habib Thalib in the Islamic hospital. This marriage was not registered in the country because my grandson was 13 years old. But 13 years is already puberty in Islam and their marriage is legal." Habib Alamsyah coughed as he explained the ins and outs of Aish and Habib Talib's marriage several years ago.

"Grandfather.." Aish's whisper was both sad and touched.

Habib Alamsyah smiled softly. His old hand touched the top of Aish's head while throwing a prayer in his heart.

O Allah, bless my grandchildren with your extensive knowledge and pleasure. Protect my grandson whenever and wherever he is. I leave all my business to You, O God. Batin habib Alamsyah.

"13 years is a very small age to me. At first I rejected the idea of early marriage. However, because habib Thalib gave the certainty that he would not touch Aish until adulthood, I accepted and the marriage was carried out. From the secrets we revealed it was impossible if Aish harmed her own husband and trapped him with another woman. These allegations are completely absurd. As for the witness from the santriwati earlier, he was clearly lying. He fabricated and slandered Aish blatantly. But the thing is, you actually believe what the santriwati said. I really can't speak for you." Grandfather sadly had failed to raise a son whom he had been proud of all this time.

Up to this point he wonders What makes his love for Aish and Aira one-sided?