THE RELIGIOUS SHORT STORY GROUP
MUHASSABAH LOVE

Slowly the nurse opened the plaster wrapped around part of my head. Covering up all the views that have long been dark, since the accident that hit me a few years ago. From there I began to lose all the charm of the beauty of this world, through these two blind eyeballs.

At that time, I was in a hurry to get off campus. Time to go home to see Mamah who is lying in the hospital. My mind was full of questions. Raging until loss of consciousness. Until then suddenly a car threw me in the air and threw hard on the hot asphalt that was being burned by the sun.

A moment of extreme pain hit the eyelid, then slowly the view was away from real life. Sayup slowly there were some voices and screams calling my name. The scream was still ringing caught in the eardrum, then gone and silent. Changing the color of the deep black engulfs the entire conscious.

Next, I found myself lying in pain still whack in some parts of the body. Waking up yet still feels like falling asleep. Though you know, it has opened these two eyes wide. It even turned its back with all its might to stare at itself in complete darkness.

I know it's not night. Because that boisterous voice was clearly heard all around. The world seems to be losing its sun forever. Thickened in one color. Dark and black.

It was only then that I realized I was blind. The cry of Mamah's voice that was first heard was accompanied by a close embrace. Kiss me lovingly. Strawed between sobs, and trying to entertain with his gentle and graceful advice. I can't say anything, except mute. Warm puddles of water down the skin of the face.

Long silent with a piercing pain behind the chest. I have to accept God's destiny to live in this condition. No more charm. There is also no colorful world that often decorates in every blink, except deep black. Sometimes you don't know if you're awake or still asleep. Everything has the same nuance.

"Good morning, Atiqah." It was the first foreign voice heard one day. A young man. At least still the same age. I thought I was busy guessing.

A moment later the room where I lay was filled with fragrant flowers. Stroking spoiled on each breath freshly cools. "Good morning. Who You? New doctor, huh?" my duty is hopeful.

I heard a breath on the side. I think she must be smiling a little.

"You must know who I am, because I know who you are, too" replied the voice quietly and gently. "Who, huh? My college buddy?" manya curious.

Silent. Long time no answer.

"Kok, quiet?" ask again. "Yes, I'm Andrew. Your college friend, Atiqah," replied the man at last.

I heard Andrew was opening something. It was like the sound of plastic. "You've got an orange, right?" I probed with a breath of scent that was present between the two nostrils.

"You're smart. It turns out that even though you are blind .... " Andrew's voice did not continue.

I look forward to continuing his sentence with raised eyebrows, "I ... Why? How, not being driven?"

"Eat this orange first. Very good for health when your stomach is still empty." Andrew bribed me.

"Well, who are you telling me to eat all?" I shook Andrew's hand, "which one of you is Andrew anyway? In my class there's no Andrew."

"Literary child" replied Andrew briefly.

"Oohh."

That was the beginning of my meeting with Andrew. The figure of a man who is only known by his voice. Don't know what he looks like. I can only feel the softness when touching my lips, fingers or caressing my long hair.

We got used to the atmosphere like that. No day without laughter. It is as if forgetting the pain of vision loss.

The sight?

Because of the accident that hit me the other day. The softlens I wear break through both eyeballs causing blindness.

Then who has harmed me?

The answer came out of Andrew's own mouth. He admitted that he was the one who accidentally hit me. Andrew felt guilty and vowed to make amends by taking care of me all the time.

I was shocked and angry with Andrew. Some time he won't meet. Suddenly I felt hate. But he never gave up hope, often visited every time. Until finally, I let myself feel Andrew's sincerity to fulfill the oath.

Every time he comes. Take a walk outdoors while telling a lot about his life.

He's very kind. He said he was able to sedate me to fall asleep in an uncertain feeling. There was a sense of loneliness when he didn't exist. Missing the touch of her fingers on my lips and the big yet soft voice cools.

Am I in love? How come? Apparently I never knew. Maybe he's ugly. Or it could be ....

"What news do you want me to read today, Atiqah?" It's always a question that comes out when Andrew visits.

"How about you read my zodiac today?" 

The man opened the magazine he was carrying. "Today's your financial condition—"

"Not that one, but the heart part" I said, accompanied by a small laugh between the lips covered with fingers.

"It looks like you're in love again, huh?" andrew asked after a long time of searching for the part I asked for.

"It's like that, huh, according to my zodiac?" I laughed again.

"Who are you in love with, anyway?" ask Andrew slowly. His voice is very close. I could feel the heat from his breath.

"Andrew .... " I flinched and reflexively inched away. "What if it's true?" ask Andrew again. His voice followed.

"Andrew ... what the hell, anyway?" The fur of my neck stands up. Not out of fear, but there was a strange taste that spread in every rush of blood that flowed quickly to the head, as the scent of that breath burned the pores of the skin.

"What if you fall in love with someone who feels the same way about you?" 

"Andrew .. you .... " 

I looked around for her figure with the tip of her fingers that were starting to stiffen, and found herself only a few inches away from me.

"I'm in love with you, Atiqah," said Andrew slowly. His face was soaked in cold sweat, "You sick, Andrew? You need a doctor."

"I don't need a doctor. I just need you, Atiqah. I'm really in love with you" whispered Andrew.

"Andrew."

He pulled his face. Away from me who is still breathless in a turmoil of heart that is difficult to describe.

"Andrew .. Where are you?" ask me to look for his figure in concentration. The man did not answer. Either shut up or leave. Since then, I have never heard his voice again. He disappeared. Completely disappeared. 

I never heard the news again. Even for a greeting once. I was confused and really tortured. Between love, longing and hate slowly begins to eat away at the bad side of the heart. Questions run through the mind that no one ever gets an answer.

I am tormented by my loneliness.

Until one day the figure I was waiting for reappeared. Speak with a restrained and heavy tone. Apologize wholeheartedly. I am angry and happy at the same time. Sobbing in her warm chest.

"Atiqah, do you know what I brought you today?" ask Andrew. "Whatis that? Flowers, huh?" ask me busy guessing, "or .. food maybe?"

"No. But ... Try to shut up for a second, let me help you wear it, yeah."

Andrew approaching. A soft cloth stretched out beautifully then slowly wrapped around my head.

"It's the hijab, Atiqah," replied Andrew, correcting the location of the cloth I had just worn.

"Hijab? You, kan .... " I'm getting confused.

"Here you go, keep that question for a while. Now, I beg of you, always cover your hair with a hijab. I purposely give a lot for you to wear every day. Especially when you meet me or who isn't your mahrom."

"Andrew ... you?"

The man put an index finger on my lips. Asking to be silent in curiosity.

There are many changes in Andrew. Especially since his departure the other day. He taught me a lot of religion. The man's attitude is getting softer, more affectionate. Even one morning blind I woke up, hearing the chanting of sacred sentences with a stammering and stiff voice.

I was confused and wanted to ask. But he always avoided answering.

"One day I'll tell you myself" she said softly. I don't know when? I was always in an uncomfortable situation.

That happened until one day, Andrew expressed his desire to marry me. He truly loves. "I want us together to live this life according to religious rules" he said seriously.

"Andrew .. is that true?" my question between shock and happiness is immeasurable. "Of course, Atiqah. But there's one thing I want to tell you." Andrew took a deep breath.

"What?"

Andrew delivered a piece of news that added to this sense of happiness. He wants me to have an operation. Replacing this damaged and malfunctioning eyeball, with the property of someone who has been willing to donate it. I don't know who. Andrew must have prepared everything for me.

Shown happiness later, can again enjoy the beauty of this world as before. Especially being able to see the figure of Andrew that I had only been able to recognize through his voice.

The day awaited also arrived. I had a pretty exhausting operation. Lying rigidly half-conscious above the surgical altar. Enjoy every incision of sharp knives that dance in the eye socket. Until then completely asleep and lulled in a long dream.

"Open slowly his eyes, yes, Ma'am," said the doctor stomping on daydreams. My heart is pounding with an irregular heartbeat. There was a sense of anxiety as it slowly opened its eyelids.

There is a speck of light that dries into the eyeball. Faint and slow. It doesn't seem obvious to be searching for a focal point. I couldn't open wider, because it felt like the glare was too much.

"For the first time, you will try to adapt to the surrounding conditions. Especially in light sources. There will still be further tests to be done" said a doctor, observing both my eyeballs.

No matter what happens. The first figure to look for was of course Andrew. All I saw in the room was a couple of sisters, a doctor, and a Mom.

There's nothing else. Where is Andrew?

"Andrew left this for you, son," said Mamah as he gave a piece of white paper, after we embraced happily.

I slowly opened it and found Andrew's handwriting neatly arranged.

Atiqah darling ....

I'm so happy for what you got back today. I'm sorry I couldn't be by your side. By the time you have started to find figures that have disappeared from your sight. But there is something you do not know behind our relationship so far.

I'll open it when we meet. Come to the place I mean. The address is behind this letter.

The next full moon we meet there.

Love

Andrew

I don't understand what Andrew means. There will be many surprises ready to hit me many times. It will happen in two weeks.

Time is rolling fast too. I don't think the waiting period is over. I've come to meet Andrew's figure somewhere. A remote family cemetery on the outskirts of town. There are only a few pusara there. Complete with two long bars mark each other at the final break towards the end and firmly stuck.

There was already a young male figure of my age, standing beside a tomb that looked new. Simple men with a look as generally among young people. He is tall and white like a Manado.

"Andrew?" I'm slow, worried about the wrong people. The man turned his head and smiled as soon as he saw my arrival, who was wearing an elongated blue robe. Coupled long hijab fabric intergrated with matching color.

"No, I'm Albert" the man replied, smiling again.

But the sound is very similar to the voice that has often accompanied the days when it was still blind. I'm rattled. But this shock suddenly returned to the heart, as soon as my eyes were fixed on the tombstone that read Andrew's name.

"You who? Why is Andrew's name on the tomb?" I ask still with a shock that has not disappeared.

"Well, as I promised before, I'll open all the messages I've been keeping all this time" Albert began to tell me from the beginning I had an accident to an introduction to Andrew.

A few months ago Andrew was working hard to make money and save it for my eye surgery. He was determined to pay for the regret he had felt all along, for having inflicted such prolonged pain on a girl, surely it was me. And to fulfill his promise to marry me. Because he admitted he had honestly fallen in love with me.

A brief introduction in an unusual situation had knocked the aisle of the heart to immediately find a chunk of his missing ribs.

Andrew had a tragic accident on the road. He had a critical period and had very little chance of life. Towards the last breath, Andrew told Albert to give me his eyes and use the remaining savings he had accumulated. Last asked Andrew to ask Albert to marry me.

Andrew's love was so great, until the time of his death he asked that he could follow the beliefs that I have held so far. But unfortunately, Andrew's wishes were not fulfilled. God has other wills.

Albert replaced Andrew. He came with a new atmosphere. Trying to be the Andrew I've known all along. His attitude, tone of speech, affection, and also his love.

In the midst of his pretense of being a private Andrew, it turns out Albert also experienced the same thing. He began to enjoy his role and fell in love. Since then Albert began to study religion in accordance with my beliefs. Little by little added science savings towards a new direction that he believed. Even know how to treat me according to the rules and rules of the religion that is understood.

I bowed weakly, resting beside Andrew's still-red belly button. My eyes pined at every snore of freshly sprinkled earth mounds of various flowers. One of them is a flower that Andrew often brings when he comes to visit first.

Fragrant fragrance among the breezy wind blowing rubbed the hijab cloth I wore. I don't feel these tears melting down my cheeks. So great was the struggle of an Andrew, until finally God called him when I had never once seen his true form.

I just want to see that man's face. It seemed shady as Andrew's voice was always soft when speaking. Able to arouse the spirit of life when I was slumped due to temporary disability.

"Then ... What is your relationship with Andrew?" ask me in between sobs that powerless is stopped.

Albert answered long. Until then the man crouched down with his face down. "I'm Andrew's twin brother. He's my brother I love so much."

I was flabbergasted and unconsciously inched away from that figure. My life was filled with unexpected surprises.

"You .... "

"Yes, I was the one who replaced Andrew since he disappeared and no longer came to see you. I also learned early in the morning to recite the verses of the Lord. I'm in love with you, Atiqah."

For a moment, I could only look at her dazzling face, with a slowly-shattering smile. Then the face turned black. Dark and thick. Along with the loss of consciousness that was previously maintained. Weakening and crashing over the expanse of earth that began to heat up the sun ....

S E L E S A I