USTADZ
17. Take a Cable Car

The closed cable car door made Syahla feel excited. He really can't wait to enjoy the beautiful view of TMII from above. He and Ustadz Amar sat alone inside, sitting face to face.

"God...." Syahla was unceasingly amazed as the cable car began to move.

"Well! Everything looks from here! People are so small!" excitedly. "Om Husband, look, what custom house is it?"

The absence of an answer from the man made Shahla look over. "Om Husband?"

Shahla looked at Ustadz Amar with a look of wonder. It looked as if the man was sitting upright and both his hands were firmly grasping the handle on the cable car.

"Om Husband why?"

Ustadz Amar smiled faintly. "It's okay, wife."

Syahla's eyebrows lifted. What, looks like something suspicious?

Sweat dripping from the temple of Ustadz Amar made Syahla widen her eyes. "Don't you, Om Husband's afraid of heights?"

Ustadz Amar was about to deny. But the cold sweat that soaked his clothes could not lie. Forced, enduring the shame, he nodded his head.

"Geez! How did you not say that from then on, anyway? So how is dong now? We are already on top of this! Where can it come down here!"

Syahla panic. He then pulled out a tissue from his bag and wiped the sweat of Ustadz Amar that began to flood.

"Sorry. You look so happy, so I don't feel good for you."

"It's a habit! Yesterday shrimp meal time was like that too! Not everything should be in my opinion, Om Husband!" Although angry, Syahla moved to sit next to her husband. Ustadz Amar, who was still feeling tense, could not refute the words of his little wife.

"Try breathing," Syahla gave instructions. "Now, throw it away slowly."

Ustadz Amar obeyed the wife's order. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"It's quieter?" Syahla rubbed her husband's back.

Ustadz Amar nodded. His heart is still beating fast. But he was much more relaxed than before.

"Hold my hand" Shahla extended her hand.

Ustadz Amar did not believe in his hearing. "You mean?"

"Already! Just hold!" Shahla grabbed the hand of Ustadz Amar and held him in his grasp. "I will spread my courage,"

Ustadz Amar's heart is beating faster. This time not because he was afraid of heights, but because he came into contact with Shahla.

"Hows it? Still scared?" Syahla seemed to feel nothing, because the look on her face was ordinary. Although a bit disappointed, but Ustadz Amar feel a little relieved now. He shook his head to answer Shahla's question.

"Well, now, just look down slowly,"

"No, no, I don't want to" Ustadz Amar refused quickly.

"Come on," Shahla persuaded. "The view below is not that scary, really,"

"I don't want Syahla, I'm afraid." Ustadz Amar shook his head.

"Slow down, Okay? We will not fall. Here, her hand Om Husband is still I hold,"

Ustadz Amar took a deep breath. All right, besides, this cable car has been in operation for so long. No way, would it just fall?

Closing his eyes, Ustadz Amar leaned his face towards the window while continuing to catch his breath so as not to get nervous. He tightened his grip on Shahla.

"I count to three. One.. Two.. It.ga!"

Ustadz Amar opened his eyes. Panic came back to him. He shouted hysterically and hurriedly retreated to his original place.

Syahla took a long breath. "Sedikiit again. Let's be braver again. Look there, Husband. The view is so beautiful. Loss of knowing that you didn't see anything here!"

Ustadz Amar again gulped his saliva nervously. With hesitation, he tilted his head down.

Lake Archipelago was the first sight he saw. Miniature islands in Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke it makes him amazed. He has seen it from photos posted on social media. But it was more exciting to see it in person.

"Beautiful, right?" Syahla smile. Ustadz Amar nodded his head slowly. His fear was slowly defeated by the artificial natural beauty below.

After getting off the cable car, the couple sat for a while on a park bench. Shahla said goodbye to buy something and Ustadz Amar waited while trying to calm down. The gentle breeze that hit his face made him feel peaceful.

"Now" Shahla appeared with ice cream in both hands. "Om a chocolate husband, I'm a strawberry."

Ustadz Amar scrunched his forehead. "Es cream?"

"He uh," Shahla licks her ice cream. "When Kindergarten, I once cried with fear because I was invited to ride a ring. After coming down from there, I bought the same ice cream Abah. And as a result, until now I was not afraid of heights anymore."

Ustadz Amar shook his head. "You liken me to yourself when TK?"

"Well, who knows, right?" Shahla shrugged her shoulders. "Regardless of efficacy or not, ice cream is still good to eat."

Ustadz Amar said nothing more. He finally ate the ice cream. It has already been bought anyway.

While enjoying the ice cream, Ustadz Amar heard the sound of people giggling from the side. He turned his head and caught his wife wet trying to hold back a laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Buahaha!" The question made Shahla's laughter explode. "Sorry! Pardon me! I suddenly remembered the expression of Om Husband when above earlier!"

Ustadz Amar's face was red. "Don't laugh!"

Syahla still could not muffle her laughter, making Ustadz Amar put on an annoyed face. Shahla realized that she had gone overboard, hurriedly cleared her throat to stop her own mouth.

"I'm sorry, Husband. I just feel funny. You see, all this time the image of an Ustadz Amar in my eyes was an extraordinary fierce ustadz. So I'm amazed to see that you can scream with fear like that,"

Ustadz Amar pretends to be upset, but he is ashamed to show his weakness in front of his wife. But, he couldn't just admit it.

"If you feel guilty, love me a gift,"

"Gift? What reward? I bought ice cream,"

"Not quite," Ustadz Amar grabbed Shahla's hand and fused their fingers together. "This is enough."

Syahla was shocked. He hurriedly let go of their hands and retreated away. "What the hell? Why grip-holding? In the agreement point one kan—"

"Who was holding my hand first?" Ustadz Amar replied casually. "When the time on the cable car was you who asked me to hold your hand."

"That's because—"

"Just a moment" Ustadz Amar grabbed the wife's hand. "Please break even."

Syahla was unable to answer because her heart was pounding. Wait, why is his heart pounding?

"Before," Ustadz Amar raised his other hand to the face of Shahla. "You're dirty face,"

As if not to waste the opportunity, Ustadz Amar rubbed the tip of Syahla's lips exposed to ice cream stains. During that time, Shahla felt her world stop spinning, leaving her heart beating faster following the touch of Ustadz Amar.

"Already," Ustadz Amar smiled without sin. "Then this is beautiful again,"

After saying so, Ustadz Amar walked away just like that. Syahla who was still frozen in place could only stare at her husband's departure with her mouth open, still not believing what had just happened.

"Under Ustadz Crazy!" shahla shouted after her consciousness returned.