USTADZ
5. Go Home

"Will it cry again?" Ustadz Amar gave Syahla his twenty-first piece of tissue. The girl was still as excited, receiving a tissue to wipe her snot.

At this moment, the two of them were sitting in the front seats of the hospital. Doctors had prescribed the drug and Ustadz Amar was allowed to go home, but Syahla's cries that had not stopped since had left them trapped there longer.

One box of tissue given by the nurse has been used half. All to wipe away the tears of Shahla that flowed like rain.

"It's better that you go home, that you're going to have a hard time staying in college, now,"

Syahla shook her head. "I'm afraid Umi is just as worried Abah is,"

"So, are you sure you can last longer here? Police have also not managed to arrest the gang leader. You're not afraid they'll bother you again?"

Shahla bit her lip. He was obviously very scared. But he did not know what to reason with his parents when he suddenly returned home.

"Just calm down, I'll take you,"

Shahla turned to Ustadz Amar. "Take me where?"

"Of course to your house,"

"But my house is far away, Ustadz."

"Then, would you like to go alone?"

Shahla lowered her head. The incident still lingers in his memory. His clothes that were stained with Ustadz Amar's blood had not dried yet. What if a similar incident happened again and there was no one beside him?

In the end, Shahla nodded her head. "I'm asking for help, Ustadz,"

...----------------...

Syahla and Ustadz Amar were sitting on a bus to Darul Quran, it was the name of a pesantren run by his father Syahla. Syahla sat on the front bench, while Ustadz Amar was behind him. Their journey took six hours, and during that time there were not many topics they could discuss.

Several times, Shahla checked that Ustadz Amar was doing well. The wound on Ustadz Amar's arm was still freshly sewn, and he feared the seams would open due to the long journey. Syahla felt responsible because Ustadz Amar was hurt by it, so as much as possible he made sure Ustadz Amar was comfortable and had taken his medicine well.

After a long journey, they finally arrived in front of the gate Darul Quran by riding an ojek. Time has shown at two o'clock in the afternoon, the sun is hot-hot burning their crown.

"Yahla!" Apparently Umi, Abah, and his brothers were waiting on the porch. Hurriedly opened the gate and let them in.

Umi Zahra hugged her daughter tightly. "Alhamdulillah you are safe! How are you doing, son? Is there a wound? Let's look at Umi,"

"No Mi," Shahla tried to smile to calm her umi. "Syahla is not papa, because Syahla has been helped by Ustadz Amar,"

Everyone now turned their attention to Ustadz Amar standing behind him. Ustadz Amar smiled, greeting Abah Baharuddin and Gus Sahil, while clasping his hands together in front of the chest at Umi Zahra and Hafsa.

"Thank you for bringing Syahla home. Come on in, we've prepared a special meal, "Abah Baharuddin tried to embrace Ustadz Amar to guide him in. But accidentally his hand nudged the injured arm of Ustadz Amar.

"Ouch!" Ustadz Amar complained of pain.

"Change!" Shahla hurriedly pulled her brother away. "Ustadz Amar is hurt for saving me!"

"Oh my God, really? Let's quickly get in, afraid the wound will open again." Gus Sahil deftly carried the goods that Ustadz Amar had originally brought. "Quick, fast,"

Ustadz Amar was immediately escorted into the house.

...----------------...

After cleaning up and eating together, Syahla began to tell a series of events last night. Everyone who listened to him held their breath, unable to imagine how stressful the events of that night were.

"Together Abah" Ustadz Amar smiled. He had also cleaned up, the bandage on his arm had been replaced by a new one.

"Where did Abah hear about it?" Shahla frowned. "Syahla just told you the same story today,"

"Ustadz Amar called Mas" Gus Sahil replied. "He called us that night. Tell me not to worry because you're okay. But Ustadz didn't tell me he was seriously injured,"

"The wound is not too severe Gus" Ustadz Amar said. "And please don't call me Ustadz again, just call me Amar."

"Can't be Ustadz. We have great respect for the teachers of our children. Moreover, the njenengan has saved my son's life. So let us call it like that, consider it an honorary title,"

Ustadz Amar nodded his head at Abah Baharuddin's explanation.

"Now, Umi has to talk seriously," Umi Zahra's tone suddenly changed firmly. "Syahla, let's go with Umi to the living room,"

Syahla turned to Hafsa, who was sitting next to her, trying to ask her what she wanted to talk about. But Hafsa's head nod made her not ask any more and followed Umi Zahra into the living room.

...----------------...

"Sir," Umi Zahra started their serious conversation. "From now on, you go to college here. Not in Jakarta. Danger."

"Eye!" Shahla got up from her seat. "Can't! Shahla has to go to college there! It's been Shahla's dream all along!"

"Syahla, college anywhere is the same. What matters is the knowledge, not the place!"

"It's not Umi!" Shahla stomped her feet. "But the majors! There are no Indonesian literature majors here!"

"Then just look for another major, it doesn't have to be that major, right?"

"Umi," Shahla was almost crying. "Syahla already knows what the interests and talents of Syahla. Syahla has a hobby of writing, and wants to continue a career in the field of authorship as well. Syahla does not want another major, because Syahla is not interested in going there!"

"But Nduk, it's an emergency. Umi is worried that yesterday's incident happened again with you!"

"But Syahla still wants to be there Mi," Syahla's tears have flowed. "Whatever happens, Syahla must continue to study in Jakarta!"

After saying so, the girl set her foot towards the room and closed the door until leaving a thud.

"Yahla!" Umi Zahra was already willing to nag, but Hafsa prevented it. "Let Umi first. Let Dek Syahla calm down first,"

Umi Zahra stroked his chest. "Where is this Nduk? It's hard to persuade the boy,"

"It didn't work out, did it Mi?" Gus Sahil and Abah Baharuddin apparently listened from the dining room, walking towards them. "Syahla is a strong-minded child. If he had decided to do something, he would have done it despite being blocked anyway."

Everyone breathed heavily.

"Then, what if he's on college leave? At least until the riots in Jakarta subside and can be sure the situation is safe,"

Hafsa shook her head at the husband's opinion. "No way Mas Gus. I saw for myself how Dek Syahla struggles to get into that campus. He studied every day, worked on the exercises until he forgot to eat, and was eventually accepted into the major he dreamed of. If I'm suddenly told to take time off while I'm in this spirit, I feel sorry for it too."

"Keep how?" Umi Zahra pinched her head which felt dizzy. "Is there really another solution?"

Everyone was silent, busy thinking of the right solution.

"If you could think.." Ustadz Amar's voice broke the silence in the room. "I actually have one solution,"