USTADZ
53. Forgive Me

The sound of the Ashar Adhan echoing from the mosque toa made Ustadz Amar stunned.

"Astaghfirullahalazim," he hissed as he rubbed his face. "I haven't prayed dzuhur."

Without delay, Ustadz Amar got up from his seat, his eyes then searched for the police officers who were still there.

"Excuse me sir" he told a passing policeman. "May I go out for a while to take ablution? I want ashar."

The policeman was silent for a moment, then he approached his friend who was a fellow policeman. After a long discussion, he returned to Ustadz Amar and unlocked the cell. "Please, but not for long,"

"Well sir," Ustadz Amar nodded his head.

Keeping his promise, after cleaning himself and ablution, Ustadz Amar returned to the cell to pray. He established the ashar prayer first, then replaced his dzuhur prayer debt. In each of his prostrations, Ustadz Amar longed to recite, praying to Allah for guidance.

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

At ten o'clock in the night, the cell opens again. Ustadz Amar was sitting in a dhikr at that moment, so he turned his head in wonder.

"Test results are out. You are declared free from alcohol and illegal drugs. After taking care of some paperwork, you can go home."

Ustadz Amar gave thanks. He then followed the police out of the man's cage.

After finishing everything, Ustadz Amar came out of the police station lethargic, tired and hungry. He took a deep breath when he remembered his wife. What's he doing now? Was she crying alone in her room?

"Mas" Ustadz Amar was stunned when he found a woman similar to Shahla standing in front of him. He believes he is dreaming. Does being too stressed cause hallucinations?

"Mas," call that figure again. Ustadz Amar stuttered. Oh, my God, that's not his imagination. Shahla was actually standing before him at this moment.

"Shahla," Ustadz Amar called his wife's name nervously. "You've been here since?"

"Yes," Shahla nodded. "I'm waiting for Husband to come out."

Ustadz Amar took a deep breath. "From earlier? Alone?"

"Yes, I've already sent Anggika home. Pity him if he wants to wait here."

Ustadz Amar suddenly felt his heart pierced by a sharp knife. He felt his heart ached with guilt for treating his wife that way.

"Let's go home. I've ordered a taxi" Syahla as much as possible to hold her voice so as not to vibrate. She actually wanted to cry right now.

Ustadz Amar knew it, so he pulled his wife into his arms. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry Syahla, I'm sorry" Ustadz Amar repeated his apology to his wife. "I'm guilty. I'm sorry,"

Syahla's real cry has been held for a long time finally inevitably broke as well. She was crying in the arms of her husband.

"Bad gold, so evil! I hate it too!" shahla said in the middle of her crying. Ustadz Amar tightened his arms, letting Syahla berate him. He deserves that.

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

"I've gone too far" Ustadz Amar leaned his head on Syahla's thigh while kissing the back of his wife's hand. "I don't deserve to be forgiven,"

Syahla shook her head. "No papa Mas, this problem is heavy. I don't know what I'm hearing about, but I hope Mas can tell me first, because I'm Mas's wife."

Ustadz Amar raised his head, looking at the face of the wife who looked puffy because she was crying too much. "I don't know what to do. I know it's not true, but I foolishly doubt you."

"What have you heard about me?"

Ustadz Amar lowered his head for a moment. "Rama told me that.." Ustadz Amar looked at his wife, and a sense of unbearability arose in his heart when he saw the clear eyes of Shahla. "If you and him.."

"Why me and Rama?" Sasha was starting to get impatient. "Say me,"

Ustadz Amar gulped his saliva nervously and said softly. "Say, you've slept together."

"Astaghfirullahalazim!" Shahla got up from her seat. "Yes Alloh Mas, how could I do that!"

"Dear, I don't believe it either. That's why I feel stupid for doubting you." Ustadz Amar took his wife's hand. "I'm sorry, huh?"

Syahla's tears are flowing again. "So much, Brother Rama said so. For the sake of Alloh Mas, I'm with him there's never any relationship!"

"Yes dear, yes" Ustadz Amar hugged Shahla to calm down. "I believe in you. So, whatever happens, I'm going to put him in jail. If necessary, I will also hire the most reliable lawyer in Jakarta. We're gonna be fine. Sure."

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

The room in the hospital looked empty. Only a young man lay with a bandage wrapped around his face. Although there were no fatal injuries, he could feel tremendous pain on the marks of the blows he received.

"Good morning," a tall man suddenly walked into the room. Brother Rama opened his eyes and frowned in wonder.

"Who are you?"

"I'm from the police" the big tall man showed his police identity card. "I'm here because I got a report that you've done espionage, recorded someone without permission, and spread hoax news that caused losses."

"Oh sir, there's a misunderstanding." Rama pointed at his own face. "Don't you see how I am? I'm the victim here sir, you should have arrested the man who got me into the hospital!"

"We've been investigating that, and the person responsible is ready to go through the legal process. He also undertakes to pay the fine and provide care to you as a victim,"

Brother Rama sighed in annoyance. "I don't accept that if he's just fined, he should be in jail!"

"That's right, then let's both go to jail." Ustadz Amar suddenly entered the room, making Kak Rama's eyes round.

"This is sir, the man who persecuted me! Get him, sir!" brother Rama shouted while pointing at Ustadz Amar fiercely. "I'm not wrong!"

"We listen to your explanation in court" Ustadz Amar crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I'm willing to go to court because I beat you. But you should do the same. Take responsibility for what you've done,"

Ustadz Amar then approached Brother Rama and whispered in his ear. "Because if you decide to run away, I have no choice but to break your neck and send you straight to hell."