The Three Chosen
48. Dad's Old Friend

Faiq and Shera take their two children to the boarding school where Faiq was educated. Arriving there Shera, Iyaz and Izar were amazed. They think that pesantren buildings are buildings

shabby cottage, walled woven bamboo, without electricity and the place is remote. But they're wrong.

The pesantren complex is a modern building dominated by Arab architectural styles. There are classes for learning that resemble public schools, next to which there is a large mosque as a center for pesantren activities. Equipped with other supporting facilities such as libraries, health rooms and canteens. There is a flower garden equipped with a fish pond where the favorite of the students sit while memorizing the subject matter. Mess for a place to stay too

the students are located on the right side of the school.

Faiq seemed to smile at the pesantren building that looks better. Faiq still routinely donates some of his income to advance pesantren although he rarely visited there.

Then Faiq took his family to the teacher's office to meet the head of the boarding school, Ustadz Hamzah, the son of the late Kyai Saad.

“ Assalamualaikum Ustadz Hamzah..,” greet Faiq.

“ Wa alaikumsalam Mas Faiq. Masya Allah, I can finally see You again after so many years haven..,” sahut ustadz Hamzah enthusiastically while hugging Faiq tightly.

Shera and her two children smiled when they saw Faiq's interaction with Ustadz Hamzah. A moment later Faiq and Ustadz Hamzah broke into each other's arms with teary eyes.

“ All remain the same Mas Faiq, nothing has changed. The pesantren's physique does change, but Our hearts insya Allah will not change. We run pesantren according to Abah's mandate.” said ustadz Hamzah with a smile.

“ Yes, I trust Ustadz. May the charity of Kyai Saad and Pak Saman be beneficial to the people and accepted by Allah Swt. Aamiin...,” said Faiq while rubbing his face.

“ Aamiin...,” said Ustadz Hamzah with a smile and then invited Faiq and his small family to sit down.

“ Oh yes, I am here with My Wife and My Children Mr. Ustadz. Iyaz and Izar want to study here.” Faiq said as he glanced at his two children.

“ May you feel at home here until graduation later yes..,” said ustadz Hamzah while rubbing the head of Iyaz and Izar alternately.

“ Insha Allah, aamiin..,” sahut Faiq and his family together.

Then they engage in casual conversation while reminiscing about the kindness of Kyai Saad and Pak Saman. Iyaz and Izar looked uncomfortable and looked outward many times.

“ Mmmm, We can see first ga Bun..?” Izar asked while whispering.

“ May, but don't be naughty yes..,” says Shera.

“ Yeeyy..., thanks Mother..,” said Iyaz and Izar enthusiastically then rushed out of the room.

Ustadz Hamzah seemed to shake his head at the behavior of Iyaz and Izar.

“ They look a lot like you as a child Mas Faiq...,” said ustadz Hamzah who did add a call ‘Mas’ to honor Faiq who is now married and has a good social status.

“ Thank God, thanks Ustadz...,” sahut Faiq is proud.

“ Time is similar to his father aja Pak Ustadz, whereas I am the one who contains you know.” sela Shera pretended to be angry.

“ Sure looks like Sister Shera too, but only a little.” joked ustadz Hamzah.

“ Gapapa deh, from ga at all..,” sahut Shera cuek to make ustadz Hamzah and Faiq laugh.

Meanwhile, Iyaz and Izar were going around observing the pesantren environment. They look smiling because they feel will ‘betah’ mondok in the pesantren. Then Iyaz and Izar went to the cafeteria to buy drinks and snacks. There they saw hordes of santri who seemed to queue in front of the food stall.

“ You buy the food, I buy the drink ya Zar...,” said Iyaz.

“ Ok...,” sahut Izar then go to another kiosk that sells various foods.

After getting what he wanted, Iyaz sat waiting for his twin at one of the tables. Soon Izar approached Iyaz with two plates of siomay. They also enjoy their food voraciously without realizing they are the center of attention in the canteen. One of the men approached them to get acquainted.

“ Assalamualaikum, sorry to interrupt. You are twins..,” greet santri is friendly to the surprise of Iyaz and Izar.

“ Wa alaikumsalam, yes Kak Kami twins. I'm Iyaz and this is My sister Izar...,” said Iyaz with a smile.

“ My name is Bandung, but not from Bandung huh. I am from Bali...,” said Bandung introduced himself while extending his hand.

Iyaz and Izar laughed and welcomed Bandung's hand. Then Bandung also introduced his friends to Iyaz and Izar.

“ Well, these are my friends. We come from different regions, but we are rich in sodara. This one is Saeful, it's Aji and the big one is Ahmad Roziq but it is commonly called Mat Roziq.

Seeing Mat Roziq's posture reminded Iyaz and Izar of their best friend Matheo. And it made the two of them smile while looking at each other meaningfully.

After introducing each other, the six boys joined in and sat together while enjoying a plate of siomay and warm sweet tea. Occasionally laughter was heard when Mat Roziq told of his experience during the cottage at the boarding school.

Apparently Bandung cs is santri ‘senior’ because it has been two years mondok in the pesantren led by ustadz Hamzah. From a distance Faiq and Shera are seen observing the behavior of Iyaz and Izar while in the middle of his new friends.

“ How Bun, are you still not sure to ngijinin they studied here.?” ask Faiq.

“ At first I was hesitant, but now it's not again. Moreover, the twins seem to adapt easily to the new environment Yes Well.” said Shera.

“ Right. I think it's good to exercise their sensitivity and independence Bun. Moreover, Ustadz Hamzah was also willing to guide them personally later. God willing, the children are in good hands, so we should not worry too much anymore Bun.

“ Ok, if so I agree they mondok here Well..,” sahut Shera steady to make Faiq happy. Then Faiq rubbed his wife's cheek gently with a smile.

“ So your son is also nyantri here Iq...?” ask the ghost of Amsir suddenly.

“ Insha Allah. It is not I who make it but this is purely their own will, you know.” said Faiq quickly.

“ I know. I'm happy because soon will have a new friend who is exciting rich You Iq...,” said the ghost of Amsir while hovering close to Iyaz and Izar.

“ Don't bother them Sir. They come here to learn not to adventure..!” faiq said half in a whisper.

But the ghost of Amsir ignored Faiq's words and chose to greet Iyaz and Izar. Faiq only let out a long sigh knowing that he could not prevent the ghost of Amsir from approaching his two children.

\=====

“ This is your room. If you need anything, you can go to my room with the green door is yes.” said Mat Roziq while pointing at the room opposite the twin room.

“ Well Brother, thanks...,” say Iyaz and Izar together.

“ Equally. Oh yes, later Maghrib prayers congregate in the mosque yes. All students must participate without exception. Do not forget to wear cocoa and kopyah..,” said Mat Roziq as he passed.

“ Insha Allah ready Sis..,” said the four santri together to make Mat Roziq smile secretly.

“ Guys but really, rich Mom-femak kempong..,” grumbled Lucki upset.

“ He's not a pussy, but tell me. Did you want the first day to enter already scolded by the teacher because he did not follow the rules.?” ask Mirza ketus.

“ Ga lah...,” Lucki sahut fast.

“ So no need to protest, the hunt is ready..,” said Mirza again while putting her clothes in the closet.

“ You'd better be the chairman of the room Kita Mir..,” sela Iyaz suddenly.

“ How Do I..?” mirza protest.

“ You are the biggest among the four of us..,” sahut Izar origin while rising to the top of the bunk bed.

“ I agree...,” Lucki sahut.

“ Ok, but you guys do not make the kind of things that make me called to the office ya..,” threatened Mirza.

“ Ready..!” sahut Iyaz, Izar and Lucki together and the four laughed.

\=====

Iyaz and Izar have been living in the pesantren for a week. They are busy following all the activities in the boarding school so they can forget a little about the longing for both parents and their families in Jakarta.

On weekends, pesantren usually give special time to the students to be able to get out of the pesantren environment. And the pesantren also obligated the santri to return to the pesantren before the Maghrib. The opportunity was used by some students to get to know the surrounding environment. Iyaz and Izar were among the santri who made good use of the opportunity.

Iyaz and Izar know if all this time they were followed by the ghostly figure of the inhabitants of the pesantren who is none other than Amsir, ‘old friends’ their father. But unfortunately the ghost of Amsir can not be too far to leave the pesantren. It

just being able to watch the twins from a distance and hope that both of them are okay.

By Maghrib Iyaz cs also returned to the pesantren. The ghost of Amsir is seen waiting for them at the gate anxiously like a father waiting for his son's return.

“ Why are you standing here..?” ask Izar who is walking the very back.

“ I'm waiting for you, I'm worried..” says ghost Amsir.

“ Thanks for worrying, but we didn't go far anyway..,” said Izar again.

“ Yes, but I am still worried because there is a caterpillar outbreak in the next village. And I don't want you to get hurt..” says the ghost of Amsir.

“ Outbreaks of caterpillars, should be able to be eradicated using pesticides or insect repellent drugs.

“ This is not just any Yaz caterpillar. Because this caterpillar is a demon soldier who is angry because the villagers neglect to follow their hereditary rules. They can not be burned, especially just sprayed using pesticides.” said ghost Amsir explained.

Iyaz and Izar are shocked to hear the ghostly response of Amsir. They stared at each other for a moment and smiled with mystery.

“ Interesting...,” murmured Iyaz and Izar together.

“ You guys don't fuck around. Your job is to learn instead of looking for trouble.” said ghost Amsir reminded.

“ Relax, We will not be all kinds..,” Izar said as he passed.

But Izar's reply made the ghost of Amsir anxious. He was sure that Iyaz and Izar would do something unusual for a child of their age. Because he could not prevent the twins' intentions, the ghost of Amsir also reported this to ustadz Hamzah the leader of the boarding school.

Ustadz Hamzah was shocked to see the ghost of Amsir, who was also his friend as a teenager, in his room. Usually the ghost of Amsir is reluctant to meet him if he is already at home, especially in the bedroom like this.

" What's up, your tumben's here...?" ask ustadz Hamzah with a smile.

" I want you to help Faiq's son..," said the ghost of Amsir.

" Help sir....?" tanya ustadz Hamzah doesn't understand.

" They are very interested in the case of caterpillars that attack the village next door..," said the ghost of Amsir again.

" They won't know if you're not the one who's telling you, right..," said Ustadz Hamzah casually.

" yes. So how's...?" ask ghost Amsir riled.

" God willing I will control them because this is also my responsibility." said Ustadz Hamzah.

" Thank God, thank Hamzah." said the ghost of Amsirr as he passed.

" Together..," said Ustadz Hamzah while staring at the ghost of Amsir who floated through the wall.

It turned out that Faiq's friendship with the ghost of Amsir was continued by his two twins and it made ustadz Hamzah smile proudly.

Seriate