The atmosphere of the campus where my son is attending college is hectic. So many graduates flock to the sidewalks. Some other rides their motorbike bringing toga and hair bun. They seem so happy. And so am I. Today I am thrilled and relieved because the struggle to pay for my son’s college will end shortly.
“Arjun!” suddenly someone calls me from another direction. My head is searching for the source of the sound. A few minutes later, I see a man with a gift coming to me. I frowned to recognize him. After a while of trying to unfold my memory, I finally remembered who the white guy was.
“Hakim!” I reply while laughing. We shake hands tightly.
“How’s Jun?” he says.
“Alright, Kim, as you can see,” I replied quickly. My friend at Islamic boarding school I know as santri servant of Kyai Salman. Afterwards, I pat his shoulder. His body is so stocky, not like before. In Pesantren, he went to Kyai Salman’s rice field every day until he forgot his obligation to study. Hakim was the santri who most often got the teacher’s anger at that time.
“What are you doing here, Jun? Take your child’s graduation?” he asked cheerfully as if he had never had such a dark memory in the past.
“Yes, you are right, Kim. My first child graduates from Agribusiness Department today. I don’t want my child to be a fool. What would his future be like if he didn’t go to college? It’s a loss if the father goes to college, but his son can’t go to college, right? “I sigh to take a pause. I want to make Hakim aware of the importance of science. Then I begin to speak again,” my struggle to educate children is not easy, Kim. But thankfully, after studying from college for six years, he finally graduated. Oh yeah, what are you doing here, Kim? “I ask him.
“Driving Jun,” he answers simply while grinning. His nature since young has not disappeared apparently. In the past, when the teacher asked about imrithy’s memorization, the answer was also like that, always the answer “not yet” is accompanied by a grin that is so annoying. It turns out that he still hasn’t metaphorically till this time.
“So, are you driving now? You are a driver?” I ask to be sure.
“Yes, Jun, what else can I do Jun-Jun,” he answered my question accompanied by a small laugh.
I paused for a while, digesting his words. Hakim’s answer reminded me of an event decades ago. My mind flies back to the days at the beginning of studying in Pesantren. We were classmates at the madrasa, so I knew very well how he was. He was a santri who had never memorized the material. It made him often got angry with the teacher. I, as his classmate, also often gave him advice.
Even I was so annoyed with Hakim because my classmates could not leave the class if there were still students who had not memorized nadzoman imrithy. So my classmate and I, had to wake up late since we had to wait for his memorization in front of the teacher. I still remember my spicy words to him at the time, “Stupid is your business, Kim, but don’t give us difficulties because of your stupidity! Santri must be smart! If you never want to make an effort like this at best, then you will only be a driver!” I said, full of emotion at that time. And it turns out that my curse has now come true. I laugh in my heart.
“Where is your boss?” I ask later.
“It’s still Jun. Still like before,” he answers calmly. Naturally, my curiosity arises when I hear Hakim’s words like that.
“What do you mean?” the riddle sounds so annoying in my ear.
“Kyai. My boss Kyai, Jun,” he answers casually.
“You mean your boss is Kyai Salman? Are you still serving Kyai Salman?” I raise my voice a little because I am stunned to hear the answer. He nods while laughing, haha-hehe. Really, his old character has not yet disappeared.
“So, all this time, you still serve him? “I ask, even more curious. Since back from Pesantren, I have never revisited my Pesantren. I am totally blind to what happened at the Islamic boarding school.
“Still serving Jun, looking for a blessing,” he says quietly. Right now, the tone of his voice sounds rather severe, as if there is authority from his words.