At that time, I was a student activist who was classified as hyperactive. That’s why I’m rarely in the hut —and a bit chubby. Even at the cottage, occasionally violate discipline. For example, not attending the Koran or praying in congregation, especially at dawn. To trick the lodge’s security, I locked my door from the outside and entered my room through the window. When the security guard woke the santri for the dawn congregation, my room was passed because it was locked from the outside. Sound and Safe.
One day I was called by Gus Arif Rusdi, one of the sons of Kiai Dhofir, who later became one of the caregivers of the Al-Fattah Talangsari Islamic Boarding School. My heart fluttered at the thought that I would be punished because I was rarely in the hut. Moreover, I’m not really a “good student” because when I was at Al-Qodiri, I was exposed to takzir: bald!
Alhamdulillah, my guess was wrong. Or actually did not miss, but was given punishment in another form. At that time, the cottage wanted to hold an imtihan. So I was given the task of keeping a performance. “What performance, Gus?”
“A musical drama,” answered Gus Arif, who is also known as Gus Didik.
My head immediately started spinning. It’s easier to be judged than to be given a task like this, I said to myself. Moreover, I was asked to write the screenplay, as well as be the director. So the story idea can be discussed together. I also don’t know what Gus Arif’s background is for giving such a task. He only said short, “You can do it.”
Of course, I did not dare to refuse the orders of a Gus. I tried to evade by asking, “Where’s the music from, Gus?” I thought, if there was no music, it definitely wouldn’t happen. But Gus Didik instead pulled my hand, “Come with me.”
My eyes widened when I was invited into a special room. It contains Masya Allah, a collection of instrumental music cassettes by composers from all over the world with various genres. The amount? More than a thousand. And this collection is located in a boarding school which has been known as the Salaf lodge.
I dare not ask how Gus Arif came from having a collection of music cassettes (at that time, there were no compact discs or flash drives) of music. Requesting is free; I know Gus often have mysterious sources.
Finally, for days I listened to the music to be selected. I then compiled it into a re-recording that became part of the music we were designing. In Gus Arif’s special room, I was like a music director.
This story is also considered “upnormal”. Suddenly I was able to write a screenplay and become a director, although I didn’t know the qualifications. What is certain is that the drama was finally staged with dozens of players. Quite a success for the size of the staging in the cottage. Later I dabbled in reading books on the screenplay and directing, and what I did was not wrong. But I can’t do it again.