The Story of the Sky
1001 Questions

Today Alan is going to meet his uncle Hartono in Baturaja. After performing the congregational morning prayers in the mosque, he returned to the house of Zaenab's mother who he now considers as his own mother. He also asked Zaenab's mother for permission to go to Baturaja and would stay there for a few days.

Since today is the last day before Ramadan, Alan plans to visit Fadil's tomb before going to Baturaja. For this reason, Alan asked Alfin to accompany him on a pilgrimage to Fadil's tomb as well as to show where Fadil's tomb is located.

'' Mom, I'm sorry I haven't been able to stay here for a long time with mom. Today too, I have to go see my uncle in Baturaja. I don't want to, uncle is worried because I haven't been there yet. Besides, I have a lot to do there. But God willing, until the eid later, I will try as often as possible to visit mother here.'' said Alan after finishing his breakfast with Alfin and Zaenab's mother.

'' Son, actually I still want to see you linger here. But I can't keep you from staying here with me either. I'm just asking you, so you can come here often. The door of this house will always be open for you. After all, you are considered as your own mother's son said Zaenab's mother smilingly looking at Alan.

'' Oh yes, Mom, before I leave. I want to make a pilgrimage to Fadil's tomb first. For that, I will ask Alfin to accompany me there. Fin, can't you accompany me to go there for a moment?''

Alfin who was tidying up his used breakfast plate nodded. He then brought the dirty dishes and glasses back to wash. Alan also helped Zaenab's mother tidy up the dining table.

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

At the residence of Mr. Shahroni, they and their families had also just finished their breakfast. Miss Lilis who had seen Tiara so often this morning, she did not allow Tiara to help clean the dirty dishes and glasses from their breakfast. Ms. Lilis was worried that the events of last year would happen again. For that, he only asked Yunita and Vita to do it.

'' Tiara, already!, you just sit there. Let your sister and Vita do the dishes.'' said Bu Lilis preventing Tiara who will bring the dirty dishes and glasses.

Tiara, who was unfocused as a result of remembering her dream last night, simply obeyed what her mother had told her to do. He then sat in the guest room, with Mr. Syahroni who was sitting relaxed while enjoying hot coffee in the room.

'' Well.., can Tiara not go to the tomb of A Fadil? Tiara wants to make a pilgrimage there.'' he asked Syahroni.

'' Tiara, notya's father forbids you to go there. But frankly, I'm worried that you'll be like you were. I don't want to, you get sick again because you remember Fadil.''

'' Tiara, try to be aware. Fadil is gone. If you continue like that, your father, mother, and also your brother Yunita, will always be haunted by guilt for you. Do you have the heart to see us continuously tormented because of that, said Mr. Syahroni staring at Tiara's face.

'' Well, Tiara didn't mean it that way. But Tiara beg well, this time only. Tiara wants to visit the tomb of A Fadil.''

Seeing the face of Tiara like that, the heart of Mr. Shahronipun seemed to not have the heart. He then thought for a moment. Then said to Tiara, after taking a deep breath.

'' Okay, this time I let you. Later father himself will accompany you to go there.''

Not long after, Mr. Syahroni took out his motor matic from the garage. That morning, Tiara, escorted by her father, went to the public cemetery where Fadil was rested.

When they got there, Tiara sat down in front of Fadil's tomb. Carrying his own little Qur'an, he recited some verses of the Qur'an which he addressed to the late Fadil. After waiting for a while, Mr. Shahroni then went to the tomb of his parents who were not far from the existence of Tiara, while watching Tiara from there.

Without them knowing, not far from there, Alan and Alfin who had just got off the car and were going to the tomb owned by Fadil, they then stopped at the funeral pendopo. From the pendopo, Alan only observed Tiara who was sprinkling flowers on top of the navel of Fadil. In Alan's heart, he was now shrouded in a question. What exactly is the relationship between Tiara and Fadil?. But Alan only kept the question in his heart.

While sprinkling flowers on Fadil's navel, Tiara recalled her dream last night. He then turned to the pendopo, as he did in his dream. And, Tiara was now completely shocked. As seen in his dream, in the pendopo not far from his existence, a young man was standing looking at him. And what makes Tiara even more astonished, it turns out that the young man is exactly like the person in his dream. Because it turns out that the young man is none other than Alan.

Mr. Shahroni who saw Tiara was finished, he also immediately approached Tiara and invited her to go home. Mr. Shahroni who saw the presence of Alan and Alfin there, he was also a little surprised. He then immediately approached them at the pendopo.

'' You know, Alan and Alfin want to go on pilgrimage too?'' ask Mr. Syahroni.

'' Yes sir, I would like to accompany uncle Alan for the pilgrimage to uncle Fadil's tomb Alfin replied.

Of course, the answer from Alfin made Mr. Shahroni and Tiara who were standing not far from them feel surprised. Why does Alfin call Alan uncle?, does Alan really have a relationship with Zaenab's mother's family? That is now a question in the heart of Mr. Shahroni.

'' Emm are you and mom Tiara finished?'' alan asked, breaking the mind of Mr. Syahroni who was wondering about Alan's relationship with the Fadil family.

'' Yes, we just finished and now want to go home, replied Mr. Syahroni.

'' We go first, come on! Assalamualaikum.'' said Mr. Syahroni, then took his motorbike which he parked in the pendopo.

'' Let's go, wa'alaikumsalaam warohmatullah.'' replied Alan and Alfin simultaneously.

When the motorbike driven by Mr. Syahroni and Tiara began to move away from the cemetery area, Alan and Alfin immediately walked towards the center owned by Fadil. Tiara who had been looking down and did not dare to look at Alan's face, she turned her head back as the motorbike was about to come out of the gate of the cemetery.

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

Alan escorted Alfin back home, after they had finished their pilgrimage at the funeral. After that, he immediately took his car to the city of Baturaja, to meet with his uncle Hartono. For the next few days, Alan will be staying with Hartono. The main purpose of Alan's arrival to the city of Baturaja is, to find out the whereabouts of the Fadil family and at the same time meet him. And because it has been done, he will do other things related to his family business in this small town, while waiting for the day that he would exchange his life with Fadil according to their agreement at that time.

Tiara had seen, that the car brought by Alan just entered and went out again. For some reason, since his meeting with Alan at the funeral, which also happened to be exactly the same as in his dream, Tiara is now starting to think about Alan. In his heart were 1001 questions he wanted to know the answer to. Fadil's words in his dream, added curiosity in his heart about the purpose of Fadil's words. '' He is not me, but a part of me is with him. And someday, I'll really be there for her''. Those were the words of Fadil, who was always ringing in Tiara's heart and mind.

A week has passed. Since the last time Alan's car came out, to this day, Tiara has not seen Alan's car enter this hamlet again. Every time Tiara heard and saw a car passing in front of her house, her heart wished it was Alan's. Tiara was eager to ask who Alan really was, but she did not know who to ask. Suddenly he said:

'' Alfin, yes Alfin. But.. Ah shame!, when I asked others with Alfin?'' inner Tiara.

'' Oh yes, Miss Naila.'' he said in his heart.

After thinking for quite a while, Tiara finally remembered. If Naila ever told him she'd ask Alan for his WA number. So that night, Tiara after returning from the tarawih prayer in the mosque, he then called Naila's phone number. After several calls, he finally connected with Naila.

'' Assalamualaikum, said Tiara.

'' Wa'alaikumussalaam warahmatullah, Mbak Tiara! tumben nih nelpon's. Kirain had met the prince of the lumping horse uh the white horse, so forgot my equal.'' said Naila directly teasing Tiara.

'' Hemm.. This Naila ma'am, seems to have a candidate and willing to be married again.'' replied Tiara reply Naila.

'' He. don't do that ah, I so want to ups it means embarrassed ccc.'' Naila chuckles.

'' Wah wah. it turns out, mbak Naila this if on the phone is different yes the same original.'' said Tiara.

'' I mean different how the hell mbak?'' tanya Naila was curious about Tiara's words.

'' Yes, if the original is! mbak Naila, the person looks authoritative, continues to be a bit quiet even a little, and also. different deh!, But it turns out that when called by this mbak the person gokil abis.'' said Tiara held back laughter.

'' Ah yes time? is that what kayaking is? ccc.'' Naila said still chuckling.

'' Tau ah lap.'' Tiara replied pretending to be gluttonous.

'' Eleh eleh.., ferociously.!, don't do that! later the prince of the white horse was afraid!'' naila teases Tiara.

'' Yes, I am serious! What is it about Tiara Tumben calling me?'' connect Naila.

'' Emm... How is it? emm..''

'' well.kok only em em doang, how the hell mbak this Tiara! by the way mbak dong!"

'' Emm.. Anu, it's mbak! I want anu.'' Tiara was still awkward to ask Naila.

'' Huh.., Mbak Tiara wants anu? whose daughter is mbak???''

'' Ish..mbak Naila's, slovenly ah. Saru tau!''

'' Ish ish ish.., who is that slovenly? tiara herself said it! if Tiara wants anu! ccc.'' Naila said as she chuckled again.

'' I mean, what does Naila already got his WA number kang Alan.'' said Tiara finally forced to say directly his intent and purpose.

'' Oh. that's anyway!. Why not say from earlier. Turns out, this mbak wants to know Alan, uh his WA number kang Alan. ccc.'' said Naila still chuckles teasing Tiara.

'' Naila Ma'am..!'' tiara shouted annoyed as she continued to be teased by Naila.

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