Morning Dew in the Land of Rabbani (Part Five)

It was Saturday morning. The atmosphere in Tanah Rabbani seemed to be starting to stir, as it had been the previous days. Teaching and learning activities had begun after dawn prayers in their respective rayon. Accompanied by the breeze that had not yet been touched by the sun's rays, the students sat neatly in front of their respective rayon rooms. In their hands they held pens and the reading on the cover of the book clearly read Daily Vocabularies. For the Rabbani students, the book was very sacred and full of meaning. Because they knew, from this book they would one day be able to write the world's languages, which would be a sign that they had studied them, even in a place where the owner of the language did not live. Truly important was the content and role of that small book.

Meanwhile, in another place, two students were seen engaged in a serious conversation, they seemed to be arguing with each other about something that differed according to their respective perceptions.

“I really regretted yesterday, Lis. Why did I fall for your persuasion to go to Taliwang to buy new shoes, even though my old ones were still wearable? Because of you, my name was recorded by the Rabbani Land Security Management, I will definitely be called in at midday prayer and my hair will be pulled out again.” Abridin protested strongly to Mukhlis about their illegal departure via that alternative route. He wasn’t really worried about other punishments, but his hair had only just grown 1 cm on his head and the next day it would be bulldozed again by the Rabbani Land Security Management. This was the biggest worry that would interfere with his masculine appearance.

"Why are you blaming me, Din? I didn't force you to come with me yesterday. Weren't you with Sholeh, Musa, and Salman yesterday? When I was about to leave, you were already on the horse-drawn carriage. Why are you blaming me now?" Mukhlis refused to accept Abridin's unreasonable demands. His name was also listed in the Tanah Rabbani Security Management book. Mukhlis himself was actually thinking of a way to escape punishment from the Security Management. He didn't want to argue with Abridin for long, as it would surely lead to defeat.

Elsewhere, Salman, Sholeh, and Musa didn't feel the same burden as Abridin and Mukhlis. Instead, they were seen happily playing soccer on the field after studying Daily Vocabularies. For them, leaving through alternative routes was a common occurrence. They had never been caught or included on the list of Mysterious Students. Or perhaps they were special students who received leniency because they came from Flores, an island famous for its Komodo dragons, which are among the 10 wonders of the world.

Could be??!! But I don't know..?!!

And then the long-awaited moment arrived. On Saturday, after the Dhuhur prayer, the students were gathered for another roll call. The administrator read out the attendance list and the mysterious figures who had disappeared on Friday.

“Abridin”
“Moses”
"Salman"
"Pious"

“The names I call, please come forward. Students sitting in the front row, please move to the back.” With a firm and authoritative tone. The Security Officer waited for the mysterious faces that disappeared last Friday. Appearing in a black cap, a white koko shirt, and a dark yellow sarong, Abridin stood and walked towards the front. His face looked pale and reddish from embarrassment. He looked left and right to check whether Mukhlis was in the mosque or not. And how shocked Abridin was when he looked back, Mukhlis was laughing happily while covering his mouth with both fists. Meanwhile, Abridin stared at Mukhlis with a hostile gaze. Hostility in proving who was smarter and more careful in avoiding punishment from the Rabbani officer. And this time Abridin lost badly in that fight. As badly as Mike Tyson's concrete neck hand when he KO'd Larry Homes in the Fourth Round in 1988. Very painful!!

Meanwhile, Musa, Salman, and Shaleh still looked hesitant to stand at the front of the row. They glanced at each other. They also glanced back, as hundreds of students laughed in their own hilarious ways. They were laughing at Salman, Sholeh, and Musa because their heads would soon be shaved. It was a very strange sight to see three Flores children being shaved at the same time.

To be continued..