1st Sept, 2018
It's the first of September. And it's a special day to all the teachers out there, today.
Just for today, I will like to dedicate this true short story to a teacher of mine, who has portrayed the real virtues of a teacher.
He was the principal of my high school cum my Musthalah Hadist teacher (my school is an Islamic-based one, with both Islamic and academics curriculum combined).
Ustaz K, or so we called him. A stern-looking personnel, with very thick mustache and beard. A very disciplined individual, who stands no nonsense from anyone. Yet he knows how to transform a very boring and monotone lesson to an interactive and fun one. And yeah, to a nerve-wrecking one too. Haha.
To be honest, since he's the principal, there's this 'scary' aura surrounding him. Just looking at his silhoutte can make you run for your life at a full speed (no kidding.... he's really scary, to me 😅)
So, this story happens when I was facing my final exams in my high school. Since we have both Islamic and academic curriculum, our subjects are double of that secular students, making the headaches that we have to face doubled as well.
It was our final paper, and it I was busy revising for the final battle at the corner of my dorm, trying to push in every words of the book that I can push into this small brain of mine. I sneak a look at my mates, and their mouths are busy chanting and memorising the same words, trying so hard not to flunk the last paper, to end this deadly battle with flying colours.
My eyes were getting painful from reading the small fonts in the school books, and my head was giving this deadly warning: I'm going to be overload with words, so please stop. But another part of me keeps reminding myself that the consequences for flunking the last paper can be agonising, so I shoved the first thoughts away, and tried my best to revise as I can.
We were all in this state when suddenly, the principal's voice echos through the school's microphone.
"I'm calling for final-year students named Hanan, Aulia, Fatimah, Hany, and 10th grade student Sharifah, to come to my office RIGHT NOW". Of course, he emphasise the word "right now" to show the urgency in his words. My knees suddenly turn to jelly, shaking non-stop.
"Timah, I really don't want to meet him. What wrong did I do this time?" I whispered to Fatimah, whose name was called like mine.
"I don't think we were being punished"
"I think we were"
"O shut up Hanan, and stop being a coward. Just go, will you?"
After a few hesitations, I gave in and follow the other 3 mates to Ustaz K's office. Oh Allah, please help me, I keep on praying to myself.
"Have a seat," Ustaz K said the moment we entered his office. We all sit on the sofa in front of him.
Awkward silence.
Then he cleared his throat.
"Do you recall the representative of the Saudi Embassy that made a visit to our school last semester?" He asked.
Oh yeah, I just recalled. We have this guest from the Saudi Embassy that visited our school in the previous semester.
"Do you recall that he had made some promise to give each of you an umrah as a gift for your Qur'an memorization?" Ustaz K asked once more, trying to jog our memories back.
And that's when reality strike me. Yes, I recall that. The guest, did asked Ustaz K for the students that have memorized the Al-Qur'an completely, and have given his promise to give those students an umrah as a gift for this achievement, together with their mahram. And I was one of them.
All of us nodded our heads together, answering Ustaz K's question harmoniously.
"The man from the embassy contacted me just now. He instructed me to collect your passports for your Umrah visa", he continued, still keeping his stoic face pasted on him.
All of us were dumbfounded. Like, for real? We're really getting this Umrah free-of-charge? I keep on pinching myself to make sure that it wasn't a dream.
"Ah, one more thing. Make sure you hand me your passports by this Friday. Together with your mahrom's. Understand?"
"Yes, Sir!"
It was really an unexpected night. We left the office (of course after thanking our straight-faced Mudir😅) and chatted excitedly among ourselves.
"Are we really going for Umrah free-of-charge?"
"I'm soooooo happy! Alhamdulillah!"
"I feel like crying....."
"This is soo unreal..."
And the night passed by with excitement.
__________________________________________________________________________
After a series of passport-collections, renewal of my student visa and my twin's (our high school was not in Singapore at that time), and approval for a re-entry permit for mine and my twin's passports, we were ready to go.
However, suddenly, Ustaz K called us to his office, one fine evening.
"Yes, Ustaz. Is there anything that you want to inform us?" I asked without hesitation. All the others nodded in agreement.
Ustaz K cleared his throat.
"Just to let you know, the embassy will pay for all your expenses for your trip from Jakarta to Saudi Arabia. However, the flight ticket from here to Jakarta will be paid by yourself."
"Ok, we get it, Ustaz"
"One more thing. You will have to stay for one night in Jakarta since your flight from Jakarta to Saudi is at 10am. Therefore, please keep in mind that you will have to prepare extra expenses for your stay in Jakarta too. Understand?
"Yes, Sir!"
Except me. I keep my trap shut the whole time. When I heard the word "extra expenses", my heart sunk.
Yes, I believe you know what I mean. Financially, I have problems. Few days ago, I asked my parents to wire some bucks for my visa renewal and re-entry permit fees. And all that cost a lot. And to add in to all that, my dad is in his 60s, a mere Grab driver, and the father of 10 kids. So you can imagine the ups-and-downs that I have to face at that moment.
Everyone understood, and they left the office. I was about to follow them, but reversed and knocked on the office's door.
"Assalamu'alaikum Ustaz. May I talk to you?"
Ustaz K was about to sit when he heard my request. His gaze turned to me.
"Yes, you may enter, Hanan."
"Thank you, Ustaz."
I enter the office and take a seat on one of the sofas there.
"What's the matter?"
I keep silent, trying to arrange the right words for this conversation. After a moment's hesitation, I speak up.
"I'm sorry, Ustaz, but I think I'll let go this Umrah thingy," I said, trying to keep my face straight and covering my emotions from him.
That startled him.
"Why? What's your reason? Remember, this is once-in-a-lifetime chance, you know, student."
"I know, Ustaz."
"Then, why?"
"I can't afford the expenses in Jakarta for me and my twin." I answered truthfully. Well, it's better than trying to act all-high-and-mighty.
"Can't you ask you parents for them?"
"No, I can't. I don't want to be a burden to them anymore. I had just asked them for some money to pay for my visa and re-entry permit fees. That really cost a lot. I can't bear to ask them for some more money, Ustaz. I'm not from a rich family. So I hope you'll understand. It's really painful and sad, but I guess it's not my luck yet this time. Anyways, that's all I want to say. Thank you Ustaz for everything and have a good evening." I finished up what I want to say without leaving a space for him to cut in, said my salaam, and leave the office hurriedly.
Outside, I rushed towards a blind spot near the class building, and cried my heart out. It was a hard decision for me, since it was a rare chance for anyone to receive, yet I have to let it go due to my financial situation. After tearing up, I comforted myself by telling myself that it's alright, there will always be another chance. After making sure that there's no traces of tears on my face, I leave the blind spot, and made my way towards my dorm.
____________________________________________________________________________
On the same day, at night, I received a call from my twin brother. He was a student at a nearby all-boys-school, so we communicate with each other through our school's phone. Of course, our schools will never allow us to communicate with each other through our personal gadgets. Haha.
"Hanan! Listen! I really have big news for you!" Rusydi (my twin brother) was practically shouting through the phone.
"Chill down, Di. What's up?"
"Your principal just came down to the mosque nearby my school!"
"And then?" I asked, crossing my eyebrows.
"Just listen, will you? So he came down to this mosque, and I did my Maghrib prayer there. After that, he went forward, whispered something to the Imam, and then he went towards the mosque's microphone. And then he made an announcement," Rusydi's pouring out everything in one breath.
"And then?"
"Do you know what announcement he made? He announced that there's this student who has received an Umrah as a gift from the Saudi embassy for her achievement, and she was supposed to go with her twin brother who was a student in a nearby school here, yet she has to let it go due to some financial problems, and then he asked if there's anyone who's willing to take care of her expenses. Who else was that except us?"
It took me some time to churn his words.
And after that some time, it was my turn to shout.
"WHAT???? WHATTT??? HE DID THAT?"
"Yeah"
"Ok Di, I have to hang up your call and meet him right now."
"Sure"
I ran towards the school office after that, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ustaz K, but there's no sign of him. I guess he went home right after that. So I have no choice but to turn back and return to my dorm. Of course, still keeping in mind that I need to meet him the next day.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Next day.
Early in the morning, Ustaz K come to school, riding his usual red Honda Beat motorcycle.
I wear a proper attire to face him head-on and stormed my way towards the office.
"Knock,Knock" I banged my fist on the office's door.
"Yes. Who's there?"
"Hanan, Ustaz."
"You may enter."
I entered the office without hesitation.
"What's the matter, Hanan?" he asked, still with his stoic face, of course.
"I heard you asked people for donation for us, Ustaz."
"Ah, I guess words do travel fast."
"Then what exactly are you doing? Don't you know this really hurts our pride?" I answered furiously.
"Do you think I did this to hurt your pride?" His tone suddenly change, like there's this calm yet intimidating aura coming out from his words. I froze.
"Do you think it's easy for me to ask people for help? Do you think it doesn't hurt me to see my student letting go of this chance just because of some financial problems? And do you think it doesn't hurt me for me to know this and yet not doing anything?"
I was shocked to hear these words from him. I've never seen this side of him before. He was always scary, frightening, straight-faced and intimidating. Yet he has a different expression on that day. It's like a mixture of anguish,sad and gentle at the same time.
"Hanan, when you need help, never hesitate to ask from people. People will never hurt your pride by helping you, instead they are more than happy to do so. When you need help, don't do things alone. Remember that you always have people around you. You have your friends, you have your teachers, you have everyone here. Never hesitate to reach out your hands to others, never think you're alone in this world. A Muslim is a brother to another Muslim, therefore, we will always help each other whenever we can," he finished up his speech for the frozen me.
His words are simple, yet deep and touching. I tried my best to hold my tears, but I can't. So I let them flow freely down my cheeks.
"Thank you, Ustaz." I thanked him with my heads bowed down, too embarrassed to look him through his eyes.
"Thank Allah. He's the one who gave you this opportunity through me. Never forget HIM whenever and wherever you are," he answered.
I thanked him once more and leave the office. After a few steps, I stopped at a nearby staircase and sat down, thinking. That day's event really changed my point of view on him. He may seem cold, but he's warm at heart. He's scary, but gentle in real. All and all, he's actually the best teacher out there.
And Alhamdulillaah, we really did managed to perform our Umrah on that year, to be precise, on Ramadhan.
Looking back, I believe that I might not be able to even take a step to Jakarta without his help (of course, Allah still comes first). I hope that he's still doing well out there, and he's still helping his students who are in need, just like how he helped me before.
Barakallahu feeka, Ustaz. May Allah bless you always, whenever and wherever you are.
~ Amidst the earth and clouds💕
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