Novel : The Struggle doesn't betray the results

Namaku Zahra, biasa dipanggil ara, aku terlahir dari orangtua yang sederhana, aku adalah anak pertama dari 3 bersaudara, aku mempunyai dua adik laki-laki yang masih duduk di kelas 3 dan 5 SD, dan ayahku baru saja pergi meninggalkan aku dan keluarga kecilku beberapa bulan yang lalu, dan aku sekarang tinggal bersama ibu dan adik-adikku, setelah ayah pergi aku dan ibuku bekerja agar mendapatkan uang untuk makan sehari-hari, untuk dapat makan satu hari saja sudah bersyukur, ibuku bekerja sebagai tukang sapu di sebuah universitas, nama ibuku adalah Nur Kasih, biasa dipanggil orang “Bude Kasih” oleh banyak orang, ibuku bekerja disalah satu fakultas di universitas itu, ibuku adalah orang tak kenal lelah, selalu bergigih untuk bekerja walaupun kadang ia merasa letih, ia tetap mengerjakan pekerjaannya sampai selesai.

Dulu aku adalah anak yang sangat egois apa yang ku mau harus terkabulkan, dan ibu selalu berusaha agar bisa membelikannya untukku, dengan pekerjaannya yang tidak seberapa dan gaji yang tidak terlalu banyak, ia bahkan bisa membelinya untuk, seminggu sebelum ayahku pergi, ibu membeliku handphone baru sesuai dengan apa yang aku inginkan, betapa egoisnya aku? aku tidak pernah meminta apapun pada ayah karena ayah tidak punya pekerjaan dan ia juga sudah sakit-sakitan selama ini, aku hanya bisa merawat ayah, dan meminta imbalan kepada ibu.

Setelah ayah pergi, aku baru tau bagaimana susah payahnya mencari uang, dan aku selalu meminta barang yang tidak murah harga nya pada ibuku, aku merasa sangat-sangat bersalah dengan ibu. Pada suatu hari, ibu ku belum bangun pada saat itu, aku pergi kekamar mandi dan sholat subuh, lalu aku memasak air, dan menyedu the dan membuat sarapan untuk ibu dan adik-adikku. Suara gesekan sudip yang berisik membuat ibuku bangun..

“Apa yang kamu lakukan nak? Tumben kamu cepat bangun?” (Ibu bertanya padaku, sambil membawa handuk mau kekamar mandi) 
“Tidak melakukan apa-apa bu, hanya membuat sarapan untuk kita pagi ini, adik juga masuk pagi kan hari ini?” (Jawabku dengan senyuman)
“Oohh ibu kira ada berisik didapur, baiklah ibu mandi dulu dan mau sholat subuh, banguni adik-adikmu, suruh  mereka mandi ya, setelah itu kita sarapan” (Ujar Ibu)   
“Baiklah bu” (Jawabku) 

Lalu aku membangunkan adikku, setelah ibu keluar dari kamar mandi dan menuju kamar untuk melaksanakan sholat, aku menyuruh adik-adikku mandi. Dan aku menyiapkan seragam sekolah adik-adikku, setelah adikku sudah siap, aku pergi kekamar dan melihat ibu dikamar sedang berdoa, lalu aku pergi ke meja makan untuk menyajikan sarapan. Sambil menunggu ibu aku dan adik-adikku sudah berada dimeja makan.

“Kak, air the nya kenapa dingin? Aku mau air the yang hangat!”(Bentak adikku yang masih duduk dikelas 5 SD)           
“Kamu bisa bilang baik-baik gak? Haruskah dengan cara ngebentak seperti itu? Gak baik didengar tetangga tau gak?!” (Jawabku dengan lembut tapi sedikit kesal)  
“Hhmm.. Terserah kakak mau bilang apa?! Aku mau the hangat!” (Bentak adikku kembali)  
“Nih anak ya, gak ngerti apa yang dibilang!!! Kamu Buat sendirilah!!!” (Bentakku)

Lalu ibu keluar dari kamar, dengan ekspresi terkejut..  

“Ada apa ini ribut-ribut?” (Tanya ibu)   
“Ini bu, adik minta teh hangat pakai bentak-bentak segala” (Jawabku)
“Iya bu, kalau kakak yang buat pasti selalu the nya dingin gak pernah hangat, beda sama ibu” (Ujar adikku)
“Sudah-sudah, biar ibu buat kembali) (Ibu mengambil Teko air teh dan memasukkan air hangat didalamnya dan memasukkan gula kembali)

Aku merasa kesal dengan adikku, padahal dia lebih tua dari adiknya, malah dia yang sangat bandel. Lalu ibu menaruh Teko air tersebut di meja dan mengambil gelas-gelas kami dan menuangkannya ke dalam gelas kami masing-masing.
"Do not forget to read prayer before eating" (Mother said)
"All right mom (Answer us in unison)

A few minutes later..

We finished eating, and I escorted my brother to school by bicycle. Soon we came to my brother's school.
"Focus and diligent to study, do not be naughty, remember the mother's message, when it's time to go home from school, go home okay" (I said)
"Well, Bye Ara .." (answer my brother)
"Bye..." (I replied)
After that I rushed home, arrived home my mother was getting ready to go to college, to clean up the faculty.
"Mother, can I help mother working in campus, anyways I do not have work at home, I'm bored .." (Ujarku on mother)
"Are you sure? I afraid that you will sweat dear, let me alone to works "(answer my mother)
"No mom, let me go with you huh? Okay mom, please .. "(Force me on my mother)
"Hhmm .. okay dear, let's go"

And we went to campus together, arrived campus, I saw so many leaves fall, I can not imagine how vast this place, every street there are leaves that fall .. So all this time the mother do it alone? And I can only ask for a reward, I am stunned, I can not say anything? And mom immediately took a tool like a broom and a drain.
"Ara, why are you so stunned? (Mother asks me)
"Haaa .. it's okay mom, who did this all?" (I ask silly)
"Yeah dear, are not you able to help me? Otherwise you can sit in a seat under a shady tree there "(say mother)
"Hhm, no mom, let me help you" (answer me firmly)

Not long after, my sweat dripped and I began to feel tired.
"Oh god, how tired as my mother's job, I realize now, I feel guilty all the time, every time I ask for the reward of the mother" (I think in my teary heart and eyes)

Then mom came to me ..
"What happened to you? Are you tired? Get some rest, listen to the mother's talk, go to rest under the tree "(Say mother to me, with a falling sweat,and her tired face)
"No mom! I do not feel tired, I just want to drink, I'll take a drink there "(Answer me)
"Ohh well" (Mother's answer)

And I drank a few degrees, I left the mineral water for my mom, then I went back to work.

Early in the morning, at 9:30 we just finished clearing the faculty yard, me and my mom sat for a moment under the tree while talking.

"Mom, do not you get tired doing this every day?" (I asked)
"Yaaa .. how? what should I do??? If I do not work we will not eat"(Mother's answer)
"Hhhmm .. Later we will come here again mom?" (I asked)
"Let me do this all, go home, and cook lunch for your brothers" (say mother to me)
"But mom .. I can not bear to see the mother working alone" (I replied sadly)
"If you come to work, how about your brothers, are you willing to see him not eating?" (Say mother)
"No mom, I do not have the heart, but I pity to see the mom doing it alone" (I replied with a sad face)
"It's okay, my job this afternoon is not so heavy, just put together messy chairs in the classroom and turn off the fan that is still burning , go home, cook lunch for us to eat" (replied my mom again)
"Well mom, I'll go home" (With a heavy heart leaving my mother)

On the way home there was a man who smiled at me, he was very handsome and he might be a good man. But unfortunately only a glance.
In the crossroads, there was another man teasing me, I was afraid at the time, I did not know what to do, I was silent. They came to me.

"Where is it beautiful from? why do you sweat? "(The men asked me)
"Do not approach me, or I shout!" (Threaten me with fear)
"Hey .. Hey .. do not be afraid pretty, we are not evil okay, may acquaintances not?" (The man gave his right hand to me)
"Do not touch me, I do not want to meet you guys! Go there! "(I am anxiously snapped)
"Very fierce" (The words of the men)
"Beware you guys!" (I pushed the men strongly, then I ran to the house)

When I get home I feel tired because run out ..

"Huh basic men do not know themselves, there is no other way what want to acquaintance with girls, very like to make afraid!"

And I go to the house and go to the room to get a towel and shower immediately, after the shower I prepare the ingredients for cooking. Before long I cooked food, my brothers arrived home. I immediately told them to change clothes.

"Ara, where is mom? Not home yet? "(Ask my brother)
"Still faculty sweety, soon again home, how is your school?" (I asked them)
"Today is so fun day, classroom was for those who can answer given the gift of candy lollypop" (answer my brother who grade 3 SD)
"What did she learn? Did you get one of those lollypop candies? "(I asked again)
"Yeah, the teacher asked about What is the meaning of" You're so beautiful "(Answer my brother)
"Haha ..: D then, what your answer dear?" (I asked)
"I replied" You are very beautiful ", is is the correct?" (Answer and ask again)
"Yaa its correct, thanks , hahaha ..: D  I'm beautiful right?" (My candle to younger brother)
"Iiihh I am serious?!" (Her face somewhat so annoyed to me)
"Hehehe okay bro, if you are wrong maybe the teacher not give you candy lollypop" (answer me)

The length of our conversation, the mother arrived at home, with her face that looks very tired.

Then my mom sat up to us, while sweating.

"Huufftt .. Hahh .. do you have lunch?" (Ask Mother to us)

"Not yet, we wait for mom back home, bad atmosphere if there is no mom" (answer me)

"Hhmm .. (With a smile) Okay, let's go in, I want to take a bath first, while it's the fig of food on the table" (Mother said)

"Well mom, I'll serve it" (My answer)

Then we went into the house, I bath while I serve food on the table. After my mom bathed, we ate lunch together. After lunch we took a nap.

Day began the evening, I woke up, I saw my mother's room, mother was not in the room, and I just remember that my mother went back to the faculty to clean up the faculty. And I went to bathe.

My mother came home from the faculty around 6 pm, she was carrying used bottles, for sale, and in the evening we went to the bottle sale and got only Rp.20.000, and that was enough to eat a day.

So every day we went together, but day after day I passed, I got bored with my activities like this, Registration in university was open, I want to continue to college, then one day I discussed to my mother.

"Mom, I want to register to college?" (I asked)
"Not that I'm not allowing you to go to college, I don't have much money" (replied my mother with sad face)
"But mom, how does our life continue like this?" (Answer me with my selfishness)
"Yes I understand, but how else, but I will try?" (My mother answered with a doubt)

"Are you serious?" (With a happy expression)

At night around 2 pm, I heard the sound of crying, at first I was frightened but impossible, the voice was heard from the mother's room, with fear and daring, I slowly walk to the mother's room, and peep, it turns out my mother was praying night (Tahajud Prayer) he cried, and I heard him say "Oh God, help me to realize the dream of a son of a servant who wants to go to college, strive my provision, give me a way to be able to lecture him in university".I feel so sad, why am I so selfish? Why do not I think, my family circumstances like this? Why my selfishness does not go away? Hiks .. hikss .. hikss .. (my tears fall like a very heavy rain) and mother hear me crying.

"Who's there?" (Said the mother with a shock)
"I'm ara, mom." (Then I walked over and hugged my mother)
"What's up, why not sleep?" (Ask the mother while wiping her tears)
"I was already sleeping mom, but I heard the sound of crying, I was afraid and I went to my mother's room, it sounds mother's voice, bu I'm sorry, I'm not forcing you to lecture me, sorry with selfishness mom"

"I will try for your future dear, do not follow the footsteps of mothers who only sweepers, chase your dreams, mothers will try to find another way to get the money" (Mother replied with confidence)

"I'm so sorry, I've troubled you, I promise to be seriously undergoing this lecture, I love you" (while embracing my mother, and my tears are continuously falling)
"Well dear, go back to sleep" (Send my mother)
"I want to sleep with you tonight" (I replied)
"Haha .. you're big, still sleeping with me? Let's sleep, (said my mother)

3 days passed, as we usually do every day. However, my mother came home earlier than usual. With my puzzled face asking ..

"Mom? Why go home early? "(I ask with confusion)
"Mother do not work today, I would talk to you for a while dear?" (Answer mother with happy face)
"What are you talking about, mom seems so happy today" (I asked)
"Yes dear, I have got the money for your college" (while sitting)
"Really mom?" (My answer with surprise)
"Yeah, this is the money , let me to save it, okay" (said my mom)

"Alhamdulillah, okay mom" (I replied with pleasure)

One day I went to register in a university and took an exam, and I have pass at the university, I started to study the next week. Then I thank you for my mother's struggle. But I'm still confused from where the mother can be that much money. Then I went to the mother who was burning garbage.

"Mom, can we sit down for a while" (I said)
"Yes of course, what is it?" (Ask mom)
"I have pass at the university mom" (I say with pleasure)
"Thank goodness dear" (Reply mother with a happy feeling too)
"But mom .. where did you get that much money?" (I asked with a puzzled face)
"Actually, I during this time saving , I did not tell anyone" (Mother's answer)
"Really mom? for what save the money?? "(I asked again)
"I wants to raise money for the hajj, but it's okay, for sake your future, I willing to give the money to you" (Mother's answer)
"OMG, why do not you tell me" (with annoyance, sadness and self-blame)

"It's okay, achieve your dreams, your future is still long" (Said mother)

(I bow to my mother's knee, and I thank her)
"Thank you for all your sacrifices, I love you very much" (while kissing my mother's hand and kissing my mom's cheek)
"Yes dear" (Answer my mother with a smile while shedding tears)


And finally I enter the lecture, and run it until the next graduation.

MORAL MESSAGE: Be thankful for what God has given, and do not be a selfish person, be grateful, especially grateful that you are born from rich parents, all can be realized, for someone like Zahra so grateful to have been given a mother very remarkable like Bude Surkasih.