Nurturing Roots, Forgetting Fruits

The television screen flickered with a football match, the cheers of unseen spectators filling a small living room. Raka, engrossed in the game, flinched with every near-goal. His concentration was broken by his younger sister, Nisa, who approached him holding a thick book.

"Mas, can I borrow this book?" she asked. Raka, barely looking up, questioned if she could even read it. Nisa, with a wide smile, insisted it was easy, though she hadn't yet mastered basic reading. Curious, she asked about the book's contents, flipping through pages that held little interest for her beyond the pictures.

Raka, bored with the inconclusive game, turned off the TV and led Nisa to his bookshelf. The large brown unit held religious texts belonging to their grandfather at the top, with Raka's collection of Islamic books, motivational works, and a few comic books on the lower shelves. Nisa pointed to a maroon-covered book, asking about its contents. "Islamic History," Raka replied, admitting he'd forgotten much of it since he hadn't read it in a long time.

“

Mas, can I borrow this book?

Her attention shifted to a dusty book. "That looks like a Quranic exegesis," Raka offered. "Wow, does it contain the Quran? Tell me about it!" Nisa urged, knowing Raka was memorizing the Quran. "You're so noisy," he said, but she persisted, "Come on, Mas, I want to know. You're smart."

"I haven't finished reading that one yet. Later," Raka deflected. "If you want to read, read this one, it has lots of pictures," Nisa suggested, pointing to a comic. "What's it about?" Raka asked. "Sit down, and I'll tell you," she said. They sat together, and Raka recounted the adventure from the comic book, "Uncle's Flying Train." Nisa's laughter and bright eyes showed how captivated she was by his storytelling.

"Mas, how do you remember it so well?" she asked. "I read it often, Nis. I even imagine myself on the adventure." "Oh, you remember the comics so well, but you forget the books with knowledge," Nisa remarked innocently. Raka fell silent. Her simple words, spoken by a child so much younger, struck a chord. The innocent observation lingered in his mind, far longer than the cheers from the television.

“

You remember the comics so well, but you forget the books with knowledge.