Secret Alit
Grandma's Story 1: Tuah Akar Mimang
As a child, my grandmother lived in a small village with her father and mother, my grandfather and my great-grandmother. Not only them, in that house there was also a little girl who was the same age as grandmother. He was named Yurah, the son of a woman who had worked for my grandfather and great-grandmother.
I have never met my grandparents, because they were not in this world when I was born. But my grandmother used to tell me about my great-grandfather. There are many exciting and strange experiences beyond reason. People call him Mbah Kinar.
The small village that is occupied by the grandmother and Mbah Kinar is very remote. The distance between one house to another is also far apart. It takes about a five-minute walk to the nearest neighbor's house.
They also need to go to a big city to buy necessities, such as medicines for example. Meanwhile, to go to a big city, must pass through a forest that is considered haunted by many people.
Despite the many horror stories in the forest, grandma was always happy when invited to go to the big city. Lots of stuff he could see. Usually, Mbah Kinar would buy her new clothes when they went there.
If they have to go to a big city, they travel by bicycle. Cycling in the forest should be extra careful. If too fast can fall tripping over roots and rocks or can hit a large tree.
It is said that the big trees in it are also a gathering place for fine creatures. According to people who live around the forest, the subtle creatures in the forest sometimes like to disturb. For example, if someone steps over an oyot (root), then that person will get lost. Either because of daze or forgot the direction of the road, so it circled again to the road that has been passed.
***
Oyot mimang is the root of the Dewandaru tree. The roots of the tree are large and protrude on the surface of the ground. The range can widen everywhere to far from the tree. This root is considered lucky for many people. Meanwhile, some also believe that the fruit of the roots of this mimic can be useful to repel evil spirits, can even prevent the intention of people who want to steal. It is said that the energy from the roots of the nose will make the thief daze and he will only realize if the owner of the house pats his shoulder.
Many mystical stories that surround oyot mimang. His story is passed down verbally from mouth to mouth. Not only from parents, but many young people also tell their experiences.
***
One morning, Mbah Kinar set out from home to the big city by bicycle. He had deliberately set off early in the morning so that he could return home in the afternoon before the sky turned dark.
But until midnight, Mbah Kinar has not returned home. He arrived home the next morning. Arriving at home, Mbah Kinar looks very tired and haggard. After breakfast and a short rest, he began to tell me about the reason for being late.
"When in the city, the bike was damaged, so it had to be repaired first and only able to go home" said Mbah Kinar. "It was just in the woods when it was dark. You don't realize you've stepped over the root of the nose."
***
Apparently, Mbah Kinar had actually been on his way home from the city since the afternoon before the evening of the previous day. At that time, when he arrived at the edge of the forest, the sky was almost dark. Plus, there was no light illuminating the forest. There were only large trees visible inside. But he continued the journey because he felt already memorized by the area.
After that, Mbah Kinar again continued the journey in a bit of a hurry but remained cautious. At that time, it was night. He pedaled his bike for a long time, not knowing how many minutes or hours had passed.
"I'm tired, but I'm not out of this forest yet. Shouldn't the distance not be this far?" Think Mbah Kinar. While daydreaming, Mbah Kinar continued to pedal his bicycle.
Suddenly the pedal was stuck again. Mbah Kinar guessed, probably because it got stuck in the stone again. He got off his bike and fumbled the tires in search of the rock. This time, it was apparently not a stone, but rather a huge root that was poking out from the ground.
"Is it possible that I have unwittingly stepped over the roots of the nose?" The word Mbah Kinar in the heart.
Staying in a squatting position, he fumbled the ground in the darkness of the forest. Then he found a hole. The size is the same as the hole of the stone that was poked earlier.
"Well, here's the rock I was rocking. Unknowingly I was just circling here," Mbah Kinar said inwardly.
I don't know how many times Mbah Kinar circled through this place. He was too tired to continue his journey and sat down on the root mound. Didn't expect that he would get lost in the forest that had been dozens or even hundreds of times passed by him.
When Mbah Kinar was daydreaming, he unconsciously fell asleep. Then, he woke up because he heard the sound of people who were chatting. Mbah Kinar also guided his bike towards the source of the sound. Not long after, the torch lights were seen coming from residential residents around the forest.
"Oh thank goodness, apparently I was on the road to get out of this forest," said Mbah Kinar.
Mbah Kinar began pedaling his bicycle towards the torch. Sure enough, Mbah Kinar arrived at the edge of the forest to the village where he lived. It turned out, the sun had already started to rise and the originally dark sky was gradually becoming light.
"And only a few hundred meters from where I gouged the great stone. But, it took me all night to get out of this forest," thought Mbah Kinar.
***
Arriving at home, the day is light. Family members who had been waiting for Mbah Kinar's return anxiously, were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Mbah Kinar came home with a strange story he experienced while in the forest. This story was told by my grandmother.
There are many stories of other Mbah Kinar experiences. I've never known him. But, through the stories told by my grandmother, I felt close to my great-grandfather.
