SUKMA: The Deal With the Devil

Visiting Mount Ciremai

Not felt, the time to go on vacation to Mount Ciremai has arrived. Sukma prepared everything for the trip later, assisted by Bu Inah who did not want to miss a single item for his daughter to carry. Wanara is also getting ready to go home, meet again with the mountain dedemites and refocus on meditating.

After everything was ready, Sukma rushed to school, escorted by Mr. Risman using his old motorcycle. Before her youngest daughter left, Ms. Inah held her back for a while. His heart was still a little hesitant to let go of the youngest for the first time to go to the mountain.

"Later there Dedek can't mess around, yeah. Keep your speech, keep your behavior. Dedek also can not be far from the group. Ibu inuk Dedek came home safely," said Bu Inah advising, the look on his anxious face made Sukma a little sad.

"Mother calm down, Dedek will not do anything strange. Dedek must have gone home safely. Ibu doain aja so that the journey to Mount Ciremai smoothly, as well as to go home later," said Sukma staring at both eyes of his mother.

"Yes, I must be praying for the best for Dedek's trip. Don't forget, pray a lot during the journey."

Sukma nodded and said goodbye to Bu Inah. As soon as the girl got on her father's motorcycle, then waved at her mother. Not to forget, Sukma had brought Wanara into the bottle he used to wear.

Atikah who was just preparing to go to school, found her mother staring blankly at Sukma leaving. A seep of anxiety was still clearly drawn on Bu Inah's face, making his eldest daughter pity. Atikah approached her mother.

"Bus ... Mom's okay, right, if Dedek goes to the mountain with his friends?" ask Atikah.

"Actually I'm still worried, Atikah. Lately often get news about climbers who lost lost lost lost in the mountain. Mother was afraid, Dedek fared miserably like them," replied Bu Inah sighing heavily.

"Mom don't worry too much. I know very well, Dedek is strong and stubborn. From a small he had seen faced with invisible creatures, even dare to fight against shamans. Did I forget, Dedek also killed the family of the Father who used the Father?"

"But this is different, Atikah. Dedek came to a foreign place, which he had never been."

"Please calm down, Mom. Surely Dedek is okay. We'd better pray that Dedek is safe until he gets back here" Atikah said, then kissed his mother's hand. He said goodbye to his mother and immediately went to school.

Meanwhile at Sukma school, the first and second graders were already getting ready in front of the charter bus. Mr. Anwar who submitted an opinion to go to Mount Ciremai seemed dazed by this situation. The teachers who took part in the trip were so upset to see the strange attitude of Mr. Anwar.

Of course Mr. Anwar's behavior can be captured well by Wanara. Sukma immediately took out his beloved ape after arriving at school. Immediately, Wanara penetrated into the body of Mr. Anwar and behaved properly, as he expressed his opinion to go to Mount Ciremai.

The headmaster gathered the students in the field. Before leaving, he gave a short speech and urged caution when he arrived at the location later. Not to forget, the fat man in glasses led prayers so that his journey was smooth and safe until the destination.

After listening to the headmaster's speech and praying, the students rushed to the bus that had been fitted with a class sign. Mr. Anwar took the same bus as Sukma. For now, Wanara did not want to go far from his friend until he arrived at his place of residence.

...****************...

The mist had just been blazed by the sunlight on Mount Ciremai. In a village near the foot of the mountain, a woman in her forties with her teenage daughter panicked and shocked the residents. His name is Asih, the younger brother of Bu Ratmi. Since dawn, the brother who was insane, suddenly disappeared from his place of shackling. The villagers also went to look for Mrs Ratmi to every corner.

"Ceu Ratmi! Ceu Ratmi's! Where are you at? Let's go!" shouts Asih looking for her brother who is out of nowhere.

"Let's! Let's go!" call his daughter Asih, panic.

As for Bu Ratmi who was hiding behind the bushes, chuckled at the sight of the surrounding residents looking for him. Its appearance is shabby and messy, will not be easily found around the trees. He ran to a quieter place to be free from the restraints of his family.

"Now my son will come here. In order to make amends for all my mistakes, I must welcome him. I have to meet him" muttered Bu Ratmi with a happy smile, imagining his reunion with the princess.

In the dream, Ms. Inah came with a sad face and looked pityfully at Ms. Ratmi. Every now and then, Ms. Inah wiped her tears while sighing. The two hands of the hooded woman held onto Bu Ratmi's hand with a faint smile.

"Mother's will be back soon. He's coming to see Mom. You don't have to be sad anymore" said Ms. Inah with teary eyes.

"really? Is he coming?" Ms. Ratmi smiled a while, her eyes twinkling. Tears just fell so wet his cheeks, touched by the good news from the foster mother only daughter puppet.

Madam Inah nodded. "Yes. Name's Sukma. I have to remember her name, yeah."

With a definite nod, Ms. Ratmi remembered the name of the princess only wayangnya. He looked so happy that he woke up from his dream. He kept the name of his daughter, until he finally had the power to open the shackles on his legs and the rope that tied his hands together. Ms Ratmi managed to escape after years of being locked up by her family.

Asih kebabakan knowing his brother is no longer in the former chicken coop where Bu Ratmi was pasung. After dawn prayers, he and his daughter immediately sought the brother to the area near the house, until finally electrifying the villagers. Although embarrassed by the escape of Bu Ratmi, Asih still have to find it so as not to disturb residents and climbers.

In the midst of the panic of residents looking for Ms Ratmi, not a few mothers who gossiped. The behavior of Ms. Ratmi and her husband in the past, often became the lips of people. Until now, his bad temper is still remembered well by the community, not even a few who condemned him.

In the past, Mr. Ratmi and Mr. Burhan had one luxury house around Mount Ciremai. Both are generous, handing out used clothes that are still worth wearing. At first the community was so happy to get nice clothes and branded from Bu Ratmi. However, the bloody night that snatched one of the secondhand recipients from her, made the citizens sniff out the bad intentions behind Bu Ratmi's generosity. They began to realize, that the woman was looking for a collision for the pesugihan she did with her husband. Especially since the terrible incident, Ms. Ratmi and her husband went to the city without saying goodbye.

In addition, the age of Bu Ratmi who is getting older, does not escape the attention of the surrounding community. He has not been blessed with a momongan. Many argue, that it is a recompense of his actions to associate with God.

Now, the situation of the woman is getting worse after her sanity disappears with the death of Mr. Burhan and the banishment of the princess who has a physical like a demon. Of course, it makes the people around feel satisfied. Apparently, God's reward for people who dare to associate with Him is indeed very painful.

Ms. Ratmi's parents, who were embarrassed by her daughter's behavior, could no longer bear to live in the world. In addition to the age of those who are old and often sickly, the arrival of Bu Ratmi again actually makes health worse. Starting with the death of Ms Ratmi's father, then followed by her mother who did not intermittently. Now Bu Ratmi only has Asih, who is still willing to take care of it. However, the attitude of the Asih family is hard, even making Ms. Ratmi worse.

Ms. Ratmi who has walked away from her home, waiting for the presence of her only child near the stop of the climber vehicle. From a distance, it appears that the Sukma school bus group entered the parking area of Mount Ciremai. Bu Ratmi's face was so crisp, a happy smile bloomed on her lips. His eyes glazed over, moved to welcome the arrival of his only princess.

One by one the students got off the bus after a long trip. They look enthusiastic about vacationing around Mount Ciremai, not even a few who feel happy to see the scenery around. The beautiful nature is so soothing to the eyes, like inviting the people of this city to relax for a moment from everyday fatigue.

Sukma got off the last of the bus he was riding. He has no friends in his class. Giska was in another class, so they couldn't walk together. The pale-white girl just walked while bowed lethargic, accompanied by Mr. Anwar who was still possessed by Wanara.

Seeing the girl who had just gotten off the bus, Ms. Ratmi immediately ran up to her. Instincts as a mother made him immediately recognize, that the teenage girl is the only daughter of his puppet. Without thinking anymore, Ms. Ratmi immediately hugged Sukma with teary eyes.

"Sukmu ... My daughter ... You're finally here, son. Mama misses you altogether," shrewdly Bu Ratmi hugged Sukma's body tightly. The feeling of haru enveloped his mind, so that no tears just slid soaked his cheeks.

Sukma felt uncomfortable with the arrival of a seedy-looking foreign woman who suddenly hugged him. As much as possible he tried to let go of Ms Ratmi's embrace and remove the woman from her presence. However, again Bu Ratmi approached him and held Sukma's face while crying haru. Sometimes he kissed the face of the princess only wayangnya.

"You're a big boy, son. You are very beautiful, like a young Mama," said Bu Ratmi holding Sukma's hands while smiling proudly.

"M-Sorry, Mom. I'm not Mom's son. Maybe Mother was wrong," Sukma argued evasive.

"No, Son. Mama is not wrong. Do you not know your mother? This is your real mother!" said Mr. Ratmi confirmed.