SUKMA: The Deal With the Devil

Fabled Beloved

A supernatural being inhabiting Pak Risman's family room, suddenly appears next to Sukma. The little girl who felt his presence, slowly turned her head. The old woman grinned when she was stared at by Sukma. His pointed teeth seemed to be able to tear the flesh of his food.

In his helplessness, Sukma was aghast, then tried to inching away from the old woman. With hunting breath, Sukma stared warily at the figure of a bully creature that was in his room since he was a baby.

"M-want what are you?" asked Sukma trembling.

"Not to be afraid, Little Child. I just want to take you to my realm" said the old woman touching Sukma's cheek using her long fingernails.

"No! I'm not going with you. Just go! Don't come near me!" sukma snapped at the old woman's hand.

"Don't be afraid, son. In my nature, you can get everything you want," persuaded the old woman, trying to melt the heart of Sukma.

"No! I don't want to! Go!"

The old woman spread her hands wide, as if she was holding the body of a young Sukma. Sukma was trembling, trying to get away from the old woman. Soon he dropped to the floor, tried to get up, then stepped foot toward the door to the outside of the room.

Sukma screamed loudly, asking for help from the porch of the house. Meanwhile, Atikah who had just returned home bought some porridge, immediately ran to the pavilion. His face looked anxious looking at his sister who was standing in fear in front of the pavilion terrace.

"Dedek! Dedek why?" tanya Atikah touched both of Sukma's cheeks.

"That, inside .. inside there are grandmothers. Her face was very serem. He said, he wants to take me to another realm, "Sukma explained with bulging eyes and trembling lips, then hugged Atikah's body tightly.

"Grandmothers? Grannies who like to crawl like that lizard, Dek?" ask Atikah curiously.

"I-iya ..he smiles at me, her mouth stinks. Anyway nyeremin, Tea."

"Alright, now your daughter is inside. After eating porridge, you slept with Teteh, huh?" persuade Atikah, release Sukma's embrace.

"No. I sniffed bobo in Bi Reni's room. Here chirping," sulking Sukma, his eyes glazed over.

"But later Bi Reni feels annoyed if you are bobo there. Not to mention Mom, you like to worry that you look sick. Your face is pale like this, like an undead."

"I don't want to, Tea. In nyeremin's room."

"Then, Dedek boboonya in the living room, huh?"

Sukma still shakes.

"If while talking about Timun Mas, how? Little Dedek likes that fairy tale, right?"

Sukma pondered for a moment. Perhaps by telling his favorite fairy tale, he will sleep soundly without thinking about the old woman who had disturbed him earlier. He looked back at the brother who was still trying to persuade.

"Where? Dedek would, would ya?"

"But Teteh don't stay with me anymore. That grandma will take me to another realm."

"No, really. Tetuh will temenin you. Let's go in! Put it first pillow, blanket, same fairy tale book, yeah."

"Don't you go long!"

"Yes." Yeah."

The two brothers entered the pavilion. Sukma sat on the carpet, waiting for Atikah to bring pillows and blankets from the room. Next, the brother brought a bowl and spoon from the kitchen, then fed his sister.

"Tea, when is the fairy tale reading?"

Submissive Sukma, continues to devour the porridge offered by Atikah. Although his tongue tasted bitter, he continued to force his mouth to eat porridge so that his favorite fairy tale was read by the brother. After the porridge in the bowl ran out, Atikah began reading an old fairy tale book about Timun Mas.

"Come, bacain, Tea!" sukma was impatient. His eyes sparkled, describing his enthusiasm for listening to fairy tales.

He began reading the fairy tale book. It begins with the story of an old married couple, who yearn for the presence of a child. Once, they met a giant and were given the seed of a cucumber tree. Long enough the cucumber grows to fruition. When the time came, the golden cucumber was split by the two husbands and a very beautiful daughter appeared. They named him Timun Mas.

In the middle of the story, Atikah pauses to see Sukma. His sister was already sound asleep. Usually, Sukma stayed awake and asked him to read the Timun Mas fairy tale continuously until bored. Luckily, Sukma's condition is not fit, making it easy to stop reading his sister's favorite fairy tale. Atikah also lay beside Sukma, looking at his sister's innocent face with a smile. He did not realize, being watched by an old woman who was targeting Sukma from the opening of the room door.

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

The sky was dark, along with the sun. Usually, Atikah went to the nearest mosque to study religion with his friends, while Pak Risman and Bu Inah just returned to work. Before leaving to teach, he checked his sister's condition. Her body temperature was still hot like it was this morning.

Bu Inah brought a small basin of warm water to Sukma. Using a handkerchief, he compresses his youngest daughter.

"Mother, Dedek is okay if I stay, right?" ask Atikah worriedly.

A knot smile expands from Bu Inah's lips. "It's okay. Now there's a mother taking care of him. You just go to school, no need to worry about Dedek," said the woman as she stroked Atikah's head.

"Really, Mom?"

"Yes." Yeah." Ms. Inah tidied up Atikah's veil. "Thank you for being a good brother to Dek Sukma, yes. I pray that you get useful knowledge tonight."

"Yes, Mom. Then Atikah goes first, yes. Assalamualaikum," said Atikah kissing his mother's hand.

"Getishalight."

Atikah hurried to leave the pavilion. Sometimes he looked back, worrying about the condition of his sister who had not healed. He quickly went to study, while hoping the teacher taught him to pray for Sukma's healing.

When he was about to get out the gate of the house, it was unexpected that Albi came to Atikah. While running, the boy grabbed Atikah's shoulder. "Where are you going?"

Atikah. "Eh, A Albi. I'm going to go njai."

"Saw? What's njai?" tanya Albi frowned while scratching her head.

"Hm, what, huh? Najai is. Learn to read the Qur'an."

"Oh, can I come? I also want to know how to read the Qur'an."

"Who? Om Hilman and Aunt Farah have never taught njai, so?"

Albi shook his head quickly. "Mama was busy taking care of the foundation and the arisan, while Papa exhausted every time he returned to work. Bi Reni was busy taking care of the house and there was no time to play with me. So, I don't know at all how to read the Qur'an."

"Oh, so, yeah." Atikah. "But if you go with njai, your mama is angry?"

"I guess not, deh. If maths lessons and IPA are approved, why should my mom be upset that I'm learning najai?"

"Ah, right too, yeah. A Albi better get changed. Wear the same koko shirt as the trousers. We'll go out together, yuk."

"Wait a minute, yeah. I'll come with you" said Albi hurriedly.

"Yes, I'm waiting for you."

Soon Albi went into the house to change clothes. His face looked as bright as ever, imagining the new lesson he would get tonight. Without realizing it, Farah watched Albi from the room. Really, his hatred for Atikah was still the same as the first time the Pak Risman family inhabited the pavilion.