SUKMA: The Deal With the Devil

Seeking Solutions

His mother Giska secretly heard the conversation between her son and Bu Inah. Actually, he was very afraid when he heard mystical things. But his curiosity overcame fear. He brought two glasses of sweet tea to the living room.

"This is the tea, please enjoy it," said Giska's mother, putting a glass on the table.

"Not bother, Mom. In a moment I will also pick up Sukma Dek back home to teach," said Bu Inah sungkan.

"Oh, so, yeah. It's okay, ma'am, drink the tea first" said Giska's mother.

"Ngapain's in a hurry, Miss Inah. Half an hour away from teaching him, really," said Rifalbi.

Ms. Inah is getting more and more reluctant to receive the hospitality of the host. He felt awkward, when he wanted to talk about the doll in front of his mother Giska. However, his curiosity at the solution that Rifalbi got when she got rid of Susan's doll, made his mind unsettled.

"Yes, Rifalbi. If the doll can come back, then how do you get rid of it?" ask Ms. Inah.

"When I was in high school, I met a girl, her name was Pita. He's Maurin's cousin."

"So, where's Pita's house?"

Rifalbi raises shoulders. "Come, Ma. I met him at school too. He suddenly came, and continued to stuff Susan. I thought he was human, but it turns out ...."

"Mother go to the kitchen first, you guys just continue the conversation, yes," her mother Giska interjected.

Ms. Inah and Rifalbi were bullying the short-haired woman who was retreating from the living room. Rifalbi can understand him, considering that his mother was indeed timid and not strong if faced with mystical events. Even with Bu Inah, who did not want to ask much about the strange attitude of his mother Giska.

"I'm sorry, Mom. He's not strong when he hears these things."

"It's okay, Rifalbi. I can understand. Actually I am also afraid of this, but for the sake of the youngest, I am trying to strengthen myself."

Rifalbi smiled as she nodded. "Well, where was our conversation?"

"On the Ribbon."

"Oh, yeah, about Pita. He's not actually human, Mom. That woman is the same as Maurin, they are curious spirits."

Shocked by Bu Inah when he heard the Rifalbi's words. According to him, it is impossible to ask for help from other curious spirits just to get rid of Susan and her owner. Mom tried to think hard, until an idea came to her mind.

"If there's no need to ask Pita for help, what? Burn Susan's doll for example."

"For that way, I don't know, Mom. It might be more effective if it involves supernatural experts. You see, something that your child is dealing with is not a human and an ordinary doll. In fact, Giska had been sickly for quite a while since the doll was at home."

"What's? So, that doll can make a little kid sick too? Oh my!"

"Bu Inah should act immediately. Otherwise, I'm afraid of his life to float like a boy next door."

Bu Inah's heart grew increasingly unsettled to hear the Rifalbi's words. He immediately said goodbye to the young man and his mother Giska who had emerged from the kitchen. The woman reasoned, Sukma will soon be home.

During the journey to the mosque, Bu Inah did not stop thinking about the fate of Sukma in the future. It is very heavy of his heart if he has to lose Sukma. Although her youngest daughter was only an adopted child, Bu Inah's affection for her was the same as for Atikah.

Upon arrival at the mosque, Bu Inah was surprised to see the baby doll was in Sukma's arms. His entire body trembled to see the shabby doll return to his daughter. Soon he approached Sukma, with teary eyes.

"D-russia ... Deck ... d-where did you get that doll?" tanya Bu Inah stammered.

"From Maurin, Mom," explained Sukma with a cramped face. "So he came here, he said he wanted to go to our house."

"Switch?!" Bu Inah was stunned. "Please, Deck. I-Mommy doesn't ngizinin your friend nginep."

"Who? Why, Mom? He won't do anything, really. He just wants to play with me."

For a moment, Bu Inah sighed deeply. He looked at her again the youngest daughter who was stroking the soft blonde hair of the shabby doll. How heartless Bu Inah took the joy in the boy's face. He crouched down, then looked at his daughter's eyes.

"Listen, Deck. I don't want Maurin to stay in our house. But, I'm worried, if Bu Farah finds out you brought a friend, how?"

"Yes, I said, my friend is just playing."

"If Maurin's mother is nyariin, what?"

Sukma fluttered, his eyes flickering.

"Maurin also has a mother and father, Dek. She wasn't necessarily allowed by her parents to stay at our house. Dedek also won't let me stay at Giska's house."

"Oh, so, yeah. I'll try asking first, he's asking permission or not."

"No need, Deck. We'd better get home now, yeah."

"But Maurin is here, ma'am. Can I take you home, okay?"

Madam Inah was flabbergasted, various bad thoughts kept spinning in her brain. Actually he was eager to tell Sukma not to take Maurin to the pavilion. However, Sukma was still a child. It took a subtle persuasion for the boy to understand.

"Where, Mom? Can, huh?"

"alright. But just for a minute, yeah. After Magrib, he told me to go home. If you want to stay, later if we have moved from the house behind Mr. Hilman. Dedek agreed, right?"

"Yes, Mom. If we move from there, I won't be scolded by Aunt Farah anymore."

Bu Inah stood up, then led Sukma home. Behind them, Maurin followed. The little girl seemed dissatisfied with Sukma's reply. He really wants to stay at the family residence of Mr. Risman so that the soul of Sukma can come with him.

Upon arrival at the pavilion, Atikah looked as if she was tidying up her textbooks on the terrace. Sukma reluctantly greets her brother, given his rude attitude that dumped Susan's doll without permission.

Meanwhile, Atikah turned his head briefly towards his mother and sister who had just returned from the mosque. His eyes were immediately fixed on the shabby doll in Sukma's hands. He began to be angry, then pulled his mother's hand to enter the pavilion.

"Mother, why is the doll back with Dedek? Didn't I throw the doll in the trash today?" atikah asked with eyebrows linked together.

"Sst .. Don't say it out loud! Later Maurin heard," reprimanded Bu Inah scaly.

"Well, now I believe, don't you, with my words? Then why don't you just throw the doll away?"

Bu Inah pulled Atikah's hand, taking her eldest daughter to a garden behind Hilman's house not too far from the pavilion. Both of them sat on chairs near the star fruit tree. For a moment, Ms. Inah looked back and forth, making sure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Listen to Mother, Atikah. The doll cannot be thrown away easily. Free to throw in the trash, he'll come back."

"Where do you know? Why did the doll come back?"

"Last afternoon I went to Giska's house. His friend Sukma had experienced this as well. That's why I'm trying to ask her brother."

"Keep, what did he say? I don't want it until Dedek loses his life like Wulan, Ani's friend."

"You don't have to worry, Atikah. I'll talk about this with my father. Hopefully there's a best way to get rid of that doll and Maurin."

"I want the doll thrown away, Mom. I'm so scared that the doll's gonna say I'm back tonight."

"Just calm. If you are afraid, read the Verse of the Chair. The subtle-beings who have evil intentions will step aside if you read the Verse of the Chair."

Atikah confirmed the words of Ms. Inah. He still remembers the words of Bu Rahma about the Quran which is able to protect themselves from invisible beings. Not to forget, the words of the teacher taught him about humans more noble than jinn and demons, still attached to his memory.

Meanwhile, Sukma is engrossed in playing with Susan and Maurin's doll in his room. Sometimes they laugh while talking. In the midst of their conversation, Sukma recalled his mother's remarks about Maurin's home and parents.

"Yes, Maurin. Where do you live?"

"I live in a big house, which faces Giska's house."

"Oh, then, your house is not far from here dong."

Maurin nodded.

"By the way, you like to ask permission first with your mother and father, no, if you want to stay?"

Maurin's face suddenly sad. "Mom was shot by my father. He was sick, kept sleeping and didn't wake up again. If my father .. he was arrested by the police. He's evil!"

"God! Why is your father so evil?"

"I don't know. He used to beat me and my mom every night. One day, he picked up a gun in the closet. After b keep shooting my mom and .. me."

Sukma smothered his mouth with his hands. His eyes widen, knowing Maurin was shot by his abusive father.

"But I'm grateful to be able to live a quiet life until now. After waking up, my body felt light. I'm glad I could go anywhere, but ...."

"But what?"

"I'm lonely, Sukma. You want me, don't you?"

Sukma. "of course. We can play together every day."

"Thank you, Sukma. I'm glad I could be friends with you."

While busy chatting, there was the sound of Azan Magrib reverberating. Sukma, who was obedient to his mother, decided to send Maurin home. Instead of obeying Sukma, Maurin pensively without blinking.

"Maurin, it's already magrib nih. It's time you came home."

"Where to go, Sukma? My house is big, but no one is there. I'm afraid I'll stay alone."

"Then, who have you been living with?"

"My cousin."

"Where are your cousins now?"

"He is rarely home. I was always lonely, there were no friends at home. I can stay here a day, right?"

"Oh, how, huh? Mother I told you to come home in magrib."

"I beg you, persuade your mother to agree. I promise, I'll go home if there's my cousin."

Termangu sukma. On the one hand, he pityes knowing his friend lives alone in the house. But on the other hand, Ms. Inah who told him to persuade Maurin to go home after the magrib, make it gamang. For a moment he turned to the living room, looking at his mother who was going to the kitchen to prepare dinner. While Atikah who just entered the room, looked at Susan's doll cynically.