SUKMA: The Deal With the Devil

The Buried Past

"What are you talking about, anyway? Who is Aunt Farida? Go there! Don't bother my aunt!" hardik Farah, feeling uncomfortable with the arrival of Sukma.

"Already, Farah. It is not good to scold a child," Arini persuaded to hold his nephew's hand.

"Well, Auntie's really nice, yeah, like Aunt Farida. I'm really happy to meet Auntie," decak Sukma approached Arini, then hugged the old woman's body.

Seeing Sukma's unwillingness to his aunt, Farah grew irritated. Roughly, he took off Sukma's embrace from Arini, then pushed the little girl to her knees. Meanwhile, Arini, who was surprised to find Farah's rude attitude, immediately held back the anger of his nephew.

"You're nothing, anyway? Let's just say, why?" arini said, holding both shoulders of Farah.

"So she's a real way, Auntie. Early in the morning I was looking for a storm in my house," explained Farah grumbling, then turned her eyes to Bu Inah who was walking towards him. "Bu Inaaah .. quickly take this child of yours!"

Ms. Inah sped up her steps to bring her daughter home. Upon arrival in front of Farah, the middle-aged woman immediately took Sukma. Really, the look on his face seemed so tired of the mess his youngest daughter caused this morning.

"I'm sorry for my daughter's behavior, ma'am. I promise, will take care of it as best as possible," said Ms. Inah with a half-bending body.

"I don't care! Anyway quickly take your child to the pavilion! After that clean the sofa in the living room until the stain caused by your child is completely gone," said Farah pitched ketus.

Bu Inah nodded, then sauntered away with Sukma. Rubbing his face, he thought of his daughter's strange demeanor today. Occasionally he saw the little girl he held with him while sighing long. Apparently Sukma's view is still fixed on the old woman who is a relative of her employer.

"Sir, if the road looks ahead," said Ms. Inah firmly.

"Mother, that Auntie is Aunt Farah, huh? How come it's here? Though Aunt Farida kangen with him, but he did not return home," said Sukma looked up, looking into his mother's eyes.

"Look at Mom, she's Miss Farah's aunt, commonly called Aunt Arini. He came here six years ago. You're a baby, so you won't remember" explained Ms. Inah.

"Oh." Sukma. "Then, Dedek can see him again, huh? Dedek likes Aunt Arini. He's good as Aunt Farida."

"Dedek don't bother Aunt Arini, she just arrived. If Ms. Farah gets angry again, we'll be kicked out of here. You want me to lose my job and live on the streets?"

Sukma shook his head quickly.

"Then, follow Mother's words. Do not disturb them, let alone jump on the sofa kayak earlier. Understood?"

"Understand me, Mom."

"Oh, yeah, Deck. Who is Aunt Farida? From now on you keep saying his name. Have you ever met her?"

Sukma. "I've also been at his house, Mom. He gave me so much good food. While at his house, I saw a picture of Aunt Farida's family. There's Aunt Arini over there. Her face was beautiful, her hair was long. Aunty Farida said, Aunt Arini never returned home after marriage," he explained.

"Keep, does Aunt Farida still exist? Where does she live?"

Sukma suddenly fell silent. His steps stopped on the pavilion terrace. It flashed in his memory of the strange event he had experienced while at Farida's house. Ms. Inah looked at her daughter for quite a while. Sometimes he patted his daughter's shoulder.

"Dec, what's wrong? Does Dedek remember where Aunt Farida lived?"

Instead of answering his mother's question, Sukma laughed out loud. His voice was more shrill than usual. The little girl ran into the pavilion, so Bu Inah had to catch up with her from behind to get an answer.

"Dedek, answer me first!"

Sukma ran to the room, then jumped up and down in excitement on the spring bed regardless of his mother. His face was radiant, his lips were smiling widely.

"Dedek, why can't you be fooled, anyway?" ask Mom, upset.

"Tante Farida is dead ... Aunt Farida is dead ... Aunt Farida is dead. I'm so happy! Aunt is dead!"

Bu Inah frowned, then approached Sukma and arrested his daughter until she fell silent. He looked at the two crystal clear eyes of his youngest daughter and asked, "Is it dead said Dedek?"

"Yes. Dedek see for himself, he can't stand up at all, and then die."

"Ah, this Dedek likes to digress."

"Dedek doesn't digress, ma'am. Dedek see for himself," asserted Sukma convincingly, with both eyes enlarged. "Tante Farida pulled my leg, kept his body lemes for a long time."

"Pull Dedek's foot? Why is he pulling Dedek's leg all over?"

"Dedek wanted to run away from the house, Mom, because Aunt Farida was so cool. Dedek, right, scared. That's why Dedek ran for a way out, but instead was arrested with Aunt Farida who neremin' it."

"Nyeremin? Didn't you just say he was a good guy?" ask Mom, she's getting confused.

"Yes, she was nice and beautiful. But when Dedek woke up, his body changed. Same face with his skin, keep his hair disheveled."

Hearing Sukma's explanation, Bu Inah recalls his dream when his youngest daughter went missing for a week. The figure of the woman described by Sukma is exactly the same as the terrible creature in his dream. Bu Inah's heart turned alarmed, his hair bristled after realizing that the woman in question Sukma was not human.

Hugged his youngest daughter, with hunting breath. Of course, Bu Inah's strange attitude made Sukma feel astonished. His behavior that had been hyperactive since then, turned quiet when he noticed the anxiety that was clearly reflected on the face of the mother.

"Mother ... Mother why?"

"Dedek don't tell me anything else about Aunt Farida or approaching Aunt Arini. I'm afraid, Dedek is gone again like yesterday-yesterday."

"But Aunt Arini is good, ma'am. She's still pretty even if her hair isn't long."

"Just Dedek don't approach Aunt Arini. I'm sure, there's something wrong with the woman" Bu Inah assures. "Now Dedek take a shower first. I'll tie Dedek's hair when I'm done bathing. Today you're school wearing a veil."

"But Dedek would not, ma'am. Sultry!"

"If you have a shower, you will no longer be angry. Try Dedek to watch Nurul, my friend Dedek. Does she get angry every school day with a veil?"

"No, Mom."

"Well, that's why Dedek has to. If Dedek was going to get a haircut, I wouldn't have told Dedek to wear a school veil."

Sukma bowed lethargic. With a shunt, he picked up a towel, then walked towards the bathroom. Meanwhile, Ms. Inah prepares her daughter's school uniform. There are still many activities today. In fact, he had not had time to clean the living room sofa of the Hilman family, considering Sukma time to go to school felt faster.

At Hilman's house, Farah takes Arini to the living room. Her face looked as soft as it was after waiting for her aunt's arrival long enough. It has been five years since Salman and Arini went to Germany to take care of business cooperation, Farah rarely communicates with her aunt. For her, Arini was the only person who always supported her. Farah did not stop telling her life all this time with Hilman and Albi.

However, apparently the happiness that Farah felt was not visible to Arini. Since his arrival to the niece's residence, his heart was troubled. His brain did not stop thinking about the figure of the little girl who knew his identity, especially when the name of the brother was called. As a result of his anxiety, his gaze became blank, even Farah's words were not noticed.

Arini is still pensive. Farah, impatiently waiting for an answer, patted her aunt's shoulder until she was stunned from her daydream. Arini was aghast, then looked at Farah in confusion.

"Yeah, Farah. What's up?" ask Arini stammering.

"What do you want to drink?"

"Teh only. That's sweet, yeah."

"Oh, okay." Farah looked towards the kitchen and shouted, "Reniii! Renii! Make sweet tea for Aunt Arini."

"Well, Non," said Bi Reni from the kitchen.

Farah continues her conversation with Arini. This time, he could not wait to devote all his uneg-uneg all this time to his aunt. Arini also tried to focus on listening to Farah, hoping that her anxiety did not drag on in her mind.

"Tante, honestly, Mas Hilman's business is currently experiencing a setback. Since my brother-in-law died, somehow the order of the textile factory decreased," Farah said in a sluggish tone.

"Why could that be? Isn't Hilman very dexterous in taking care of business? Are his men unreliable?" tanya Arini frowned.

"I don't know either, Auntie. Though his efforts are still running as usual, but the more here, the more his efforts decrease. I'm afraid, if later the factory managed by Mas Hilman to go bankrupt. I can't stand having to live like someone else. Auntie knows, right, that I've been given a decent life by my mom and dad since childhood? If I fall into poverty, I don't think I can."

"Why do you think that, Farah? The name is also effort, there must be ups and downs. Never mind, no need to think about it. As long as you're in a career and making money, you don't have to worry."

"But, Aunt. If Mas Hilman's business goes bankrupt, what do I have to say to my friends about my husband?"

"You're always overthinking, yeah. Leave everything to God. Is not the sustenance of Him who arranged? You better pray for your husband to keep his business going and take many more orders."

"Yes." Yeah." Farah bowed lethargicly, then looked back at her aunt. "Tante, does Aunt have any advice on saving money? I don't want it until the worst happens, my family really doesn't have anything."

"That's easy. How many servants do you have at home? If some of them are useless and lazy, you should just fire. After all, you and your husband can still do homework, right?"

"Actually I want to confess it, especially to Mr. Risman and Ms. Inah, who had a wayward child earlier. I've been trying to fire them for a long time, but Mas Hilman forbids."

"Well, how did Hilman ban it? What are they special about?"

"Said Mas Hilman, they were honest, especially Mr. Risman. The first time they met, Mr. Risman was just a scavenger who happened to be kind enough to return the money in a suitcase. Aunty knows, right, Mas Hilman is like how. He's getting too good."

"Lantas, what's the problem if they're honest? Nowadays it's hard to find an honest servant."

"That's not the problem, Auntie. Their son had a bad influence on Albi as well. I don't know what else to do. Auntie wants to, right, help me get them out of here?"

Hearing Farah's question, Arini recalled the little girl who mentioned Farida's name. For him, expelling Mr. Risman's family is one way to keep his true identity tightly sealed. However, he also did not want to make a decision in a hurry, considering the need to find out where Sukma knew about his family.

"Where, Auntie? Auntie would help me, right?" ask Farah impatiently.

"We can't rush them out. It needs a strong reason so that they can be expelled from here," Arini said looking away.

Farah exhaled a heavy breath. Shortly after, the phone in his pants pocket rang. The woman opened her phone screen. It was from one of his friends.

"Attent, Aunt. I'm gonna pick up the phone first. My friends came here today."

"Yes, please."

While Farah went to another room to pick up the phone, Arini walked into the living room. Unexpectedly, he found Bu Inah who was guiding Sukma to go to school. As they passed in front of Hilman's house, Arini rushed out.

He approached Bu Inah and Sukma while occasionally looking back, making sure Farah did not come out following him. Meanwhile, Ms. Inah walked faster to avoid Arini. However, apparently Arini did not want them to quickly pass from there.

"Bus ... Mom Haha! Wait!" call Arini running small.

Ma'am Inah paused for a moment, then turned around. Even with Sukma who looks as close as seeing Arini approaching him.

"Mom, you're not busy anymore, are you?" ask Arini.

Ms. Inah shook her head, then said, "I just want to take my son to school."

"Look, Mom. Ever since I came here, I actually felt something was up. Can I talk to your son? Just for a second."

"All right."

Arini smiled widely, her gaze fixed on Sukma. To be more familiar, he bent his body until he could look at each other with the little girl who knew him since arriving at the residence Hilman.

"What's his name?" ask Arini.

"Sukma Cakrawati's. Just call Sukma."

"Sukmas? What a good name."

"Thank you, Aunt Arini."

"Oh, yeah. Aunty wants to ask, Dek Sukma knows where Auntie is from, huh? Have we met before?"

"I know Aunt's face from Aunt Farida's house. Aunty Farida said, Aunty never came home after marriage."

Stunned Arini hears Sukma's explanation. For her, there was no way Farida would meet and take the little girl to her house. He remembered very well, Farida had long since died. The house he occupied as a child was demolished and the land bought by others. It is impossible if Sukma experienced that incident.

"I'm sorry about before. May I ask, why did Ms Arini ask that on the Sukma Deck?" ask Mom Inah curious.

Arini sighed for a moment, then stood firmly staring at Bu Inah. He took the wallet from his skirt pocket, then gave some of the hundred thousand bills to Bu Inah.

"Please, don't let your child talk too much about my life. I don't like it when people are poking into my past" Arini said, occasionally glancing at Sukma.

"Bu Arini, please do not take heart," said Bu Inah returned the money given by Arini. "We never interfere in other people's business. Please understand my daughter's behavior. He's been bouncing since he's been missing for a week."

Both of Arini's eyes widened when he heard Bu Inah's words. The shadows of the past about Farida flashed in his eyes, causing him to tremble.