SUKMA: The Deal With the Devil

Tumbang Money

Hearing Mr. Risman's explanation, Hilman was relieved. His frustration with the sender of money from the company Pak Jumadi this morning, immediately treated by the arrival of the suitcase brought by Mr. Risman. A faint smile was drawn on Hilman's face as he received the suitcase.

"Thank you for delivering this money, sir. My name is Hilman, his brother Mr. Burhan" he said, sticking out his hand

"I'm Risman. By the way, where's Mr Burhanya?"

Hilman was pensive for a moment, remembering the brother who had passed away last night. With teary eyes, he looked at Mr. Risman as he said, "He .. he's gone, sir."

"Innalillahi wa innailaihi roji'uun. I'm sorry if I've made you sad, sir."

"It's okay. At least this money can cover the shortfall of the company's operating costs."

Mr. Risman nodded slowly.

"Well, where do you live? Let me take you to my father's house."

"Ah, no, thank you, sir. I'm just here to deliver the money."

"No need to worry, sir. Think of it as my generosity because you've been honest and returned this money."

"But, sir, I'm ...."

"Already, Sir. I'd better take you home. Looks like you're tired of looking for the address of this factory. Come on!" invite Hilman to hold Mr. Risman's hand to get into his car.

Without saying much more, Mr. Risman obeyed Hilman and got into the car. Hilman did not mind if Mr. Risman brought the results of scavenging. Furthermore, the younger brother of Mr. Burhan drove the car and left the factory.

"Ouch, Sir. I feel bad" said Mr. Risman punctuated by a bitter smile.

"It's okay, sir. You have done well, I have to give you the same rewards, Mr." explained Hilman casually. "Oyes, Sir. How many children do you have?"

"Two. One was three years old, a small newborn."

"Oh, continue every day Mr work scavenged, so? Oh, my God, sir, what a pity."

"Resid ... How else, sir? Working hard, opening a business does not have capital. Even if I want to work in a factory, I do not have much money to pay brokers. So, I work anything, sir, the important thing is that I and my family can still eat" explained Mr. Risman.

Satisfied Hilman heard the words of Mr. Risman. In modern times like now, there are rarely poor people who are pressed for economic needs, willing to act honestly when they find a lot of money. For his concern, Hilman had an idea to help Mr. Risman restore his economy.

"Sir, I need a gardener to take care of the garden at home. Starting tomorrow you do not have to scavenge again, mending work at my home only. I will pay you a hundred thousand per day. You want to, huh?"

"Well, that's right, sir?! Well, I'm getting bad with you."

"No need to bother, sir. I just want to help the family economy. If you can, take your family with you. I have an empty pavilion, so you do not waste the cost of going back and forth from home to work. How, Sir?"

"I'll talk to my wife first."

"May my wife agree. Tomorrow morning I'll have the driver pick you up at my house."

It did not feel they had arrived at the side of the road, which led to Mr. Risman's house. While saying goodbye, Mr. Risman took the proceeds of scavenging today to be handed over to the city of junk. Before rushing away, Hilman handed over five hundred thousand rupiah from the suitcase that Mr. Risman brought.

"This is for you" said Hilman handed five hundred thousand bills into the hands of Mr. Risman.

"No need, sir. I've been troubling you too much."

Hilman. "It's not good to refuse sustenance, sir. Think of it as sustenance for your son, to buy milk and pampers."

"Then, thank you very much, sir. For all the goodness of the Father today, God willing tomorrow I try to start working at the house of the Father."

Hilman smiled broadly as he nodded. "I'll say goodbye, Mr. Risman. Assalamualaikum."

"Getishalight."

Hilman's car drove slowly away from Mr. Risman. Meanwhile, Mr. Risman was counting the amount of money in his hand with sparkling eyes. He doesn't usually get that much money. Even if there is income from scavenging, the money he gets is only about twenty thousand, and at most fifty thousand.

Before going home, Mr. Risman came to the city of junkyards. There the results are weighed. It turns out that more than usual. Mr. Risman got fifty thousand for the results of scavenging him from morning until the time of Isha.

After getting a lot of money, Mr. Risman went home to his son of a bitch with a springy look. However, before arriving to meet his wife and two children, he was intercepted by Mr. Subekti. In surprise, Mr. Risman looked at the man in his sixties. During this time Mr. Subekti was known to be cynical and did not like if Mr. Risman was happy.

"Eh, Mr. Bekti. What's up, sir?" ask Mr. Risman kindly.

"Sir Risman, can I ask you a favor, right?" ask Pak Subekti with a clear look.

"What do you ask for, sir?"

"My wife is very sick. I need a fee to take care of it."

" How much does it cost, Mr Bekti?"

"Five hundred thousand. I've borrowed it to many neighbors, but no one loves it. If Mr. Risman doesn't mind, I borrow the money, huh? If my wife is healed, I'll give her back."

Mr. Risman was worried. Thought at the left pocket of the pants, then rubbed them. Meanwhile, Mr. Subekti who has since noticed Mr. Risman getting off from a luxury car, singled out a sly smile. He was sure very well, that the poor man in front of him had earned a lot of money from the car owner.

"If you don't have one, I'd better borrow it from someone else." Mr. Subekti turned around, then waltzed away.

"Wait a minute, sir!" exclaimed Mr. Risman detained Mr. Subekti.

A smile back on Pak Subekti's lips, but immediately hidden when he turned to Mr. Risman.

"Is-this serious, sir?" ask Mr. Subekti.

"Yes, Sir. May your wife recover quickly, yes."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Risman. Then I say goodbye first."

Rushing Mr. Subekti left Mr. Risman who bowed lethargic. He seemed to smile counting the money from Mr. Risman, then put it in his pants pocket. In his heart, there was not the slightest intention to return the money to Mr. Risman. The middle-aged man did indeed want to laugh on top of the misery of others.

From the front of Mr. Risman's house, Ms. Inah apparently has noticed the behavior of both. Curious, Bu Inah approached her husband who was walking lethargic to his house.

"So Mr. Subekti said anything to Mr?" ask Ms. Inah in a hasty tone.

"So he said his wife was very ill. Mr. Bekti needs a fee to treat his wife," explained Mr. Risman as he walked into his house.

"Wife hurts? Lho? Last afternoon I still saw that Ms. Sukiyem was fine. He even showed off his new gold bracelet."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, sir." Nod Bu Inah. "Keep, Mr. Bekti said what else is the same Mr?"

"He borrowed five hundred thousand for the cost of his wife's treatment. Out of pity, I just borrow the money. Though earlier I can provide more sustenance to buy milk Sukma."

Bu Inah let out a long sigh while patting his eel. "Oh my God, sir! So people don't be too nice, why? Look, this, it's. If only you did not lend the money to Mr. Bekti, surely the money will be used to buy all the needs of Sukma, while saving for his salvation. Ah, this Father. I'm sure, surely Mr. Bekti will not return the money the same Father. He's a culas, later pas collectable debt even encouragement him from the Father."

"Easy, Mom. Why blame you, anyway? Maybe it's not our sustenance yet. Oya, Mum. Today you can get fifty thousand from the scavenging results. Hopefully enough to buy Sukma's needs."

"Thank God there's a change for it." Ms. Inah breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, I'll arrange the money. I hope enough, sir."

"Eh, Mum. You want to tell me something."

"What?"

"Later the story, I'll take a shower first."

Mr. Risman left Ms. Inah, then took a towel from the room. While Bu Inah looked blankly, sitting down thinking about her husband's behavior that was too good. For him, it would not hurt to help people in distress, but if Mr. Subekti asks for help, then it is questionable. Already many times Pak Subekti's family borrowed money from Mr. Risman, but no dime was paid. The last time Pak Subekti borrowed a hundred thousand, now the number is even more, even more so the greatest sustenance his husband got today. Bu Inah can now only hold his chest and mengikhlaskan the money borrowed by Pak Subekti. Mr. Ramlan's lecture, which he often heard secretly from outside the mosque, is still ringed in the ears, even applied in everyday life.

Meanwhile, Hilman had just arrived at his luxurious home. His arrival was welcomed by Albi, his only five-year-old son. The little boy looked excited when he met his father. As usual, he charges his favorite chocolate candy to Hilman.

"Sorry, Albi. Today, I didn't bring chocolate candy. Tomorrow, yes, Papa buyin," said Hilman pitched regret, while holding Albi.

"Kok didn't bring the chocolate candy, did you, Pa? I've been waiting since morning" said Albi, his face pouting and his lips pursing.

Hilman kissed Albi affectionately and said, "If you eat chocolate candy, his teeth will be toothless. Your face is ugly."

Soon, Hilman's wife, Farah, came to them. Her gaze was immediately fixed on the suitcase held in the hands of her husband. With a big smile, she held her husband's hand.

"Just come home, Mom? That's what?" farah asked, glancing at her eyes still pointing at the suitcase Hilman was carrying.

Hilman stared cynically, then took down Albi from his sling. "Albi, you played with Bi Reni. Later Papa buyin you cake," he persuaded, put on a friendly face.

Albi jumped up in excitement, then went into the kitchen. Farah was still looking at Hilman, smiling meaningfully. It didn't take long for Hilman to understand the gesture from his wife.

"Farah, I told you, don't ask too many questions about this," Hilman said in an annoyed tone as he patted the suitcase in his hand. "This is the money Mr. Jumadi borrowed from Mas Burhan. I'll give this money to Ratmi Tea later."

"Come, Mas! I also need that kind of money to buy clothes, cosmetics, and jewelry" Farah complained.

"Is the money I gave you less?"

Farah snorted bitterly, while glaring.

"Look good, Farah. Pak Jumadi's behavior was eleven twelve with Mas Burhan. I don't want my family to lose their lives by eating tumbal money. Anyway, this is not my money. We have no right to use it at all" explained Hilman trying to give understanding to his wife.

"Where did Mas know that Mr. Jumadi was a ngipri? Don't trust people if there's no evidence!"

"I don't just believe. I know from Mas Burhan that Mr. Jumadi is indeed the man. In the past, when Mr. Jumadi began to open a factory, he also mowed down his employees by giving him packaged rice. In addition, Mr. Jumadi often borrowed money and returned it with money that had been winnowed so that Mas Burhan business went bankrupt. Hence, Mas Burhan often donated the money to the RSJ."

"Keep, now this money just wants to be kept here, right?"

"I told you, right? I'll give this money to Ratmi Tea. Gratitude this time was not given. I gave some of the money from this suitcase to the scavenger. If tomorrow he comes here and works arranging plants in our yard, it means the money is not spent."

"What's? Wait up! Did Mas say that the scavenger would work to organize the garden in our house? Why don't you have a discussion with me, anyway, Mas?"

"I don't have time for that. After all, pity him, living in a shabby neighborhood and his two children are still small. Such a person should be helped. We also need people who take care of plants in the yard, right?"

"Yes too, anyway. Then if suppose he died from the money that crashed from Mr. Jumadi, how?"

"We'll see tomorrow. If he comes, then the money is fine. But if suppose our driver is giving sad news about the scavenger, it means the money in this suitcase must be donated to RSJ and SLB."

"It's up to you, Mom. I don't understand that. If only in this world there were no benefits, then it would be a very peaceful life."

"Here you go, don't think about it. At least we do not do idolatry like them and can be rich because of our own efforts. After all, the wealth they get is only temporary."

Without leaving a word, Farah left Hilman. She was tired of hearing the talk from her husband. Meanwhile, Hilman shook his head and massaged his forehead. He did not expect, his wife likes money more than him. On the other hand, Hilman also thought about the fate of Mr. Risman which is still a puzzle for him. In the bottom of his heart, he also regretted using the honest scavenger as a trial material for the tumbal money sent by Mr. Jumadi.