SUKMA: The Deal With the Devil

The Fall of Self-Esteem

As the sun rose, Bu Inah rushed to Bandung, to take care of the transfer from Atikah and Sukma schools. With reckless capital, the middle-aged woman left the contract.

Actually, Mr. Risman could not bear to let his wife go alone. But because of circumstances that are not possible, he finally had to obey the words of Bu Inah to take care of the children alone in a new contract. Bu Inah was afraid, just in case to go to the four of Bandung, then their presence would be known to Hilman. Not only that, people around the complex will recognize them and insult Mr. Risman.

When passing through the residence of Haji Gufron, Bu Inah accidentally met with Fadil who was removing a motorbike from the trunk of the house. Fadil immediately rode his motorcycle, then opened the gate.

"Where are you going?" ask Fadil kindly.

"I want to go to the station, I want to go to Bandung first to move my children's schools," explained Bu Inah.

"Oh, then come on, I'll drop off! I also want to go to the market, you are told to buy groceries," said Fadil.

"Ah, don't bother, Deck Fadil. I can go alone."

"Not to be confused, Mom. I am really trying to get my mom to the station. Come on, Mom, I'm a screwdriver."

Bu Inah who was very awkward to receive help from Fadil, finally agreed to Haji Gufron's son's suggestion. After getting into the back seat of Fadil's motorbike, the two left the residence of Haji Gufron.

During the trip, Fadil explained the angkot which majors can be boarded to quickly get to the contract. He said the cars were operating into the night. He also said, Miss Inah does not have to worry if she returns home last night.

Upon arrival at the station, Bu Inah thanked Fadil who was willing to take him. He did not know how it would be if going to the station only desperate capital. Perhaps, the time that should be very short to go to the station, it becomes long because of the greatest. Fadil was happy to have helped Ms. Inah. He said goodbye, then rushed to Padalarang Market.

Upon entering the station, Ms. Inah glanced at the wall clock. It was eight o'clock apparently. Not wanting to linger, he immediately bought a ticket. Apparently it is necessary to wait a quarter of an hour until the train to Bandung Station.

Meanwhile, at the contract, Atikah seemed busy chasing his sister who ran to and fro. Luckily, the next door neighbor was not in his rented room, so they could be free to play without anyone being bothered. Mang Ujang is selling fried foods, his wife works in a factory, while his son is in school.

"Come on, Teteh, get me!" yelled Sukma while running.

"Dedek! Can you stop for a minute? Teteh tired of chasing you continue," exclaimed Atikah with gasps.

Sukma obeyed his brother who was bending his body on the terrace of one of the rented rooms. While waiting for her brother to chase after her, the little girl fadly peeked at the window. It looks like a dark room inside. For a long time he peeked in there, until something moved from the kitchen. It was like someone's fingers were creeping slowly on the wall.

Atikah, who had gathered energy to pursue her sister, immediately got up and walked on foot. Seeing Sukma still standing while gluing his face and hands to the windowpanes, Atikah intends to surprise him. Smiling amusedly, he walked over quietly.

However, before Atikah succeeds in surprising Sukma, his sister's heart beats faster when she sees a hand coming out of the wall near the bathroom. His breath was hunting, along with the appearance of a pale face with a horrified grin on his lips from the kitchen. At once Sukma jumped in shock, then turned to look at the brother who had been standing nearby since.

"What's up, Dek? Not yet Keteh kagetin, even jump first," said Atikah astonished.

"That-That, Teteam! There's someone in there!" pekik Sukma's.

Atikah was curious about something her sister saw. He peeked into the rented room and looked at his sister again.

"Where? Nothing" Atikah said to rigan.

"There was, Tea. He's smirking to Dedek!"

"Ah, stop. Let's play again! Maybe it's just a hallucination of Dedek," said Atikah.

Sukma, who did not believe the brother's words, peered back into the empty rented room. How surprised he was when he saw the face with a terrible grin that was already in front of the glass. The little girl then ran down the stairs, towards her father's rented room below.

While Sukma rushes into the rented room to pick up a game of monopoly, Bu Inah has just arrived at his school Atikah. The middle-aged woman walked over quickly to meet the school staff. He saw people around, who were seen whispering to each other while occasionally looking cynically at him. Those who know Bu Inah, are reluctant to say hello because of the disgrace that Mr. Risman inscribed on the Hilman family.

Finished taking care of the report and the move of Atikah, then Bu Inah rushed to Sukma school. How nervous he was to face mothers chatting in the schoolyard, waiting for his sons to learn. Awkwardly, the middle-aged woman walked over while occasionally smiling. The mothers seemed indifferent to the presence of Ms. Inah.

However, of the many people who hate Bu Inah because of his disgrace at Hilman's house, only Giska's mother who is still friendly greet. The short-haired woman approached Bu Inah with a knotty smile as usual.

"Bu Inah, where's Sukma Deck? Not school?" ask Giska's mother.

"No, Ma. We've moved on" replied Ms. Inah.

"Oh, move. Kirain's still in school."

"Yes, we moved two days ago, but have not had time to move the children's school" explained Bu Inah.

"Yes, he hasn't had time. Kan has been expelled for being caught wanting to numbalin his employer," said his mother Nurul looked cynically, then followed by laughter other mothers.

"Astaghfirullah, Miss Inah. Is that right, Mom?" asked Giska's mother with wide eyes.

"I don't care what anyone else says, Mom. Obviously, I have never done anything like that and just give up everything as God. That's all."

His mother Giska rubbed Bu Inah's shoulder with empathy. "I believe it, Mom. It's impossible for a family mother to do that."

"I am angry with my employer, I will not dare to do that. After all, Mr. Hilman's family is my boss. I have to respect it."

"Yes, Mom. I've understood. Hence, I was not too close to those mothers because I liked to gossip that was not clear of its origin."

Madam Inah nodded. "Thank you, yeah, for believing in me. Then, excuse me. Want to take care of Dedek's move."

"Please."

During taking care of Sukma's transfer from school, Bu Inah did not say much. He only explained that his family was no longer comfortable living in his pavilion Hilman. Not to forget, the middle-aged woman told her current address in secret. Afraid that Hilman might look for her someday.

Finished taking care of all the school administration of his two daughters, Bu Inah did not want to linger in Bandung. Hurry up he waited for the angkot to go directly to the station. However, just as the angkot was about to come transporting Bu Inah, the middle-aged woman was suddenly approached by Arini.

"Mom, please don't go first. Farah, Ma'am, Farah ..." said Arini with a face of compassion while holding Ms. Inah's hand.

"Sorry, Mom. I no longer want to deal with the family of Mr. Hilman," said Bu Inah took off Arini's grip from his hand.

"What's his business with me, Mom? I don't want to know anymore. Please take Ms. Farah to a specialist or maybe go abroad for treatment. You guys have a lot of money to go to a better doctor," Bu Inah's cerocos was upset.

"We tried, Mum Inah. The result remains the same, no serious illness is found in Farah's body."

"Then find another doctor. I'm in a hurry, Mom."

"I beg you, Miss Inah. Only Sukma can help Farah."

Ms. Inah frowned when she heard Arini's plea. "Sukmas?" tanyanya. "What can my youngest daughter do to Farah? He's a kid, Mom. Let alone medical science, counting alone must still be taught."

"This has nothing to do with medical science, Ms. Inah. But with-"

"Enough, Mom! Don't you feel ashamed, telling my husband to lie in front of Farah to get us out of there? Then, after we had calmed down to stay away from you, Mother asked my son to help Ms. Farah. What exactly is my mother's problem with my family?"

"I apologize profusely. Actually, I did so because I wanted to hide my secret."

"Consecrated? What secret?" bentak Bu Inah's. "Mother is so selfish. For personal secrets, I dare to expel us on a heinous charge. Azaghfirullah."

Apparently, Arini had been followed by Hilman since morning. The man begins to suspect Arini while searching for Mr. Risman's family to the east. This time, his efforts slowly came to fruition. He eavesdropped on the conversation between the two women, and finally found out the real reason Mr. Risman's family had left his home.

Enraged by Arini who had interfered in his household, Hilman tried to hit his wife's aunt. However, once again he thought, if Arini was ambushed right now, then his other secrets would not be revealed. Hilman remained quietly hiding in a tree close to his parked car.

"I beg you, Mom. I beg you very much. If Bu Inah does not allow Sukma to help Farah, then let me meet with Mother's youngest daughter."

"Why did you meet my youngest daughter? He won't be able to do anything for Ms. Farah."

"I beg you, Mom."

"alright. But, Mother do not try to persuade him to come to see Farah, or incite my husband to return to the residence of Mr. Hilman. I'm tired of being insulted, Mom."

"Yes. I promise," said Arini with a line of bitter smiles on her lips. "Now come. I'll take Mom home."

Seeing the two pitching towards Arini's car, Hilman immediately got into his car and followed them. He also wanted to meet Sukma soon, remembering the dream that Farah had told him.

Actually Hilman never stopped thinking about the dream that Farah experienced since that night. Especially when looking for Pak Risman's family to the east of Bandung City all day. Far enough he ventured to find the family of his confidant, but the result was still nil. However, Hilman did not want to give up just like that, after sacrificing his working hours to find Mr. Risman. Until one day, he was visited by a man while resting at a roadside stall, precisely in the Majalaya area.

"Getting on the maid's family, huh?" ask the stranger.

"His maid's family?" Hilman asked back with a frowning forehead.

"Yes. The family of the person you trust."

"Family Mr Risman?" hilman asked with a face that began to glow. "Do you know where they are?"

"If you want to look for them, it should be west, not east" explained the stranger.

Hilman still did not understand the man's words.

"You're said to be a learned man, but you don't understand what I mean" said the man, giggling. "Why did you get them here? Here, you won't find anything. They went west. It could be to Lembang or Padalarang."

Stunned Hilman heard the foreign man's words. After a long moment of thought, he glanced at the foreign man with a frown.

"Where do you know they're going west?"

"I just feel sorry for you" he replied. "You want to apologize, but the guy didn't meet. Your wife is also getting a disease from a sent creature."

"Well, how did you know my wife was sick? The paranormal, huh?"

"No, I was just laughing. I suggest, if you want to find your maid's family, investigate the people around you first. Lest he cause your wife's illness to get worse."

"Who?"

"You must know for yourself," said the stranger nodding in disrespect. "You talk to him every once in a while. If you can't, just watch the movements until you know the answer."

Hilman is suspicious of Arini. Indeed, after his arrival home a few days ago, Farah felt a great itch all over her body. However, he did not want to directly accuse his wife's aunt, considering there was someone else he suspected, Ratna.

Now, he does not want to give up on spying on his wife's aunt, especially when he finds out Arini's car is heading west. Hilman thought they were going towards Lembang. Apparently, Hilman's guess was wrong. The car, which was driven by Arini and Bu Inah, drove towards Padalarang.

After long enough to remember the path to the contract, finally Bu Inah arrived with Arini in front of the gate of Hajj Gufron contract. Arini follows Bu Inah from behind, embarrassed if he had to meet with Mr. Risman. Stupefied, the old woman walked behind Bu Inah.

Shortly after the door was knocked, Risman opened it. How surprised he was to see his wife coming with Arini. Even with Sukma, who had long craved to want to play with the old woman.

"Mom Arini?!" Mr. Risman widened his eyes. "Why Mother-"

"I want to apologize to you. For my mistake, Farah's disease is increasingly critical" Arini said with a languid bow.

"Mom, forgive me in advance if I do anything presumptuous" said Ms. Inah. "Actually I want to ask, the purpose of Mother giving money to my husband to admit to subverting Bu Farah is what? Really, I don't understand Mom's attitude."

"Actually .. I have a secret Farah has never known."

"Yes, but what secret?" ask Mom Inah urgently.

"You promised, yeah, you wouldn't say this to Farah's family."

Ms. Inah and Mr. Risman nodded. Sukma, who knew Arini's true identity, just sat listening in the rented room with a smile. Hilman who faintly heard Arini's words from a distance, began to approach the rented gate while staring warily. Fearing that Arini had caught him stalking her since.