SUKMA: The Deal With the Devil

Death of Mbah Suro

"Stop! Don't hurt Aunt Farah!" exclamation Sukma.

"So get aside, Son of Satan! Don't block me!" snapped Mbah Suro while glaring at the little girl.

Sukma remained standing in front of his mother and Farah, with a piercing glare that led to Mbah Suro. Bu Inah could not accept that the youngest was presented by the Son of Satan by the old man. He asked Hilman to hold Farah, then walked firmly in front of Mbah Suro.

"Who do you call 'son of the devil', huh? How dare you call my son the Son of Satan!" bentak Bu Inah back glaring at Mbah Suro.

"Get out of my sight, you Babu! You don't know anything about that kid!" maki Mbah Suro loudly.

"I'm his mother!" emphatically, Mom pointed at herself. "Until any time I won't accept that my son is insulted!"

"Come, get out of the way! It's just disturbing," said Mbah Suro, pushing Bu Inah to the ground.

Bu Inah had difficulty standing when Mbah Suro approached Sukma. He was worried that his youngest daughter would be harmed by the old man. As powerful as possible, Bu Inah tried to stand up and prevent Mbah Suro from hurting Sukma. However, the power of Mbah Suro who was so great, made the middle-aged woman bounce back.

Sukma was still staring intently at Mbah Suro. He remained standing in front of Farah, without the slightest trepidation. Mbah Suro, who was furious at the pretentious behavior of Sukma, impatiently wanted to teach a lesson to the little girl.

Mbah Suro began to gather all his strength in hand, then groaned Sukma with all his might. Instead of making the little girl paralyzed, Mbah Suro's strength is nothing in the presence of Sukma. The little girl was fine and was not pushed in the slightest by the energy in Mbah Suro. Sukma was still standing straight in front of Farah while clenching his hands.

Wanara who witnessed the strangeness, immediately fixated on looking at Sukma. In his eyes, the little girl had changed to her original form. The dark red aura shimmered from Sukma's body, making Wanara tremble.

Mbah Suro still underestimates Sukma. Attack after attack was launched so that the little girl immediately fell down and refused to fight. However, in reality Sukma still stood until Mbah Suro realized something.

Sukma absorbed all of Mbah Suro's attacks until his true form appeared in front of the shaman.

Mbah Suro stepped back slowly. His vision of a short-haired little girl, was changing. The form of Sukma became even more terrifying in the eyes of Mbah Suro. His jet-black body with a dark red aura shimmered, precisely making the old man tremble in fear.

"A-forgiveness .. forgive me," Mbah Suro memeohon as he put his palms together.

Sukma continued to step closer to Mbah Suro with clenched hands. His eyes were red-flamed, like burning flames of anger that were churning in his heart. When his mouth opened, it looked four sharp fangs inside.

Seeing Mbah Suro who was getting scared, made Farah, Hilman, and, Bu Inah feel astonished. The old man who had been looking haughty, suddenly chirped in front of Sukma. In fact, he fell down and inched back from the little girl.

Many times Mbah Suro begged Sukma for forgiveness. However, his attempt to avoid the little girl, still failed. Sukma was already standing very close to him, as if ready to attack him. The old man lost power, unable to stand up again.

Not caring for the old man who begged for mercy so many times, Sukma remained crouching nearby. Plastered palms into the chest of Mbah Suro, then muttered to cast a spell that he had learned out of nowhere. The old man grew increasingly frightened to see the blazing red eyes of the horned little girl. Shortly thereafter, his entire body was burning hot. Mbah Suro was on his knees screaming in pain from the energy absorbed by Sukma. All the studies and practices he learned as a young man seemed insignificant in the presence of the demon child.

Bu Inah suddenly panicked, seeing Mbah Suro pounding violently and screaming. He did not want Sukma to do anything bad to the old man. As powerful as possible, the middle-aged woman got up. As much as possible he shuffled to reach the youngest so as not to hurt Mbah Suro even worse.

Successfully grabbing her daughter's hand, Bu Inah tries to persuade her. "Dedek, don't hurt him. Mom is fine. Please, forgive him, Dek."

Although close together, Bu Inah's voice was heard very far by Sukma. The little girl only heard her mother's persuasion vaguely. His hand was still pressing on Mbah Suro's chest. His blood flow flowed profusely, like getting a lot of power from his hands.

After all Mbah Suro's energy was absorbed and his heart did not beat again, Sukma released his hand from the old man's chest. He stood up, then stared blankly at the corpse of Mbah Suro whose mouth was still gaping with the tongue sticking out. Next, the little girl looked at the mother who was flabbergasted by her treatment of Mbah Suro.

"Mother, we're home, yuk!" sukma said holding her mother's hand.

Bu Inah looked up at his daughter, then said, "Dec, what has Dedek done to this grandfather? D-he .. he's ... s-not breathing anymore."

"Dedek did nothing, ma'am. Just put a hand on that grandpa, keep him screaming."

Bu Inah looked up at the lifeless old man. Soon he carried Sukma to the porch of Hilman's house, then looked at Hilman and Farah. Both of them looked shocked after witnessing the strange incident in plain sight. An old man was terrified of a small child, then died suddenly when his chest was pressed down by Sukma.

"Sir, Mum. Forgive my son. My son didn't mean to-"

"No, Mother Inah. You don't have to apologize" Hilman said.

"But my son .. My son has acted, sir."

"No, no. Instead I have to thank Dek Sukma. Thanks to him, Farah survived the shaman's attack" Hilman said, trying to calm Ms. Inah's anxiety.

Bu Inah glanced at Sukma. The youngest looked smiling, then ran agilely to the backyard. He was completely clueless about all the strange happenings today. Mbah Suro who he thought was very strong, finally died when Sukma put a palm on his chest.

Arini smiled with relief, her cousin is gone. He also felt calm after his secret was revealed before his nephew. At least, the burden on his shoulders had already reduced. No matter whether Farah will continue to accept it or not, Arini is still happy about the recovery of her nephew.

Ms. Inah told Farah to go into the house, and lay her on the bed. Meanwhile, Hilman carries Arini into the living room. The old woman was now completely paralyzed. He could only look and talk, while all the other parts of the body were completely dysfunctional.

Sukma, who had been playing with Wanara, ran into Hilman's house. When he reached the living room, Arini called out to him in a weak voice. Even so, Sukma could still hear Arini's call. Soon the little girl found someone calling her, sitting next to Arini's couch.

"Tante Arini, Aunty can still talk?" ask Sukma innocently.

Arini answered him with a wry smile and a blink of an eye.

"Auntie can sit?"

"No, Deck," replied Arini weakly. "Dedek can heal Aunty, right?"

Termenung Sukma looked at Arini's body from head to toe. His mouth was pursed, his eyes were staring blankly. After a long time of thinking, finally Sukma's mouth began to open.

"Tante, I don't want Aunt to die like those evil grandparents" replied Sukma.

"Not that, Auntie. Aunt's body's all busted. If I hold aunty for healing, Aunt will die."

Arini can only move. "Yes, it's okay."

"Sorry, yes, Auntie. I just want a living aunt. Let me see Auntie continue."

Arini smiled looking at Sukma's innocent face. He then let the little girl play. Hearing Sukma's concern for her, Arini's heart felt moved. According to him, the upbringing of manners from Bu Inah to Sukma has succeeded.

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

Finished returning Mbah Suro's body to his family, Hilman drove Bu Inah and Sukma back to Padalarang. Upon arrival at the contract, Hilman accompanied the two, then met with Mr. Risman for a while. His little heart still wanted to try to persuade the little family to stay again in the pavilion. He hopes, Mr. Risman agrees and can work again at his home.

When Mr. Risman opened the door, Hilman greeted him kindly. Mr. Risman took Hilman into his contract, then served him drinking water.

"Not bother, sir. I came here just for a moment" said Hilman sungkan.

"Sir Hilman here, why rush everything? At home there is Bi Reni who guards Bu Farah, right?"

"Yes, but Bi Reni is not as reliable as Bu Inah when it comes to caring for people," said Hilman.

While his parents were conversing with Hilman, Sukma took Wanara around the rented area with Atikah. The building now looks clean, as it was. Wherever Sukma runs, will smell the fragrant aroma of floor cleaners. He was very happy to be back in the contract while bringing Wanara. At least, the little girl is no longer lonely if she is at home alone.

Hilman began to make his point to Mr. Risman. He said he wanted Mr. Risman and his family back in the pavilion. However, apparently Mr. Risman did not immediately agree, considering his wife and child who could no longer be insulted by Farah.

"How, Sir? Would you like to stay in my pavilion again?" tanya Hilman made sure.

"Oh, how, huh?" Mr. Risman is confused.

"Now you live here have to pay rent, right? If you go back to the pavilion, you do not need to think about a lot of living costs. Everything has been borne by me, stay Father and Mother comfortable working alone," persuaded Hilman trying to convince.

For a moment, Mr. Risman and Ms. Inah looked at each other. They are still thinking about what people say about the disgrace that Mr. Risman never really did. Not only that, Arini who is now paralyzed, can not do much to restore the good name of Mr. Risman's family.

"How about, Sir, Mom?" ask Hilman again.

"Ouch, Sir. We don't want to. The thing is, people have branded our family bad. We can't go back there anymore" Ms. Inah replied.

"On that, I will try to finish. Father and Mother just work quietly, do not need to think about the words of people."

"But we still can't, considering Ms. Farah ...." Mom Hina suddenly pensive. It flashed in her eyes how cruel Farah was to insult her and the children.

"What's wrong with Farah? She likes to talk to you?" asked Hilman with a pompous taste.

"Look, Sir. Actually after leaving the house, we plan to open a business only. If you continue to work at your home, when can we live independently?" obviously Mr. Risman. "Every family also has the burden of living expenses and so on. Let us live like this."

"But, Sir. I really want to return the good and honesty of Father. Forgive my wife if she has treated you unkindly. He was so. Please be advised, sir."

Mr. Risman smiled for a moment, then looked at Hilman. "No, Sir. This is not about my wife" he said. "I just want to live independently and no longer burden others. I would like to thank Mr. Hilman a lot, for raising the level of our lives. If it's a work problem, you don't have to think about me. This morning the landlord offered me a new job."

"Oh, so, yeah. Actually, you don't need to feel that the Father and family have burdened me. It is my duty to pay the Father for his hard work."

"Yes, Sir. We knew. Once again I say thank you very much" said Mr. Risman.

"In that case, I will not force you to return to our home. I apologize profusely if our family's treatment is unpleasant."

"It's okay, sir. We have forgiven him, really," said Mr. Risman accompanied by a knotty smile.

"Then I go home first, yeah. Play there sometime," said Hilman while standing up.

"Yes, Sir. God willing, if there's time, we'll take the time to play there."

Hilman moved out of Mr. Risman's rented room. In honor of his guest, Mr. Risman escorted his former employer to the gate. Sukma and Atikah ran over to Hilman who was walking towards his car.

"Om Hilman! About Hilman! Wait!" exclaim Sukma while running.

Hearing the cry of the little girl who had helped his wife, Hilman paused for a moment. He will miss the two daughters of Mr. Risman very funny when he came home later. In memory of Mr. Risman's two daughters, the businessman stood for a moment until the children came.

Sukma immediately grabbed Hilman's hand and kissed him, as did Atikah. Hilman rubbed the heads of the two while smiling knots.

"Om Hilman, Om will play here again, right?" ask Sukma with sparkling eyes.

"God willing, Deck. Later if Om has time, Om play again here," replied Hilman.

"Yes, Om. If you stop here, do not forget to take A Albi as well, yes. I haven't played with A Albi for a long time because I'm getting scolded by Aunt Farah" Atikah said.

"Tante Farah likes to upset you when you play with Albi, is that it?" ask Hilman wonder.

"Yes, Om. Hence, next time bring A Albi here as well, yes."

Hilman nodded, then said goodbye to them and gave Mr. Risman's two daughters money, each earning fifty thousand rupiah. He entered his car, then drove it towards Bandung. His little heart still felt heavy letting go of Mr. Risman's family.