SUKMA: The Deal With the Devil

Advice Kyai Soleh

Mr. Beni gasped for breath when he arrived in front of his stall. To alleviate his fatigue, he sat for a moment in front of the stall bench while breathing. Not yet he stood up again, his wife came with a ruffled waist. As usual, his face that was dressed in thick actually looked sour.

"Where? That work?" asked Bu Lastri staring sharply.

Without saying much, Mr. Beni held his wife's hand. Soon they went into the living room to talk about something that had happened at the Hajj Gufron contract earlier.

"Don't tell me you've failed again. Come ngaku!"

"M-Sorry Father, Ma'am. Earlier, I accidentally met a small child who had come to the stall. Damn again, Haji Gufron with his son came at the same time."

"Tuh, right, this father has no becus-becus at all. Instead of planting the package secretly, even the same person who has a contract. Now, where's the package? Let me just plant it."

"B-the package ... the package was carried with Fadil."

"Yes aampuun! What is this father, anyway? If you are caught wet, please save the package. If it's like this, what else, huh?"

"Easy, Mom. We better not have to disrupt Haji Gufron's contract again. Said his friend Haji Gufron, the sustenance is already something that is regular. If we continue to do this, we will be punished with God."

"Oh, the kayak is being shaken. If the sustenance has been something terrible, maybe people do not use this father is already rich. That's called sustenance, sir."

"But that's not the way, ma'am. We already have a shop just as rented, is that still not enough?"

"No, Sir. I will not be satisfied if the contract Haji Gufron still has residents. If the contract does not sell, we can build more contracts, sir. Residents will also continue to exist, our income will increase. This man cannot think."

"Keep, how does Mom want it? Still want to disrupt Hajj Gufron's contract?"

"Yes. Anyway, I have to get rid of our rivals."

"Come, Mom. Don't be greedy."

"How do you mean, Father? The greedy one is Haji Gufron. Has a catfish pecel branch everywhere, but still a pecel contract manager."

"All right, Mother, please. I'll take care of the stall first."

Mr. Beni breezed towards the stall, while Mr. Lastri still folded his hands. Occasionally his eyes dodged while thinking of his next move to get rid of his rival. Meanwhile, Mr. Beni serves buyers who have just come to his stall.

In the contract of Haji Gufron, Pak Risman and Bu Inah the arrival of the contract owner and Fadil also Kyai Soleh. Friendly, Mr. Risman greeted them and invited them in. Not to forget, Ms. Inah presented four glasses of water to them.

"What did Mr. Haji come here for?" asked Mr. Risman smiling knot.

"Look, my friend, Kyai Soleh, wants to meet you, ", Haji Gufron replied, pointing at his best friend with his thumb.

Mom, it was awkward. "Em ... What is it that you need, yes, Mr Kyai wants to meet us?"

"May I just go straight to the point?" ask Kyai Soleh.

"Please, please. Of course," replied Mr. Risman.

"I'm here to talk about your son. Sukma," said Kyai Soleh calmly.

"Sukmas? What's up, with our youngest daughter? Did he do anything bad this morning, Mr. Kyai?" ask Mr. Risman worried.

"No, no. Your daughter is very sweet and polite. I really like his behavior" Kyai Soleh said.

"Then, what exactly makes Mr. Kyai want to talk about the Sukma Deck?" ask Mom, she's getting worried.

"I want to talk about his privilege in dealing with the occult" replied Kyai Soleh. "I hope you can accept me and listen to me well."

Mr. Risman was stunned to hear Kyai Soleh's words. Only now he met a scholar who wanted to talk about the occult. Although always responding to various mystical things cynically and tend to reject, this time Mr. Risman can not dodge in the presence of pious people like Kyai Soleh. He believes that the knowledge and practice of Kyai Soleh is higher than himself. Therefore, Mr. Risman sat quietly while watching Kyai Soleh carefully.

"By the way of the occult, I am sure, Father and Mother already know that the Qur'an also discusses that jinn and magic exist. For example in Surah Al-Jin, at least in the short surah we often read, Al-Falaq."

Mr. Risman and Bu Inah nodded, confirming Kyai Soleh's words.

"Now, Father and Mother are blessed with children who have the advantage of seeing supernatural things. I would like to ask, are you sure that Father and Mother, that Sukma Deck sees everything that we cannot see? Such a creature as an occult."

"Actually, I don't believe too much in such things, Mr. Kyai. Even if Dek Sukma has such abilities, I consider it as a child's delusion only," replied Mr. Risman casually.

"Well, now inevitably you have to believe, that something seen by the Sukma Deck is not a mere fantasy. I have said before, that the occult has been explained in the Qur'an. I am sure, in terms of worship, you have been very good. But, here I want to emphasize, you also have to believe in the supernatural. Is not God also magical?"

Mr. Risman nodded.

"I would like to say to you Father and Mother, please take good care of your youngest daughter. One day, he will go through a difficult time. Don't let him get down. Otherwise, you'll be hard on your own" Kyai Soleh said.

"What did Mr. Kyai mean, huh?" asked Mr. Risman to frown.

"Ask your own wife. He must have understood my point."

Moments later came to Bu Inah's memory of the nightmare she had a few months ago. The middle-aged woman shuddered in horror, then shook her head and rubbed her face. Apparently, the gelagat Bu Inah was known by Kyai Soleh, thus making the middle-aged woman look away.

"I'm sure you know about that. Now the decision is in your hands. I suggest, keep educating your youngest daughter as you should. Even if one day he dies, you will still be proud to have a daughter with advantages that can help many people" said Kyai Soleh.

"What's? So, S-Sukma ... Sukma is going to die?!" Bu Inah widened his eyes, looking at Kyai Soleh.

"I don't know for sure. Only Mom can decide. You were warned by someone, right? Sukma will-"

"Enough, Mr. Kyai!" cut Bu Inah. "I'm really scared to hear it. Every time I remember that dream, my heart feels anxious. Please, don't remind me anymore about it," Bu Inah said glaring at Kyai Soleh.

"Well, I won't remind you of that anymore. It's just, I want to give a message, especially for you. Please, do not deny the advantages of Sukma at this time. Everything he saw really existed, sir. If you still find it difficult to believe, then remember that in the Qur'an, it has been explained quite clearly that supernatural beings and magic exist. Even if you don't believe it, remember! God and the Day of Resurrection are also magical."

Mr. Risman can no longer deny the words of Kyai Soleh. After all, he still assumed that the man before him was higher in knowledge than himself. Now, he must believe in every word of the Sukma.

"Mr still want to deny it too? I will open the inner eyes of Father and Mother so that I can see the real Sukma" said Kyai Soleh.

"N-no, Mr. Kyai. I guess, it's not necessary" Mr. Risman stammered.

"Alright, then, please educate Sukma well. In my opinion, the upbringing of Father and Mother to the child is good. Keep educating him like that. After all, he was still a human child who still needed the guidance of his parents."

"All right, Mr. Kyai. We will try" said Mr. Risman.

"I am sure that your upbringing will continue to linger in Sukma's heart forever" said Kyai Soleh.

Finished with business with Mr. Risman's family, Haji Gufron with his friend and son said goodbye. The three rushed home to Haji Gufron's house to discuss about Mr. Beni and his wife. Meanwhile, Mr. Risman and Ms. Inah returned to her contract, sitting on the carpet near the mattress.

Mr. Risman pensively thought about the speech from Kyai Soleh about Sukma. His memory goes back to the events while still living in the Hilman pavilion. Starting from the terrible doll incident, until the loss of Sukma for a week. Maybe Kyai Soleh's words have a point too, he thought.

"Where, sir? You still want to be cynical every time Dedek says something weird?" ask Ms. Inah.

"It seems like this time, inevitably you have to believe. However, Dedek is still our son. Although she wasn't born from Mom's womb, Dedek should be more attentive, given her ability."

"But, Sir. Mom's still scared. If Dedek grows up to be a kind and helpful girl, she won't be long."

"Why do you talk like that? About age no one knows, Mom."

"Didn't you hear what Kyai Soleh said? He said, we will still be proud to have a daughter with advantages that can help many people, even though Dedek is gone. That means Dedek's age won't be long, sir."

"Not always means death, ma'am. She could have gone missing or married the man of her choice."

"No, Sir. I know for myself from his biological father, if Dedek does good, his father will ...." Bu Inah immediately pecked and smothered his mouth.

"What is it, Mom? When did you ever meet your real father?" asked Mr. Risman curious.

"Oh, forget it. I haven't dried my clothes."

Ms. Inah just waltzed, taking the laundry to be dried. When Bu Inah passed again to the main room, Mr. Risman called out to him. However, the middle-aged woman was unmoved, as if trying to dodge her husband's curiosity.

At the home of Haji Gufron, Kyai Soleh sits in the living room chair while reciting. Haji Gufron is still curious about what his friend said about Sukma's future death. He poked his best friend, then started talking.

"Leh, what does it mean that Sukma will be gone? Is his age really short?" ask Haji Gufron.

"It depends on the father's treatment with his mother, Fron. If the father and his mother let Sukma do as he pleased, then the age of the child will be long, but will be embarrassed by his family. He was born to this earth with the duty of the devil. You know for yourself, don't you, what kind of demon?"

"Demon's job? You mean Sukma is the son of the devil? Then, Mr Risman and Mrs Inah? They are a family that worship."

Kyai Soleh nodded. "Actually from the beginning met the child, I already knew that he was not the son of Mr. Risman same Bu Inah. He's just a pick-up boy."

Blindfolded Haji Gufron heard the statement of his best friend. "Guzzler? So, he's actually the son of the devil dong. Why don't you just tell me in front of his adoptive parents?"

"I'm not good, Fron. What do they say if I say Sukma is a levy? They must be hurt. After all, if I say Sukma is the son of the devil, his parents will not believe that. You know yourself about Mr. Risman."

"Yes, yeah." Haji Gufron nodded. "Then, why do you know that Mr. Risman likes to reject supernatural things?"

"That's because she's traumatized."

Soon, Fadil came with two glasses of sweet tea and served them on the table. He then sat down next to Kyai Soleh, then smiled while winking. Kyai Soleh who knew the purpose behind his smile Fadil, immediately asked him to talk about Habibah.

Not felt, time went by noon. Sukma ran around in the schoolyard. With his friends, he played hide-and-seek. After she got tired, the little girl went to the school cafeteria for snacks and soft drinks.

Apparently, Sukma's whereabouts were known by his friend who was on guard. Even though her shoulders were held and shocked by her friend, the little girl remained calm devouring the food in her hands.

"Kok you got 'em? Now you're the cat. It's your turn to guard" said Fani.

"You are the one who keeps up. I hope," said Sukma as he chewed the food in his mouth.

"Well, what is it, anyway? Not because of katahuan first, you do not want to continue playing," murmured Fani beaver.

"Udah, ah. You go there. I'm tired, my stomach's hungry yet."

"Yes already."

After Fani leaves, Sukma goes on to eat the snacks in her hands. After that, he threw it into the trash. When he was about to return to class, Sukma vaguely saw a man pulling a large monkey using a chain across the street. Sukma narrowed his eyes to investigate the ape that the man was carrying. It did not take long, finally Sukma can recognize his own pet.

"Willowillow!" yelled Sukma while running.

No matter the vehicles that pass the streets, Sukma continues to run to reach his favorite monkey. Atikah who saw Sukma running across the street panicked. He asked the teachers to help him as soon as possible.