SUKMA: The Deal With the Devil

Towards a New Environment

Night's come. Mr. Risman has prepared his wares on the roadside. Sure enough, the first customer who came was a young man selling a house. He sat on the bench, waiting for his order. While looking around, he began to offer a house that he would sell.

"Sir, what about the house I offered the other day? Do you agree to buy that house? Actually it's my sister's house, rather than empty, I better sell it. I already have a home in the area. If the problem is near the place of business, of course it is close, sir. The house was rather close to the market area," explained the young man.

Shortly thereafter, Mr. Risman finished making catfish pecels for his first customers. He put a plate of rice and a plate of catfish pecel. Next, the middle-aged man sat face to face with his customer.

"All right, but about the land certificate and what's the price? The price can still be nego, right?" ask Mr. Risman.

"When the price is concerned, how much do you want? If it is at the market price, I would. As long as it does not fall from the market price. I also need money to buy rice fields around here, sir," explained the young man, then devoured his food.

"If the land certificate is not there? I also want the specifications to be clearer, sir," said Mr. Risman.

"Just calm down, sir. I also sell the house not for deceit. Land certificates to tax documents are still in the house. Don't hesitate" explained the young man.

"Well, by the way, how's the house, anyway? I became curious about the shape of the room as large as what," asked Mr. Risman.

"House type two one, sir. Room two, there is a living room same family room. There's a kitchen in the same bathroom, too. Yesterday I cast the top, make clothes dry, because the house went a little into a fairly narrow alley, so there is only a little yard for clothes drying," obviously the man was chewing food.

"How much is it?"

"For you, I give you the market price, two hundred fifty or three hundred" replied the man lightly.

"Ouch, Sir. Can it be reduced again, right? I also need a fee for my children to attend school. What if it's two hundred?" tawar Mr. Risman.

"Ouch, Sir. Add a little. Part of the house has been made good with me, has been cleaned as well. The same father of the family lived nematin doang, kok," persuaded the man who sold the house.

"How much does your father want? Two hundred twenty?" ask Mr. Risman again.

The young man nodded. "Tomorrow my father to my house, deh. Let's talk there to make it good. This is my home address" he said, giving a business card.

"Good, Sir. I try to go there tomorrow," concluded Mr. Risman.

A few minutes later, another customer appeared. It was only fitting that the young man was reluctant to continue his conversation. In addition, Mr. Risman was also made busy by the orders of the buyers who came one by one. As usual, the trade is selling well, to the extent that it is overwhelmed.

From the road to the settlement, Bu Inah came. She always helped her husband to serve pecel lele. Although every day the arrival of many customers and make them hassles, at least a couple of husband and wife are grateful that their income can be used for everyday, even more than enough.

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

Three days have passed. After checking into the prospective new residence, Mr. Risman and the seller of the house have agreed to do the buying and selling. Two hundred and twenty-five million dollars have been received by the seller. Even with land and building certificates, received by Mr. Risman.

Before moving house, Mr. Risman said goodbye to Haji Gufron who deliberately came to the contract to meet him. Not only that, he is also very grateful for the knowledge he learned over the years in trading. In the depths of Haji Gufron's heart, it was actually very lost to Mr. Risman's family, considering that his youngest daughter had helped until her contract could be hired by many people lately.

"Sir Risman, it is precisely I who should thank you very much the Father and the youngest daughter of the Father. Since your arrival, my contract has become crowded again, even now it is full" Haji Gufron said with a smile.

"Maybe it's his provision Pak Haji has a rented contract. Not only that, Mr. Haji. Pak Haji's catfish business is also getting here more and more advanced," praised Mr. Risman.

"Ah, this father can. But, to be honest, I actually feel lost if your family moves. Fadil has moved to Bekasi, so I have no friends" said Haji Gufron.

"Please, Mr. Haji. Now there are many rented residents, maybe one of them is like us too" said Mr. Risman.

"When there's time, you're here again, yeah. I'll be happy if you play here" Haji Gufron said.

"God willing, Mr. Haji," said Mr. Risman.

All the stuff has been put in the open-top car. Sukma and Atikah got into the car, while Pak Risman and Bu Inah rode on the matic motorbike which he bought for several months. They waved at the owner of the contract. Haji Gufron also replied with a similar gesture, accompanied by a big smile.

Sukma did not expect, he and his family returned to Bandung. This time not living in elite settlements such as the Hilman residence, but densely populated settlements. However, Sukma was happy, his father believed him and agreed to buy the house.

An hour's drive has been taken. Upon arrival there, Mr. Risman parked his motorcycle in the yard of his new home. Next, he brought the furniture home, assisted by some neighbors who happened to be in free time. Mr. Risman is very grateful, met with very friendly neighbors and ready to help him.

While Mr. Risman and Ms. Inah were busy unloading furniture from the car, Sukma and Atikah went to the stall to buy food and drinks. They looked cheerful as they were about to occupy a new residence. For Sukma, maybe cold drinks will be very refreshing after the neighbors and both parents take down the furniture.

Arriving at the stall, Sukma retreated back. The nearest stall he was going to visit, had an unpleasant aura. Of course, Atikah was astonished by his sister's behavior.

"What's up, Deck?" tanya Atikah frowned.

"Loh, why?" Atikah still doesn't understand.

Shortly afterwards, Sukma saw a hairy creature with a very large body size descending from the tile. The girl was surprised, then retreated backwards. From inside the shop, a woman appeared who persuaded the two brothers to shop.

"What are you buying?" ask the shop owner.

Atikah who did not care about his sister's strange attitude, waltzed casually to the stall. He ordered some cold drinks and snacks to be served to the workers. Meanwhile, Sukma was busy avoiding the hands of creatures ten times larger than his body.

After buying various food and drinks, Atikah immediately came out of the stall. Sukma still jumped and ran. Suddenly the movement of his hand changed like it was about to hold something in front of him. With all his might, Sukma resisted the strange creature's attack, then pulled his hand. The girl placed a hand on the creature that attacked her, eventually winning the fight. The creature fell on the ground and disappeared.

"Dedek, let's go home!" atikah Exclamation.

"Bentar, Tea," said Sukma as he walked to the stall. "Mom, is there a taraj? Or an aluminum staircase."

"What's it doing, Neng?" ask the shop owner.

"I'd like to try to swipe up the tile. Maybe there's something there" Sukma explained.

"But what if Eneng falls?" ask the shop owner to worry.

"Ah, fell down this. If it falls up, then you can worry," said Sukma.

The owner of the stall giggled, then rushed to his backyard. Atikah was astonished by the attitude of her sister. Immediately he approached Sukma to ask him something that disturbed his mind.

"Who is it, anyway, minjem ladder all? Do you want to find out what's on the roof of a house that has a stall?" tanya Atikah was upset.

"So Dedek abis fought the same tall creature. I think that makes this shop the aura is not good," replied Sukma.

"This grandfather is - there is. Udahlah, mengingan we go home," said Atikah.

"Wait a minute, Tea. Nanggung, nih," denied Sukma.

A few minutes later, the woman who owned the stall brought a bamboo ladder to Sukma. Without much thought, the girl put the stairs in front of the tile, then told Atikah to hold it. The shop owner can only frown at the strange behavior of Sukma.

Upon arrival at the roof of the stall, Sukma opened the precarious one by one. It didn't take long, he found a cloth package. After finding something she was looking for, the girl closed the tile back, then descended through the stairs.

Atikah was relieved, his sister could get off safely. Just this time he saw Sukma dare to climb the tile. The shop owner was curious about something Sukma was looking for.

"Huh ... Why, anyway, is there any envy to the efforts of others?" sukma muttered in annoyance.

"What's up, Deck?" ask Atikah.

Sukma shows a shroud containing red earth and a piece of paper containing a mantra. The owner of the stall was surprised to see the object in Sukma's hand. Atikah just shook his head weakly, again finding a daze when he got a new dwelling.

"I-that's what?" asked the owner of the shop trembling.

"This is a package that makes Mother's stalls not delicious to look at. Called buhul-buhul. Don't you feel like there's something weird in this shop?" ask Sukma.

"Actually, I'm also fretting about strange things. Lately often sickly, continue if the night likes someone to knock on the door, but the person is not there," replied the shop owner.

Sukma nodded in reverence. "Mommy has a match with a small container for the ground, right? I'm gonna burn this thing. If abandoned, the creature will come again."

The owner of the stall nodded, then went into the stall to pick up matches and small containers. Atikah was still astonished by the object held by her sister.

"Sir, how did Dedek know that there was that thing in the stall tile?" tanya Atikah scrunched her forehead.

"Experience, Tea. Long ago when we first lived in Pak Haji rented also found objects that are like this. At first Dedek also did not know what this was, but the more here the more understanding, really," explained Sukma.

The shop owner came with a matchbook and a small container. Without a long time, Sukma took out the contents of the package into a small container of snack food, then burned the shroud and a piece of paper inside. Atikah and the shop owner were told to recite prayers during the arson process.

Across the street, other shop owners noticed Sukma's movements. He felt annoyed, the gussets he put in a rival stall, had been destroyed. By folding both hands, he thought of expelling the newly moved girl's family as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Sukma asks to be shown the way towards the grave. The owner of the stall pointed towards the grave, then Sukma went to dispose of the red soil in a small container. Atikah asks to go home first and Sukma allows it. The girl had dared to do it herself without fear, despite knowing that the gusset bearer did not like her existence in her new neighborhood.