TUMBAL SEVENTH

Malih Rupa

“Rania, Mela, Sania!” Once again, Madam Carla's voice called out to the three of us.

“Are you sure it's Madam Carla?” I asked Mela. Mela who was originally carried by Sania asked to be taken down again. Now the three of us are standing side by side.

“I'm not sure it's Madam Carla,” reply Mela after being silent for a while.

“But ...” Sania's speech paused as Madam Carla's voice reverberated in this forest, chanting our names again.

“But, it looks like it is indeed Madam Carla,” continued Sania. The three of us looked at each other again. I continue to raise my shoulders. Just like Mela, I'm not sure either.

“Not Madam Carla home? There's no way that he's here,” Mela.

“But, that's Madam Carla's voice. Surely he came here to pick us up,” said Sania excitedly.

“San ...”

“We're here, Madam!” Not finished I spoke, Sania had already yelled to tell us where we were at a figure who had a voice very similar to Madam Carla. I hope this isn't a trick. I hope it's Madam Carla.

“You where?” Madam Carla asked once more, perhaps to be sure. Me and Mela just kept quiet. Sania continues to grieve. Until finally the figure of Madam Carla was seen. Plowing from behind a big and shady tree, then stepping hastily here, his face looks worried. This forehead frowned, it seemed like it was indeed Madam Carla.

“Oh, thank goodness. I finally found you. You guys just make me anxious. How are you guys doing?” madam Cerocos when she was near us.

“Not too good Madam. Mela's legs sprained. She's tired of walking,” Sania's light. Me and Mela are still quiet. I think our thoughts are the same, still doubting the authenticity of our teacher.

“Oh, jeez! Try here, let me check,” said Madam Carla and immediately take a squatting position in front of Mela. Mela glanced at me, who also happened to be looking at her. From Mela's gaze she seemed to be asking for my opinion on Madam Carla's authenticity. I put a shoulder to shoulder because until now, I could not detect the awkwardness that Madam Carla had. I don't know if he's real or not.

“Try sitting on foot!” madam's word to Mela. Mela glanced at me asking for my opinion. I nodded and he finally obeyed.

“This if not cleared will get worse,” Madam said while groping Mela's wrist, “Hold yes, this will feel a little painful, but only briefly,” he added.

“Eum, no need to bother Madam. Later also healed itself,” reject Mela. My best friend's face looked terrified.

“It will take a long time to heal if not sorted. It could even get worse. Already, just relax, the pain is just a moment kok.” Madam Carla assures. Mela glanced at me again asking for a defense from me.

“Aaak!” mele Jerers. I haven't had a chance to plead, Madam Carla has been in action. Retracting Mela's legs strong to the sound of chattering. I covered my gaping mouth with both hands. Was Mela's leg broken? Sania also seemed surprised by Madam Carla's actions.

“Now try moving slowly rotate your legs!” the Edict of Madam Carla. Mela still grimaced in pain. However, Mela did as Madam Carla ordered. Continue to follow the instructions until finally the look of Mela's face looks crisp.

“Where? Already done?” ask Madam Carla. Mela nodded.

“I-iya. It doesn't hurt anymore!” mela girang.

“Try now stand. Slow down!” According to Madam's orders, Mela stood up slowly, then tried to step slowly.

“My feet are healed. It doesn't hurt anymore. I can walk now!” Mela looks so happy. Madam Carla's actions slowly erased the doubt in my heart. I think the doubt in Mela's heart was also eroded.

“Thank you, Madam,” said Mela later. Madam Carla nodded.

“We don't have much time. We need to get out of this forest. Come on, follow me!” madam Carla led our journey. Me, Mela and Sania nodded, then followed.

“So my husband called again and said if everything had improved and allowed me to continue the journey,” he replied. I'm nodding.

“Madam, instead of the direction portal there?” This time it was Mela who asked while pointing towards the west. We are now moving towards the north.

“It's a hoax portal. The real one over there,” Madam replied while pointing north. His steps stopped, he was like a bewilderment. I also stopped waiting for her, then let Sania walk first.

“Do you have any doubts?” tanyaku.

“Antah,” he replied, then took my hand and we continued following Sania and Madam Carla who were far ahead.

We kept walking while talking. Occasionally joking to melt the tense atmosphere. Until I finally forgot about Madam Carla's authenticity. We also believe in his guidance. Keep following him without regard to the direction and the path we are going through.

“Your leg is completely healed?” my question, and Mela nodded steadily ending with a relieved smile.

“Sgratitude.”

“Madam, can we take a break? I'm tired,” pinta Sania. Madam Carla stopped her steps. So too with us.

“Of course. Why not?” reply Madam a moment after turning around.

Sania immediately sat on the root of a huge tree. Me and Mela finally sat down too. Madam stood her back to the three of us.

“Madam, is it still far from the portal?” asked Mela breaking the silence.

“No. We'll be back soon.”

Hearing Madam's reply, the three of us looked at each other, then smiled in relief. We will soon be out of this illusionary forest. Then I will meet my husband again. I can't wait for that moment. Although only a few moments apart from my husband, but it feels this longing is already passionate.

I immediately turned my head in confusion when this ear was like hearing my husband's voice calling. Tell me to come back quickly. Mela who realized I was confused, she asked, “You why? Is everything okay?”

Madam Carla turned and looked at me. Madam Carla's gaze was hard to interpret. But clearly, his gaze was very strange. Not as usual.

“Have his break. We continue on!” bring Madam. The three of us got up from our seats and went back.

“Madam sure to here the direction of that portal?” ask Mela.

Madam Carla turned around. The three of us stopped automatically. “I know everything. You doubt me?”

“Eum, ti-no Madam. I just make sure,” Mela replied stuttering while looking down not daring to return Madam Carla's sharp gaze.

“Not much to ask. Just follow me. Understand?!” Madam Carla's tone of voice sounded like people were being irritated. It's weird, not like Madam Carla is angry like this is just a trivial matter. My faith in Madam is starting to fade again. But I can't do much. In this heart it actually wants to refuse to follow Madam and separate itself from her. But somehow it feels so hard to do. This leg seemed hypnotized following him. I can't refuse every order Madam has. I think Mela and Sania are the same.

I kept walking while daydreaming. My mind went everywhere. Until finally my steps stopped when Mela stopped her steps and immediately gripped this arm very strongly. I asked ‘ada apa’ using facial gestures. Mela told me to look forward using head movements as well. I looked ahead and immediately my body stiffened.

“Loh, why are we here again, Madam?”

I was just about to warn Sania not to say a word, but she had already asked a question. Madam Carla who was busy opening the door turned around and revealed her true form. Sania screamed hysterically, then shifted back to align her position with me and Mela. The three of us held hands. The long white-haired granny was tangled, the circumference of the black eyes was in line with her long fingernails cackling. His laughter echoed the typical laughter of the old grandmother. Not only the nails and eye circumference are black, the teeth are also. Sania who is a coward is getting hysterical to see the appearance of the grandmother who increasingly shows his bad form. Now, his eyeballs turned all white, and stepped closer and closer to the three of us. Although this heart wants to run, but somehow this leg seems embedded in the ground. And in the blink of an eye, the three of us were already inside the bamboo booth. Door's thumping closed.