The Child Swallowed by the Lake

Everyone in Dukuh Atas Village is busy at Rebo Wekasan. Likewise, Yu Ning, a middle-aged widow who lives alone. ”Yu Ning!” The sound of women screaming could be heard from outside the house. Yu Ning, who was busy ngalubi chicken for the Rebo Wekasan event, jumped in surprise. The hot water in the basin splashed onto his feet. But Yu Ning was not surprised because his skin was exposed to hot water, he was more surprised by the female voice from outside his house who kept calling his name. Yu Ning hurriedly walked to the front of the house. She wiped her hands, which were still wet, on the hem of the worn blue negligee with a wide floral pattern.

”Yu Ning! Yu Ning!” The sound became louder and louder, Yu Ning opened the door.

”Owalah, Miranti! What's all the fuss about, it's tomorrow, you know?” Yu Ning tried to spell Miranti's face, which looked very shocked.

"Kusna! Kusna's back, Yu Ning! She's at Telaga Pedhut," Miranti said breathlessly. Yu Ning's facial expression changed from confused to overly shocked. Yu Ning ran as fast as she could, grabbing onto her wide blue floral-patterned dress, lifting it up to avoid slowing her speed. Her eyes were alert as she ran through the still-dark streets, her heart beating rapidly.

Arriving at Telaga Pedhut, Yu Ning's arrival immediately divided the crowd. How surprised Yu Ning was, seeing a very familiar face. The face of Kusna, her only son, who disappeared seven years ago. Yu Ning looked at her son closely. Kusna looks healthy even though his face looks dirty and his clothes are dirty. The clothes were still the same clothes when Kusna was last seen seven years ago. Yu Ning rushed to hug her child. Feelings of happiness, gratitude, emotion, confusion mixed into one, unstoppable. Everything inside his chest exploded into sobs. Yu Ning's cries spread through the air, shooting to the surface of the water of Pedhut Lake.

***

If you remember again, Yu Ning and her family have been searching for Kusna for seven years. Before he disappeared, Kusna was reportedly playing at Telaga Pedhut. Kusna for fun invited his friends to fish in Telaga Pedhut even though it was prohibited. Dukuh Atas people believe that the fish in Telaga Pedhut are the incarnations of Gods and Goddesses. Anyone who takes fish there will suffer a plague. Kusna's disappearance after fishing seemed to answer the truth of the lake myth. Then mysteriously, today, the last Wednesday of the month of Safar, Kusna emerged from Telaga Pedhut without aging at all. He still looks like a 12 year old child. Kusna was found by the Rebo Wekasan event committee who were arranging the lincak offering place.

Kusna's return without aging was shocking news. Not only for the whole village, but also for all corners of the country. The media flocked to Kusna's house. Various conspiracies about Kusna's disappearance spread in the media. Some wrote that Kusna lost into the world by then. There are also those who write about a group of aliens kidnapping Kusna. Then the alien examined Kusna and returned him to his original place. Other groups believe that Kusna rose from the dead. Meanwhile, the more rational group believes that Kusna was just an accident, lost his memory and got lost. Then he managed to return to Telaga Pedhut with the remains of his memory.

Whatever the reality behind the mystery of Kusna's disappearance and return is not important. The fact that Kusna's appearance coincides with Rebo Wekasan day is considered amazing. The residents of Kampung Dukuh Atas themselves are divided into two camps. The first camp was worried that Kusna's appearance on Rebo Wekasan would bring disaster. For the people of Dukuh Atas themselves, Rebo Wekasan is the day when disaster strikes. That's why the people of Dukuh Atas flocked to dissolve offerings into Telaga Pedhut hoping for protection from Gusti the Great. Meanwhile, the second camp disagrees. They thought that the emergence of Kusna could actually be a repellent for their village.

Also read: When Tired

***

Several months after Kusna's return, all news about Kusna began to subside. TV stations rarely visit their residence. Yu Ning could breathe a sigh of relief. He could express his affection for Kusna without this or that interference. Every day, Yu Ning actually worries about her child's health. Not only is his body unable to carry out daily activities, but his soul also still looks shocked. Since his son returned, Yu Ning noticed that Kusna was just confused and rarely spoke. Occasionally Kusna muttered, but Yu Ning couldn't tell what words came out of Kusna's mouth. Yu Ning had indeed taken Kusna to the doctor, but the doctor said that there was nothing to worry about with her child's condition. The doctor then suggested frequently inviting Kusna to chat about memories of the time before he disappeared.

chat

"Kus, remember Jano, your elementary school canca?" Yu Ning asked while feeding him.

Kusna was just silent. Ndomblong. His eyes were empty.

"That's you know, who once received a women's uniform as a gift from the Regent. Remember?” Yu Ning saw Kusna's eyes.

Kusna was still silent. Ndomblong. His eyes were empty.

"Now Jano is even more smart. School at the favorite school in the district."

Ndomblong

”Yu Ning, Kus wis healthy? You said it's still slow?” The voice of her mother Nuri, their neighbor, made Yu Ning startled and turned around. Nuri's mother came holding Nuri who was still five years old.

“Yeah, not bad. "How come no, it's still hard to eat, Yu," Yu Ning answered while stroking Nuri's head.

"Yes, no papa, Yu, alon-alon."

Nuri's mother looked at Kusna's face. He was still surprised, why during the seven years he had been missing, Kusna didn't look any older. Nuri's mother believes that Kusna has some kind of karomah. This belief made Nuri's mother for fun ask Kusna to touch one of the ulcers on Nuri's little hand while asking for prayers for her recovery. Nuri did have ulcers all over his body that would not heal. Mrs. Nuri's hand grabbed Kusna's hand and put it on Nuri's hand which had an ulcer. Kusna, who didn't talk much, just obeyed.

"Kus, tulung help pray for Nuri's recovery, okay?" said Mrs. Nuri.

Also read: Pelagak

***

The next day, something unimaginable happened. The sores on Nuri's hand appeared to be drying up. Nuri's mother immediately unbuttoned her shirt. And indeed, the sores all over Nuri's body began to dry up. Nuri's mother shouted with joy. She had been taking Nuri to various doctors, from renowned dermatologists in the district to famous traditional healers, but to no avail. The sores remained on her delicate skin. However, this time was different. With a single touch and prayer from Kusna, the sores gradually improved. Within a few days, they had completely healed.

News about Nuri's wound healing spread throughout Dukuh Atas like a gust of wind. The rumors made some people come and want to prove Kusna's power. At first, Yu Ning firmly refused. But the pressure continued to come from neighbors and relatives. The sense of discomfort eventually softened Yu Ning. Since then, there is always someone who comes every day and asks to be touched and prayed for by Kusna. Yu Ning's house became increasingly crowded. Yu Ning became busy again entertaining guests. She rarely talks to Kusna again. The missing feeling for seven years that had just been redeemed a few months ago had to disappear again. Yu Ning's days are only colored by entertaining guests. Every time someone comes, that person will tell their complaints and illnesses to Yu Ning. Then Yu Ning guides Kusna's hand to touch the sick parts of the patient while praying together.

It is uncertain whether Kusna is truly powerful, as Yu Ning herself does not know for sure. However, Yu Ning's guests continue to arrive. Kusna's "patients" now come not only from Dukuh Atas but also from neighboring villages. Some even come from Jakarta just to seek healing from Kusna. There was once a man in a suit who asked to be prayed for so he could become a member of the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) next year. Kusna, who does not speak much, simply nodded and complied when asked to pray for the man's success.

Every time someone comes, Yu Ning never asks for payment. However, most of them do give gifts in the form of goods or money. As time goes by, Kusna's income increases. Yu Ning, who initially felt uncomfortable forcing her child to meet many people, gradually becomes "addicted" to the earnings. From those earnings, Yu Ning can buy new clothes and new items. Her appearance is now more neat and tidy, not like the usual housewives who wear house dresses. Yu Ning has upgraded.

Like a duck giving birth, Yu Ning's luck didn't stop there. Yu Ning and Kusna were offered to fill a program on a national television station. Yu Ning was doubtful whether he could take Kusna away. Kusna, who still often gets confused, can he go all the way to Jakarta? Moreover, lately Kusna looks restless. His hands were often clenched into fists and he hit his head. Kusna also often ran away to Telaga Pedhut. Thrown myself there and didn't want to go home. He managed to go home after Yu Ning and two other people were forced to drag Kusna. Recalling that incident, Yu Ning hesitated a little. However, his doubts gradually disappeared when Yu Ning saw the nominal value of the interview contract. Yu Ning finally made up his mind to leave.

Also read: Tamansari and Men in Pokok Ketapang

***

The next day, Yu Ning, who was still sound asleep, was startled by the voice of a woman calling his name from outside the house. He quickly went to the front of the house, but his still-sleepy eyes struggled to see. Just before reaching the door, Yu Ning's foot hit a large tote bag containing gear for his and Kusna's interview in Jakarta. Yu Ning was startled, not because of hitting the bag, but because the woman's voice from outside the house was getting louder.

”Yu Ning! Yu Ning!” The sound became louder and louder, Yu Ning opened the door.

”Owalah, Mir! What's all the fuss about, it's tomorrow, you know?” Yu Ning tried to spell out Miranti's face, which looked very shocked.

"Kusna! Kusna! Kusna, Yu Ning! Come to Telaga Pedhut," gasped Miranti. Yu Ning's facial expression immediately changed from confusion to extreme shock. Yu Ning ran as fast as she could. She grabbed the plain maroon dress so that it wouldn't slow her down. Her eyes keenly scanned the still dark streets, and her heart was pounding fast.

Yu Ning's chest seemed to be pierced and his neck seemed to be strangled. Yu Ning collapsed.

***

That morning, the air around Telaga Pedhut felt very cold. Tonggeret was reluctant to take a step. The dry wind was rolling over the surface of the lake. In the middle of the lake, the body of a boy emerged. A boy who was once considered holy and a protector against disaster is now helpless in the middle of the lake. The boy, who was deemed powerful and magical, chose to leave and surrender his body back to the lake. The boy's body emitted a cold aura.

His cold body crept through the lake water, evaporating into the air. The air carried the coldness, sticking to every plant cuticle. The freezing spread throughout the village. Dukuh Atas mourned for years after. And until now, it's said that Yu Ning still often visits Telaga Pedhut. He sits there for hours and often walks from the cemetery to Telaga Pedhut.

Back and forth.

Yu Ning hopes that a miracle will happen again to her child.

1. ngalubi: putting food in hot water so that the fur and skin can be easily peeled off.

2. drowsy: daydreaming with empty eyes

Tsalaisye, a housewife who also works in the field of language and literature, occasionally glances at the window looking for inspiration to write. Can be contacted via email: [e-mail] or Instagram account: @tsalaisyenf