Around Us
Chapter 21 part 2: Elusif
Tucked away curiosity. It happened about 3 years ago and in the exact month I witnessed the first Mak Iroh's funeral. Also, the cause of death was the same, namely as the result of an accident. Maybe Mang Bahri's story can open the veil of my question. “Keep after that condition Mak Iroh how, Mang?”
“On the way to the hospital, Mamang continued to hold Mom's hand. His pulse is sometimes felt, sometimes not. There Mamang really resigned. However, Mamang still begged that Mother was given the opportunity to live longer. Mamang is not ready if you have to lose Mom at that time. Mamang ngerasa still less filial, also not able to make it happy.”
Mang Bahri bowed for a moment. I waited patiently for him to continue the story.
“Pas entered the ER room, he said there was no longer a sign of life in the body of Mother. Mamang is very confused about how to nyampein to the Mamang brothers. They must blame Mamang for the calamity that happened”, he explained while wiping away tears. “
I was solemnly listening to Mang Bahri's description.
“Then, a miracle happened. When you want to be transferred to the morgue, he said your heart rate becomes normal. That's such happy news. Then, Mom was moved to the hospital room. The next day, Mom woke up and opened her eyes. He looked fresh as if he did not feel any pain. It's just, he's a little dazed,” he recalls. “A tremendous gift behind the surrender.”
Yes, sometimes life must be balanced between prayer and effort. When the effort is felt to be the maximum, pray to be a savior in surrender.
“How about his consciousness, Mang?” That question was the most beautiful of my curiosity. Mak Iroh was declared dead, but later became fit. If my hypothesis is correct, there is a change in Mak Iroh's attitude and behavior afterwards.
“That's him. Mamang thought the memory of Mom was lost because she looked confused and continued to look to the right and left. But after that, Mom shouted Mamang's name and revolted to go home. Mamang thought she was amnesiac. Thank God, fortunately it did not happen,” he said more calmly.
I still have questions to strengthen my guess, “Sorry Mang, Mamang said that Mak Iroh bounced far enough and fell onto the asphalt until he collapsed. How about a wound on the head or other body part?”
“It was also Mamang wonder. When she fell, she did not have any injuries or bleeding. Mom just fainted. Oh yeah, there's blood coming out of his mouth, but just a little. Mamang emang not too careful fitting that Mother wound or how, Mamang already panicked first and immediately take Mom to the hospital,” he replied straightforwardly.
“Pas checked in hospital how is it, Mang?”
“Doctor said Mom had a heart attack. It was clear that Mom had been hit by a motorbike. The doctor also said, there was no sign of internal injuries or bruises on the body of Mother.”
I'm getting curious about more. “Heart attack?”
“Iya, Yes. Mamang also did not understand. But just knowing that Mom did not die, Mamang was very happy. Mamang did not care said the doctor whatever the results of the examination. Very happy to feel.”
“Atypical yes, Mang. No injuries at all? That is, Mak Iroh's body fell onto the asphalt and was hit quite hard he said.”
“Betul. But that was said Mamang, doctors and nurses until no one believes if Mother ended the accident. In fact, because of the conscious peg Mother continues to rebel want to go home, in the afternoon the doctor allowed Mother to go home,” he explained.
“Em...” I'm still trying to analyze Mang Bahri's story.
“But...” his voice weakened.
“But why, Mang?”
Mang Bahri rubbed his forehead, “Mom's attitude started strange. Unlike the ones Mamang knew before.”
“While how, Mang?”
“You know what the mother is?”
I nodded.
“Emak when talking is always soft, and so far almost never angry. But that day when I came home from the hospital, Mom was angry asking for food. Buy chicken porridge, he does not want to. He said he wanted the same meat stew. Finally, Mamang roving nyari warteg who sells meat stews. Unfortunately, not nemu. Finally, Mamang buyin rendang. I didn't want to, but maybe because I was hungry, I ate it too. Just finished eating, Mom asked to buy meatballs ama ketoprak. Bellin's mom, too. Yang Mamang was shocked, everything was devoured by the same Mother.”
“Everything's up, Mang?”
“Resigned, Yes. Without any seremeh left. It's unbelievable. Mamang aja can only see (melongo) see Mum kayak that.” It was on his face that he said.
“Besoknya and so on how? Still like that too, Mang?”
“Same as aja, Yes. Pretty long Mom is. If you eat always want the same meat or chicken, that is delicious. Though usually eat the same tofu and tempeh aja, he said already delicious.”
I keep chiming in questions.“Who cooked Mom?”
“Buy aja. Mothers from since the accident just eat, watch TV, same sleep.”
“But if invited to chat connect, Mang?”
Mang Bahri asked for a pause to drink for a moment. “If invited to chat mah connect”, he continued, “Even the same people also remember. What Mamang worried about Mom amnesia, it's not. Only that, my mother also closed. If he wasn't the one talking, he would be angry if asked first. Keep the same people so cranky. It's just so different. Finally, every person who asked Mom, Mamang said Mom again in the house suadara. In addition to the mother talking no one wants to meet anyone, Mamang is afraid of people who go to the hospital of the heart the same attitude of Mother.”
“But Mamang take medication or therapy?”
“Incongruent change?” as sure. Incogruent change is a change in attitude that is opposite and characterized by a difference from the original attitude. The term refers to a change in attitude in social psychology.
“Iya, the. So he said, it's just a lot more pressure. The change in his attitude was part of the way he had shown his will that had been harbored. Again, the change in attitude is not permanent. Later also Mother normal again.”
“Emmm...” That's according to medical side or scientific explanation. I tried to throw a prediction from the subjective side, “If the word smart person must be Mother useful yes, Mang?”
“Betul. How do you know?” tanyanya.
“Take it anyway, Mang,” I explained.
“Your guess is right,” nods, “Smart man said, Mom said she had a use. But if said Mr. Kiai in the next village, Emak kempelan jin, so told manyin najai just as his prayers are sought always on time.”
I try to hold back opinions. However, my brain stimulates the tongue to do probing, “Well, if you have to use your body must act when you worship, right? But if the attachment of the genie, Arya does not understand as well. As far as Arya know many jin who are also fluent about procedures and prayer readings as njai.”
“Betul, Ya”, get along while crossing both hands on the chest, “But that also makes Mamang confused. Mother if asked to pray yes pray, only you have to be iningetin. Continue if said Mother ‘Bentar’, yes just wait. Dilaksanain. Even sometimes midnight like to sound like Mom njai. That's what makes Mamang shake his head, actually why mother?!”
My forehead started to wrinkle. “Hem. Complicated yes, Mang.”
“Only the other brothers no one cared when Mamang told me about the condition of Mother. Once here even said he wanted to borrow the gold deposits of Mother Doang. Pasarain exhausted for the treatment of Mother, no one believes,” he said followed by a strong breath. “They feel the same attitude of your mother's behavior changed greatly. But yeah, they're stupid. In fact, the light for ininepin (maintained) in Grogol (RSJ Dr. Suharto Heerdjan). Mamang did not want to be taken to RSJ, Mother people are not crazy, just change her daily life.”
I agree, but I still want to know the paradigm. “If according to Mamang's own view – right Mamang who every day is beside Mak Iroh – Mom's attitude because what? Sorry Mang, maybe it's true Mak Iroh tuh after the accident suddenly want to show the other side that he has been hiding?”
Mamang put aside the view that previously led to me, “Mamang actually saw it like not a mother. Kayak – is actually – The mother has died since the accident. Just maybe there is another figure, whether the genie is what enters the mother, maybe it is the Qorinnya or what. What is clear, although Mum still recognizes Mamang and his surroundings, but his personality is definitely not him.” Her tears came back. “Mamang often hear Mom at midnight kayaking again chatting with people. It is not too clear what is being talked about, but when Mamang checked into his room, Mother turned out to be sleeping again. That's often very, though Mamang sure it's the voice of Mother.”
“There are things that Mamang heard clearly did not talk about Mom?”
“There. Mom always says, ‘Gue wants to go home, let me go. I'm not at home like this’. Continue to Yes, ever when Mamang returned home from work – shift 2 – around 11 pm, Mamang see Mother again sleeping in her room. But in the kitchen, someone else is cooking. Mamang look into the kitchen, it turns out there is another mother fried eggs. Keep saying, ‘Ri, Mom can only cook eggs for you. It's just it’. Who was sleeping in whose room? Try checking (checking) again, no one in the room. Though Mamang sure there are other mothers who sleep in the room. It wasn't just once, yeah. Mamang also saw Mother again sitting in her room in front of the mirror, but fitting Mamang to the bathroom there was the sound of people bathing. At home, it's just the two of us. Look back at Mom's room, she's still there. Mamang back to the bathroom, keep asking, ‘Mak, still long time not to shower?’ At first, Mamang was joking. Uh, even Mom nyahut. ‘Bent, Ri. This is Mom done kok’. Get out of the bathroom. Mamang immediately ran out of the house and went to Kiai's house to ask for water (drinking water recited by prayer),” he explained.
“Mamang tell the events that Mamang experienced to Kiai?”
Looks like he's holding back the pain.“Ja. Actually, Kiai already from the beginning nyaranin Mum made in-ruqyah. But my mother always refused. Even ngancem wanted to run away. Finally, yes. Mama can't force my mother. Mom doesn't want to leave. How was the situation of the mother at that time, in the end Mamang got used to it. Only Mamang never told me about the neighbors. If they are nanya, that was, Mamang said Mom nginep in the house of her other children, move-move her stay.”
“Emak like that how long, Mang? What up to – sorry – before Mom died yesterday?”
Mang Bahri stood up. Then, take a neatly framed photo of her mother. “Sunday before Mom died, the same attitude of behavior suddenly changed like again. Mamang surprised, early in the morning Mom nyiapin breakfast for Mamang to go kayak work first. By the way it's soft again, continue to diligently beberes house again. Actually normal”, he rubbed his mother's portrait, “At that time, actually Mamang already resigned to Allah and accepted the condition of Mother as well as how. Let's say Mother kepelelan jin, Mamang already do not want to bother about it. The point is, Mom is alive. Mother is still in the eye pelup Mamang.”
“When Mak Iroh's attitude returned to its original state, Mamang did not feel it was part of an omen or a hunch?”
“Again. I once told a psychologist that Mom could be normal again. Yes Mamang thought so. But the one that hasn't changed is that you don't want to go out or meet people. That's it,” his voice started to vibrate. “Free, three days before Mom left, she said gini, ‘Ri, Mom wants to go home first ya’. Keep Mamang asked, ‘Back to where Mak, right Mom's house here’. He replied, ‘Let's see you again. Just Mom wants to say, who get along yes brother, do not get to the seizure of treasure keep forgetting the same blood relationship’. Mamang replied yes-yes aja.”
Mang Bahri imitated his mother's words eloquently. Very clearly, that memory stuck firmly in his memory. “That's Mom talking about it fitting out Maghrib. Mamang did not think anything. Didn't think that it was a signal that Mom wanted to go first with Mamang.”
No time shows at 02:00 in the morning. “Mang, sorry, Arya came home first because at this hour usually I wake up for Tahajud. Fears Dad nyariin Arya,” pamitku.
“Iya, Yes. Sorry, so Mamang confided to forget the time.”
“Nothing. Hopefully now Mamang will be more relieved.”
He replied with a smile. I rushed home, though there were things I still wanted to ask.
The part that struck my mind the most was Mang Bahri saying that there was a possibility that his mother had died at the time of the accident. His words were also so convincing. Could it be that there were indeed two Mak Irohs from the two worlds colliding, then breaking through the dimensional boundary? Ah, I'll think about it again. I have to get home before Dad wakes up.
When I opened the door, Dad stood looking at me. Like the plot I had in mind.
“Where did you just get home at this time?” Father's voice was slow, but the soul felt it was being scolded.
“From the stall, find instant noodles.”
“Set where the noodles are.”
Right. Because it was too exciting to talk, I forgot my purpose. “The screen is closed.”
“Log in! Later Dad made fried rice aja.”
I thought Dad would scold me. I dropped my body on the couch and spread out both hands. Thank you, Lord, I see.