DAMNED GIRL
3. CHOOSING THE RIVER

“You guys why sleep here? Not anymore guard at patrol post?” ask the person who looks surprised to see them lying on the floor. “Ya, already. Pray at dawn first!"

They went to take the wudu water and then perform the morning prayer. There is an inner calm that they get when prostrating. Weak in front of the Creator. It was as if all the fear and worry about last night had disappeared in an instant.

When they came out of the musala, their eyes were wide again when they saw Yumna coming out of the same musala as them. She was wearing a plain white face that made her face look even more graceful.

“Yumna ...,” said Abas with a confused-looking face.

...***...

"Why did you get to the rescue? I have said be careful later if there is a body stolen will affect our citizens as well," said Mr Turmudi, village head while rolling tobacco in ivory pipes colored light brown.

"We're on our guard, sir, but that night it was Ida's body that died a month ago." Mr. Udin replied to Mr. Turmudi.

"Did you?" Pak Lurah brought his face closer to Mr. Udin while lowering his glasses.

"She died giving birth to that?" continued Mr. Lurah.

"Rubber, Sir. If it's not wrong to die on Friday night Kliwon." Wandi who had been silent had now chimed in on Mr. Turmudi's remarks.

"This emergency, can be used as an intermediary for black magic. Oh, what about Yumna? It seems like the rumor from the citizens that she's a female of Bahu Laweyan is making her depressed." Lurah Turmudi shifted the topic of conversation.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lurah. We also need to straighten it out to the citizens if Laweyan's shoulder is not necessarily true. Pity Mbak Yumna with this news especially he is the one who is actually grieving after the death of mas Joko the other day," said Abas seriously, followed by nods of the heads of some people who were present at the place.

Discussions at the house of Mr. Lurah Turmudi that afternoon took place exciting about Yumna who is considered as a pesky carrier woman. Some of the mothers in the village suggested that Yumna should be expelled from the village because they were worried that their husbands would get the same bad luck if they interacted with Yumna.

It was very difficult for Mr. Lurah although some other residents also disagreed about the expulsion. Mr. Lurah Turmudi still tries wisely to protect the rights of its citizens including Yumna.

...***...

That afternoon a few minutes before Magrib's prayer, Abbas was seen carrying a pile of firewood towards Yumna's house because Yumna and Abas' house were also nearby. The character of Abas who has a high social spirit is used to do good to the neighbors to many residents who like Abas. He was a handsome, polite and friendly young man regardless of gender and age.

"Mbak Yumna is the firewood, if you need something you should not hesitate please tell my mother let me do it" said Abas.

Indeed his mother Abas was often at Yumna's house to help some of Joko's post-death interests. Their house was a short distance away until sometimes Abas and his mother came home late at night to accompany Yumna .

"Thank you, Mum. Oh, yes, if I may wait here first I want to take a shower. Who knows if there will be guests because in a few days the forty-day event of the death of mas Joko," said Yumna while presenting tea and fried bananas made by her mother Abas. The young man simply nodded, then got up from his seat to clean the living room and arrange the mat.

Yumna walked by her side towards the room behind the house for a bath. In the village that is still beautiful for the needs of water is still relying on a bucket well until the water feels clear.

While busy cleaning the room suddenly from the bathroom booth heard a female scream that she thought was the sound of Yumna.

"Akhich!" peekit Yumna's.

Abas immediately put down a broomstick and rushed to the bathroom to check on Yumna.

"Mbak, why?" ask Abas.

"There's a rat on the other end jumping from the water-cow, Mas" said Yumna in fear.

Abas approached and got rid of the little mouse that was trapped in the dipper made of coconut shell. Abas' face flushed red as he unintentionally glanced at Yumna's wet body covered in cloth.

"God, she's really pretty and crazy as a girl" Abas murmured in his heart as he swallowed his saliva.

After finishing getting rid of the rat Abas was about to pass to the original room accompanying his mother who was in the living room. Just a few steps away from Yumna came a noise like a falling object. Abas turned his head until he accidentally looked at the white body of Yumna which was shining with the moonlight. Yumna seemed to have trouble holding the cloth while her two hands tried to hold the rope of the well that was released.

"The signs are obvious" murmured Abas who accidentally saw two strange marks on Yumna's chest. Abas approached while turning his worried face to Yumna's embarrassment as he looked at her curves.

Yumna finally finished her bath as well. He changed clothes in the room and headed to the living room to meet Abas and his mother.

"Bas, you wait here a minute, yeah. I want to go to Bu Suli's shop to buy tea and sugar" the mother asked Abas when Yumna was in the living room. Abas just nodded. Now in the room only Abas and Yumna alone. Abas looked awkward and lowered his face after what they had experienced in the bathroom.

Long silent at each other, Abas finally ventured to ask Yumna to dismiss the doubt.

"Sorry if you're sassy, ma'am. Has the sign been there since birth?" ask Abash slowly.

Yumna was shocked to turn her head and looked at Abas with sharp eyes. His lips looked bitten.

"So you see the mark on my chest?" yumna said, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. For a moment they were silent.

"I don't really understand the markings on my body, Mas. Even my late husband said there were a few more signs on other parts of his body. I am still a virgin until now my three husbands died before they could touch me. Something happened when my husband was about to touch and fulfill his right to me." Yumna spoke slowly, and she sat down to turn her back to Abas.

Abas stared dimly at the back of Yumna who was lowering her clothes to the appearance of Yumna's delicate back. Abas was shocked when on the delicate back Yumna plastered tanned markings located on the right and left side of the shoulder.

"And whoever has seen the mark on my body I hope he becomes my husband. But I don't want you to be the same fate as my late husband, Mas," said Yumna bowed.

Abas felt goosebumps hearing Yumna's words. He can't speak anything. A moment after he heard the words his entire body felt cold and the fur of my back stood bristling.

Shortly after his mother Abas had reached the terrace of the living room, Yumna hastily tidied up her clothes for fear of being thought to be doing something non-existent.

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Connect ....