FROM ANOTHER WORLD To You (A Mystery Short Story Collection ) - The Second Book
Chapter 4: Breaking through the Aisle of Space and Time (fourth round )

04. Larasati and Rangga

Laracati. Thus the name of the woman, he invited Bachtiar to adventure. Through the hallway and time. The time when the woman was still as unfortunate in the world as the human being was with Bachtiar. Wartime is the most frightening and terrible time in human history. The Dutch colonial government had heard about the destruction of Pearl Harbor (United States naval base, December 07, 1941), by the Japanese. Also the outbreak of World War II (1939 – 1945) and the expansion of Japan into various Asian countries. The landing of Japanese troops to various regions in Indonesia early 1942, marked the beginning of the Japanese occupation of Indonesia (Thn. 1942 – 1945). Japanese troops spread throughout the country including Java and Madura.

Larasati was born into the world with the status of an illegitimate child, the result of the illicit relationship of the Dutch landlord, Rottenburgh with Karmila, one of his servants. To cover up the results of his affair, Karmila entrusted Larasati to Ki Ladoyo, his father's sister-in-law in Rogojampi. Through Ki Ladoyo, Larasati is equipped with various sciences, martial arts, including Occult Science. Larasati grew up to be a beautiful girl, smart and smart to make men crazy about her. “Anyone may fall for Larasati, provided they are able to guard and protect her,” thus Ki Ladoyo responded to every man who would propose to her.

So, there is a Match Match Race. A kind of match looking for a mate, where the participants are handsome men of high stature and burly the most important still do not have a wife. They will compete with Larasati, anyone who can meet any requirements proposed by either Ki Ladoyo or Larasati, he will be the husband of Larasati. Among all the requirements submitted, the requirements to withdraw magical heirlooms for dowry are the heaviest. No one can handle it. And so, none of the many men succeeded, and yet, they did not return empty-handed. Ki Ladoyo distributed some of his treasures to them. “Larasati does not want to get married. Larasati wants to forever accompany Dad here” said Larasati.

A few days later, there came a handsome young man again dashing, his name is Rangga. He managed to go through all the requirements put forward by the 2 people. And indeed, since the first time he met Rangga, Larasati had fallen in love, as well as the young man. Ki Ladoyo learned of this, and he agreed to marry the two of them.

On the night of their wedding, Karmila suddenly arrives, saying that the Dutch have lost the war, the House of Rottenburgh is also already controlled by the Japanese army and they will in the near future attack Banyuwangi and its surroundings, including : Rogojampi. The presence of Karmila had triggered tension between Larasati and Rangga. However, for the safety of everyone, Rangga immediately acted quickly. Somehow, suddenly Ki Ladoyo, Larasati and Karmila were already in a foreign place that had never been visited by Ki Ladoyo. They were all in a forest that was quite dense and vast and foggy.

The forest is very remote, apparently, rarely touched by human hands.

“While waiting for a safe situation, you stay here for a while,” said Rangga Warsito, his calm and authoritative voice made everyone unable to oppose him, while he turned his back and stepped away from the place, “Kang Rangga going where?” it is the voice of Larasatilah who is able to stop his steps.

In the match looking for a mate a few days ago, the science of kanuragan/martiall Larasati only differs one level below Rangga. However, the assertiveness and ingenuity of Larasati is what makes Rangga willing to give up. The young man grabbed Larasati's hand, they both walked to a place a bit far from where Ki Ladoyo and Karmila were standing.

“To be frank .. I hate everyone who colonizes this country as well as his stomach. Actually, I also disagree with your mother's past actions that let you be cared for and cared for by Uncle Ladoyo for 17 years. But, since I loved you from first sight, I was willing to throw all that away. Know that I will not allow this land to be colonized by another nation, I know that those people called Nippon are ruthless and violent people. So, in order to prevent the casualties from also reducing the suffering of this nation, I must intervene. At least, what I have is useful for mankind in this world,” explained Rangga Warsito.

“Let me fight with you, Kang Rangga. You know I can't leave you alone on the battlefield,” pinta Larasati. Rangga smiled, “Whatever you ask, I can obey and even grant it. But this one, I'm sorry, I can't. Take it easy I'll be back, while you keep Uncle Ladoyo and your mother here, at Alas Purwo.”

After saying so, Rangga brought his right index finger closer to Larasati's stomach, “I will return, for the sake of our child, WIGUNA” At that time Larasati also felt something moving in her stomach, she said, until he felt heartburn and nausea. Larasati pitched while Rangga only smiled, a soothing smile. Slowly Rangga's body changed like a giant, from the surface of his skin came out black and dense feathers. Larasati's eyes suddenly blurred, his head felt dizzy and everything was dark.

“Rangga turned out to be Gondoruwo. But, after all he is my husband and I love him,” Larasati ends her story. Bachtiar amazement mixed with horror to hear the story of Larasati, however, still trying to calm down, “Then what happens next ? Did your husband come to see you and your family ?” tanyanya.

The eyes of Larasati turned towards the white curtain of the room window cover that moved slowly through the night wind that entered through the hole of the room. Back in the passage of space and time, Bachtiar listened with interest, a sense of calm began to flow from the tip of his feet to the end of his hair, while looking at the face of the beautiful woman who was now sitting beside him, he fell asleep.

Rangga had visited Larasati several times but only briefly but left a deep impression in the heart of Larasati. Larasati gave birth to a son and named WIGUNA, the happiness of the Larasati family is complete already. After Wiguna was 2 years old, Rangga no longer visited, previously he gave advice to Larasati, “The state of this country is getting worse, poverty almost occurs throughout the country. Nippon really drained everything we had. I can't stand idly by to see everything. Although I have the blood of the jinn, yet, this is where I live. This is where I met you, had children and family. This is where I learned how to relate to humans. I'll be back even in a rather long time, will you wait for me ?”

“Kang Rangga, I am your wife. What you're doing out there I believe in all for the happiness of mankind. I'm willing to wait for you anytime, kang”

After that Rangga turned his body and disappeared, as if the fog in that place swallowed him. From then on, Rangga no longer appeared before the Larasati Family. Towards the end of Japanese occupation of Indonesia, precisely in the middle of 1944, there was no news from Rangga. Larasati who was being mired in longing, desperate to leave Alas Purwo. He looked for the husband everywhere, but still did not meet even on the way he met with about 20 Japanese soldiers fully armed.

Seeing the beauty and beauty of Larasati's body, the lust of the Japanese soldier was turbulent, trying to do indecent to him. However, they had to fight hard to subdue a woman who turned out to be no ordinary woman. Sometimes Larasati had to avoid bayonet attacks, occasionally had to avoid samurai sabetage, some of them were successfully knocked down. Because of failing to defeat the woman, the Japanese army is notoriously merciless and surrender that changes the pattern of attack, they no longer attack with bayonets or samurai, but, choosing to shoot.

Hot tins flew in the air, Larasati so difficulty guessing the direction of the bullet attack, until finally several bullets penetrated his body. He screamed stifled, blood pouring down his red shirt. He was still able to knock down a few more people, but, as the depleted stamina was also drained of blood, he too eventually collapsed to the ground. As he collapsed to the ground, his ears still heard the laughter of the soldiers as well as the sound of rags being torn, he said, after that kiss and hug repeatedly until finally his pair of eyes wide open to see himself in rotation about 12 people in yellow. Finished rolling his body, one of the soldiers plucked the samurai and decapitated him.

It was there that Larasati witnessed his death. His desire to meet the husband instead of materializing instead foundered in the middle of the road. Even if she realizes that her life in the world ended horribly, her determination to find her husband still remains unanimous. Everywhere he was, he saw corpses lying on the ground: children, the elderly, men and women. Her heart was as seething as she saw the situation, it was appropriate that her husband repeatedly left the family to defend and expel the invaders from the archipelago.

Larasati, unable to find her husband, returns to Alas Purwo. But, the situation is not like it used to be, Wiguna often cries and is alone in his room. There was nothing Karmila and Ki Ladoyo could do but cheer her up despite knowing it didn't work when Wiguna yelled angrily while slamming things, “I want my mom !! You guys don't bother me!!”

Sometimes when Ki Ladoyo and Karmila are asleep, Wiguna sits alone on the branch of a thick, giant banyan tree. Sometimes he hangs on to his roots, only then is his heart comforted. It was there for the first time that Larasati met him. Although now he is in the form of a spirit, but, Wiguna can see him and talk to him, as well as Ki Ladoyo also Karmila. They meet again, but things are not like they used to be.

On August 6th and 9th, 1945, there was a fairly large earthquake, the world also felt the tremors. From far away the Larasati Family saw a giant ball blob in the Northern sky. The giant globular clump resembled a volcanic eruption, its light as if splitting the sky red in the twilight. Suddenly it rained heavily once, although only briefly but enough to wet the entire Purwo Alas. Ki Ladoyo stared at the sky, “New days have finally come too, the war and suffering of this nation is coming to an end. This nation welcomes the coming of a new era,” he said.

A few days later, Rangga suddenly appeared again. He brought a tidbit of joy, 2 of the heart of Japan's largest cities: Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed by allied troops. The Japanese soldiers in this country were captured and tried, who resisted being killed. The news pleased everyone, but, when he saw the state of his wife Larasati, Rangga was sad. However, the man could not do anything. 3 days and 3 nights Rangga lived with his family. After that it disappeared again. The night before leaving, Rangga and Larasati had a conversation. In his discussion, Rangga gave quite a lot of advice to the wife.

Among the many pieces of advice given, a piece of advice that is also a command of the husband to the wife and must be obeyed. That advice is, “You did not fulfill my request to keep Wiguna well. You left it so you're fucked. Now I ask you, my request is no different from my previous request, namely: Maintaining, protecting and caring for Wiguna until adulthood. In the future, sooner or later humans will know the existence of this Purwo Alas. Including, Wiguna. There are good people, there are bad people. The good man will receive his kindness, you must help him while the man does not change. Bad or evil man .. will also accept what he does .. If as long as he can still change, we can still forgive him. But if they act beyond their means, they violate their nature and identify with the creator. We can act, as judge and executioner, but, not beyond bounds. If you leave Wiguna again, then, I won't see you again,” After saying so, Rangga stood up, he looked at the sky full of stars, I won't blame you, I won't blame you, if for the life of Wiguna you have to do what feels necessary and must be done. That's called responsibility,”

Rangga's words echoed, the night wind brought the sound to merge with the fog and disappeared along with the disappearance of Rangga's body from before Larasati. The sound entered through both ear holes and penetrated the innermost heart. Larasati was still standing still, her pair of eyes still staring at the place where her husband was standing while looking up at the sky.

The night air felt so cold, the fog that descended from the slopes of the mountains, enveloped Alas Purwo. The sound of animals and insects at night sound mutually authentic, melodious flow indulging all the creatures of God that exist on this earth. Some of the night air that carried the thin fog moved into a simple building with a red iron gate. The fog kept moving into the air holes of every room inside the house, and stopped at the 2 shadow figures of the man and woman sitting on the floor of the room.

Bachtiar's body shivered slowly, the cold night air made him realize that time had shown right in the morning. Actually, he was already sleepy .. However, the life story of Larasati makes the drowsiness disappear. He listened from beginning to end. The story of Larasati ended, he still remained silent while his pair of unblinking eyes stared at Larasati's face for a long time.

“You know, what makes me cringe and hit ?” tanya Larasati realized Bachtiar who was staring at her without blinking. Bachtiar shaking his head, ”You're kidding. Where do I know, you are Larasati, while I am Da’i Bachtiar,” he replied. Larasati smiled, a sweet smile intoxicating anyone who looked at her, “When I saw my own death. I thought anyone would feel that way. When the Nippons raped me alternately even though my body had become a corpse and my head was separated from my body. You know how I felt then ? I don't accept. I wanted to kill them all, but, helpless. The second was, watching my son cry for days, slamming things in the house, yelling at my foster father and my mother. My heart ached once, all my life I treated Wiguna well, however, who was the pain of my departure even made it chaotic. The third is, when Wiguna was shot by your friend Lukman. I was angry and wanted to avenge his actions, but, he died for his own mistakes,” explained Larasati.

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