
The 7-day event of Kosim's death was completed yesterday. Tonight in Mahmud's house feels very quiet unlike the previous nights crowded by his neighbors who follow the tahlilan every Islamic prayer. Mahmud sat alone on the front porch of his house. A glass of black coffee and a snack of cake leftover tahlilan lying on the floor in front of him accompanied him daydreaming.
Mahmud glanced at the place where Kosim used to sit. His heart was filled every time he remembered it, he thought of all the struggles Kosim had fought to save his life and also his children and wife to fight the supernatural covenant but in the end fate said otherwise. Although no one knows whether the death of Kosim was the result of the actions of a monkey demon supernatural or has indeed become the line of fate.
The sound of crickets unpretentious either where but certainly around the house Mahmud. The night air occasionally blows on Mahmud's body, which sits leaning against one of the walls under the window. Mahmud smoked his filter cigarette deeply and then exhaled slowly to drive away the loneliness of this eighth night. Abah Dul himself certainly did not play to his house because he was tahlilan seventh night was already conveying to visit the residence of Gus Harun in Banten. Even Abah Dul also did not know that Mang Ali had moved home to Semarang for a while.
Unknowingly Mahmud continued to look at the place where Kosim used to sit when he was glancing on the terrace. Mahmud's mind still remembers the series of events that occurred from the beginning until when Kosim resigned to work in Wonosobo. When his daydream was looking at the series of events he passed along with Kosim, Mahmud suddenly felt a soft wind whirring against his body. The next second he peaked all over his body bristling. Mahmud suddenly felt goosebumps making his hair goosebumps.
Mahmud was still staring at the usual place Kosim was sitting at and the vague place Mahmud was looking at suddenly appeared a silhouette but not so clear because the shadow was translucent mixed with the color of the floor. Mahmud sharpened his gaze, slowly forming a body figure in a sitting position.
“Astagfirullah!” pekik Mahmud was very surprised but tried to calm down.
Now the shadow figure is a little more clearly forming the figure of a human body that is sitting even though the body is still visible through the view. Mahmud scrunched his forehead deeply looking at the face of the figure that looked deathly pale. Highlight his eyes staring coldly at the floor in front of him half bowed, Mahmud increasingly frowned looking at the clothes on the shadowy figure that was full of tears and many bloodstained spots littered his shirt. Mahmud's heart was increasingly pounding trying to fight his fear, he was very familiar with the shirt worn by a shadow figure beside him.
The figure like Kosim did not budge, he just fell silent his head was stuck on the floor while the other hand straightened backwards supporting his body, and it was clearly Kosim's habit.
“Kosim..” Mahmud muttered involuntarily with a gasp of surprise.
For about 30 seconds Mahmud was still glued with his mouth open, no words spoken. Mahmud rubbed his eyes a few times and again saw Kosim's seat, the figure of Kosim's form was still in his place even though it looked faint.
For a while, Mahmud was just dumbstruck not knowing what to do. After losing his surprise, his common sense can again think clearly so he ventured to test whether the figure of the next creature that resembles Kosim is the incarnation of the jinn or the ghost group. Then Mahmud took a deep breath from his nose and slowly let out through his mouth to calm his heart. It was done three times and it was enough to make his feelings calm, then Mahmud tried it by reciting the verse of the Qursi once.
"Allohu laa ilaaha illaa Huwal Hayyul Qoyyuum, laa ta’khudzuhu sinatuw walaa nauum, la Huu maa fis samawaati wa maa fil ardh, mann dzalladzii yasyfa’u ‘inda Huu, illa bi idznih, yes’lamu maa bayna aidiihim wa maa kholfahum, wa laa yuhiituuna bisyayim min ‘ilmi Hii illaa bi maa syaa’, wa si’a kursiyuus samaawaati walardh, wa laa yauudlu Huu hifdzuhumaa, wa siayu, wa Huwal ‘aliyyul ‘adziiim"
After reading the Qursi verse with a kidmat, Mahmud glanced at the form of Kosim again. But the figure still remained where he was without any expression at all. Mahmud was more curious, then Mahmud tried again this time by reading a special practice that kiyai taught during his dipesantren. The practice is a verse of the Quran from Surat Al-Mu'minun verses 97-98
After reading the verse Mahmud again glanced at the figure of a creature resembling Kosim again. But nothing has changed, no expression is the same as before. Mahmud began to believe that the creature was not a ghost but he was still curious and to convince again himself to read all the letters of the Quran by combining them in one reading. Starting by reading the words Ta'awudz, Audzubillahiminasyaitonirrojim then followed by reading the letter Alfatihah, the letter of Al Iklas, the letter of Annas, the Verse of the Qur'an and finally reading the letter of Al Mu'minun verse 97.
Finished reading it all, Mahmud slowly turned his face to look at the faint figure beside him. Mahmud frowned deeply in astonishment as the figure resembling Kosim was still fixed to its original position, his face showing no influence remained coldly bowed.
"Maybe he wants to communicate, I try to ask him" Mahmud said in his heart.
With all his heart to gather his courage, Mahmud ventured to look at the figure resembling Kosim for a moment. Mahmud watched deeply from his hair, his eyes, his nose, his lips, his hands to his feet and indeed the figure was exactly the same as Kosim. Starting with a throb, Mahmud began to open his mouth to open the conversation.
"Assalamualaikum.." said Mahmud slowly.
The shadow creature remained silent not even turning his head. Mahmud was more curious to make, then he ventured to try to touch it. Slowly Mahmud's hand moved to touch the back of the hand of a figure resembling Kosim but Mahmud was stunned with his mouth agape. Mahmud tried to hold his shoulder, but again his hand only hit empty air and Bablas touched the floor, his hand was not restrained on the shoulder of the figure.
"You who? What's the need to show up here?" Mahmud asked curiously.
About a minute Mahmud waited for an answer but there was no reaction from the figure. Mahmud was lost his mind no longer knowing how to deal with that figure. Finally, Mahmud silenced him, and Mahmud lit a cigarette.
The atmosphere was silent for a while, Mahmud no longer paid any heed to the figure. Mahmud Labih chose to enjoy the suction for the sake of smoking in his hands while occasionally eating pastries in front of him. Somehow Mahmud glanced at the figure and his position did not change still with his head bowed, his left hand straight backward supporting his body. His face was pale and his eyes were cold and empty.
Along with the last suction of his cigarette and flicking it throw into the yard, Mahmud looked at the figure again. Mahmud was stunned because the figure that resembles Kosim was no longer in his place. I do not know since when the figure has gone from next to Mahmud. Mahmud was still confused by the presence of a figure resembling Kosim but he felt sure there was something he wanted to say or certainly there was a certain intent.
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