Rumiyati listened carefully to every piece of advice from the remarkable man sitting before her. Mbah Siman explained that Subandi was doing just fine. He told Rumiyati to take care of her health and not grieve endlessly. On the fortieth day, Subandi would truly leave. Until then, he would continue following Rumiyati.
Mbah Siman let out a long sigh, then paused his explanation. Subandi's death was the beginning—or a sign—that the curse would soon arrive. Rumiyati had to be careful.
“Then what am I supposed to do to break free from this curse, Mbah? Please help me.” Rumiyati wiped her wet cheek. Her husband's death was no longer her main concern. Now, she was focused on her own future. She didn't want to end up in misery, just as Mbah Siman had explained.
What good was having so much wealth if she was going to be sick all the time? Worse, that wealth would run out, just as Mbah Siman had said. It would all be spent on medical treatment. Being alone? That had already happened. She had to do whatever it took to ward off this misfortune or curse.
Mbah Siman closed his eyes for a few moments. His lips began muttering again, just as before. Bandot gently rubbed Rumiyati's back as she continued staring tensely at Mbah Siman.
“Be patient. There has to be a way. Mbah Siman is famous for being the real deal. He's no fraud,” Bandot whispered, so softly that he wouldn't disturb Mbah Siman's concentration.
“Good thing you brought me here, Ndot. Thank you so much. If you hadn't, my life could've been in danger, Ndot.” Rumiyati touched Bandot's left thigh, sending blood rushing more intensely to the private area between his legs.
Bandot smiled while forcing himself to swallow. For some reason, the loose pants he was wearing suddenly felt tight. In an instant, they were stuffed with something that had grown dense and hard.
“There are two conditions you must fulfill.” Mbah Siman had apparently received a revelation. “First, change your name so the demon that cast the curse can no longer send its negative energy toward you. Think of it like a house: you change the address.”
Rumiyati was immediately confused. Change her name? Her name was only one word to begin with. Should she change it to Ruminah? Rukanah? And what would people say? Wouldn't they wonder why Rumiyati had suddenly changed her name?
“Just change it to Rumi, Mbak. No need to make it complicated. It sounds cooler, too.” Seeing Rumiyati's confusion, Bandot offered a little advice.
The woman looked toward Mbah Siman, then asked, “Can I really do that, Mbah?”
“Sure. You only need to hold a name-changing ritual with five plates of red porridge. Then give the porridge to other people. Whoever eats it is up to you. The important thing is that every bit of it must be finished. Not a single spoonful can be left over,” Mbah Siman said firmly.
Rumiyati breathed a sigh of relief. It wouldn't be too strange if people had to start calling her Rumi. It wasn't far from her real name, and it sounded cooler, like someone from the city. More modern than Rumiyati.
Rumi felt delighted. The condition she had to fulfill turned out not to be difficult at all. In fact, it could improve her life. She then asked when would be a good time to hold the ritual.
Mbah Siman replied that it was entirely up to Rumiyati. The sooner, the better, so the curse could end as quickly as possible. Tomorrow would be fine, whether during the day or at night.
The mesmerizing widow nodded enthusiastically. She was overjoyed. In her heart, she kept praising Mbah Siman's powers, as well as the conditions that weren't too difficult to fulfill.
“Then what's the second condition, Mbah?” Rumiyati remembered the old man's words at the beginning: there were two conditions she had to fulfill to ward off the misfortune.
“You must marry a man with a red birthmark on his back, right below his neck. Find him, and the curse will vanish. Toh Loji, as people in the old days used to call it.” This time, Mbah Siman's voice sounded firmer than before. Perhaps he meant to reinforce and emphasize what he was saying.
Rumiyati froze. How was she supposed to find a man with a mark like that? Would she have to spy on every man around her or peek at them while they bathed in the river? This second condition seemed incredibly difficult to fulfill.
Rumiyati let out a heavy sigh. Just moments ago, she had been thrilled because the first condition seemed so easy. Now she had been thrown back into the bitter reality that the second condition was extremely difficult. It might even be impossible to find a man with a birthmark like that anywhere in the world.
“You don't need to be confused. He's right here.” Mbah Siman smiled meaningfully.
Rumiyati exchanged a bewildered look with Bandot, who was just as confused. Neither of them understood what the old man meant.
“You mean... Mbah Siman has that birthmark?” Rumiyati's thoughts immediately turned dark.
Maybe Mbah Siman had ulterior motives toward her. She had often heard about lecherous shamans who ended up targeting their own patients. If they didn't force the woman into marriage, they simply tried to sleep with her.
Ugh, God forbid. Rumiyati pushed the ugly thought away. She felt disgusted and couldn't bear imagining herself sleeping with Mbah Siman, who already smelled like the grave—let alone marrying him. Sleeping beside him every night and...
“No, no, that's not it. Mbah doesn't have a birthmark like that.” Mbah Siman laughed, chuckling so hard that tears appeared at the corners of his eyes. He knew Rumiyati had already jumped to the worst conclusion.
Rumiyati and Bandot exchanged another look. Weren't the three of them the only people here? Or perhaps Mbah Siman had a child, grandchild, or neighbor with that birthmark? Bandot shrugged to show that he didn't understand what the old man in front of them meant either.
“Take off your shirt, Ndot.” Mbah Siman gave the order firmly after wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes and calming his laughter.
“Why are you telling me to take off my shirt, Mbah? It's cold in here. And I'm embarrassed with Mbak Rum here,” Bandot protested, looking utterly shocked by the old man's order.
“Enough. Just do it. You'll find out soon enough.” Mbah Siman glared at him through his wrinkled eyelids.
Bandot looked at Rumiyati shyly. His glance carried two meanings. First, he was asking the woman for permission to take off his shirt. Or second, he was asking for her support so he wouldn't have to.
Rumi answered Bandot's look with a nod, as if she supported Mbah Siman's order. Suppressing his discomfort, the young man took off his jacket and shirt. Mbah Siman told him to turn his back toward Rumiyati. Then Mbah Siman stood up and placed his index finger exactly where Bandot's neck met his back.
“Ndot... that...” Rumiyati's eyes flew wide open.