the Mystery of Caraka Family

"Rani…Rani…"

 Rani looked around for the source of the voice that called her in such a soft tone. It was Mama's voice. Had Mama come home from work? But no one was there. Brother Dimas had not yet come home from his karate practice. Ceu Engkus and Ceu Nani must have been busy preparing dinner in the kitchen. Rani then returned her focus to catching Oey Young, her 6-month-old baby rabbit. The rabbit was indeed very naughty and difficult to catch. His movements were as agile as the Kungfu expert Oey Young in the Story of Archery of the Eagle.

Rani's tongue clicked in annoyance. This baby rabbit always played in the pile of wood located in the corner of the yard. The agile rabbit often played with her. With its position lying on the grass, she managed to pinch its hump. She didn't care about its wild struggles.

 The Maghrib call to prayer had already been heard. The golden yellow glow of dusk colored the sky. It was time for Oey Young to enter its cage. And Rani had to take it evening bath soon. Therefore, Mama wouldn't get angry.

With hasty steps, Rani headed to the terrace of the house. Suddenly the wind blew hard until her shoulder-length hair fluttered. Mama's voice was heard again. Her tone was a bit strange. Higher than usual.

Even though the voice was exactly her mother's, Rani didn't answer. The voice was like a sigh carried by the evening breeze so that she felt unsure whether it was really Mama who was calling her or just her imagination. She was only 7 years old, but she knew ghosts from horror films. Just as she was about to cross the terrace of the third house in the back area, the mysterious voice called her again.

 "Rani…Rani…"

 As if knowing Rani's anxiety, Oey Young who was in her arms, squirmed and kicked its two back legs. The cute nose of the white and brown Ovaltine rabbit moved quickly. Rani half ran across the terrace of the house with her heart beating fast. The strange sound was still faintly heard.

 "Mom, earlier there was a voice that sounded like Mom's voice calling me," Rani said with round eyes. She hugged Mrs. Caraka who had just come home from work. Mrs. Caraka worked as a property agent.

 "Never answer the voice of a spirit calling you! You'll get sick." Mrs. Caraka frowned at her daughter's blackened fingernails covered in dirt.

Rani nodded seriously. "I didn't answer. The ghost is stupid. Mom calls me Ranran, not Rani."

***

The next day, Rani played again until Maghrib. But, what was funny was that her calling voice had changed. Her voice was exactly like Dimas'.

"Ran Ran…Ran Ran…"

Rani looked around, but there was no one there.

The voice of the call was heard again. "Ran Ran…Ran Ran…"

Hearing such a scary voice, Rani immediately ran away. It turned out that the spirit that haunted the house was also super caper, nosy, and an eavesdropper. Her behavior was exactly like Mrs. Euis, the neighbor next door whose abilities exceeded intelligence. Why did the mystical creature bother Rani? Did she do something wrong?

***

The Caraka family owned a 3,000 m2 property consisting of 4 houses. The family only occupied the first house which was located in the front area and directly adjacent to the housing road. The first house was an old house that was positioned on a skewer.

Have you ever felt a cold air tickling the back of your neck, but no wind blowing? Rani felt that way since a well was made in the kitchen of the first house when she was 10 years old.

 According to Fengshui, it is not good to have a well in the kitchen because the air circulation of the well is not good. The well should be located outside the building area, covered, and there should be a small gap for air circulation (for example, a small pipe is installed on the well cover).

Since there was a well in the kitchen, Rani always felt like someone was accompanying her while she washed dishes in the kitchen. Rani enjoyed helping with housework.

It seemed that the ghost of the well knew that Rani was a little afraid of the spirits. What made her a bit annoyed, the ghost was very nosy. The ghost not only blew on the nape of the neck, but also blew on Rani's feet! Very childish, right?

Tama and Yusa, Rani's cats, were always absent when the well ghost bothered her. They were usually busy meowing seductively. With pleading eyes, they begged for fried fish and Rani would definitely give them. But, every time the well ghost came, they ran away. You guys are really unfaithful!

Forcing herself, Rani washed the pile of dishes while accompanied by the well ghost who liked to blow. Just think of the naughty ghost as a mystical fan. What Rani wondered was, besides blowing on the nape and feet, why didn't the mystical creature just blow on the armpits?

***

The second house was behind the first house and was bordered by a flower garden and a fish pond. The two-story mansion was built five years ago. The third and fourth houses were in the rearmost area.

The third house was a renovated two-floor house. The black-ceramic floor house was spooky due to the narrow hallways and windows, but it was interesting to play hide and seek. While the fourth house was a beautiful house that was just built last year. Mrs. Caraka keeps all the porcelain from the Bamboo Curtain country (China) in this last house. Not only dragon-motif vases, but also paintings of old Chinese grandfathers carrying vegetables. Chinese calligraphy also decorated the watercolor paintings.

Among four houses, Rani liked the second house the most, which was cool. If Rani put her cheek on the floor, it felt as cold as ice. The house was also more comfortable for playing. There was a kind of basement which was a mini library. In the basement area, religious studies were often held, attended by Bu Caraka's relatives.

In the basement area there was a figure of a middle-aged man who was a ghost who haunted the house. He was not at all scary. In fact, he looked patient. The spirit was called Si Hawuk (Sundanese language for gray) because his face, hair, and skin were grayish. Rani was never frightened by the spirit. However, there was something strange about him. If Rani happened to look at the basement, suddenly without realizing it, she would step into the room. After that, for no apparent reason, she would be happy to stay there for hours as if she were the guest and Si Hawuk was the friendly host.

 "Ranran, what are you doing sitting there alone?" asked Mrs. Caraka. She was surprised that her daughter dared to sit alone in a dark corner.

It wasn't just Rani who turned her head, but also Si Hawuk. "Come here soon. It's already Maghrib," said Mrs. Caraka firmly.

Hawuk smiled sweetly until his dimples adorned his wrinkled cheeks. Mrs. Caraka couldn't believe her eyes. Was her vision blurry? Rani smiled at something. Suddenly, Mrs. Caraka's hair stood.

Rani half ran to her mother. Then, she turned and waved to the corner of the dark room. Mrs. Caraka's heart fluttered.

After being in the first brightly lit house, Mrs. Caraka could not contain her curiosity. "Ranran, why did you wave earlier? Even though you were alone in the basement of the second house? Why didn't you turn on the lights?"

Rani laughed happily. But her innocent chatter almost made her mother faint. "Mom, I'm not alone. There's Mang Hawuk who accompanies me. If he's there, I don't feel afraid. No other spirits can enter the basement."

For Rani, the basement of the second house was like a world of its own, as comfortable as a nest. The flow of time seemed to stop when she was there. But for Mrs. Caraka, the second house brought a melancholy atmosphere. She always felt sad when she was in the house. Just half a year ago, Dimas, her beloved 15-year-old son, passed away. She still had a hard time accepting the bitter reality.

_____

Note: Mang is Sundanese calling for Uncle.