Aunt Meti is a very fashionable person, likes to dress up like a model, but her makeup is often excessive. But in the past, before returning from Hong Kong as a migrant worker, Aunt Meti was ordinary, in fact very simple. It's just that after Aunt Meti is a good person. Kids love her. Aunt Meti is Nek Imeh's daughter. Since her divorce from her husband, she has tried her luck by working abroad. Since Aunt Meti has worked abroad, the economy of Nek Imeh's family has improved. Salaries abroad are higher than at home. But Aunt Meti also said, it's still nice to live in your own country because you can gather with your family.
"Even though it rains gold in someone else's country, it's better to rain stones in your own country," she said. Raining stones? That's only a metaphor.
"Aunt Meti has been infected by the artists, maybe. Because every day she look at celebrity shows on TV," said Jalu. Nek Imeh's house is not far from Jalu's house so he knows more about Aunt Meti.
"Maybe she wants to be a soap opera artist," said Ndul-ndul, guessing.
One day, Jalu reported that Aunt Meti got a call from a ghost. She was called by a ghost to come to the cemetery. Don't worry, Jalu just made it up. But the ghost phone news that Aunt Meti received was getting more and more widely heard and became the talk of many people. As long as, there are two or more people gathered, then the topic of conversation is the ghost phone received by Aunt Meti.
"That's an issue!" said Uncle Odar.
"What issue? Obviously Meti was scared," said Mr. Jlog.
Uncle Odar laughed, "Yes, where is a ghost with a phone?"
Mr. Jlog fiercely opposed Uncle Odar, "Unlike you, ghosts are smarter. Who knows that the ghost steals people's cellphones, then uses them to call people!"
"Well, Mr. Jlog brings all the names of ghost. It seems that Mr. Jlog knows ghost very well. Maybe Mr. Jlog has a ghost," said Uncle Odar.
Uncle Odar's last words made Mr. Jlog's heart warm. With a grunt, Mr. Jlog left Uncle Odar.
Cipo also got goosebumps hearing stories about ghost phones. But he was suspicious of the truth, at best it was a prank. However, the issue of ghost telephones haunts the children. If there is a phone or cellphone ringing, it becomes very scary. The children have been reminded many times by their parents or teachers that the ghost phone is a lie, yet the children are still scared, when they sleep they take cover under thick, layered blankets. Children who have bedwetting are more likely to urinate.
"What does Aunt Meti mean by telling the phone ghost?" said Cipo to his two friends. "Has there ever been a ghost phone in Hong Kong so Aunt Meti imported it here?"
"Aunt Meti did not import it, this really happened," said Jalu. "Aunt Meti made her hysterical."
"Now is Aunt Meti at home?" asked Cipo, "I have to meet her in person, so I can get the real story. What is not added."
Jalu grumbled, "So you don't believe me? Okay, if that is the case." Jalu was cranky, he didn't want to go to Nek Imeh's house. Only Cipo and Ndul-ndul went to Nek Imeh's house.
Ndul-ndul said, "But I am afraid, later the ghost will call me."
"You don't have a phone, so you don't get a call."
"What if you poked it, wouldn't it be more scary," said Ndul-ndul, who had been holding Cipo's shirt the whole way. In front of Nek Imeh's fence, Cipo greeted her, and Nek Imeh came out.
"Cipo and Ndul-ndul, come here. What's going on at Grandma's house?"
"Is Aunt Meti there, Grandma?" asked Cipo. Answered yes, but was cooking in the kitchen. Thankfully, Aunt Meti still wants to cook. Cipo asked Nek Imeh the truth about the ghost phone. Excitedly, Nek Imeh told him. Anyway, it's very scary, after all this time Nek Imeh is still very superstitious. If you want to know about ghosts, Nek Imeh is the doctor. Could it be, the spices about the ghost phone were made by Aunt Meti's mother? It turned out that Aunt Meti said it was not an issue, it actually happened.
"Imagine, that afternoon, about five o'clock, the ghost called me to come to the cemetery. After that, I was told to clean the grass of a tomb, namely Kyai Prawiro's tomb," said Tante Meti, while shuddering in horror. Cipo and Ndul-ndul seriously listened to the story.
"So the ghost is a man?" asked Cipo.
"Judging from his voice, it's a male ghost," said Aunt Meti.
Nek Imeh added, "Maybe it was Kyai Prawiro himself."
"Well, if it's not Kyai Prawiro himself, then who, Grandma?"
Neh Imeh was wide-eyed, then quickly retorted, "Yes, ghosts too, but Kyai Prawiro's men." He... he... ghosts have minions.
Aunt Meti continued her story, "Before I did not know where the grave was. But the ghost guides me. I was led by the phone and found the tomb. As the ghost's orders, I cleaned the vortex."
Cipo was curious, so he cut off Aunt Meti's story, "The ghost guides Aunt Meti?"
"Right. When I took a wrong step, I was shown the way with the command 'right, right again, yes you go left, back and forth, yes forward', and I found the tomb," said Aunt Meti excitedly, the impression was that she was even proud to get a ghost call. Nobody being called by a ghost, so Aunt Meti can be proud to have ghost fans!
"The signal is like a parking attendant," said Ndul-ndul, "Was Kyai Prawiro a parking attendant during his life?"
"Is the ghost's phone number reachable?" asked Cipo.
"There's a number, but it can't be reached, it's always difficult, but often suddenly calls me," said Aunt Meti, shaking. Cipo asked for the ghost's number, and was given. Aunt Meti was told to call the ghost number. With shaking hands, the phone was pressed against Cipo's ear when it was connected. No answer, definitely connected, but not picked up. Cipo asked for an SMS, Aunt Meti complied, but the SMS was not answered.
"SMS was never answered. Maybe Kyai Prawiro is illiterate, you know, old people—old times."
Cipo said, "That's not ghost. It was a prank."
"No! I'm sure it's a ghost," said Aunt Meti. "It doesn't sound like a human voice."
"Then is it like the sound of a cat?" asked Cipo.
"Yeah, like a cat's voice."
"But Aunt said, the ghost gave the signal 'right and right, forward, backward', if the cat's sound was just meowing! How is this Auntie?" said Cipo.
"Auntie means, his voice is like a cat growling, his tone is heavy," said Aunt Meti.
Cipo became more and more curious, "Since when did you receive a call from the ghost?"
"Since I used the new phone number," said Aunt Meti. That's enough, the information from Aunt Meti is enough. Cipo and Ndul-ndul said goodbye. Cipo believes it was a prank.
When he met Jalu, Cipo was asked, "How is that really a ghost phone, right?"
Cipo shook his head, and replied, "How can a ghost have a phone number!"
It's just that at night there was an uproar. The ghost phone caused another tantrum, that night Aunt Meti was ordered to come to the cemetery. To the extent that Aunt Meti was hysterical like a trance because of fear and had to be held by several people because she was desperate to go to the grave. Nek Imeh cried until she was terrified. Apparently, the ghost was very successful in scaring Aunt Meti and Nek Imeh. In fact, Mr. Jlog suggested that Nek Imeh look for a ghost hunter team, unfortunately the show is no longer on TV so no one can be contacted.
When was the first grave? Since someone died the first time. Who died first? Abel is the son of the Prophet Adam. He was killed by his sibling, Qobil. When Qobil was confused to see Abel's body, he saw a crow burying his dead fighting opponent. Qobil followed the bird's behavior by burying Abel's body. It's a story told by the scriptures. In the world there are various treatments for the dead: buried, burned, and embalmed to be mummified. There are graves that were built very majestically, for example the pyramids in Egypt which are the tombs of Pharaoh. There is the Taj Mahal in India which is the grave for the consort of King Sech Jeihan.
Most of the temples in the world are also the tombs of kings. For Hindus who die, there is a Ngaben ceremony, namely burning the body of the dead, the ashes are then thrown into the sea or washed away in the Ganges River if living in India. A crematorium is a place where corpses are cremated, usually carried out by the Chinese, and the ashes are kept by their families. Mummies are bodies that are preserved by embalming with certain chemicals. There is a mummy that is thousands of years old, namely the mummy of Pharaoh which is now stored in the Egyptian National Museum.
Strangely, only Aunt Meti was terrorized by the ghost, no other victims were called by the ghost. "Poor Aunt Meti, if you are often in a trance, when will we be given candy or cakes again?" said Ndul-ndul.
Jalu grumbled, "You are not concerned, instead asking for cakes and sweets."
"Well, don't I feel sorry for Aunt Meti," replied Ndul-ndul.
"Yes, but don't confuse it with candy and cake, that's a sign of insincere concern!" said Cipo. Ndul-ndul did not react, just silent. "Fortunately Aunt Meti didn't go to the grave! Who knows the ghost is someone who will really mean evil to her." Oops... Cipo forgot something. He doesn't know where Kyai Prawiro's grave is. Is it in their village tomb or not? "I don't know yet, is Kyai Prawiro's tomb in our village tomb?"
"No!" Jalu replied, "His grave is in the cemetery belonging to the next hamlet."
Cipo remembers that the position of the grave belonging to the next hamlet is lower than the surrounding land. "Come on, take our respective bikes! We are going to Kyai Prawiro's grave," said Cipo. Ndul-ndul almost did not want to come because of fear. But Cipo and Jalu managed to persuade him, "Come on, young police officer, you said that you want to be a detective."
Graves are always quiet. It is only crowded at certain times, namely before the fasting month because there is a nyadran tradition. On Friday nights, sometimes quite a lot of people visit the graves. But the rest is quiet. A haunted impression arises because it is very quiet, plus the smell of frangipani flowers, and the smell of frankincense.
"Look, the position of this grave is lower than the ground around it. From above, one can see all over this burial area."
"If so?" Jalu asked impatiently.
"The ghost is at the top, watching Aunt Meti's movements. So when Aunt Meti was confused about finding Kyai Prawiro's grave, he could easily guide her. The ghost knows the position of Kyai Prawiro's grave very well."
"It could be that the ghost is Kyai Prawiro's family," said Ndul-ndul.
"You're right, Ndul," said Cipo, enlightened by Ndul-ndul. "Jalu, you ask Nek Imeh if they still have family ties with Kyai Prawiro. I think the ghost knows Kyai Prawiro more or less."
"Yes, or he just happened to mention Kyai Prawiro," said Jalu.
"But if by luck, how come there is a tomb of Kyai Prawiro in this tomb complex."
"He's not lucky. He had studied this tomb carefully. If not, for example, there is no tomb in question, then the impression of a ghost does not exist," said Cipo. They go home.
When he met Jalu, Cipo was told that Kyai Prawiro was still related to Nek Imeh's family. "Nek Imeh said, their kinship relationship is quite far. Kyai Prawiro is the younger brother of Nek Imeh's great grandfather."
Cipo was happy, "Then the ghost will know the genealogy of Nek Imeh's big family." But the ghost did not stop terrorizing Aunt Meti constantly. Meanwhile, the children's fear of ghost phones is not getting any better, it's getting bigger. If they know Aunt Meti is hysterical, the children will be even more afraid. So that it is not only Nek Imeh's family who are afraid, but also the children.
Cipo must stop the ghost phone action. He remembers Aunt Meti getting a call from the ghost since using the new number. Cipo came to Aunt Meti and asked, "Has the new number been spread everywhere? I mean, did you give the number to someone else?"
"Have not had time. Moreover, Auntie wants to use this new number specifically, only Mother will know this number," she said.
"And the only one who knows is the ghost," said Cipo. Aunt Meti nodded. There was a trace of sadness on her face, maybe she couldn't sleep thinking about the ghost's terror. Cipo knew where to track it down. "Where did you buy this number that this ghost recognized?"
"At the voucher kiosk, in front of the sub-district office."
"How long have you been buying it for?"
Aunt Meti replied, "Yes, since the ghost phone appeared, it's been half a month." Cipo then asked his gang, Jalu and Ndul-ndul, to trace it to the voucher kiosk in front of the sub-district office. He will borrow a notebook about the cellphone number that buys a starter pack or top-up credit. It's just that, for people who do not know, where would the merchant lend it.
"Excuse me sir, am I allowed to borrow the notebook?" Because Cipo was not a buyer, which would be a hassle for him, he was flatly rejected.
"What for?" snapped the middle-aged man. Cipo is in trouble, what if he is not allowed to borrow his notebook.
"Did you hear the ghost phone story?" asked Cipo.
The person was silent for a moment, "Yes. They say there is a ghost phone in this sub-district area."
"Did you know that Aunt Meti's prime card, which the ghosts were afraid of, bought it here?" Cipo said.
The merchant rolled his eyes, displeased, "Then what does that have to do with me?"
"I'm tracing the ghost's number. If you make things difficult, then you can be suspected, while the person hasn't reported to the police yet, sir."
"How come a child is bullying!"
"Okay, let's put it this way, if this number doesn't exist, then I won't bother you. But if there is, then if it becomes a matter for the police, the seller can be in trouble. Because no one knows the prime number, except the owner and the seller. Who knows the seller might even be considered a ghost." Cipo held out a piece of paper with Aunt Meti's cellphone number written on it. The voucher seller hesitated, then began to soften. Auntie Meti's number that Cipo had given him, he took and checked it in his notebook. Meet.
The notebook was handed over to Cipo. He observed the note, it turned out that the ghost's number was also recorded, only one number different from Aunt Meti's prime number. Cipo asked the voucher seller, "Sorry, do you still remember the person who bought this number?" The seller said he didn't remember.
Cipo can understand it. "Aunt Meti just got back from Hong Kong, sir!"
Ndul-ndul added, "That's right, and the preening likes to be excessive."
The salesman remembered something, "Oh, I remember…, the person who said it was made up? She really shows off when she comes back from abroad… She's with her old mother!"
Jalu exclaimed, "That's right! She was Aunt Meti who got a ghost call, sir."
"What about this number? Do you remember who it was?" asked Cipo, pointing to the ghost's number.
"I don't know, not from here."
"Please try to remember it, sir," asked Cipo The salesman recalled, "Mmmmm... Yes, I remember. I told him to write down his number because he was filling up electric pulses. At first he didn't want to write, he just dictated, but at that time I was deaf because water caught in my ear. Finally he wrote down the number," explained the credit seller. That's the stupidity of the ghost, so how come ghosts leave traces.
Because the terror from the ghosts did not stop, Nek Imeh and Aunt Meti reported it to the police. Then the police traced the number with the relevant parties. It's just that when the ghost number was tracked down who the owner was, we did find it, but Mr. Tiyo, the owner, stated that the number was lost along with his cell phone, stolen two months ago. A lost number can be revived by reporting it to the cell phone operator's office, but many people don't want to bother with it. In fact, if our cellphone number is lost and it is not blocked, it can be used by bad people.
"No wonder he wrote with confidence in the credit seller's notebook," said Cipo. So how to catch a ghost phone? "We make a trap."
Cipo and Brigadier Andi then devised a strategy. Aunt Meti who became the bait. When the ghost call told Aunt Meti to come to the grave again, then Aunt Meti had to really come to the grave. Two days later, after the report to the police, Aunt Meti got a call from the ghost. This time it was not only roses or cleaning the grass, but they were also told to bring grilled chicken and rice. The ghost is hungry and craving grilled chicken.
"Auntie, ask all of you, use cucumber salad and shrimp paste sauce or not," said Jalu.
"You don't have to answer, just go along, he'll get suspicious," said Brigadier Andi and Brigadier Sanusi, who were wearing plain clothes.
"Make sure, what time do you have to come to the cemetery?"
So when the ghost called again, Aunt Meti asked, "What time do I have to come to the grave?" Answered after Maghrib. Wow, it's dinner time. It's worth asking for rice and grilled chicken! All of the ghost's requests were complied with. In the evening, sneaking around, Cipo, Jalu, Ndul-ndul, Brigadier Sanusi, and Brigadier Andi went to the cemetery in the next village. They hide at high altitudes. On the verge of evening, the Maghrib call to prayer resounded. Aunt Meti came with Nek Imeh.
Suddenly, someone flashed behind the tombstones. Brigadier Andi whispered, "That's the ghost." Then Cipo and his friends were told to stay in place and not make noise. Ndul-ndul's breath feels like it's going to fall out. His eyes did not dare to look at the grave, afraid of ghosts. Strangers are crawlers. Cipo took his cellphone and contacted the ghost's number. The stranger picked up his cell phone. But only seen, not answered. Then his cell phone was put in his pocket again.
"That's the ghost," whispered Cipo, it made Ndul-ndul even more discouraged.
"Do not move! We're the police!" shouted Brigadier Sanusi, pointing a gun. The stranger was silent, but suddenly jumped up and tried to grab the gun. Fortunately, Brigadier Andi immediately came to help. That man can be caught and then handcuffed.
"He's the ghost!" said Brigadier Andi.
"Kang Ronggo!" Aunt Meti exclaimed, surprised.
"Man who can't return the favor!" nagged Nek Imeh. Who is Ronggo? He is Aunt Meti's ex-husband. They divorced because Ronggo likes to gamble, likes to cheat, and is easy-going. Ronggo had many dealings with the police, and even imprisoned for crimes. That's what made Aunt Meti, after a divorce, migrated abroad. Knowing Aunt Meti came home from Hong Kong, Ronggo wanted to do something bad. At most he will deceive Aunt Meti.
But, why pretend to be a ghost? Because Nek Imeh really believes in ghosts. As a former daughter-in-law, Ronggo knows very well the nature of his former mother-in-law. No wonder the ghost knows that Nek Imeh's family has a kinship with Kyai Prawiro. Ronggo must be held accountable for his actions.
"How come Aunt Meti doesn't know it's Ronggo's voice?" asked Cipo, one time at Nek Imeh's house.
Aunt Meti replied, "Because her voice is always growling."
"The voice like a cat," said Ndul-ndul. Knowing that he was teased, Aunt Meti pinched Ndul-ndul.
"So, Uncle Ronggo has always been stalking Aunt Meti?" asked Jalu.
Cipo replied, "Yes. He was secretly stalking for a chance to get Aunt Meti's cellphone number. And he got that opportunity when Aunt Meti bought the prime number. As soon as Aunt Meti left the phone selling kiosk, he came out of hiding and bought credit on the spot to get Aunt Meti's number. But before that someone else bought credit, so Aunt Meti's number and the ghost phone's number differed by one number."
Jalu and Ndul-ndul nodded and then simultaneously said to Cipo, "Then write this ghost phone story and send it to the Kriminol magazine!" Wow, if you don't need to be asked to do this, it's Cipo's job. At least the two children hoped to be splashed with sustenance from Cipo's writing fee. Mr. Soku, please upload this article. (*)