Archway

Local or the knowledge one belief there's an entrance to their world. Once there's a guide that said if you are in a jungle and if you have to enter the door you have to read the Sulaiman's Prophet verses. May Allah protect and guide you.

Around 300 meters from Udin's grandfather orchard there's a bunch of bamboo trees that grows around a trail. A few of that bamboo trees fall to the other side and it's look like an archway.

Once Udin asked Pak Samad why there's no peoples used that trail. Why they used the path at Pak Ali lands.

"It's not a trail Udin! That's why nobody used it."

That's the only answer his grandfather give him.

Later on he forget that nobody used that path.

Udin need to find that fern stalk fast for his art class. He forget to do the task yesterday because he's busy with silat practice at his school.

Now It's already 4 pm.

"Tok! Udin go to orchard now! Bye!" He shouted and left riding his bicycle.

"Udin! What for?" Asked Mak Saodah but never replied by Udin because he's long gone.

Udin park his bicycle near the hut in the orchard.

He walk toward the stream because there are lot of fern plants.

"Assalamualaikum"

"Waalaikumsalam" reply Udin. Udin really shocked when he turned his face toward that voice.

Standing in front of him a man around twenty years old. Udin can't move or even blink his eyes.

He really look like that actor Aeril Zafrel except it's his younger version. That the first weird thing that he think. Second he never saw that man before.

That man smile to Udin.

Udin just stare back at him.

"What are you doing?"

"Ermm, I need fern stalk for school project."

"You're not local right? I never see you around here." Asked Udin.

"Yes, I am."

"You are?"

"That's strange if you're one of the villagers why I didn't know you?" Asked Udin again.

"There's a lot of villages here."

"Argh! That right! Silly me!" said Udin.

"Never mind" said that man.

"I'm Adam by the way."

"Salahuddin" said Udin while shaking that man hand's.

"Do you want to come to my house?" Suddenly out of no where come an invitation from that man.

"No thank you." " I don't think I can make it" said Udin.

"Maybe next time" Adam said. His eyes full of hope.

Adam walk toward the bamboo trees trail and walk through it.

Udin just look at Adam and didn't say anything.

He had forgotten that nobody used that trail.

He cycle back to his house and still didn't realize the awkwardness of that situation.

Mak Saodah look worried and wait for Udin at the front of house.

"Why are you so late?"

"I'm sorry" said Udin, that's the only answer by him.

He can not think why he took so long in the orchard when he only took that plants.

"Go take your bath and do your magrib prayer. "

"Yes! Tok!" Answer Udin and walk to the bathroom.

During dinner time Udin didn't chat like he usually do.

He just eat a little bit.

"Are you sick Udin?"

"No I'm fine! "

"Then why didn't you eat a lot of your favourite food?"

"I didn't have an appetite. Sorry it's taste good."

After reading history book Udin sleep.

At 3 am he woke up because he heard a crying sound.

It's not Oyen his cat. It's not a baby crying. More to woman crying.

Slowly he walk toward his grandparents room and put his ear at the door. He confirmed the sound not his grandmother.

He heard the sound again this time clearly it's from the backyard.

Udin walk toward the kitchen door to open the door.

His hand at the door handle opening the lock. He need to know why that's woman crying. Furthermore who is she.

Suddenly there's a hand at his shoulder.

Udin scream because he's so shocked.

And the lights on.

Mak Saodah at the light switch looking at him.

Pak Samad was the one that touched his shoulder.

"Are you alright?" Asked Pak Samad concerned.

"Yes I am alright" Udin answered.

He felt like his heart drop out from his chest.

Sipping his Milo drink Udin tell his grandparents that he heard a crying sound. He was going to investigate it.

"It's not a really good move Udin" said Mak Saodah.

"Next time you have to tell us."

"I agree with your grandmother." "It's night time. It can be quite dangerous." "You could lost in the jungle."said Pak Samad.

"But it's just around the house." Said Udin unsatisfied.

"You heard your grandfather Udin, it's dangerous."

Mak Saodah emphasize the reminder to Udin.

"I check just now I didn't hear any sound." "Only sounds of crickets and owl."

"After finish your drink go back to sleep Udin."

"Yes I will Tok."

Udin fall to sleep even though at first it's really difficult for him. The sound of crying was still ringing in his ears.

At school that morning he feel really sleepy.

"Udin why you have panda eyes?" Asked Hakimi while laughing.

"My sleep been disturb by strange sound."

"Ya Allah! Is it a ghost? I'm scared"

"I don't know Kimi! "

"She cried and keep repeating my son, my son."

"I clearly heard it. First I thought it was in my room."

"When it's not I thought it's my grandmother. "

"I check at their room and when it wasn't, I heard it from the backyard".

"Aduh! Are you out of your mind" "Don't tell me you're going out to check it? "

Hakimi look at him with that scare look on his face.

"I tried" said Udin

"What? You tried?" Hakimi flabbergasted by his answer.

"Yes! But my grandparents woke up at that time and stop me."

"Alhamdulillah! They stopped you!"

"Your story so creepy" said Hakimi.

Their conversation stop when Puan Kumari english language teacher arrived to start the class.