The moon shines down on the land of a remote village in Padang Bolak. The sound of howling coyotes was carried by the night breeze. Sampuraga looked up at the moon with an uneasy feeling.
His landlord's words three days ago made it difficult for him to close his eyes. āStill not sure, Raga?ā asked Tondi, who faithfully accompanied Sampuraga. āI'm capable of migrating, what's the harm in just walking a long way?ā replied Sampuraga.
Tondi sighed for a moment before speaking again, āBut Raga, what about...ā Before Tondi could continue, a woman with a frail body and bleached hair appeared from behind the door.
āUmak...ā called Sampuraga. āNape modom ho, amang? (Haven't you slept yet, son?)ā asked the old woman approaching Sampuraga.
āAhadei, amang?ā she continued. Hearing the question, Sampuraga looked down.
āI cooked holat with your favorite pakkat but you didn't eat it. You have been sleeping late for the past three days. Tell me about it with Umak,ā said the old woman. āRaga wants to migrate Umak,ā said Sampuraga.
The request made Mrs. Sampuraga's blood boil, āDo you want to leave Umak?ā Raga revealed his heart. āRaga wants to change our fate by going to Mandailing. Giot pasonang Umak do au so ke au marantau (I want to please my mother that's why I'm going overseas)ā Sampuraga explained.
āSaotik peindaadong hu bayangkanmarsarak dot hu (Not even a little bit I imagine amang inda can hu pasonang ho (I apologize for not being able to make you happy),ā said Mrs. Sampuraga softly. āUmak...ā Sampuraga replied no less softly.
Sampuraga immediately knelt before his mother. āThank you Umak! Raga promised to come back after he succeeded,ā Sampuraga promised his mother. Tondi, who witnessed the emotional event in front of him, could not hold back his tears.
For days Sampuraga walked with Tondi through the wilderness and various villages. They finally arrived at a place called Pidoli, Mandailing. Sampuraga was mesmerized after seeing the prosperity and well-being in the Pidoli region.
āRaga, look!ā pointed Tondi at a crowd. āTry approaching the merchant,ā he continued. Raga took Tondi's advice by introducing himself and expressing his desire to work for the merchant.
The merchant granted Sampuraga's request. Thanks to the tenacity and honesty always taught by his mother, Sampuraga won the trust of his employer. After a long time, Sampuraga was asked to become the merchant's son-in-law.
āSince the beginning of our meeting, I have always believed that you are a diligent and good young man. I have never met a young man as good as you, would you like to be my son-in-law?ā asked the master expressing his wish. āI would gladly marry your daughter,ā Sampuraga said happily. āSoon I will be very rich!ā said Sampuraga. Tondi, who heard this, was stunned because he caught the arrogant tone of his words.
The news of Sampuraga's marriage to a noble princess quickly spread throughout the country, including his mother who was unsure of the truth. She traveled step by step to reach the land of Pidoli in Mandailing.
Upon arriving in the land of Pidoli, the old woman was greeted by the sound of gondang sambilan, indicating a festive occasion. She was surprised to see a young man she recognized sitting side by side with a beautiful princess.
Sampuraga's mother broke through the front row of the crowd and shouted her son's name. āThat's Umak's voice...ā whispered Tondi, who was accompanying Sampuraga. āAh, no way!ā argued Sampuraga when he heard a familiar voice.
āSampuraga, it's me, your umak, son!ā exclaimed his mother. Tondi repeatedly reassured Sampuraga but Sampuraga was suddenly embarrassed and angry. āYou ugly old woman! How dare you. My Umak has been dead for a long time!ā said Sampuraga.
āHow dare you Sampuraga! How dare you disown your umak,ā his mother hissed. āBow down Raga! Ro ma ho mangido maaf selagi mangolu umakmu (Come you son apologize while your mother lives),ā ordered Tondi. However, Sampuraga called the guards to chase his mother away.
After leaving the party with tears in her eyes, Sampuraga's mother prayed, āGod, if the young man is really Sampuraga then teach him a lesson. For the greatest sin is to disobey one's parents.ā
The sky seemed to change suddenly until lightning struck each other. Rain fell heavily followed by the sound of thunder. All the invitees including Sampuraga and his wife tried to run for their lives. Unfortunately, the place sank in no time.
Sampuraga's party venue turned into a pool of extremely hot water. The locals believed that everything was the incarnation of Sampuraga's wedding party that was cursed. The local people then named the place as āKolam Sampuragaā.
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