The Ganut

Episode 1 : Cursed Thursday

It was a fairly quiet Thursday night where you could hear the crickets stridulating. It was about 7 p.m. and a cold wind was blowing through the city. The landscape was quite densely fogged. This calm was not on the agenda at the clinic. The caregivers were very solicited because there were several births on that day. After successfully completing 4 deliveries on Thursday, the head caregiver was heading to the Bika's room. Their 2nd child was going to be born and the night was going to be eventful. The whole family was present including Max their puppy. Jadik stood by Mary's side as she tried to give life in suffering. Garuk waiting in the corridor could witness the scene of the birth. Of course he was in the background, but he could see the midwives going back and forth. Towels and bowls of water, gloves and cowries, he could see everything circulating in front of him. Added to this, he could also hear his mother's screams and his father's encouragement. Max had gone for a walk in front of the hospital. Garuk could hear him barking from the lobby. 

At the same time, miles away, at the royal palace, King Demek had just died. He left behind a politically fragile, unstable kingdom and an illegitimate young heir since his two sons of royal blood had fallen in battle during the last war. He also had a daughter who was promised in marriage in order to consolidate his name and position.

That evening, after hours of labor, the baby was born. Mary had decided to call him Kamal after her father. Jadik summoned his eldest son Garuk and introduced him to his little brother. The midwives congratulated Mary and the most beautiful smile could be seen on the Bika's faces. While the Bika family was having a good time with the medical staff, the bell rang 4 times. An icy silence had gripped the city. Families having dinner, couples dating, even children playing and crying, everyone had a look of sadness and surprise. It's as if time has stopped. This evening when the Bika were to rejoice has just been altered by the announcement of the death of the king. A few minutes after the bells rang, the crying of the mourners had replaced the silence.

According to tradition, only mourners and "spirits" are allowed to go out on the night of the king's death. They are intended to spread the bad news until sunrise. Anyone spotted in the streets during the "sleepless night" outside these two bodies will be presented to the spiritual council the next day and may be designated to "accompany the king ." 

The next morning, while the whole city was waiting for the bell to ring 4 times to allow the inhabitants to leave their homes, the palace was extremely silent. No bell, the slightly cool wind continues to blow and the few sudden noises were animal cries and you could still hear some mourners.  Bali, Demek's older sister, was grieving. Since hours have passed since the sun rose, Bali is trying to figure out why the morning bells haven't rung yet. She paced the house 100 steps until she was exhausted. She ends up sitting not far from the kitchen door. After spending an exhausting night Caesar was finally able to go home to rest. When he opens the door, he sees his tender wife collapsed on the ground. He approaches and tries to take her in his arms but the anger and bitterness of Bali make her push away his arms and affection from her husband. Caesar understands that the situation is delicate, so he just decides to sit next to her on the doorstep. "I am deeply sorry," he told her. She raised her head stared into his eyes and retreated into the bedroom. 

Caesar had spent a very long night at the council and an important subject had been raised. He didn't want to bash her with this story now and he wanted to rest. So he lay down on the sofa in the living room. Not even two minutes of sleep ls and he heard footsteps from his wife walking towards him: 

-    Caesar! But why on earth has this damn bell not yet ringed? Did he wake up or what?

The subject he wanted to avoid to calm the atmosphere and offer himself a good sum has just been mentioned. He still tries to calm things down, but Bali insists, and the conversation resumes: