.jpg "Lasmudin and Mukdima: An East Javanese Folktale About Luck and Names")
In Madura, in East Java, people have a old belief. When a husband and wife have names that go well together, good luck will follow them all their lives. This is the story of Lasmudin and Mukdima, a couple who were lucky because their names matched so well.
Chapter 1: A Perfect Match
Once upon a time, there was a young man named Lasmudin. For a long time, he had loved a kind young woman named Mukdima, the daughter of Pak Mukdima.
One day, Lasmudin went to visit some wise people in his village.
Lasmudin: "Dear wise ones, I have a question. Do my name and Mukdima's name go well together?"
The wise people thought carefully. Then they smiled.
Wise People: "Yes, Lasmudin! Your names make a very good match. If you marry her, you will have good luck."Lasmudin: "Really? Oh, thank you! That makes me so happy!"
Lasmudin tried very hard, and at last he married Mukdima. After the wedding, the couple lived in the house of Mukdima's parents.
Chapter 2: The Doll Maker
But there was a problem. Every day, Lasmudin sat on his bed and made little dolls out of cloth. He hung them up and moved them this way and that. When the dolls danced, Lasmudin laughed and laughed.
Mukdima's parents did not like this at all. One day, Pak Mukdima called his daughter to him.
Pak Mukdima: "My child, your husband does nothing but make cloth dolls, move them around, and laugh all by himself!"Mukdima: "Yes, Father..."Pak Mukdima: "Tell him to help me cut the grass and pull the weeds. He only eats and plays. We used to finish three plates of rice each day. Now that Lasmudin is here, we finish four!"
Mukdima sighed and went to find her husband.
Mukdima: "Dear husband, please help Father cut the grass and pull the weeds. You cannot play with dolls all day long. Father is angry every day because you only eat his rice."
Lasmudin looked up from his dolls and smiled calmly.
Lasmudin: "Do not worry, my dear. One plate of rice is not so much. Our names go well together, remember? The wise people said we will have good luck, so I do not need to work so hard. Playing with my dolls is enough."
Mukdima told her father what Lasmudin had said. Pak Mukdima and his wife were very upset.
Mukdima's Parents: "Oh, that lazy man! We hope an earthquake comes and the house falls on him!"
Chapter 3: The Princess and the Cloth Dolls
Meanwhile, in the royal palace, the king's daughter was very sick. The king had called many doctors, but none of them could make her well.
One night, the princess had a lovely dream. She saw cute little dolls made of cloth. When she woke up, she called for her father.
Princess: "Father, I dreamed of the sweetest dolls made of cloth. Please find them for me. I think they will make me feel better."The King: "Of course, my dear daughter. I will find them for you."
The king at once sent his soldiers to search the whole land for cloth dolls. The soldiers looked high and low, but they found none.
Then one day, a humble sweeper came to see the king.
Sweeper: "Your Majesty, I have seen dolls made of cloth! The place is not far from here."The King: "You have? That is wonderful news! Patih, take some soldiers and go with this sweeper right away."
Chapter 4: The Soldiers Come to Lasmudin's House
The sweeper led the Patih and the soldiers to Lasmudin's house. The Patih knocked and spoke to Pak Mukdima.
Patih: "Good day. Is it true that there are cloth dolls in this house?"Pak Mukdima: "Oh yes, it is true! My son-in-law, Lasmudin, made them. He is such a lazy fellow. Please, take him away!"
The Patih saw the cute cloth dolls and nodded.
Patih: "Soldiers, bring Lasmudin and his dolls to the palace."
Pak Mukdima grinned happily as they left.
Pak Mukdima: "At last! The king will surely punish that lazy Lasmudin!"
Chapter 5: Good Luck Arrives
When they reached the palace, Lasmudin showed his cloth dolls to the princess. He made them dance and hop, and the princess giggled with joy. She laughed and laughed. Before long, she felt better, and soon she was completely well again!
The king was overjoyed.
The King: "Thank you, Lasmudin! You have made my daughter well. As a reward, I give you fifty grams of gold, a bag of money, a sack of rice, and two sacks of corn."Lasmudin: "Thank you, Your Majesty! You are very kind."The King: "Soldiers, take Lasmudin home in the royal carriage!"
Chapter 6: The Lucky Son-in-Law
Lasmudin rode home in the royal carriage. The soldiers marched beside him, carrying all the gifts from the king. When he arrived, he called out to his wife.
Lasmudin: "Dear Mukdima, please tell your father that I am home. The king has given us gold, money, and lots of food!"
Mukdima ran to her father.
Mukdima: "Father, Father! My husband has come home from the palace with gold and money from the king!"Pak Mukdima: "What? That cannot be true! Lazy Lasmudin would never get a prize from the king."
But then the soldiers began to unload the carriage. Pak Mukdima's eyes grew wide as he saw the gold, the money, the rice, and the corn.
Pak Mukdima: "Oh my! It is true. Lasmudin really is lucky, even if he is lazy!"
From that day on, Pak Mukdima was never angry with Lasmudin again. And the people of Madura believed even more strongly that a good combination of names brings good luck.
Source: I.B. Mantra, Astrid S., Susanto, B. Susanto, & S. Wibisono. Cerita Rakyat Daerah Jawa Timur [Folk Tales of East Java]. Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan (Ministry of Education and Culture).
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