A Balinese Folktale: Sampik and Sentai
Once upon a time there was a girl named Sentai. She asked her parent to send her to school at Wencunikuta. They could not bear to part from her, for she was the joy of the home. But she begged so hard that at last they consented, and she gave them her sash by which they might know whether she were alive or dead. So long as it remained whole, she was in good health; but if it went to pieces they would know she was dead. Then she cut off her hair and dressed herself as a boy, and everyone said it suited her beautifully.
She jumped into her car, and set off to school. On the way she met a very attractive youth called Sampik. He was also going to school at Wencunikuta, so she took him along with her. They are both admitted by the teacher and took a room together in the town. Sampik was still imagining her to be a boy. They put to a bolster down in the middle of the bad, and agree that if either of them put a leg across he must pay a fine. Sentai had to pay very often.
One day they saw wild duck disporting themselves by the water side, and Sentai hints that they might do the same, but Sampik refused to understand. When she undressed and he saw that she is a woman, he got very excited, and there was a great love-scene between them. He wanted to marry her on the spot, but she said that she had to go home first and prepared the way; he is to follow in 3 + 7, 2 + 8, 4 + 6 days. He misunderstood, and added all the days together, and came in thirty days instead, when she had already been promised to Subandar Macun. Sampik returned home in despair to tell his parents.
His father was furious with him for taking it so much to heart. If it was a woman he wants, he would show him plenty of them. His mother scolded. The heart of the dragon and the sinews of a golden cock were suggested as a cure for love-sickness, and there was a temple scene in which the necessary offerings were had to be made. A parrot carried a letter from Sampik to Sentai, in which he simply said: “I shall die if I cannot marry you.” She replied: “You must die alone then, for I am obliged to marry someone else. But we shall meet again after death.” When Sampik read the letter he died of a broken heart, and was buried in a graveyard not far from the main road.
Meanwhile Sentai had married Mancun, and they are on the way to his home. As they were passing the graveyard, she asked leave to stop for a minute to speak to her former school friend. “Why did you die alone?” she cries. “Why did you not take me with you?” Immediately the grave opened and she stepped in. They came together before Batara Indra in Svarga and prayed to be born again. Matjoen, when he saw her disappear into the grave, dug it open and found only two bumble-bees inside. One of them stung him, and both flew away.
Sampik and Sentai come back to earth, find their grave violated, and sue for justice against Macun. In vain Macun pleaded that he was looking for his wife, and tried to bribe the judge. He could do nothing against Sampik and Sentai, for they had been blessed by Indra. Sentai was reconciled to her father and married to Sampik with great rejoicings. Macun was smuggled into the wedding by Sentai’s mother, whom he had bribed with rich presents. He made himself very important and tried to steal Sentai away. A scuffle took place in which he was worsted and forced to retire ignominiously.
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