"Your sister died, you should marry your brother-in-law, Nai!" I was forced to get married. After I took care of his little daughter, Rama became a polygamist when I gave birth without him! Living under the same roof with a mistress? Just look at it! I will repay you.
"I want us to break up, Iz, I already accepted Rama's proposal!"
Faiz was surprised when I told him that. Even though I knew he was holding a ring to propose, I reluctantly let go of the year-long bond that we have been living.
"It's not fair for me, Nai. We should have gotten engaged by the end of this year. You shouldn't take the responsibility of taking care of Mira. We love each other, right?" asked Faiz with wide eyes.
"Destiny, Iz. My sister died, my nephew is still kid. If I hadn't married my brother-in-law, he would have moved my nephew away from here. My parents asked me to marry Rama."
I held his hand tightly as I looked down. "I'm sorry, Iz."
Without another word, Faiz left me. A unilateral decision that I didn't want.
One month later, I married Rama, my brother-in-law to be a mother to Mira, his daughter.
Happy?
No, I wasn't. I regret a lot, including the material and freedom I gave up for this marriage.
*
A year later...
I was already four months pregnant while taking care of my little daughter. I was also still working as a pharmacy attendant just to supplement my monthly income.
Only half of the salary Rama gave me. The rest? He keeps it for his own needs.
"Next month, you don't need to cater for mother anymore, Nai."
Rama talked to me after arriving home after picking me up from work. Just as I wanted to undress because it was hot, he complained that it was because I couldn't cook during pregnancy.
"Six hundred thousand rupiahs a month is a lot, Nai! I only eat dinner, I don't go home during the day. Just cook, it's more economical."
"I can't do it yet, I'm still nauseous. Besides, six hundred thousand rupiahs is already cheap. If I shop by myself, not to mention oil, spices, chili and others. It's already delicious, you just have to eat. I just cook rice in the rice cooker."
I deliberately showed a wry smile just to make Rama realize that I didn't want to comply with his wishes. Yes, how could he know the difficulty of this pregnancy? Not just nausea, my back hurts all over. Lying down to rest is difficult.
"Besides, if I cook, how will I shop? Do you want to take me to the market to shop? I'm also having trouble finding the ingredients. The market lately has been muddy, flooded, I'm afraid of slipping."
"Yes, ask the Putri to take you! I'm working, right? Besides, you have a motorcycle but someone else uses it. It's a waste. You know you don't need a motorcycle loan, just save the money to buy gold. It can be an investment."
Rama left me after the argument. He must have gone to meet his friend at the café for coffee and peanuts while watching the ball on the television screen there.
I sat limply on the chair, letting the tears fall with a tight heart. Yes, the motorcycle that I bought when I was single, is now being used by my sister everyday because of my mother's request.
Kling! An incoming message popped up on the screen. The new number listed there.
[Assalamu'alaikum, Naina. It's me, Faiz. How are you? You're well, right? I didn't want to disturb you, I just wanted to ask how you were doing. Yesterday I dreamt that you were sick, so I was worried.]
My heart was beating violently. Faiz, the one I forced to retreat in his struggle when I decided to accept my brother-in-law's proposal.
"Faiz."
He is the past that I gave up in order to marry Rama. The throbbing I feel now is not because I still love him.
I still feel guilty towards Faiz regarding our past story. Yes, it's not right to make him wait, I just reply to the greeting message to calm his heart.
[Waalaikum salam. Alhamdulillah, I'm well, Iz. Thank you.]
I don't want to ask again so that there is no continuation of this chat to avoid unwanted things.
[Alhamdulillah. Stay healthy, Nai. I wish you happiness.]
Happy. Every wife wants that in her life.
Honestly, my household is also happy. Moreover, I have Mira and am now pregnant. Married without love and also because of the demands of fate. I tried to be sincere. However, money always creates problems.
I put the phone down after sending a message to Rama. Not forgetting beforehand, I deleted the chat history from Faiz so that there would be no misunderstanding later.
[What time do you get home? I'm sleepy. I'll lock it from inside. You have the key, right?"]
Only read, without reply.
*
Sunday morning at the end of the month. After I had eaten breakfast, I started to clean up to leave.
Rama who saw me getting ready, then asked, "Where are you going, Nai?"
"I'm going to my mother's house. Just for a while."
"Mira is taking me out for a walk later this afternoon. Later-"
"Use your money! I don't have any more money, I haven't gotten paid from the pharmacy yet!" I snapped, closing the door to go to my mother's house.
When I got there, I saw my mother and father sitting on the terrace enjoying tea and coffee. There was no Putri, I don't know where she went so early with my motorcycle.
"What are you doing, Nai?" asked my father.
I smiled while kissing the hands of my father and mother. "Nothing. There's just something I want to talk to you a little bit. About my bike."
I carefully told them about my desire to sell the bike.
"Let it be used by Putri. When she gets a job and has her own money, she can buy a new one," my mother said.
"But my bike broke down, the price went down. Don't you feel sorry for me?"
"You're already married. The money is your husband's problem. Why bother? I don't know, I'm too lazy to talk about it."
My mother left me and my father with a worried heart. Where did I go wrong? I was just demanding my rights. Can't she understand?
"Marry Kinan if you want my wealth after I die!" For the sake of inheritance, Bayu eventually married Kinan, the daughter of his servant. After taking a second wife and obtaining his stepfather's wealth, Bayu divorced Kinan and cast her out while she was pregnant. Seven years passed, and Kinan was shocked to see his ex-wife, who was once skinny, unkempt, and naive, had transformed into a stunning and alluring woman, making him desire to win her back.
Being married without children is not easy. Questions from those closest to them required Arka and Lisa to deal with the complicated situation. Lisa, who had one of her ovaries removed, continued to try to get pregnant. Arka, her husband who is a doctor, is also making efforts from a medical perspective. Adopting a child was not acceptable to Arka's family. Until finally the good news of pregnancy came. While waiting for the baby's birth, a nightmare happened. Mayang, Arka's ex-fiancé's sabotage of Arka's fertility test, throws their household into disarray. Lisa is accused of cheating and carrying the fetus of Suga, her former lover. Will the ten-year wait lead to misunderstandings and a divorce?
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Marriage was a bed of thorns for Stella. She lived like an overworked and unhappy slave for six years in her matrimonial home. One day, her uncaring husband, Waylon said to her, "Ayla will be back soon. You have to move out tomorrow." "I want a divorce," responded Stella. She left without shedding a tear or trying to change Waylon's stone-cold heart. Days after their divorce, they met again. Stella was in the arms of another man. Waylon's blood boiled at the sight of her looking so happy. "So, you couldn't even wait a while before jumping into another man's arms?" he queried distastefully. "And who are you to question my decision? It's my life, so I call the shots. Stay out of my business!" Stella fired at him before turning to look at her new man with shiny eyes. Waylon immediately lost it.
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.